Myanmar vs Laos: how the neighbours compare
| Indicator | Myanmar | Laos | Ranks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | |||
| Population | 54.9m2025 | 7.9m2025 | 27 · 102 |
| Area | 676,578 km²2024 | 236,800 km²2024 | 39 · 83 |
| Density | 83.52024 | 33.72024 | 119 · 167 |
| Urban share | 30.6%2025 | 40.3%2025 | 196 · 172 |
| Fertility | 2.102024 | 2.402024 | 99 · 81 |
| Aged 65+ | 7.5%2025 | 4.8%2025 | 120 · 152 |
| Economy | |||
| GDP | $81.7bn2025 | $18.3bn2025 | 86 · 138 |
| GDP per capita | $1,4892025 | $2,3252025 | 184 · 173 |
| GDP per capita, PPP | $6,0122025 | $10,3832025 | 160 · 138 |
| GDP growth | -2.0%2025 | 4.5%2025 | 203 · 62 |
| Agriculture share | 25.3%2025 | 16.6%2025 | 20 · 45 |
| Industry share | 36.2%2025 | 29.2%2025 | 25 · 58 |
| Services share | 38.5%2025 | 43.6%2025 | 189 · 174 |
| Prices & public finance | |||
| Inflation | — | 7.7%2025 | — · 32 |
| Tax revenue | 6.0%2019 | 12.1%2022 | 137 · 108 |
| Military spending | 6.60%2024 | — | 5 · — |
| Trade & investment | |||
| FDI inflows | 1.3%2025 | 7.7%2025 | 129 · 26 |
| Labour | |||
| Unemployment | 3.0%2025 | 1.2%2025 | 145 · 180 |
| Aid, poverty & equality | |||
| Women in parliament | 15.3%2021 | 22.0%2025 | 146 · 112 |
| Education | |||
| Tertiary enrolment | 20.4%2018 | 14.9%2023 | 132 · 142 |
| Education spending | — | 1.2%2023 | — · 178 |
| Health | |||
| Life expectancy | 67.1 yrs2024 | 69.2 yrs2024 | 177 · 159 |
| Infant mortality | 32.82024 | 27.22024 | 40 · 53 |
| Health spending | 4.5%2023 | 1.3%2023 | 141 · 193 |
| Physicians | 0.762019 | 0.332022 | 115 · 137 |
| Digital & energy access | |||
| Internet users | 45.4%2020 | 65.6%2024 | 154 · 132 |
| Fixed broadband | 2.92024 | 2.72023 | 152 · 154 |
| Electricity access | 80.4%2024 | 96.5%2024 | 170 · 147 |
| Environment | |||
| CO₂ per person | 0.58 t2024 | 3.35 t2024 | 157 · 89 |
| Renewable energy | 62.9%2021 | 49.2%2022 | 34 · 50 |
| Forest cover | 42.0%2024 | 56.6%2024 | 75 · 41 |
Higher value in each row is highlighted; it is not always the better one (think inflation or emissions). Ranks are world positions.
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0)
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