Vietnam vs Laos: how the neighbours compare
| Indicator | Vietnam | Laos | Ranks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | |||
| Population | 102m2025 | 7.9m2025 | 16 · 102 |
| Area | 331,338 km²2024 | 236,800 km²2024 | 67 · 83 |
| Density | 322.22024 | 33.72024 | 38 · 167 |
| Urban share | 38.8%2025 | 40.3%2025 | 176 · 172 |
| Fertility | 1.902024 | 2.402024 | 109 · 81 |
| Aged 65+ | 9.5%2025 | 4.8%2025 | 104 · 152 |
| Economy | |||
| GDP | $515bn2025 | $18.3bn2025 | 32 · 138 |
| GDP per capita | $5,0662025 | $2,3252025 | 139 · 173 |
| GDP per capita, PPP | $18,0882025 | $10,3832025 | 113 · 138 |
| GDP growth | 8.0%2025 | 4.5%2025 | 12 · 62 |
| Agriculture share | 11.6%2025 | 16.6%2025 | 63 · 45 |
| Industry share | 37.6%2025 | 29.2%2025 | 21 · 58 |
| Services share | 42.7%2025 | 43.6%2025 | 176 · 174 |
| Prices & public finance | |||
| Inflation | 3.3%2025 | 7.7%2025 | 85 · 32 |
| Tax revenue | — | 12.1%2022 | — · 108 |
| Military spending | 2.15%2025 | — | 53 · — |
| Trade & investment | |||
| Exports | 98.2%2025 | — | 9 · — |
| FDI inflows | 4.3%2025 | 7.7%2025 | 50 · 26 |
| Labour | |||
| Unemployment | 1.5%2025 | 1.2%2025 | 177 · 180 |
| Aid, poverty & equality | |||
| Women in parliament | 31.4%2025 | 22.0%2025 | 66 · 112 |
| Education | |||
| Tertiary enrolment | 37.6%2024 | 14.9%2023 | 104 · 142 |
| Education spending | 2.9%2022 | 1.2%2023 | 146 · 178 |
| Health | |||
| Life expectancy | 74.7 yrs2024 | 69.2 yrs2024 | 108 · 159 |
| Infant mortality | 12.02024 | 27.22024 | 104 · 53 |
| Health spending | 4.6%2023 | 1.3%2023 | 135 · 193 |
| Physicians | 1.112021 | 0.332022 | 107 · 137 |
| Digital & energy access | |||
| Internet users | 84.2%2024 | 65.6%2024 | 85 · 132 |
| Fixed broadband | 23.72024 | 2.72023 | 80 · 154 |
| Electricity access | 100.0%2024 | 96.5%2024 | 121 · 147 |
| Environment | |||
| CO₂ per person | 4.27 t2024 | 3.35 t2024 | 64 · 89 |
| Renewable energy | 24.2%2021 | 49.2%2022 | 95 · 50 |
| Forest cover | 47.1%2024 | 56.6%2024 | 64 · 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)
more head-to-heads