LA
Aid, poverty & equality · East Asia & Pacific · Lower-middle income
Laos: poverty, inequality and aid
Extreme poverty is 7.1% (2024), 50th of 151 in the world and 3rd of 17 in East Asia & Pacific. Poverty, $4.20/day is 22.5% (2024), 46th of 151 in the world and 3rd of 17 in East Asia & Pacific. Poverty, $8.30/day is 70.3% (2024), 42nd of 151 in the world and 3rd of 17 in East Asia & Pacific.
Undernourishment
LaosEast Asia & PacificLower-middle incomeWorld
Women in parliament
LaosEast Asia & PacificLower-middle incomeWorld
14 indicators
Aid, poverty & equality: Laos in detail
Latest reported value, world rank and rank within East Asia & Pacific; values around 2000, 2010, 2020; group and world columns are World Bank aggregates.
| Indicator | Latest | World rank | In region | ~2000 | ~2010 | ~2020 | 10-year change | Region | Income group | World | Since 2000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Extreme povertyExtreme poverty, $3.00 a day (2021 PPP), % of population | 7.1%2024 | 50/151 | 3/17 | 43.1%2002 | 21.7%2012 | 15.7%2018 | −14.6 ppsince 2012 | 2.0% | 12.4% | 10.1% | |
| Poverty, $4.20/dayPoverty at $4.20 a day (2021 PPP), % of population | 22.5%2024 | 46/151 | 3/17 | 68.5%2002 | 43.2%2012 | 35.0%2018 | −20.7 ppsince 2012 | 5.5% | 26.9% | 18.2% | |
| Poverty, $8.30/dayPoverty at $8.30 a day (2021 PPP), % of population | 70.3%2024 | 42/151 | 3/17 | 93.6%2002 | 82.5%2012 | 75.3%2018 | −12.2 ppsince 2012 | 26.4% | 76.8% | 46.2% | |
| National poverty ratePoverty at national poverty lines, % of population | 15.0%2024 | 109/145 | 7/15 | · | · | 18.3%2018 | — | — | — | — | |
| Gini indexGini index of income inequality | 34.72024 | 75/151 | 6/17 | 32.62002 | 36.02012 | 38.82018 | −3.6%since 2012 | — | — | — | |
| Top 10% income shareIncome share held by the richest 10% | 28.5%2024 | 61/151 | 4/17 | 27.0%2002 | 29.0%2012 | 31.2%2018 | −0.5 ppsince 2012 | — | — | — | |
| Bottom 20% income shareIncome share held by the poorest 20% | 7.9%2024 | 44/151 | 7/17 | 8.6%2002 | 7.6%2012 | 7.0%2018 | +0.3 ppsince 2012 | — | — | — | |
| UndernourishmentPrevalence of undernourishment, % of population | 10.0%2024 | 58/167 | 4/23 | 30.9%2001 | 9.9% | 9.1% | +2.6 ppsince 2014 | 3.5% | 12.1% | 8.1% | |
| Food insecurityModerate or severe food insecurity, % of population | 34.4%2024 | 52/155 | 5/23 | · | · | 31.8% | — | 8.8% | 41.8% | 28.0% | |
| Account ownershipAccount ownership (bank or mobile money), % of adults | 37.7%2024 | 131/145 | 16/16 | · | 26.8%2011 | 37.3%2021 | +10.9 ppsince 2011 | 82.8% | 70.4% | 78.7% | |
| Women in parliamentSeats held by women in national parliament, % | 22.0%2025 | 112/190 | 10/30 | 21.2% | 25.2% | 27.5% | −3.0 ppsince 2015 | 23.3% | 23.6% | 27.2% | |
| Net ODA receivedNet official development assistance received, US$ | $515m2023 | 66/145 | 7/24 | $234m | $350m | $531m | +22%since 2013 | $10.7bn | $59.2bn | $259bn | |
| ODA, % of GNINet ODA received, % of GNI | 3.5%2023 | 56/139 | 14/23 | 14.1% | 5.2% | 3.0% | −0.2 ppsince 2013 | 0.0% | 0.9% | 0.2% | |
| ODA per personNet ODA received per capita, US$ | $67.22023 | 71/145 | 15/24 | $43.0 | $55.3 | $72.3 | +4.9%since 2013 | $4.5 | $20.6 | $32.2 |
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0)“·” — no value reported within two years of that date. World rank counts countries with a recent value.
Better than ten years ago
- Extreme poverty−14.6 pp7.1% in 2024
- Poverty, $4.20/day−20.7 pp22.5% in 2024
- Poverty, $8.30/day−12.2 pp70.3% in 2024
- Gini index−3.6%34.7 in 2024
Worse than ten years ago
- Undernourishment+2.6 pp10.0% in 2024
- Women in parliament−3.0 pp22.0% in 2025
Only indicators where higher or lower is clearly better are rated (for example, unemployment down is better, life expectancy up is better).
neighbours
Laos and its neighbours
Countries sharing a land border with Laos. Latest values since 2005; the highest in each row is marked.
| Indicator | Laos | China | Vietnam | Thailand | Myanmar | Cambodia |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Extreme poverty | 7.1%2024 | 0.0%2022 | 1.6%2022 | 0.0%2024 | 10.3%2017 | — |
| Poverty, $4.20/day | 22.5%2024 | 0.5%2022 | 4.2%2022 | 0.2%2024 | 29.1%2017 | — |
| Poverty, $8.30/day | 70.3%2024 | 21.3%2022 | 21.5%2022 | 11.7%2024 | 79.8%2017 | — |
| National poverty rate | 15.0%2024 | 0.0%2020 | 4.2%2022 | 5.4%2022 | 24.8%2017 | 17.7%2012 |
| Gini index | 34.72024 | 36.02022 | 36.12022 | 33.32024 | 30.72017 | — |
| Top 10% income share | 28.5%2024 | 28.4%2022 | 28.1%2022 | 26.0%2024 | 25.5%2017 | — |
| Bottom 20% income share | 7.9%2024 | 7.3%2022 | 6.8%2022 | 7.9%2024 | 8.9%2017 | — |
| Undernourishment | 10.0%2024 | 2.5%2024 | 6.1%2024 | 5.4%2024 | 4.6%2024 | 4.7%2024 |
| Food insecurity | 34.4%2024 | — | 9.4%2024 | 4.5%2024 | 31.3%2024 | 36.4%2024 |