Rural population (% of total population) (Rural World Urbanization) in Laos
Laos: Rural population (% of total population) (Rural World Urbanization) was 59.7% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Rural population in Laos, 1960–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN). Measured in % of total population.
Analysis
In 2025, rural population in Laos stood at 59.7%. That is the lowest value across all 66 years on record.
The figure is down 1.3% on the previous year and down 10.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, rural population in Laos peaked at 92.2% in 1960 and was at its lowest, 59.7%, in 2025.
That places Laos 46th out of 218 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 66 years of available data.
Rural population (% of total population) (Rural World Urbanization) in Laos, year by year
| Year | % of total population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 92.2% | — |
| 1961 | 92.1% | -0.1% |
| 1962 | 92.0% | -0.1% |
| 1963 | 91.9% | -0.1% |
| 1964 | 91.8% | -0.1% |
| 1965 | 91.7% | -0.1% |
| 1966 | 91.6% | -0.1% |
| 1967 | 91.4% | -0.2% |
| 1968 | 91.2% | -0.3% |
| 1969 | 90.9% | -0.3% |
| 1970 | 90.5% | -0.4% |
| 1971 | 90.2% | -0.4% |
| 1972 | 89.8% | -0.4% |
| 1973 | 89.5% | -0.3% |
| 1974 | 89.2% | -0.3% |
| 1975 | 88.9% | -0.3% |
| 1976 | 88.7% | -0.3% |
| 1977 | 88.4% | -0.3% |
| 1978 | 88.1% | -0.3% |
| 1979 | 87.9% | -0.3% |
| 1980 | 87.6% | -0.3% |
| 1981 | 87.3% | -0.3% |
| 1982 | 87.1% | -0.3% |
| 1983 | 86.8% | -0.3% |
| 1984 | 86.5% | -0.3% |
| 1985 | 86.2% | -0.3% |
| 1986 | 85.9% | -0.3% |
| 1987 | 85.6% | -0.3% |
| 1988 | 85.3% | -0.3% |
| 1989 | 85.1% | -0.3% |
| 1990 | 84.8% | -0.4% |
| 1991 | 84.4% | -0.4% |
| 1992 | 84.1% | -0.4% |
| 1993 | 83.7% | -0.5% |
| 1994 | 83.2% | -0.5% |
| 1995 | 82.7% | -0.6% |
| 1996 | 82.0% | -0.8% |
| 1997 | 81.2% | -1.1% |
| 1998 | 80.1% | -1.3% |
| 1999 | 79.0% | -1.4% |
| 2000 | 77.8% | -1.5% |
| 2001 | 76.6% | -1.5% |
| 2002 | 75.5% | -1.5% |
| 2003 | 74.4% | -1.4% |
| 2004 | 73.5% | -1.3% |
| 2005 | 72.7% | -1.1% |
| 2006 | 72.0% | -1.0% |
| 2007 | 71.3% | -1.0% |
| 2008 | 70.6% | -0.9% |
| 2009 | 70.0% | -0.9% |
| 2010 | 69.4% | -0.9% |
| 2011 | 68.8% | -0.8% |
| 2012 | 68.3% | -0.8% |
| 2013 | 67.8% | -0.7% |
| 2014 | 67.3% | -0.6% |
| 2015 | 66.9% | -0.7% |
| 2016 | 66.2% | -1.1% |
| 2017 | 65.5% | -1.0% |
| 2018 | 64.8% | -1.1% |
| 2019 | 64.1% | -1.1% |
| 2020 | 63.4% | -1.1% |
| 2021 | 62.7% | -1.1% |
| 2022 | 61.9% | -1.2% |
| 2023 | 61.2% | -1.2% |
| 2024 | 60.4% | -1.2% |
| 2025 | 59.7% | -1.3% |
Laos compared with similar countries
- Laos's 59.7% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 49.1%, 1.2× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Laos's 59.7% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 34.6%, 1.7× the median. (37 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 91.7% | 90.9% | 92.2% | 10 |
| 1970s | 89.1% | 87.9% | 90.5% | 10 |
| 1980s | 86.3% | 85.1% | 87.6% | 10 |
| 1990s | 82.5% | 79.0% | 84.8% | 10 |
| 2000s | 73.4% | 70.0% | 77.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 66.9% | 64.1% | 69.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 61.5% | 59.7% | 63.4% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Laos
More agriculture & rural data for Laos
- Cropland extent over the long-term, annual growth rate -1.2 % change on previous year (2025)
- Cropland extent over the long-term, per unit of GDP 0.0001 hectares per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Cropland extent over the long-term, per capita 0.1874 hectares per person (2025)
- Agricultural area over the long-term, annual growth rate -0.8289 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agricultural area over the long-term, per unit of GDP 0.0001 hectares per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agricultural area over the long-term, per capita 0.2734 hectares per person (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 9.89 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.1662 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 386.32 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 0.0583 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is rural population in Laos?
- Rural population in Laos was 59.7% in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest rural population recorded in Laos?
- The highest recorded value was 92.2% in 1960.
- What is the lowest rural population recorded in Laos?
- The lowest recorded value was 59.7% in 2025.
- How does Laos rank for rural population?
- Laos ranks 46th out of 218 countries with data for 2025.
- Is rural population rising or falling in Laos?
- Over the last ten years it is down 10.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Laos data come from?
- The figures come from World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN), published as part of Rural population (% of total population). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Rural population refers to people living in rural areas as defined by national statistical offices. It is calculated as the difference between total population and urban population.