Distribution of population between different poverty lines in Laos
Laos: Distribution of population between different poverty lines was 1.59 million people in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Distribution of population between different poverty lines in Laos, 1992–2024
Source: World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
Laos recorded 1.59 million people for distribution of population between different poverty lines in 2024. That is the highest value across all 7 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 101.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, distribution of population between different poverty lines in Laos peaked at 1.59 million people in 2024 and was at its lowest, 137,361 people, in 1997.
Laos ranks 94th of 120 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
Distribution of population between different poverty lines in Laos, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 | 252,955 people | — |
| 1997 | 137,361 people | -45.7% |
| 2002 | 224,910 people | +63.7% |
| 2007 | 382,569 people | +70.1% |
| 2012 | 787,974 people | +106.0% |
| 2018 | 1.26 million people | +59.9% |
| 2024 | 1.59 million people | +26.0% |
Laos compared with similar countries
- Laos's 1.59 million people is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 3.74 million people, 42% of the median. (29 countries reporting)
- Laos's 1.59 million people is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 51.36 million people, 3% of the median. (11 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 195,158 people | 137,361 people | 252,955 people | 2 |
| 2000s | 303,740 people | 224,910 people | 382,569 people | 2 |
| 2010s | 1.02 million people | 787,974 people | 1.26 million people | 2 |
| 2020s | 1.59 million people | 1.59 million people | 1.59 million people | 1 |
Countries ranked near Laos
More poverty & inequality data for Laos
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via the World Bank 2 surveys (2025)
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via 0 surveys per person (2025)
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via 0 surveys per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Fertility rate vs. share living in extreme poverty 2.42 live births per woman (2023)
- Cereal yield vs. share in extreme poverty 4,196 kg per hectare (2024)
- Cereal yield vs extreme poverty, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Cereal yield vs extreme poverty, annual growth rate 2.31 % change on previous year (2024)
- Tax revenues vs income inequality, gaps filled 10.62 (2022)
- Tax revenue as share of GDP vs. income inequality 10.6% (2022)
- Tax revenues vs income inequality, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2022)
Frequently asked questions
- What is distribution of population between different poverty lines in Laos?
- Distribution of population between different poverty lines in Laos was 1.59 million people in 2024, according to World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest distribution of population between different poverty lines recorded in Laos?
- The highest recorded value was 1.59 million people in 2024.
- What is the lowest distribution of population between different poverty lines recorded in Laos?
- The lowest recorded value was 137,361 people in 1997.
- How does Laos rank for distribution of population between different poverty lines?
- Laos ranks 94th out of 120 countries with data for 2024.
- Is distribution of population between different poverty lines rising or falling in Laos?
- Over the last ten years it is up 101.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Laos data come from?
- The figures come from World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Distribution of population between different poverty lines. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Number of people living in households with an income or consumption above $10 per day.