Proportion of population below international poverty line (%) in Laos
Laos: Proportion of population below international poverty line (%) was 7.1% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
7.1%
World rank
37th
of 133 countries
All-time high
62.0%
in 1997
All-time low
7.1%
in 2024
Years of data
7
1992–2024
Proportion of population below international poverty line in Laos, 1992–2024
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
Analysis
Laos recorded 7.1% for proportion of population below international poverty line in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 7 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 67.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, proportion of population below international poverty line in Laos peaked at 62.0% in 1997 and was at its lowest, 7.1%, in 2024.
Laos ranks 37th of 133 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Proportion of population below international poverty line (%) in Laos, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 | 42.1% | — |
| 1997 | 62.0% | +47.3% |
| 2002 | 43.1% | -30.5% |
| 2007 | 36.0% | -16.5% |
| 2012 | 21.7% | -39.7% |
| 2018 | 15.7% | -27.6% |
| 2024 | 7.1% | -54.8% |
Laos compared with similar countries
- Laos's 7.1% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 10.2%, 70% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Laos's 7.1% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 0.9%, 7.9× the median. (11 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 52.0% | 42.1% | 62.0% | 2 |
| 2000s | 39.5% | 36.0% | 43.1% | 2 |
| 2010s | 18.7% | 15.7% | 21.7% | 2 |
| 2020s | 7.1% | 7.1% | 7.1% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Laos
- 34 Guatemala 9.7% compare
- 34 Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) 9.7% compare
- 36 Colombia 8.5% compare
- 37 Lao People's Democratic Republic 7.1% compare
- 39 Nicaragua 6.6% compare
- 40 Tajikistan 6.1% compare
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 proportion of population below international poverty line in Laos?
- Proportion of population below international poverty line in Laos was 7.1% in 2024, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest proportion of population below international poverty line recorded in Laos?
- The highest recorded value was 62.0% in 1997.
- What is the lowest proportion of population below international poverty line recorded in Laos?
- The lowest recorded value was 7.1% in 2024.
- How does Laos rank for proportion of population below international poverty line?
- Laos ranks 37th out of 133 countries with data for 2024.
- Is proportion of population below international poverty line rising or falling in Laos?
- Over the last ten years it is down 67.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Laos data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database, published as part of Proportion of population below international poverty line (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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