Share of population living in extreme poverty (Share World Bank) in Laos
Laos: Share of population living in extreme poverty (Share World Bank) was 7.1% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Share of population living in extreme poverty in Laos, 1992–2024
Source: World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of population living in extreme poverty in Laos is 7.1%, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 7 years on record.
That represents a change of down 67.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in extreme poverty in Laos peaked at 62.0% in 1997 and was at its lowest, 7.1%, in 2024.
That places Laos 34th out of 120 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
Share of population living in extreme poverty (Share World Bank) in Laos, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 | 42.1% | — |
| 1997 | 62.0% | +47.1% |
| 2002 | 43.1% | -30.4% |
| 2007 | 36.0% | -16.6% |
| 2012 | 21.7% | -39.6% |
| 2018 | 15.7% | -27.9% |
| 2024 | 7.1% | -54.5% |
Laos compared with similar countries
- Laos's 7.1% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 9.7%, 73% of the median. (29 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 | 52.1% | 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
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 share of population living in extreme poverty in Laos?
- Share of population living in extreme poverty in Laos was 7.1% in 2024, according to World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of population living in extreme poverty recorded in Laos?
- The highest recorded value was 62.0% in 1997.
- What is the lowest share of population living in extreme poverty recorded in Laos?
- The lowest recorded value was 7.1% in 2024.
- How does Laos rank for share of population living in extreme poverty?
- Laos ranks 34th out of 120 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of population living in extreme poverty rising or falling in Laos?
- Over the last ten years it is down 67.2%. 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 Share of population living in extreme poverty. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Percentage of population living in households with an income or consumption below $3 per day.