Total population living in extreme poverty by world region in Laos
Laos: Total population living in extreme poverty by world region was 553,747 people in 2024. ▼ Falling
Total population living in extreme poverty by world region 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 553,747 people for total population living in extreme poverty by world region in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 7 years on record.
The figure is down 61.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total population living in extreme poverty by world region in Laos peaked at 3.21 million people in 1997 and was at its lowest, 553,747 people, in 2024.
Laos ranks 50th of 120 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Total population living in extreme poverty by world region in Laos, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 | 1.93 million people | — |
| 1997 | 3.21 million people | +65.9% |
| 2002 | 2.43 million people | -24.2% |
| 2007 | 2.19 million people | -10.1% |
| 2012 | 1.42 million people | -35.0% |
| 2018 | 1.12 million people | -20.9% |
| 2024 | 553,747 people | -50.7% |
Laos compared with similar countries
- Laos's 553,747 people is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 1.70 million people, 33% of the median. (29 countries reporting)
- Laos's 553,747 people is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 230,843 people, 2.4× the median. (11 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 2.57 million people | 1.93 million people | 3.21 million people | 2 |
| 2000s | 2.31 million people | 2.19 million people | 2.43 million people | 2 |
| 2010s | 1.27 million people | 1.12 million people | 1.42 million people | 2 |
| 2020s | 553,747 people | 553,747 people | 553,747 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 total population living in extreme poverty by world region in Laos?
- Total population living in extreme poverty by world region in Laos was 553,747 people in 2024, according to World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest total population living in extreme poverty by world region recorded in Laos?
- The highest recorded value was 3.21 million people in 1997.
- What is the lowest total population living in extreme poverty by world region recorded in Laos?
- The lowest recorded value was 553,747 people in 2024.
- How does Laos rank for total population living in extreme poverty by world region?
- Laos ranks 50th out of 120 countries with data for 2024.
- Is total population living in extreme poverty by world region rising or falling in Laos?
- Over the last ten years it is down 61.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- 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 Total population living in extreme poverty by world region. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Number of people living in households with an income or consumption below $3 per day.