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| Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Finance and Chairman of the National Guidance Committee for the Census, Mr Santiphab Phomvihane, chairs a census review meeting. |
Laos’ population recorded at 6.74 million in initial 2025 census results
The total population of Laos has been recorded at 6.74 million people, according to preliminary findings from the 5th National Population and Housing Census, conducted in 2025.
The figure was reported at a review meeting held in Vientiane last week, chaired by the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Finance and Chairperson of the National Steering Committee for 2025 Population and Housing Census, Mr Santiphab Phomvihane.
The census, which used digital data collection tools for the first time, provided a critical snapshot of the nation’s changing demographics over the past decade.
According to a report from the Lao Statistics Bureau, the official population count stands at 6,744,719. This figure covers people who have lived in a household for at least six months or intend to stay for that duration.
The total includes 6.6 million in the civilian sector, alongside personnel from the Ministry of National Defence (42,061) and the Ministry of Public Security (53,657), and Lao diplomatic staff and their families living abroad (630). Additionally, 14,724 people were recorded as living in Special Economic Zones.
The gender distribution remains relatively balanced, with 3,418,530 males (50.7 percent) and 3,311,515 females (49.3 percent).
In terms of nationality, 98.6 percent of those counted were Lao citizens, while foreign nationals, primarily from Vietnam, China, Myanmar and Thailand, made up the remaining 1.4 percent, totalling approximately 94,000 people.
A significant finding of the 2025 census was the continuing decline in the population growth rate. The rate dropped from 2.1 percent during 1995-2005 and 1.4 percent during 2005-2015 to just 0.8 percent per year over the past decade.
Experts attributed this trend to socio-economic factors, including delayed marriages and a preference for smaller families due to better access to family planning.
The data revealed varying growth trends across provinces. Xekong recorded the highest growth at 2.1 percent annually, while Champassak saw the sharpest decline at 1.2 percent. Other provinces experiencing population decreases were Huaphan, Khammuan and Savannakhet.
The report identified approximately 313,700 Lao nationals as living abroad. However, officials suggest the actual number of migrant workers might be higher, as informal migration is difficult to capture through standard household interviews.
Currently, 65 percent of the population is of working age (15-64 years), while 24.9 percent are aged 0-14 and 5.7 percent are 65 or older.
Across the country, there are 1,793,414 housing units, with 81.1 percent permanently occupied. The total number of households was recorded at 1,475,782, with an average household size of 4.5 people.
Mr Santiphab said these preliminary results are essential for 2025-2055 population projections and national development planning. The results were verified for accuracy and have been approved for official use.
A full, detailed report is expected to be made publicly available following further validation and a final meeting of the National Guidance Committee.
By Souksamai Boulom
(Latest Update May 6, 2026)
