East Asia & Pacific
Living in Laos
Among the 116 countries we cover, Laos stands out most for affordability and safety. Its weakest dimension is civil freedoms.
- Capital
- Vientiane
- Population
- 7.9M (2025)
- World Bank income group
- Lower-middle income
Key figures
- Price level (US = 100)
- 22Lower means cheaper than the US · 2025
- Life expectancy (years)
- 69.2At birth · 2024
- Homicides per 100,000 people
- —No recent data
- People using the internet
- 65.6%Share of the population · 2024
Scores by dimension
0–100, relative to the 116 countries we cover (100 = best in our set).
- Affordability
- 82 / 100
- Safety
- 62 / 100
- Healthcare
- 12 / 100
- Governance
- 13 / 100
- Civil freedoms
- 2 / 100
- Digital access
- 50 / 100
- Economy
- 73 / 100
- Affordability#2 of 116
- Safety#62 of 116
- Healthcare#112 of 116
- Governance#112 of 116
- Civil freedoms#113 of 116
- Digital access#107 of 116
- Economy#84 of 116
The underlying data
| Indicator | Value | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (US = 100)WDI · NY.GDP.PCAP.CD / NY.GDP.PCAP.PP.CD | 22 | 2025 |
| GDP per personWDI · NY.GDP.PCAP.CD | US$2,325 | 2025 |
| GDP per person, adjusted for prices (PPP)WDI · NY.GDP.PCAP.PP.CD | Int$10,383 | 2025 |
| Unemployment rateWDI · SL.UEM.TOTL.ZS | 1.2% | 2025 |
| Inflation (consumer prices)WDI · FP.CPI.TOTL.ZG | 7.7% | 2025 |
| Life expectancy (years)WDI · SP.DYN.LE00.IN | 69.2 | 2024 |
| Doctors per 1,000 peopleWDI · SH.MED.PHYS.ZS | 0.3 | 2022 |
| Health spending per personWDI · SH.XPD.CHEX.PC.CD | US$27 | 2023 |
| Homicides per 100,000 peopleWDI · VC.IHR.PSRC.P5 | No recent data | — |
| People using the internetWDI · IT.NET.USER.ZS | 65.6% | 2024 |
| Political stability (0–100)WGI · GOV_WGI_PV.SC | 75 | 2025 |
| Rule of law (0–100)WGI · GOV_WGI_RL.SC | 48 | 2025 |
| Government effectiveness (0–100)WGI · GOV_WGI_GE.SC | 40 | 2025 |
| Control of corruption (0–100)WGI · GOV_WGI_CC.SC | 28 | 2025 |
| Voice and accountability (0–100)WGI · GOV_WGI_VA.SC | 28 | 2025 |
| PopulationWDI · SP.POP.TOTL | 7.9M | 2025 |
Sources: World Bank World Development Indicators (updated July 13, 2026) and Worldwide Governance Indicators (updated September 25, 2026), CC BY 4.0. We show the most recent year available for each figure. How we score
Laos: common questions
Is Laos expensive to live in?
The World Bank price level for Laos is 22 (US = 100) in 2025, which places it #2 of 116 countries for affordability in our data. This is a national average. Big cities, housing and imported goods can cost much more.
How safe is Laos?
Its World Bank political stability score is 75 out of 100 (2025). National figures hide local differences, so check your government's current travel advice for specific areas.
What is healthcare like in Laos?
Life expectancy at birth in Laos is 69.2 years (2024). There are 0.3 doctors per 1,000 people (2022). Access for foreign residents depends on your visa, residency status and insurance, so confirm what coverage you'd be entitled to.
Do I need a visa to move to Laos?
It depends on your citizenship, purpose and length of stay, and the rules change often. We don't give visa advice. Check the official immigration authority or embassy of Laos for the current requirements.