Demographics of Laos
{{Short description|None}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2023}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2023}}
{{Infobox place demographics
| place = Laos
| image = Laos single age population pyramid 2020.png
| image_size = 350
| caption = Population pyramid of Laos in 2020
| size_of_population = 7,443,000 (2022 est.)
| growth = 1.41% (2022 est.)
| birth = 20.9 births/1,000 population (2022 est.)
| death = 6.8 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.)
| life = 67 years (2022 est.)
| life_male = 66 years (2022 est.)
| life_female = 69 years (2022 est.)
| fertility = 2.48 children born/woman (2022 est.)
| infant_mortality = 36.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.)
| net_migration . = −1.17 migrant(s)/1,000 population
|age_0–14_years=30.80% (2022 est.)
|age_15–64_years=64.56% (2022 est.)
|age_65_years=4.68% (2022 est.)
| total_mf_ratio = 1.00 male(s)/female (2022 est.)
| nation = Laotian
| major_ethnic = Lao (53.2%)
| sr_at_birth = 1.04 male(s)/female (2022 est.)
|| footnote = Source: LAOSIShttps://laosis.lsb.gov.la/tblInfo/TblInfoList.do {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211102061658/https://laosis.lsb.gov.la/tblInfo/TblInfoList.do |date=2 November 2021 }} {{bare URL inline|date=February 2024}}
}}
This article describes the demographic aspects of Laos.
Population
Image:Laos-demography.png data, 2022)]]
=Lao statistics bureau estimates=
| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: right;" |
| width="70"|Year{{cite web| url = https://laosis.lsb.gov.la/tblInfo/TblInfoList.do| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20211102061658/https://laosis.lsb.gov.la/tblInfo/TblInfoList.do| archive-date = 2 November 2021| title = LAOSIS}}
! width="70"|Population ! width="70"|Live births ! width="70"|Deaths ! width="70"|Natural increase ! width="70"|Crude birth rate ! width="70"|Crude death rate ! width="70"|Rate of natural increase ! width="70"|TFR |
|---|
| align="right" | 1976
| align="right" | 2,886,000 | align="right" | | align="right" | | align="right" | | align="right" | | align="right" | | align="right" | | align="right" | |
| align="right" | 1980
| align="right" | 3,199,000 | align="right" | | align="right" | | align="right" | | align="right" | | align="right" | | align="right" | | align="right" | |
| align="right" | 1985
| align="right" | 3,618,000 | align="right" | | align="right" | | align="right" | | align="right" | | align="right" | | align="right" | | align="right" | |
| align="right" | 1990
| align="right" | 4,140,000 | align="right" | | align="right" | | align="right" | | align="right" | | align="right" | | align="right" | | align="right" | |
| align="right" | 1995
| align="right" | 4,605,000 | align="right" | | align="right" | | align="right" | | align="right" | 41.3 | align="right" | 15.1 | align="right" | 26.2 | align="right" | 5.40 |
| align="right" | 2000
| align="right" | 5,218,000 | align="right" | | align="right" | | align="right" | | align="right" | | align="right" | | align="right" | | align="right" | |
| align="right" | 2005
| align="right" | 5,619,000 | align="right" | | align="right" | | align="right" | | align="right" | 34.7 | align="right" | 9.8 | align="right" | 24.9 | align="right" | 4.50 |
| align="right" | 2009
| align="right" | | align="right" | | align="right" | | align="right" | | align="right" | 30.7 | align="right" | 8.4 | align="right" | 22.3 | align="right" | 3.90 |
| align="right" | 2010
| align="right" | 6,256,000 | align="right" | | align="right" | | align="right" | | align="right" | 29.9 | align="right" | 8.0 | align="right" | 21.9 | align="right" | 3.70 |
| align="right" | 2011
| align="right" | 6,385,000 | align="right" | | align="right" | | align="right" | | align="right" | 28.0 | align="right" | 7.7 | align="right" | 20.3 | align="right" | 3.50 |
| align="right" | 2012
| align="right" | 6,514,000 | align="right" | | align="right" | | align="right" | | align="right" | 28.1 | align="right" | 7.4 | align="right" | 20.7 | align="right" | 3.40 |
| align="right" | 2013
| align="right" | 6,644,000 | align="right" | | align="right" | | align="right" | | align="right" | 27.5 | align="right" | 6.5 | align="right" | 21.0 | align="right" | 3.22 |
| align="right" | 2014
| align="right" | 6,809,000 | align="right" | | align="right" | | align="right" | | align="right" | 26.6 | align="right" | 6.3 | align="right" | 20.3 | align="right" | 3.03 |
| align="right" | 2015
| align="right" | 6,492,000 | align="right" | | align="right" | | align="right" | | align="right" | 26.6 | align="right" | 6.3 | align="right" | 20.3 | align="right" | 3.06 |
| align="right" | 2016
| align="right" | 6,787,000 | align="right" | | align="right" | | align="right" | | align="right" | 24.6 | align="right" | 7.7 | align="right" | 16.9 | align="right" | 2.90 |
| align="right" | 2017
| align="right" | 6,901,000 | align="right" | | align="right" | | align="right" | | align="right" | 24.0 | align="right" | 7.5 | align="right" | 16.5 | align="right" | 2.82 |
| align="right" | 2018
| align="right" | 7,013,000 | align="right" | | align="right" | | align="right" | | align="right" | 23.3 | align="right" | 7.4 | align="right" | 15.9 | align="right" | 2.76 |
| align="right" | 2019
| align="right" | 7,123,000 | align="right" | | align="right" | | align="right" | | align="right" | 22.7 | align="right" | 7.2 | align="right" | 15.5 | align="right" | 2.68 |
| align="right" | 2020
| align="right" | 7,231,000 | align="right" | | align="right" | | align="right" | | align="right" | 21.2 | align="right" | 7.0 | align="right" | 14.2 | align="right" | 2.50 |
| 2021
|7,338,000 | | | |21.5 |6.9 |14.6 |2.54 |
| 2022
|7,443,000 | | | |20.9 |6.8 |14.1 |2.48 |
= Structure =
{{Hidden begin
|title= Population by Sex and Age Group (Census 01.III.2005):{{cite news |title=Demographic and Social Statistics |url=http://unstats.un.org/unsd/demographic/products/dyb/dyb2.htm |work=Unstats.un.org |archive-date=25 December 2018 |access-date=6 November 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181225121538/https://unstats.un.org/unsd/demographic/products/dyb/dyb2.htm |url-status=live }}
|titlestyle = background:#EEBC35;
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| class="wikitable" |
| width="80pt"|Age group
! width="80pt"|Male ! width="80pt"|Female ! width="80pt"|Total ! width="80pt"|% |
|---|
| align="right" | Total
| align="right" | 2,800,551 | align="right" | 2,821,431 | align="right" | 5,621,982 | align="right" | 100 |
| align="right" | 0–4
| align="right" | 351 559 | align="right" | 349 356 | align="right" | 700 915 | align="right" | 12.47 |
| align="right" | 5–9
| align="right" | 379 137 | align="right" | 370 071 | align="right" | 749 208 | align="right" | 13.33 |
| align="right" | 10–14
| align="right" | 391 785 | align="right" | 375 371 | align="right" | 767 156 | align="right" | 13.65 |
| align="right" | 15–19
| align="right" | 323 729 | align="right" | 323 540 | align="right" | 647 269 | align="right" | 11.51 |
| align="right" | 20–24
| align="right" | 253 926 | align="right" | 261 371 | align="right" | 515 297 | align="right" | 9.17 |
| align="right" | 25–29
| align="right" | 211 279 | align="right" | 218 330 | align="right" | 429 609 | align="right" | 7.64 |
| align="right" | 30–34
| align="right" | 176 515 | align="right" | 183 480 | align="right" | 359 995 | align="right" | 6.40 |
| align="right" | 35–39
| align="right" | 164 415 | align="right" | 165 362 | align="right" | 329 777 | align="right" | 5.87 |
| align="right" | 40–44
| align="right" | 132 335 | align="right" | 133 532 | align="right" | 265 867 | align="right" | 4.73 |
| align="right" | 45–49
| align="right" | 113 869 | align="right" | 113 298 | align="right" | 227 167 | align="right" | 4.04 |
| align="right" | 50–54
| align="right" | 86 770 | align="right" | 91 210 | align="right" | 177 980 | align="right" | 3.17 |
| align="right" | 55–59
| align="right" | 62 691 | align="right" | 65 640 | align="right" | 128 331 | align="right" | 2.28 |
| align="right" | 60–64
| align="right" | 50 006 | align="right" | 55 008 | align="right" | 105 014 | align="right" | 1.87 |
| align="right" | 65–69
| align="right" | 38 289 | align="right" | 41 251 | align="right" | 79 540 | align="right" | 1.41 |
| align="right" | 70–74
| align="right" | 27 652 | align="right" | 31 927 | align="right" | 59 579 | align="right" | 1.06 |
| align="right" | 75–79
| align="right" | 17 964 | align="right" | 19 208 | align="right" | 37 172 | align="right" | 0.66 |
| align="right" | 80–84
| align="right" | 10 402 | align="right" | 12 180 | align="right" | 22 582 | align="right" | 0.40 |
| align="right" | 85–89
| align="right" | 4 631 | align="right" | 5 697 | align="right" | 10 328 | align="right" | 0.18 |
| align="right" | 90–94
| align="right" | 1 964 | align="right" | 2 781 | align="right" | 4 745 | align="right" | 0.08 |
| align="right" | 95–99
| align="right" | 982 | align="right" | 1 393 | align="right" | 2 375 | align="right" | 0.04 |
| align="right" | 100+
| align="right" | 480 | align="right" | 936 | align="right" | 1 416 | align="right" | 0.03 |
| align="right" | unknown
| align="right" | 171 | align="right" | 489 | align="right" | 660 | align="right" | 0.01 |
| width="50"|Age group
! width="80pt"|Male ! width="80"|Female ! width="80"|Total ! width="50"|Per cent |
| align="right" | 0–14
| align="right" | 1,122,481 | align="right" | 1,094,798 | align="right" | 2,217,279 | align="right" | 39.44 |
| align="right" | 15–64
| align="right" | 1,575,535 | align="right" | 1,610,771 | align="right" | 3,186,306 | align="right" | 56.68 |
| align="right" | 65+
| align="right" | 102 364 | align="right" | 115 373 | align="right" | 217 737 | align="right" | 3.87 |
{{Hidden end}}
{{Hidden begin
|title= Population by Sex and Age Group (Census 01.III.2015):
|titlestyle = background:#EEBC35;
}}
| class="wikitable" |
| width="80pt"|Age group
! width="80pt"|Male ! width="80pt"|Female ! width="80pt"|Total ! width="80pt"|% |
|---|
| align="right" | Total
| align="right" | 3,254,770 | align="right" | 3,237,458 | align="right" | 6,492,228 | align="right" | 100 |
| align="right" | 0–4
| align="right" | 346 462 | align="right" | 335 521 | align="right" | 681 983 | align="right" | 10.50 |
| align="right" | 5–9
| align="right" | 345 380 | align="right" | 333 829 | align="right" | 679 209 | align="right" | 10.46 |
| align="right" | 10–14
| align="right" | 363 026 | align="right" | 355 580 | align="right" | 718 606 | align="right" | 11.07 |
| align="right" | 15–19
| align="right" | 354 360 | align="right" | 344 650 | align="right" | 699 010 | align="right" | 10.77 |
| align="right" | 20–24
| align="right" | 325 601 | align="right" | 328 436 | align="right" | 654 037 | align="right" | 10.07 |
| align="right" | 25–29
| align="right" | 308 988 | align="right" | 307 000 | align="right" | 615 988 | align="right" | 9.49 |
| align="right" | 30–34
| align="right" | 250 383 | align="right" | 245 851 | align="right" | 496 234 | align="right" | 7.64 |
| align="right" | 35–39
| align="right" | 212 523 | align="right" | 207 560 | align="right" | 420 083 | align="right" | 6.47 |
| align="right" | 40–44
| align="right" | 170 808 | align="right" | 173 062 | align="right" | 343 870 | align="right" | 5.30 |
| align="right" | 45–49
| align="right" | 149 656 | align="right" | 146 251 | align="right" | 295 907 | align="right" | 4.56 |
| align="right" | 50–54
| align="right" | 127 272 | align="right" | 140 146 | align="right" | 267 418 | align="right" | 4.12 |
| align="right" | 55–59
| align="right" | 98 615 | align="right" | 98 992 | align="right" | 197 607 | align="right" | 3.04 |
| align="right" | 60–64
| align="right" | 74 106 | align="right" | 73 073 | align="right" | 147 179 | align="right" | 2.27 |
| align="right" | 65–69
| align="right" | 47 563 | align="right" | 51 338 | align="right" | 98 901 | align="right" | 1.52 |
| align="right" | 70–74
| align="right" | 32 930 | align="right" | 38 497 | align="right" | 71 427 | align="right" | 1.10 |
| align="right" | 75–79
| align="right" | 21 871 | align="right" | 25 207 | align="right" | 47 078 | align="right" | 0.73 |
| align="right" | 80–84
| align="right" | 13 519 | align="right" | 16 671 | align="right" | 30 190 | align="right" | 0.47 |
| align="right" | 85–89
| align="right" | 6 744 | align="right" | 8 523 | align="right" | 15 267 | align="right" | 0.24 |
| align="right" | 90–94
| align="right" | 3 041 | align="right" | 3 995 | align="right" | 7 036 | align="right" | 0.11 |
| align="right" | 95+
| align="right" | 1 922 | align="right" | 3 276 | align="right" | 5 198 | align="right" | 0.08 |
| width="50"|Age group
! width="80pt"|Male ! width="80"|Female ! width="80"|Total ! width="50"|Per cent |
| align="right" | 0–14
| align="right" | 1,054,868 | align="right" | 1,024,930 | align="right" | 2,079,798 | align="right" | 32.04 |
| align="right" | 15–64
| align="right" | 2,072,312 | align="right" | 2,065,021 | align="right" | 4,137,333 | align="right" | 63.73 |
| align="right" | 65+
| align="right" | 127 590 | align="right" | 147 507 | align="right" | 275 097 | align="right" | 4.24 |
{{Hidden end}}
{{Hidden begin
|title= Population Estimates by Sex and Age Group (01.VII.2020) (Because of rounding, totals are not in all cases the sum of the respective components. Estimates or projections based on the 2015 population census.):{{cite web | url=https://unstats.un.org/unsd/demographic-social/products/dyb/dyb_2020/ | title=UNSD — Demographic and Social Statistics | access-date=19 June 2022 | archive-date=14 April 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220414000805/https://unstats.un.org/unsd/demographic-social/products/dyb/dyb_2020/ | url-status=live }}
|titlestyle = background:#EEBC35;
}}
| class="wikitable" |
| width="80pt"|Age group
! width="80pt"|Male ! width="80pt"|Female ! width="80pt"|Total ! width="80pt"|% |
|---|
| align="right" | Total
| align="right" | 3,622,996 | align="right" | 3,608,214 | align="right" | 7,231,210 | align="right" | 100 |
| align="right" | 0–4
| align="right" | 392 890 | align="right" | 376 310 | align="right" | 769 200 | align="right" | 10.64 |
| align="right" | 5–9
| align="right" | 397 353 | align="right" | 389 566 | align="right" | 786 919 | align="right" | 10.88 |
| align="right" | 10–14
| align="right" | 371 259 | align="right" | 362 687 | align="right" | 733 945 | align="right" | 10.15 |
| align="right" | 15–19
| align="right" | 355 474 | align="right" | 346 423 | align="right" | 701 896 | align="right" | 9.71 |
| align="right" | 20–24
| align="right" | 346 620 | align="right" | 342 462 | align="right" | 689 083 | align="right" | 9.53 |
| align="right" | 25–29
| align="right" | 327 955 | align="right" | 325 732 | align="right" | 653 687 | align="right" | 9.04 |
| align="right" | 30–34
| align="right" | 293 003 | align="right" | 292 362 | align="right" | 585 365 | align="right" | 8.09 |
| align="right" | 35–39
| align="right" | 254 782 | align="right" | 251 614 | align="right" | 506 396 | align="right" | 7.00 |
| align="right" | 40–44
| align="right" | 208 008 | align="right" | 206 509 | align="right" | 414 517 | align="right" | 5.73 |
| align="right" | 45–49
| align="right" | 173 373 | align="right" | 172 659 | align="right" | 346 031 | align="right" | 4.79 |
| align="right" | 50–54
| align="right" | 143 504 | align="right" | 149 136 | align="right" | 292 640 | align="right" | 4.05 |
| align="right" | 55–59
| align="right" | 117 622 | align="right" | 123 171 | align="right" | 240 793 | align="right" | 3.33 |
| align="right" | 60–64
| align="right" | 90 651 | align="right" | 97 330 | align="right" | 187 982 | align="right" | 2.60 |
| align="right" | 65–69
| align="right" | 62 968 | align="right" | 66 823 | align="right" | 129 791 | align="right" | 1.79 |
| align="right" | 70–74
| align="right" | 40 691 | align="right" | 45 525 | align="right" | 86 216 | align="right" | 1.19 |
| align="right" | 75–79
| align="right" | 23 916 | align="right" | 28 997 | align="right" | 52 912 | align="right" | 0.73 |
| align="right" | 80+
| align="right" | 22 928 | align="right" | 30 908 | align="right" | 53 836 | align="right" | 0.74 |
| width="50"|Age group
! width="80pt"|Male ! width="80"|Female ! width="80"|Total ! width="50"|Per cent |
| align="right" | 0–14
| align="right" | 1,161,502 | align="right" | 1,128,563 | align="right" | 2,290,065 | align="right" | 31.67 |
| align="right" | 15–64
| align="right" | 2,310,991 | align="right" | 2,307,398 | align="right" | 4,618,389 | align="right" | 63.87 |
| align="right" | 65+
| align="right" | 150 503 | align="right" | 172 253 | align="right" | 322 756 | align="right" | 4.46 |
{{Hidden end}}
= UN estimates =
| class="wikitable" style="text-align: right;" |
| width="80pt"|Period{{Cite web|url=https://population.un.org/wpp/|title=World Population Prospects - Population Division - United Nations|website=population.un.org|accessdate=17 December 2024|archive-date=17 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201017012512/https://population.un.org/wpp/|url-status=live}}
! width="80pt"|Live births per year ! width="80pt"|Deaths per year ! width="80pt"|Natural change per year ! width="80pt"|CBR1 ! width="80pt"|CDR1 ! width="80pt"|NC1 ! width="80pt"|TFR1 ! width="80pt"|IMR1 |
|---|
| 1950–1955
| align="right" | 80,000 | align="right" | 37,000 | align="right" | 43,000 | align="right" | 44.8 | align="right" | 20.9 | align="right" | 23.9 | align="right" | 5.94 | align="right" | 167.1 |
| 1955–1960
| align="right" | 87,000 | align="right" | 40,000 | align="right" | 47,000 | align="right" | 43.2 | align="right" | 20.1 | align="right" | 23.1 | align="right" | 5.96 | align="right" | 160.1 |
| 1960–1965
| align="right" | 96,000 | align="right" | 44,000 | align="right" | 52,000 | align="right" | 42.4 | align="right" | 19.3 | align="right" | 23.1 | align="right" | 5.97 | align="right" | 153.5 |
| 1965–1970
| align="right" | 107,000 | align="right" | 47,000 | align="right" | 60,000 | align="right" | 42.3 | align="right" | 18.7 | align="right" | 23.6 | align="right" | 5.98 | align="right" | 147.0 |
| 1970–1975
| align="right" | 122,000 | align="right" | 52,000 | align="right" | 70,000 | align="right" | 42.5 | align="right" | 18.1 | align="right" | 24.4 | align="right" | 5.99 | align="right" | 140.5 |
| 1975–1980
| align="right" | 132,000 | align="right" | 54,000 | align="right" | 78,000 | align="right" | 42.2 | align="right" | 17.2 | align="right" | 25.0 | align="right" | 6.15 | align="right" | 132.4 |
| 1980–1985
| align="right" | 145,000 | align="right" | 56,000 | align="right" | 90,000 | align="right" | 42.2 | align="right" | 16.2 | align="right" | 26.0 | align="right" | 6.36 | align="right" | 122.6 |
| 1985–1990
| align="right" | 165,000 | align="right" | 56,000 | align="right" | 109,000 | align="right" | 42.1 | align="right" | 14.4 | align="right" | 27.7 | align="right" | 6.27 | align="right" | 107.6 |
| 1990–1995
| align="right" | 180,000 | align="right" | 53,000 | align="right" | 127,000 | align="right" | 40.0 | align="right" | 11.9 | align="right" | 28.1 | align="right" | 5.88 | align="right" | 88.3 |
| 1995–2000
| align="right" | 170,000 | align="right" | 48,000 | align="right" | 122,000 | align="right" | 33.6 | align="right" | 9.4 | align="right" | 24.2 | align="right" | 4.81 | align="right" | 70.8 |
| 2000–2005
| align="right" | 154,000 | align="right" | 44,000 | align="right" | 110,000 | align="right" | 29.9 | align="right" | 9.1 | align="right" | 20.8 | align="right" | 3.90 | align="right" | |
| 2005–2010
| align="right" | 144,000 | align="right" | 39,000 | align="right" | 105,000 | align="right" | 28.1 | align="right" | 7.9 | align="right" | 20.2 | align="right" | 3.40 | align="right" | |
| 2010–2015
| align="right" | | align="right" | | align="right" | | align="right" | 25.6 | align="right" | 7.0 | align="right" | 18.6 | align="right" | 2.93 | align="right" | |
| 2015–2020
| align="right" | | align="right" | | align="right" | | align="right" | 23.8 | align="right" | 6.5 | align="right" | 17.3 | align="right" | 2.70 | align="right" | |
| 2020–2025
| align="right" | | align="right" | | align="right" | | align="right" | 21.4 | align="right" | 6.2 | align="right" | 15.2 | align="right" | 2.48 | align="right" | |
| 2025–2030
| align="right" | | align="right" | | align="right" | | align="right" | 19.3 | align="right" | 6.2 | align="right" | 13.1 | align="right" | 2.30 | align="right" | |
| colspan="9"| 1 CBR = crude birth rate (per 1000); CDR = crude death rate (per 1000); NC = natural change (per 1000); TFR = total fertility rate (number of children per woman); IMR = infant mortality rate per 1000 births |
Health
Total fertility rate (TFR) and Crude birth rate (CBR):{{cite news |title=Lao Social Indicator Survey 2011–12 |url=http://www.dhsprogram.com/publications/publication-FR268-Other-Final-Reports.cfm |work=Lao Statistics Bureau |date=1 December 2012 |language=en |archive-date=20 December 2014 |access-date=20 December 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141220235513/http://www.dhsprogram.com/publications/publication-FR268-Other-Final-Reports.cfm |url-status=live }}
| class="wikitable" | |||
| rowspan=2| Year
! colspan=2| Total ! colspan=2| Urban ! colspan=2| Rural | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| CBR | TFR
! CBR | TFR
! CBR | TFR |
| 2011–2012
| style="text-align:right;"| 25 | style="text-align:right;"| 3.2 | style="text-align:right;"| 20 | style="text-align:right;"| 2.2 | style="text-align:right;"| 26 | style="text-align:right;"| 3.6 | |||
| 2017
| style="text-align:right;"| 22 | style="text-align:right;"| 2.7 | style="text-align:right;"| 18 | style="text-align:right;"| 2.1 | style="text-align:right;"| 23 | style="text-align:right;"| 3.0 |
Total fertility rate and other related statistics by province, as of 2011–2012:{{Cite web|url=http://dhsprogram.com/pubs/pdf/FR268/FR268.pdf|title=Lao People's Democratic Republic Special, 2011–12 – Lao Social Indicator Survey (MICS/DHS) Final Report (English)|accessdate=17 December 2024|archive-date=3 March 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240303160413/https://dhsprogram.com/pubs/pdf/fr268/fr268.pdf|url-status=live}}
| class="wikitable sortable" | ||||
| style="width:100pt;"| Province
! style="width:100pt;"| Total fertility rate ! style="width:100pt;"| Percentage of women age 15–49 currently pregnant ! style="width:100pt;"| Mean number of children ever born to women age 40–49 ! style="width:100pt;"| Adolescent birth rate (Age-specific fertility rate for women age 15–19) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vientiane Capital | 2.0 | 3.8 | 3.1 | 37 |
| Phongsaly | 3.7 | 5.2 | 5.0 | 145 |
| Luang Namtha | 2.6 | 4.7 | 4.0 | 124 |
| Oudomxay | 3.6 | 3.9 | 5.7 | 138 |
| Bokeo | 3.6 | 4.9 | 5.0 | 149 |
| Luang Prabang | 3.1 | 5.4 | 5.3 | 95 |
| Huaphan | 3.8 | 5.9 | 5.9 | 137 |
| Xayabury | 2.2 | 3.8 | 3.8 | 83 |
| Xieng Khuang | 3.6 | 4.5 | 6.1 | 101 |
| Vientiane Province | 2.7 | 5.0 | 4.1 | 86 |
| Borikhamxay | 2.8 | 3.9 | 4.4 | 79 |
| Khammouane | 3.7 | 4.5 | 4.9 | 108 |
| Savannakhet | 3.5 | 6.3 | 5.4 | 99 |
| Saravane | 4.3 | 7.5 | 6.0 | 106 |
| Sekong | 4.5 | 6.9 | 5.9 | 107 |
| Champasak | 3.6 | 5.7 | 4.7 | 70 |
| Attapeu | 3.6 | 6.8 | 5.7 | 107 |
= Life expectancy =
| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
!Period !Life expectancy in !Period !Life expectancy in |
| 1950–1955
| 40.9 | 1985–1990 | 52.4 |
| 1955–1960
| 42.4 | 1990–1995 | 54.9 |
| 1960–1965
| 44.0 | 1995–2000 | 57.5 |
| 1965–1970
| 45.5 | 2000–2005 | 60.3 |
| 1970–1975
| 47.0 | 2005–2010 | 63.2 |
| 1975–1980
| 48.4 | 2010–2015 | 65.4 |
| 1980–1985
| 49.9 | | |
Source: UN World Population Prospects{{cite web|url=https://esa.un.org/unpd/wpp/DataQuery/|title=World Population Prospects – Population Division – United Nations|access-date=15 July 2017|archive-date=19 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160919061238/https://esa.un.org/unpd/wpp/DataQuery/|url-status=live}}
Ethnic groups
{{See|List of ethnic groups in Laos}}
File:Distribution of ethno-linguistic groups in Laos.png, Mon-Khmer, Hmung-lu Mien, Sino-Tibetan)]]
Image:LaosDSCN4342a.jpg, a woman at the time of a Hmong Meeting Festival.]]
Some specialists are in agreement as to the ethnolinguistic classification of the ethnic groups of Laos.{{Cite web |url=http://www.asianlii.org/asia/other/ADBLPRes/2006/4.pdf |title=Indigenous Peoples Development Planning Document |access-date=4 November 2011 |archive-date=30 September 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110930061646/http://www.asianlii.org/asia/other/ADBLPRes/2006/4.pdf |url-status=live }} For the purposes of the 1995 census, the government of Laos recognised 149 ethnic groups within 47 main ethnicities. whereas the Lao Front for National Construction (LFNC) recently revised the list to include 49 ethnicities consisting of over 160 ethnic groups.
The term ethnic minorities is used by some to classify the non-Lao ethnic groups, while the term indigenous peoples is not used by the Lao PDR. These 160 ethnic groups speak a total of 82 living languages.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ethnologue.com/show_country.asp|title=Redirecting...|website=www.ethnologue.com|accessdate=17 December 2024|archive-date=16 December 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241216035022/https://www.ethnologue.com/show_country.asp|url-status=live}}
Lao 53.2%, Khmu 11%, Hmong 9.2%, and other (over 100 minor ethnic groups) 26.6% (2015 census).{{cite web|url=https://lao.unfpa.org/sites/default/files/pub-pdf/PHC-ENG-FNAL-WEB_0.pdf|title=Results of Population and Housing Census 2015|publisher=Lao Statistics Bureau|access-date=1 May 2020|archive-date=8 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308153132/https://lao.unfpa.org/sites/default/files/pub-pdf/PHC-ENG-FNAL-WEB_0.pdf|url-status=live}}
| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ Population of Laos according to ethnic group in 1985, 1995, 2005, and 2015 |
| bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! rowspan="2" | Ethnic ! rowspan="2" | Language ! colspan="2" | census 1985Schliesinger, Joachim. White Lotus Press. Bangkok. 2003 |
| bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! Number ! % ! Number ! % ! Number ! % ! Number ! % |
| Lao
| align="right" | 1,804,101 | align="right" | | align="right" | 2,403,891 | align="right" | 52.5 | align="right" | 3,067,005 | align="right" | 54.6 | align="right" | 3,427,665 | align="right" | 53.2 |
| Khmu (Keummeu)
| align="right" | 389,694 | align="right" | | align="right" | 500,957 | align="right" | 11.0 | align="right" | 613,893 | align="right" | 10.9 | align="right" | 708,412 | align="right" | 11.0 |
| Hmong (Mong)
| align="right" | 231,168 | align="right" | | align="right" | 315,465 | align="right" | 6.9 | align="right" | 415,946 | align="right" | 8.0 | align="right" | 595,028 | align="right" | 9.2 |
| Thai (Tai)
| align="right" | 1,459 | align="right" | | align="right" | | align="right" | | align="right" | 215,254 | align="right" | 3.8 | align="right" | 201,576 | align="right" | 3.1 |
| Tai Nuea
| align="right" | | align="right" | | align="right" | | align="right" | | align="right" | 14,799 | align="right" | | align="right" | 11,622 | align="right" | 0.2 |
| Puthai (Phuthai or Phouthay)
| align="right" | 441,497 | align="right" | | align="right" | 472,458 | align="right" | 10.3 | align="right" | 187,391 | align="right" | 3.3 | align="right" | 218,108 | align="right" | 3.4 |
| Lü (Lue or Leu)
| align="right" | 102,760 | align="right" | | align="right" | 119,191 | align="right" | 2.6 | align="right" | 123,054 | align="right" | 2.2 | align="right" | 126,229 | align="right" | 2.0 |
| Katang
| align="right" | 72,391 | align="right" | | align="right" | 95,440 | align="right" | 2.1 | align="right" | 118,276 | align="right" | 2.1 | align="right" | 144,255 | align="right" | 2.2 |
| Makong (So) (Bru)
| align="right" | 70,382 | align="right" | | align="right" | 92,321 | align="right" | 2.0 | align="right" | 117,872 | align="right" | 2.1 | align="right" | 163,285 | align="right" | 2.5 |
| Akha (Kor)
| align="right" | 57,500 | align="right" | | align="right" | 66,108 | align="right" | 1.4 | align="right" | 90,698 | align="right" | 1.6 | align="right" | 112,979 | align="right" | 1.8 |
| Yrou (Laven, Loven, Jru', Yuroo)
| align="right" | 28,057 | align="right" | | align="right" | 40,519 | align="right" | 0.9 | align="right" | 47,175 | align="right" | 0.8 | align="right" | 56,411 | align="right" | 0.9 |
| Xuay (Juk, Suai, Kui, Kuy, Suay, or Shuay)
| align="right" | 49,059 | align="right" | | align="right" | 45,498 | align="right" | 1.0 | align="right" | 42,834 | align="right" | 0.8 | align="right" | 46,592 | align="right" | 0.7 |
| Singsily (Phounoy) (Singsiri)
| align="right" | 23,618 | align="right" | | align="right" | 35,635 | align="right" | 0.8 | align="right" | 37,447 | align="right" | 0.7 | align="right" | 39,192 | align="right" | 0.6 |
| Duon (Nhuon, Nghieu, San
| | align="right" | 33,240 | align="right" | | align="right" | | align="right" | | align="right" | | align="right" | | align="right" | | align="right" | |
| Taoey (Ta-oy)
| align="right" | 24,577 | align="right" | | align="right" | 30,876 | align="right" | 0.7 | align="right" | 32,177 | align="right" | 0.6 | align="right" | 45,991 | align="right" | 0.7 |
| Nguan (Nguồn, Ngoaun, Nguane, Nguan or Nguane)
| align="right" | 988 | align="right" | | align="right" | | align="right" | | align="right" | 29,442 | align="right" | 0.5 | align="right" | 27,779 | align="right" | 0.4 |
| Iewmien (Yao, Ewmien, Mien, Ilmearn)
| align="right" | 18,091 | align="right" | | align="right" | 22,665 | align="right" | 0.5 | align="right" | 27,449 | align="right" | 0.5 | align="right" | 32,400 | align="right" | 0.5 |
| Phong
| align="right" | 18,165 | align="right" | | align="right" | 21,395 | align="right" | 0.5 | align="right" | 26,314 | align="right" | 0.5 | align="right" | 30,696 | align="right" | 0.5 |
| Brao (Larvae)
| align="right" | 16,434 | align="right" | | align="right" | 17,544 | align="right" | 0.4 | align="right" | 22,772 | align="right" | 0.4 | align="right" | 26,010 | align="right" | 0.4 |
| Katu
| align="right" | 14,676 | align="right" | | align="right" | 17,024 | align="right" | 0.4 | align="right" | 22,759 | align="right" | 0.4 | align="right" | 28,378 | align="right" | 0.4 |
| Oey (Oy or Oi)
| align="right" | 11,194 | align="right" | | align="right" | 14,947 | align="right" | 0.3 | align="right" | 22,458 | align="right" | 0.4 | align="right" | 23,513 | align="right" | 0.4 |
| Pray (Prai)
| align="right" | | align="right" | | align="right" | 0.3 | align="right" | 21,922 | align="right" | 0.4 | align="right" | 28,732 | align="right" | 0.4 |
| Lamed (Lamet)
| align="right" | 14,355 | align="right" | | align="right" | 16,740 | align="right" | 0.3 | align="right" | 19,827 | align="right" | 0.4 | align="right" | 22,383 | align="right" | 0.3 |
| Lahu (Musir, Mussor, Lahoo, or Lahou)
| align="right" | 9,200 | align="right" | | align="right" | 8,702 | align="right" | 0.2 | align="right" | 15,238 | align="right" | 0.3 | align="right" | 19,187 | align="right" | 0.3 |
| Kriang (Griang, Grieng, Ngae, or Ngeh)
| align="right" | 8,917 | align="right" | | align="right" | 12,189 | align="right" | 0.3 | align="right" | 12,879 | align="right" | 0.2 | align="right" | 16,807 | align="right" | 0.2 |
| Hor (Haw, Ho, Hoa, Chin Haw, Yunnanese, Yunnanese Chinese, or Panthay)
| align="right" | 6,361 | align="right" | | align="right" | 8,900 | align="right" | 0.2 | align="right" | 10,437 | align="right" | 0.2 | align="right" | 12,098 | align="right" | 0.2 |
| Xingmoon (Puoc, Sing Mun, Xinhmun, or Xingmoun)
| align="right" | 2,164 | align="right" | | align="right" | 5,834 | align="right" | 0.1 | align="right" | 8,565 | align="right" | 0.2 | align="right" | 9,874 | align="right" | 0.2 |
| Jeng (Cheng, Ceng, Chieng, Chenh, Jeng)
| align="right" | 4,540 | align="right" | | align="right" | 6,511 | align="right" | 0.1 | align="right" | 7,559 | align="right" | 0.1 | align="right" | 8,688 | align="right" | 0.1 |
| Nhaheun (Nyaheun, Nahoen, Nha Heun, Nha Hon, Nya Hoen, Ngahearn, Nhahem)
| align="right" | 3,960 | align="right" | | align="right" | 5,152 | align="right" | 0.1 | align="right" | 6,785 | align="right" | 0.1 | align="right" | 8,976 | align="right" | 0.1 |
| Kmer (Khmer, Kamer, Khome)
| align="right" | 169 | align="right" | | align="right" | 3,902 | align="right" | 0.1 | align="right" | 5,825 | align="right" | 0.1 | align="right" | 7,141 | align="right" | 0.1 |
| Toum (Tum, Hung)
| align="right" | 2,042 | align="right" | | align="right" | 2,510 | align="right" | 0.05 | align="right" | 4,458 | align="right" | 0.08 | align="right" | 3,632 | align="right" | 0.05 |
| Xaek (Saek or Sairk)
| align="right" | 2,459 | align="right" | | align="right" | 2,745 | align="right" | 0.06 | align="right" | 3,733 | align="right" | 0.07 | align="right" | 3,841 | align="right" | 0.05 |
| Samtao (Sam Tao)
| align="right" | 2,359 | align="right" | | align="right" | 2,213 | align="right" | 0.05 | align="right" | 3,533 | align="right" | 0.06 | align="right" | 3,417 | align="right" | 0.05 |
| Sila (Sida or Syla)
| align="right" | 1,538 | align="right" | | align="right" | 1,772 | align="right" | 0.04 | align="right" | 2,939 | align="right" | 0.05 | align="right" | 3,151 | align="right" | 0.05 |
| Tri (Chali, Cali, or So Tri)
| align="right" | 20,902 | align="right" | | align="right" | 20,906 | align="right" | 0.5 | align="right" | 26,680 | align="right" | 0.05 | align="right" | 37,446 | align="right" | 0.6 |
| Harak (Alak, Alack, Hahak)
| align="right" | 13,217 | align="right" | | align="right" | 16,594 | align="right" | 0.4 | align="right" | 21,280 | align="right" | 0.04 | align="right" | 25,430 | align="right" | 0.4 |
| Bid (Bit)
| align="right" | 1,530 | align="right" | | align="right" | 1,509 | align="right" | 0.03 | align="right" | 1,691 | align="right" | 0.03 | align="right" | 2,372 | align="right" | 0.04 |
| Lolo (Alu)
| align="right" | 842 | align="right" | | align="right" | 1,407 | align="right" | 0.03 | align="right" | 1,691 | align="right" | 0.03 | align="right" | 2,203 | align="right" | 0.03 |
| Pako (Pacoh)
| align="right" | 12,923 | align="right" | | align="right" | 13,224 | align="right" | 0.3 | align="right" | 16,750 | align="right" | 0.03 | align="right" | 22,640 | align="right" | 0.4 |
| Lavy (Lavi)
| align="right" | 584 | align="right" | | align="right" | 538 | align="right" | 0.01 | align="right" | 1,193 | align="right" | 0.02 | align="right" | 1,215 | align="right" | 0.02 |
| Yae (Jeh, Gie, Yerh)
| align="right" | 3,376 | align="right" | | align="right" | 8,013 | align="right" | 0.2 | align="right" | 10,570 | align="right" | 0.02 | align="right" | 11,452 | align="right" | 0.2 |
| Sadang (Sedang, Sdang, Gayong)
| align="right" | 520 | align="right" | | align="right" | 786 | align="right" | 0.02 | align="right" | 938 | align="right" | 0.02 | align="right" | 898 | align="right" | 0.01 |
| Hanyi (Hayi or Hayee)
| align="right" | 727 | align="right" | | align="right" | 1,122 | align="right" | 0.02 | align="right" | 848 | align="right" | 0.02 | align="right" | 741 | align="right" | 0.01 |
| Guan (Kuan or Tai Guan)
| align="right" | | align="right" | | align="right" | | align="right" | | align="right" | 722 | align="right" | 0.01 | align="right" | 886 | align="right" | 0.01 |
| Oedou (Ơ Đu, Adoo)
| align="right" | | align="right" | | align="right" | | align="right" | | align="right" | 649 | align="right" | 0.01 | align="right" | 602 | align="right" | 0.01 |
| Yang (Giáy, Nhang, Dang, or Niang)
| align="right" | | align="right" | | align="right" | 4,630 | align="right" | 0.1 | align="right" | 616 | align="right" | 0.01 | align="right" | 5,843 | align="right" | 0.1 |
| Moy
| | align="right" | | align="right" | | align="right" | | align="right" | | align="right" | 534 | align="right" | 0.01 | align="right" | 789 | align="right" | 0.01 |
| Thin (Mal, Htin, or Thein)
| align="right" | 13,977 | align="right" | | align="right" | 23,193 | align="right" | 0.51 | align="right" | 514 | align="right" | 0.01 | align="right" | | align="right" | |
| Kree (Kri)
| align="right" | 110 | align="right" | | align="right" | 739 | align="right" | 0.02 | align="right" | 495 | align="right" | 0.01 | align="right" | 1,067 | align="right" | 0.02 |
| Trieng (Talieng, Tariang, Caliang, or Treang)
| align="right" | 23,665 | align="right" | | align="right" | 23,091 | align="right" | 0.5 | align="right" | 29,134 | align="right" | 0.5 | align="right" | 38,407 | align="right" | 0.6 |
| Kui (Yellow Lahu)
| align="right" | 6,493 | align="right" | | align="right" | 6,268 | align="right" | 0.1 | align="right" | | align="right" | | align="right" | | align="right" | |
| Khir
| | align="right" | | align="right" | | align="right" | 1,639 | align="right" | 0.04 | align="right" | | align="right" | | align="right" | | align="right" | |
| Numbri (Yumbri, Mlabri, or Yhumbri)
| align="right" | 67 | align="right" | | align="right" | | align="right" | | align="right" | | align="right" | | align="right" | | align="right" | |
| Yung
| | align="right" | | align="right" | | align="right" | | align="right" | | align="right" | 6,160 | align="right" | | align="right" | | align="right" | |
| Thaen
| | align="right" | | align="right" | | align="right" | | align="right" | | align="right" | | align="right" | | align="right" | 828 | align="right" | 0.01 |
| Mone (Meuang or Mon)
| | align="right" | 2,022 | align="right" | | align="right" | 217 | align="right" | 0.00 | align="right" | | align="right" | | align="right" | | align="right" | |
| Vietnamese
| | align="right" | 12,086 | align="right" | | align="right" | | align="right" | | align="right" | | align="right" | | align="right" | | align="right" | |
| Chinese
| | align="right" | 2,624 | align="right" | | align="right" | | align="right" | | align="right" | | align="right" | | align="right" | | align="right" | |
| Thai
| | align="right" | 1,459 | align="right" | | align="right" | | align="right" | | align="right" | | align="right" | | align="right" | | align="right" | |
| Cambodian
| | align="right" | 274 | align="right" | | align="right" | | align="right" | | align="right" | | align="right" | | align="right" | | align="right" | |
| Burmese
| | align="right" | 185 | align="right" | | align="right" | | align="right" | | align="right" | | align="right" | | align="right" | | align="right" | |
| Indian
| | align="right" | 44 | align="right" | | align="right" | | align="right" | | align="right" | | align="right" | | align="right" | | align="right" | |
| French
| | align="right" | 13 | align="right" | | align="right" | | align="right" | | align="right" | | align="right" | | align="right" | | align="right" | |
| colspan="2" | Others & not stated
| align="right" | 11,277 | align="right" | | align="right" | 19,285 | align="right" | 0.4 | align="right" | 67,175 | align="right" | 1.2 | align="right" | | align="right" | |
| bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! align="left" colspan="2" | Total ! colspan="2" | 3,584,803 ! colspan="2" | 4,574,848 ! colspan="2" | 5,621,982 ! colspan="2" | 6,446,690 |
References
{{reflist|30em}}
Sources
- [https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/laos/ CIA World Factbook]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20101210081549/http://www.nsc.gov.la/ Lao Statistics Bureau]
{{Asia in topic|Demographics of}}
{{Laos topics}}