MigrantoLaotian Diaspora
660.3K Laotians live abroad — the #90 largest diaspora in the world
Where emigrants go
The top 3 countries receive 88% of all emigrants
↑↓ — change vs 2020
| Country | Emigrants |
|---|---|
| Thailand | 285819 |
| USA | 176588 |
| Bangladesh | 118769 |
| France | 36591 |
| Canada | 13292 |
| Australia | 11771 |
| China | 9927 |
| Japan | 3865 |
| French Guiana | 1049 |
| New Caledonia | 656 |
| Argentina | 618 |
| Cambodia | 294 |
| Egypt | 235 |
| Chile | 207 |
| Norway | 145 |
| Hungary | 123 |
| Denmark | 83 |
| Finland | 66 |
| Luxembourg | 59 |
| Liechtenstein | 43 |
| Greece | 42 |
| Slovakia | 5 |
| Costa Rica | 5 |
| Lithuania | 3 |
| Slovenia | 2 |
| Cyprus | 1 |
| Mongolia | 0 |
| Bulgaria | 0 |
| Iceland | 0 |
| Bolivia | 0 |
By destination region
Asia is the leading destination region at 63%
418.7K
189.9K
37.2K
12.4K
1.9K
235
1
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Interesting facts
Notable statistics about emigration from Laos.
Thailand is the primary destination for emigrants
Thailand attracts 43% of all emigrants from Laos, while the second-largest destination receives just 27%.
The share of emigrants going to Asia has grown since 1990
The share of emigrants going to Asia has shifted from 20.8% to 63.4% since 1990.
Emigration destinations have diversified since 1990
The top destination's share fell from 56% to 43%, indicating a broader spread of emigration patterns.
Top emigration destinations have shifted significantly since 1990
3 new countries have entered the top 20 destinations: Finland, Luxembourg, Liechtenstein — Finland rose from outside the top 20 to rank #18.
How emigration changed over time
Total emigrant population by year
| Year | Emigrants |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 311756 |
| 1995 | 359736 |
| 2000 | 363370 |
| 2005 | 471052 |
| 2010 | 563709 |
| 2015 | 598860 |
| 2020 | 609093 |
| 2024 | 660258 |
Top destinations over time
Emigration to the 5 largest destination countries
| Year | Thailand | USA | Bangladesh | France | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 163 | 174596 | 58722 | 44300 | 14464 |
| 1995 | 162 | 224976 | 59555 | 42872 | 14307 |
| 2000 | 33729 | 197031 | 60387 | 41746 | 14135 |
| 2005 | 125074 | 201179 | 71878 | 41689 | 14438 |
| 2010 | 216419 | 191464 | 83217 | 40198 | 14529 |
| 2015 | 243185 | 194279 | 88155 | 39013 | 14617 |
| 2020 | 265386 | 178574 | 86447 | 37967 | 14058 |
| 2024 | 285819 | 176588 | 118769 | 36591 | 13292 |
Fastest-changing destinations
How emigration to each country has changed since the selected year
Laos as an emigration source
Share of immigrants in each country who originate from Laos
Data source: International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division)
Frequently asked questions
Where do Laotians move to?
Most Laotians have moved to Thailand, USA and Bangladesh — these three countries account for about 88% of all Laotians living abroad.
How many Laotians live abroad?
Around 660.3K Laotians live abroad, making it the #90-largest emigrant population in the world.
What share of the population of Laos lives abroad?
About 8% of the population of Laos lives abroad — that's 660.3K out of a total population of 7.8M.
How has emigration from Laos changed over the past decade?
Over the past decade, the emigrant population from Laos has grown from 598.9K to 660.3K people, a growth of about 10%.
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