MigrantoLaotian Diaspora
660.3K Laotians live abroad — 8% of the population of Laos
Laotian diaspora by country
The top 3 countries are home to 88% of the diaspora
| 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 region
63% of the diaspora lives in Asia
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Key facts
The Laotian diaspora in numbers
Most Laotians abroad live in Thailand
43% of the diaspora lives in Thailand, while the next country accounts for just 27%.
The share of the diaspora living in Asia has grown since 1990
20.8% of the diaspora lived in Asia in 1990, compared with 63.4% today.
The diaspora is spread more widely than in 1990
The largest country's share fell from 56% to 43%.
The map of the diaspora has changed since 1990
3 countries have entered the top 20 since 1990: Finland, Luxembourg, Liechtenstein. Finland climbed from outside the top 20 to #18.
1 in 12 people born in Laos lives abroad
660.3K people born in Laos now live in other countries — 8.5% of a population of 7.8M.
Laotian diaspora population over time
People living abroad, by year
| Year | Emigrants |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 311756 |
| 1995 | 359736 |
| 2000 | 363370 |
| 2005 | 471052 |
| 2010 | 563709 |
| 2015 | 598860 |
| 2020 | 609093 |
| 2024 | 660258 |
Largest communities over time
Laotians living in the 5 largest countries, by year
| 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 communities
How the number of Laotians in each country has changed since the selected year
Laotians among immigrants in other countries
Where Laotians make up the largest share of a country's immigrants
Data source: International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division)
Frequently asked questions
How many Laotians live outside Laos?
Around 660.3K Laotians live abroad, the world's #90 largest diaspora.
Where do most Laotians abroad live?
Most Laotians live in Thailand, USA and Bangladesh — these three countries account for about 88% of all Laotians living abroad.
Which country has the largest Laotian population outside Laos?
Thailand is home to the largest Laotian community abroad — 285.8K people, about 43% of all Laotians living abroad.
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.
Is the Laotian diaspora growing?
Yes — over the past decade, the number of Laotians living abroad has grown from 598.9K to 660.3K, about 10%.
Where does the data on the Laotian diaspora come from?
The source is International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division). It counts people born in Laos who now live in other countries. Descendants of emigrants born abroad are not included.
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Living in Laos
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