MigrantoImmigrants in Laos
47.6K foreign-born residents — the #161 largest immigrant population in the world
Where immigrants come from
The top 3 countries account for 85% of all immigrants
| Country | Immigrants |
|---|---|
| Vietnam | 21400 |
| China | 15137 |
| Cambodia | 3871 |
| Thailand | 3718 |
| Myanmar | 3201 |
| Australia | 230 |
By region of origin
Asia is the leading region of origin at 100%
47.3K
230
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Interesting facts
Notable statistics about immigration in Laos.
Vietnam is the leading source of immigration by a wide margin
Vietnam accounts for 45% of all immigrants, far ahead of the second-largest source at just 32%.
Immigration sources have diversified since 1990
The top source country's share fell from 63% to 45%, indicating a broader spread of origins.
How immigration changed over time
Total immigrant population by year
| Year | Immigrants |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 22074 |
| 1995 | 20911 |
| 2000 | 17760 |
| 2005 | 16455 |
| 2010 | 29275 |
| 2015 | 42099 |
| 2020 | 45047 |
| 2024 | 47557 |
Top sources over time
Immigration from the 5 largest source countries
| Year | Vietnam | China | Cambodia | Thailand | Myanmar |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 13852 | 4125 | 1398 | 2277 | 404 |
| 1995 | 13368 | 3743 | 1362 | 2060 | 360 |
| 2000 | 11611 | 3005 | 1197 | 1648 | 282 |
| 2005 | 10717 | 2820 | 1119 | 1538 | 245 |
| 2010 | 14827 | 8110 | 2273 | 2415 | 1540 |
| 2015 | 18938 | 13400 | 3428 | 3293 | 2835 |
| 2020 | 20270 | 14338 | 3667 | 3522 | 3032 |
| 2024 | 21400 | 15137 | 3871 | 3718 | 3201 |
Fastest-changing origins
How immigration from each country has changed since the selected year
Laos as a destination, by diaspora
Share of each country's emigrants who settled in Laos
Data source: International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division)
Frequently asked questions
How many immigrants live in Laos?
Around 47.6K foreign-born residents live in Laos, making it the #161-largest immigrant population in the world.
Where do most immigrants in Laos come from?
Most immigrants in Laos come from Vietnam, China and Cambodia — these three countries account for about 85% of all foreign-born residents.
What share of the population of Laos are immigrants?
Immigrants make up around 1% of the population of Laos — that's 47.6K out of a total population of 7.8M.
How has immigration to Laos changed over the past decade?
Over the past decade, the immigrant population in Laos has grown from 42.1K to 47.6K people, a growth of about 13%.
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