MigrantoMigration trends in Laos
Asia
660.3K people from Laos have built lives abroad. That's 8.5% of the country population, spread across 30 different countries
7.8M
Population
47.6K
Immigrants
660.3K
Emigrants
−612.7K
Outflow
1 in every 13 people born in Laos now lives abroad
The #90 largest source of emigrants worldwide
Top corridors
The largest migration routes in Laos
Key moments
How migration has changed since 1990
1990
22.1K immigrants · 311.8K emigrants
2005
- Surge of departures to Thailand — 91.3K people left
2010
- Thailand replaced USA as the main destination for those leaving
- A surge of arrivals — the foreign-born population jumped 78%
- The diaspora abroad passed 500K people
Today
- Since 1990: roughly the same number of foreign-born residents and 348.5K more citizens living abroad
Data source: International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division)
Ask Migo
Tap a question — our AI assistant answers it in chat, with real migration data
Where to live?
Match a country to your priorities
Living in Laos
See the full country overview