MigrantoMigration trends in Laos
Asia
Laos loses more people than it takes in: 660.3K emigrants against 47.6K immigrants. Net balance −612.7K — 8% of the country's population
7.8M
Population
47.6K
Immigrants
660.3K
Emigrants
−612.7K
Outflow
1 in 163 residents of Laos was born abroad — and 1 in 13 people born in Laos lives abroad
#90 in the world by net migration loss
Top corridors
The largest migration flows 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 passed 500K people
Today
- Since 1990: roughly the same number of foreign-born residents and 348.5K more emigrants
Data source: International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division)
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