Laos vs Malaysia: Compare Statistics
Side-by-side comparison of 115 key metrics across economy, population, geography, and more ā latest data through 2026.
Summary
Comparing Laos and Malaysia: Laos leads on Major Urban Areas Population (721,000 people) against Malaysia (8.62 people); Laos leads on Radios (730,000) against Malaysia (10.90); Laos leads on Televisions (52,000) against Malaysia (10.80). Across 115 compared metrics, Laos wins on 31 and Malaysia wins on 78.
- Communications: 7 metrics compared
- Economy: 48 metrics compared
- Environment: 6 metrics compared
- Geography: 7 metrics compared
- Government: 5 metrics compared
- Health: 10 metrics compared
- Military and Security: 1 metric compared
- People and Society: 29 metrics compared
- Transportation: 2 metrics compared
Communications
7 metrics| Metric | š±š¦ Laos | š²š¾ Malaysia | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Internet Penetration Rate (%) | 65.59 % | 98.02 %ā | |
| Internet Usage Rate by Country (% of Population) | 63.63 % | 97.69 %ā | |
| Internet Users | percent of population: 64% (2023 est.) | percent of population: 98% (2023 est.) | |
| Press Freedom Index Score | 33.22 points | 56.09 pointsā | |
| Radios | 730,000ā | 10.9 | |
| Televisions | 52,000ā | 10.8 | |
| Waterways | 4,600 | 7,200ā |
Economy
48 metricsEnvironment
6 metrics| Metric | š±š¦ Laos | š²š¾ Malaysia | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual COā Emissions Growth (abs) | 242,858ā | 13.93M | |
| Carbon Dioxide Emissions | 23.41ā | 260.01 | |
| Population Distribution | most densely populated area is in and around the capital city of Vientiane; large communities are primarily found along the Mekong River along the southwestern border; overall density is considered one of the lowest in Southeast Asia | a highly uneven distribution, with over 80% of the population residing on the Malay Peninsula | |
| Protected Land Area for Adaptation | 18.89 sq kmā | 13.3 sq km | |
| Total Renewable Groundwater Resources by Country | 37.9 Cubic meters per year | 64 Cubic meters per yearā | |
| Total Renewable Water Resources | 333.5 | 580ā |
Geography
7 metrics| Metric | š±š¦ Laos | š²š¾ Malaysia | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percentage of land area by degree of urbanization | 1.15 % | 4.11 %ā | |
| Above-Ground Biomass in Forest (tonnes/ha) | 121.5 | 209.87ā | |
| Agricultural land | 21,486.6 sq. km | 85,710 sq. kmā | |
| Airports per 1,000 Sq Km | 230,800 | 328,550ā | |
| Coastline Length (km) | 0 km | 4,675 kmā | |
| Dam capacity per capita | 1,319.14 cubic meters per inhabitantā | 611.58 cubic meters per inhabitant | |
| Irrigated Land | 4,410 | 4,420ā |
Government
5 metrics| Metric | š±š¦ Laos | š²š¾ Malaysia | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rule of Law Index by Country | 29.3 % | 67.87 %ā | |
| Administrative Divisions | 17ā | 13 | |
| Independence | 19 | 31ā | |
| Political Stability Index | 75 indexā | 51 index | |
| Suffrage Participation Rate | 18 | 18 |
Health
10 metrics| Metric | š±š¦ Laos | š²š¾ Malaysia | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Access to Safe Drinking Water | 35.19 % | 94.7 %ā | |
| Diabetes Prevalence (% of Population) | 6.7 | 21.1ā | |
| Health Care Spending per Capita | 106.37 USD | 1,703.34 USDā | |
| Health Expenditure (% of GDP) | 2.7 % of GDP | 4.4 % of GDPā | |
| HIV/AIDS Adult Prevalence Rate | 0.3 % | 0.3 % | |
| Hospital Bed Density | 1.3 people/sq km | 2 people/sq kmā | |
| Maternal Mortality Ratio (%) | 112 % | 26 %ā | |
| Obesity Adult Prevalence Rate (%) | 5.3 %ā | 15.6 % | |
| People Living With HIV/AIDS | 15,000ā | 92,000 | |
| Underweight Children Under 5 | 24.3 | 15.3ā |
Military and Security
1 metric| Metric | š±š¦ Laos | š²š¾ Malaysia | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Armed Forces Personnel (PPP) | 129,000 | 136,000ā |
People and Society
29 metricsTransportation
2 metrics| Metric | š±š¦ Laos | š²š¾ Malaysia | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Travel Trips Per Capita (PPP) | 0.26 | 1.58ā | |
| Airports | 20 | 100ā |