Laos vs Thailand: Compare Statistics
Side-by-side comparison of 166 key metrics across economy, population, geography, and more ā latest data through 2026.
Summary
Thailand has 9.0 times as many people as Laos (71.57 million vs 7.98 million). Thailand's economy is 38.3 times the size of Laos's ($533.67 billion vs $13.95 billion GDP).
Comparing Laos and Thailand: Laos leads on Major Urban Areas Population (721,000 people) against Thailand (11.07 people); Laos leads on Radios (730,000) against Thailand (13.96); Laos leads on Refined Petroleum Products Consumption (18,000) against Thailand (1.33). Across 166 compared metrics, Laos wins on 54 and Thailand wins on 103.
- Communications: 9 metrics compared
- Economy: 62 metrics compared
- Environment: 11 metrics compared
- Geography: 7 metrics compared
- Government: 10 metrics compared
- Health: 21 metrics compared
- Military and Security: 3 metrics compared
- People and Society: 40 metrics compared
- Transportation: 2 metrics compared
- Travel and Tourism: 1 metric compared
Communications
9 metrics| Metric | š±š¦ Laos | š¹š Thailand | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fixed Broadband Penetration | 2.72 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants | 14.51 subscriptions per 100 inhabitantsā | |
| Internet Penetration Rate (%) | 65.59 % | 90.87 %ā | |
| Internet Usage Rate by Country (% of Population) | 63.63 % | 89.54 %ā | |
| Internet Users | percent of population: 64% (2023 est.) | percent of population: 90% (2023 est.) | |
| Mobile Internet Speed | 2.72 Mbps | 14.51 Mbpsā | |
| Press Freedom Index Score | 33.22 points | 56.72 pointsā | |
| Radios | 730,000ā | 13.96 | |
| Televisions | 52,000ā | 15.19 | |
| Waterways | 4,600ā | 4,000 |
Economy
62 metricsEnvironment
11 metrics| Metric | š±š¦ Laos | š¹š Thailand | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual COā Emissions Growth (abs) | 242,858ā | 3.03M | |
| Annual Forest Area Change Rate | -35,333.98 %ā | -138,016.02 % | |
| Average Annual Temperature | 23.2 Ā°C | 26.31 Ā°Cā | |
| Carbon Dioxide Emissions | 23.41ā | 336.69 | |
| Global Precipitation Distribution | 2,107.77 mmā | 1,756.8 mm | |
| 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 | highest population density is found in and around Bangkok; significant population clusters throughout large parts of the country, particularly north and northeast of Bangkok and in the extreme southern region of the country | |
| Protected Land Area for Adaptation | 18.89 sq kmā | 18.37 sq km | |
| Protected Land Area Percentage | 18.8 %ā | 18.4 % | |
| Total Renewable Groundwater Resources by Country | 37.9 Cubic meters per year | 41.9 Cubic meters per yearā | |
| Total Renewable Water Resources | 333.5 | 438.61ā | |
| Total Threatened Mammal Species | 49 speciesā | 64 species |
Geography
7 metrics| Metric | š±š¦ Laos | š¹š Thailand | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percentage of land area by degree of urbanization | 1.15 % | 5.23 %ā | |
| Above-Ground Biomass in Forest (tonnes/ha) | 121.5 | 142.5ā | |
| Agricultural land | 21,486.6 sq. km | 243,086.8 sq. kmā | |
| Airports per 1,000 Sq Km | 230,800 | 510,890ā | |
| Coastline Length (km) | 0 km | 3,219 kmā | |
| Dam capacity per capita | 1,319.14 cubic meters per inhabitantā | 1,098 cubic meters per inhabitant | |
| Irrigated Land | 4,410 | 64,150ā |
Government
10 metrics| Metric | š±š¦ Laos | š¹š Thailand | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rule of Law Index by Country | 29.3 % | 56.88 %ā | |
| Administrative Divisions | 17 | 76ā | |
| Corruption Perception Index | 33 indexā | 34 index | |
| Corruption Perceptions Index Score | 33 index | 34 indexā | |
| Independence | 19 | 123ā | |
| LGBT Rights Index Score | 2.07 | 6.07ā | |
| Political Stability Index | 75 indexā | 36 index | |
| Prison Population Rate | 166 per 100,000ā | 529 per 100,000 | |
| Public Sector Corruption Perception | 33ā | 34 | |
| Suffrage Participation Rate | 18 | 18 |
Health
21 metricsMilitary and Security
3 metrics| Metric | š±š¦ Laos | š¹š Thailand | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Active Military Personnel | 29,000 personnel | 361,000 personnelā | |
| Military Expenditure (% of GDP) | 0.19 %ā | 1.35 % | |
| Total Armed Forces Personnel (PPP) | 129,000 | 455,000ā |
People and Society
40 metricsTransportation
2 metrics| Metric | š±š¦ Laos | š¹š Thailand | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Travel Trips Per Capita (PPP) | 0.26 | 1.01ā | |
| Airports | 20 | 105ā |
Travel and Tourism
1 metric| Metric | š±š¦ Laos | š¹š Thailand | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tourism Receipts per Capita | 1.05B USD | 32.61B USDā |
Frequently Asked Questions About Laos vs Thailand
Which has a larger population, Laos or Thailand?ā¾
Thailand. Thailand has 9.0 times as many people as Laos (71.57 million vs 7.98 million). Data for 2026.
Which has a bigger economy, Laos or Thailand?ā¾
Thailand. Thailand's economy is 38.3 times the size of Laos's ($533.67 billion vs $13.95 billion GDP). Data for 2026.
Which is richer per person, Laos or Thailand?ā¾
Thailand is richer per person: GDP per capita is about $7,456 in Thailand vs $1,749 in Laos (2026 GDP in current US dollars divided by population).