Laos vs United States: Compare Statistics
Side-by-side comparison of 166 key metrics across economy, population, geography, and more — latest data through 2026.
Summary
United States has 43.8 times as many people as Laos (349.13 million vs 7.98 million). United States's economy is 2,362 times the size of Laos's ($32.95 trillion vs $13.95 billion GDP).
Comparing Laos and United States: Laos leads on Major Urban Areas Population (721,000 people) against United States (18.94 people); Laos leads on Refined Petroleum Products Imports (17,460) against United States (2.17); United States leads on Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by Country in Current US Dollars (32.95 trillion $) against Laos (13.95 billion $). Across 166 compared metrics, Laos wins on 56 and United States 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 | 🇱🇦 Laos | 🇺🇸 United States | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fixed Broadband Penetration | 2.72 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants | 38.09 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants★ | |
| Internet Penetration Rate (%) | 65.59 % | 94.69 %★ | |
| Internet Usage Rate by Country (% of Population) | 63.63 % | 93.14 %★ | |
| Internet Users | percent of population: 64% (2023 est.) | percent of population: 93% (2023 est.) | |
| Mobile Internet Speed | 2.72 Mbps | 38.09 Mbps★ | |
| Press Freedom Index Score | 33.22 points | 65.49 points★ | |
| Radios | 730,000★ | 575 | |
| Televisions | 52,000★ | 219 | |
| Waterways | 4,600 | 41,009★ |
Economy
62 metricsEnvironment
11 metrics| Metric | 🇱🇦 Laos | 🇺🇸 United States | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual CO₂ Emissions Growth (abs) | 242,858 | -14.29M★ | |
| Annual Forest Area Change Rate | -35,333.98 %★ | -72,000 % | |
| Average Annual Temperature | 23.2 °C★ | 10.43 °C | |
| Carbon Dioxide Emissions | 23.41 | 4.8★ | |
| Global Precipitation Distribution | 2,107.77 mm★ | 810.4 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 | large urban clusters are spread throughout the eastern half of the US (particularly the Great Lakes area, northeast, east, and southeast) and the western-tier states; mountainous areas such as the Rocky Mountains and Appalachians, deserts in the southwest | |
| Protected Land Area for Adaptation | 18.89 sq km★ | 12.85 sq km | |
| Protected Land Area Percentage | 18.8 %★ | 12.9 % | |
| Total Renewable Groundwater Resources by Country | 37.9 Cubic meters per year | 1,383 Cubic meters per year★ | |
| Total Renewable Water Resources | 333.5★ | 3.07 | |
| Total Threatened Mammal Species | 49 species | 43 species★ |
Geography
7 metrics| Metric | 🇱🇦 Laos | 🇺🇸 United States | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percentage of land area by degree of urbanization | 1.15 % | 2.11 %★ | |
| Above-Ground Biomass in Forest (tonnes/ha) | 121.5★ | 94.67 | |
| Agricultural land | 21,486.6 sq. km | 4.17M sq. km★ | |
| Airports per 1,000 Sq Km | 230,800 | 9.15M★ | |
| Coastline Length (km) | 0 km | 19,924 km★ | |
| Dam capacity per capita | 1,319.14 cubic meters per inhabitant | 2,113 cubic meters per inhabitant★ | |
| Irrigated Land | 4,410 | 234,782★ |
Government
10 metrics| Metric | 🇱🇦 Laos | 🇺🇸 United States | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rule of Law Index by Country | 29.3 % | 88.3 %★ | |
| Administrative Divisions | 17 | 50★ | |
| Corruption Perception Index | 33 index★ | 65 index | |
| Corruption Perceptions Index Score | 33 index | 65 index★ | |
| Independence | 19★ | 4 | |
| LGBT Rights Index Score | 2.07 | 7.08★ | |
| Political Stability Index | 75 index★ | 47 index | |
| Prison Population Rate | 166 per 100,000★ | 642 per 100,000 | |
| Public Sector Corruption Perception | 33★ | 65 | |
| Suffrage Participation Rate | 18 | 18 |
Health
21 metricsMilitary and Security
3 metrics| Metric | 🇱🇦 Laos | 🇺🇸 United States | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Active Military Personnel | 29,000 personnel | 1.36M personnel★ | |
| Military Expenditure (% of GDP) | 0.19 %★ | 4.02 % | |
| Total Armed Forces Personnel (PPP) | 129,000 | 1.40M★ |
People and Society
40 metricsTransportation
2 metrics| Metric | 🇱🇦 Laos | 🇺🇸 United States | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Travel Trips Per Capita (PPP) | 0.26 | 2.06★ | |
| Airports | 20 | 16,116★ |
Travel and Tourism
1 metric| Metric | 🇱🇦 Laos | 🇺🇸 United States | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tourism Receipts per Capita | 1.05B USD | 226.17B USD★ |
Frequently Asked Questions About Laos vs United States
Which has a larger population, Laos or United States?▾
United States. United States has 43.8 times as many people as Laos (349.13 million vs 7.98 million). Data for 2026.
Which has a bigger economy, Laos or United States?▾
United States. United States's economy is 2,362 times the size of Laos's ($32.95 trillion vs $13.95 billion GDP). Data for 2026.
Which is richer per person, Laos or United States?▾
United States is richer per person: GDP per capita is about $94,373 in United States vs $1,749 in Laos (2026 GDP in current US dollars divided by population).