Indicator	Value
Total population	7,770,000 peopleUN DESA WPP [2024] 7,770,000 people·World Bank WDI [2024] 7,770,000 people
Median age	24.6 yearsUN DESA WPP [2024]
Life expectancy	69–69.2 yearsWorld Bank WDI [2024] 69.23 years·UNDP HDI [2023] 68.96 years
Ethnic groups	Lao 53.2%, Khmou 11%, Hmong 9.2%, Phouthay 3.4%, Tai 3.1%, Makong 2.5%, Katong 2.2%, Lue 2%, Akha 1.8%, other 11.6% (2015 est.); note: the Laos Government officially recognizes 49 ethnic groups, but the total number of ethnic groups is estimated to be well over 200CIA World Factbook [2025] · 2026 archive
Languages	Lao (official), French, English, various ethnic languagesCIA World Factbook [2025] · 2026 archive
Religions	Buddhist 64.7%, Christian 1.7%, none 31.4%, other/not stated 2.1% (2015 est.)CIA World Factbook [2025] · 2026 archive
Urbanization	38.2% of total population (2023)CIA World Factbook [2025] · 2026 archive
Population growth	1.36 %World Bank WDI [2024]
Birth rate	20.9 per 1,000World Bank WDI [2024]
Death rate	6.19 per 1,000World Bank WDI [2024]
Urban population	39.6 %World Bank WDI [2024]
Languages (structured)	Akeu / Akha / Alak / Arem / Bantang / Bisu / Bit / Biyo / Brao / Cauho / Central Khmer / Chepya / Chut / Con / Cosao / Eastern Bru / Eastern Katu / Halang / Halang Doan / Hani / Hmong Daw / Hmong Njua / Hung / Ir / Iu Mien / Jeh / Kaduo / Kang / Khlor / Khmu / Khua / Khuen / Khün / Kim Mun / Kiorr / Kriang-Khlor / Ksingmul / Kuan / Kuy / Lahu / Lahu Shi / Lamet / Lao / Laopang / Laos Sign Language / Laven / Lawi / Lower Ta'oih / Lua' / Luma / Lü / Mal / Maleng / Mandarin Chinese / Mlabri / Mok / Muak / Nguôn / Northeastern Thai / Northern Katang / Northern Thai / Nung (Viet Nam) / Nyaheun / O'du / Ong-Ir / Oy / Pacoh / Phana' / Phong-Kniang / Phu Thai / Phuan / Phunoi / Prai / Pray 3 / Pu Ko / Rien / Saek / Samtao / Sapuan / Sedang / Sila / Sou / Southern Katang / Sô / Tai Daeng-Meuay / Tai Dam / Tai Do-Mene-Yo / Tai Dón / Tai Nüa / Tai Pao / Tai Pao (Retired) / Tai Thanh / Talieng / Tampuan / Tareng / Tay Khang / Thavung / The / Theen / Trieng / Ts'ün-Lao / Upper Ta'oih / Vietnamese / Western Bru / Western Katu / YoyGlottolog [2026]