> > World Population >> Asia >> Southeast Asia
Laos Population and religion percentage
Laos, officially the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, is a socialist state and the only landlocked country in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by Myanmar and China to the northwest, Vietnam to the east, Cambodia to the southeast, and Thailand to the west and southwest.
As per the UN World Population Prospects report, the estimated population of Laos in 2026 is 7,938,533 (8 million or 80 lakh)
Laos Location on Map
Demographics
| Laos | 2026 Estimates |
| Total Population | 7,938,533 |
| Growth rate | 1.37% |
| Land Area | 230,800 sq. km (89,112 sq. mi) |
| Area Rank | 82 |
| Pop. Density | 34 people/sq. km |
| Capital City | Vientiane |
| Fertility Rate | 2.36 |
| Infant mortality rate | 30.3 |
| Median Age | 25 Years |
| Life Expectancy | 69 years |
| Urban Population | 38.3 % |
Source: UN World Population Prospects
Religion in Laos
Buddhism is the majority religion in Laos, and it’s practiced by 66% of the population. Most Buddhists in Laos adhere to Theravada Buddhism. Next comes folk religions, 30.7%% of Lao’s population follows folk religions, including Taoism, Confucianism, or Irreligious.
Christianity is the third largest religion and is followed by around 1.5% of the population. Other religions are at a very low percentage and include Islam, Jews, and the Baha’i Faith.
Religion percentage in Laos
| Religion | Percentage |
| Buddhism | 66.00% |
| Folk religions | 30.70% |
| Christianity | 1.50% |
| Islam | 0.10% |
| Jewish | 0.10% |
| other/not stated | 1.60% |
Source: Pew Research Center
Ethnic Groups in Laos
Laos is a country in which more than half of the population is made up of ethnic Lao people. The Lao are the principal lowland inhabitants and are considered the dominant people of Laos from a cultural and political perspective. They belong to the Tai linguistic group and began migrating south from China in the first millennium CE.
In the central and southern mountains, there are Mon-Khmer-speaking groups known as Lao Theung or mid-slope Laotians. These groups are predominantly Khmu, Khamu (Kammu), or Kha, which indicates their Austroasiatic language affiliation. There are also minorities such as Vietnamese, Laotian, Chinese, and Thai people who reside in the towns. Other small numbers include the Hill people and minority cultures of Laos, such as the Hmong, Yao (Mien) (Hmong-Mien), Dao, Shan, and several Tibeto-Burman-speaking peoples.
Ethnic Percentage
- Lao – 53.2%
- Khmu – 11%
- Hmong – 9.2%
- Puthai – 3.4%
- Thai – 3.1%
- Makong – 2.5%
- Katang – 2.2%
- Tai Lu – 2%
- Akha – 1.8%
- Others – 11.6%
Source: Census 2015
Largest Cities in Laos by Population
| # | City | Population |
| 1 | Vientiane | 8,20,940 |
| 2 | Savannakhet | 1,20,000 |
| 3 | Pakxe | 1,19,848 |
| 4 | Thakhek | 85,000 |
| 5 | Luang Prabang | 55,027 |
| 6 | Xam Neua | 46,800 |
| 7 | Phonsavan | 37,507 |
| 8 | Muang Pakxan | 27,404 |
| 9 | Vang Vieng | 25,000 |
| 10 | Muang Xai | 25,000 |