Air passengers in Laos
Laos: Air passengers was 842,280 in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Air passengers in Laos, 1970–2023
Source: International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for air passengers in Laos is 842,280, measured in 2023.
The figure is up 82.4% on the previous year and down 43.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, air passengers in Laos peaked at 1.48 million in 2013 and was at its lowest, 12,000, in 1978.
That places Laos 103rd out of 183 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Air passengers in Laos, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 55,900 | — |
| 1971 | 42,000 | -24.9% |
| 1972 | 43,000 | +2.4% |
| 1973 | 44,500 | +3.5% |
| 1974 | 45,000 | +1.1% |
| 1975 | 45,000 | +0.0% |
| 1976 | 45,000 | +0.0% |
| 1977 | 30,000 | -33.3% |
| 1978 | 12,000 | -60.0% |
| 1979 | 13,000 | +8.3% |
| 1980 | 13,000 | +0.0% |
| 1981 | 14,500 | +11.5% |
| 1982 | 14,700 | +1.4% |
| 1983 | 14,000 | -4.8% |
| 1984 | 15,700 | +12.1% |
| 1985 | 15,800 | +0.6% |
| 1986 | 24,500 | +55.1% |
| 1987 | 45,000 | +83.7% |
| 1988 | 47,500 | +5.6% |
| 1989 | 49,600 | +4.4% |
| 1990 | 115,400 | +132.7% |
| 1991 | 115,400 | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 118,500 | +2.7% |
| 1993 | 118,500 | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 118,500 | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 124,500 | +5.1% |
| 1996 | 124,500 | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 124,500 | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 124,100 | -0.3% |
| 1999 | 197,200 | +58.9% |
| 2000 | 210,847 | +6.9% |
| 2001 | 210,847 | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 219,598 | +4.2% |
| 2003 | 218,652 | -0.4% |
| 2004 | 271,706 | +24.3% |
| 2005 | 293,442 | +8.0% |
| 2006 | 326,730 | +11.3% |
| 2007 | 328,326 | +0.5% |
| 2008 | 323,401 | -1.5% |
| 2009 | 302,596 | -6.4% |
| 2010 | 443,778 | +46.7% |
| 2011 | 532,707 | +20.0% |
| 2012 | 877,950 | +64.8% |
| 2013 | 1.48 million | +68.2% |
| 2014 | 1.31 million | -11.3% |
| 2015 | 1.18 million | -9.8% |
| 2016 | 1.22 million | +3.3% |
| 2017 | 1.20 million | -2.0% |
| 2018 | 1.01 million | -15.6% |
| 2019 | 979,307 | -3.0% |
| 2020 | 386,950 | -60.5% |
| 2021 | 157,293 | -59.4% |
| 2022 | 461,727 | +193.5% |
| 2023 | 842,280 | +82.4% |
Laos compared with similar countries
- Laos's 842,280 is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 690,677, 1.2× the median. (45 countries reporting)
- Laos's 842,280 is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 2.05 million, 41% of the median. (29 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Air passengers in Laos changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | +193.5% | 157,293 | 461,727 |
| 1990 | +132.7% | 49,600 | 115,400 |
| 1987 | +83.7% | 24,500 | 45,000 |
| 2023 | +82.4% | 461,727 | 842,280 |
| 2013 | +68.2% | 877,950 | 1.48 million |
| 2012 | +64.8% | 532,707 | 877,950 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 37,540 | 12,000 | 55,900 | 10 |
| 1980s | 25,430 | 13,000 | 49,600 | 10 |
| 1990s | 128,110 | 115,400 | 197,200 | 10 |
| 2000s | 270,614 | 210,847 | 328,326 | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.02 million | 443,778 | 1.48 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 462,062 | 157,293 | 842,280 | 4 |
Countries ranked near Laos
- 100 Afghanistan 1.03 million compare
- 101 Dominican Republic 996,238 compare
- 102 Sudan 911,090 compare
- 104 Moldova 827,604 compare
- 105 Brunei 820,886 compare
- 106 Kyrgyzstan 804,478 compare
More reference data data for Laos
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.6615 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.913 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 1.88 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.3021 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 1.88 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 2.22 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 3.96 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 5.07 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 12.95 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 1.64 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is air passengers in Laos?
- Air passengers in Laos was 842,280 in 2023, according to International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest air passengers recorded in Laos?
- The highest recorded value was 1.48 million in 2013.
- What is the lowest air passengers recorded in Laos?
- The lowest recorded value was 12,000 in 1978.
- How does Laos rank for air passengers?
- Laos ranks 103rd out of 183 countries with data for 2023.
- Is air passengers rising or falling in Laos?
- Over the last ten years it is down 43.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Laos data come from?
- The figures come from International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Air passengers. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 54 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Domestic and international passengers of airlines registered in the country. Passengers counted each time they travel.