Adoption of communication technologies in Laos
Laos: Adoption of communication technologies was 1.23 million in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Adoption of communication technologies in Laos, 1960–2023
Source: International Telecommunication Union (ITU), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
Laos recorded 1.23 million for adoption of communication technologies in 2023.
That represents a change of down 6.9% on the previous year and up 75.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, adoption of communication technologies in Laos peaked at 1.48 million in 2018 and was at its lowest, 736, in 1960.
Laos ranks 58th of 212 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Adoption of communication technologies in Laos, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 736 | — |
| 1961 | 736 | +0.0% |
| 1962 | 736 | +0.0% |
| 1963 | 736 | +0.0% |
| 1964 | 736 | +0.0% |
| 1965 | 1,000 | +35.9% |
| 1966 | 1,000 | +0.0% |
| 1967 | 1,000 | +0.0% |
| 1968 | 1,000 | +0.0% |
| 1969 | 1,000 | +0.0% |
| 1970 | 1,100 | +10.0% |
| 1971 | 1,100 | +0.0% |
| 1972 | 1,100 | +0.0% |
| 1973 | 1,100 | +0.0% |
| 1974 | 1,100 | +0.0% |
| 1975 | 5,400 | +390.9% |
| 1976 | 5,700 | +5.6% |
| 1977 | 5,700 | +0.0% |
| 1978 | 5,500 | -3.5% |
| 1979 | 5,500 | +0.0% |
| 1980 | 5,500 | +0.0% |
| 1981 | 5,500 | +0.0% |
| 1982 | 5,400 | -1.8% |
| 1983 | 5,600 | +3.7% |
| 1984 | 5,800 | +3.6% |
| 1985 | 5,961 | +2.8% |
| 1986 | 6,100 | +2.3% |
| 1987 | 6,231 | +2.1% |
| 1988 | 6,468 | +3.8% |
| 1989 | 6,265 | -3.1% |
| 1990 | 6,910 | +10.3% |
| 1991 | 7,266 | +5.2% |
| 1992 | 8,510 | +17.1% |
| 1993 | 8,598 | +1.0% |
| 1994 | 18,126 | +110.8% |
| 1995 | 16,602 | -8.4% |
| 1996 | 19,468 | +17.3% |
| 1997 | 24,553 | +26.1% |
| 1998 | 28,472 | +16.0% |
| 1999 | 35,107 | +23.3% |
| 2000 | 40,876 | +16.4% |
| 2001 | 52,625 | +28.7% |
| 2002 | 61,910 | +17.6% |
| 2003 | 69,760 | +12.7% |
| 2004 | 75,000 | +7.5% |
| 2005 | 90,806 | +21.1% |
| 2006 | 92,151 | +1.5% |
| 2007 | 94,828 | +2.9% |
| 2008 | 127,799 | +34.8% |
| 2009 | 100,228 | -21.6% |
| 2010 | 103,102 | +2.9% |
| 2011 | 107,643 | +4.4% |
| 2012 | 450,000 | +318.0% |
| 2013 | 701,712 | +55.9% |
| 2014 | 920,756 | +31.2% |
| 2015 | 962,497 | +4.5% |
| 2016 | 1.27 million | +31.6% |
| 2017 | 1.13 million | -11.1% |
| 2018 | 1.48 million | +31.7% |
| 2019 | 1.45 million | -2.0% |
| 2020 | 1.36 million | -6.1% |
| 2021 | 1.30 million | -4.7% |
| 2022 | 1.33 million | +1.9% |
| 2023 | 1.23 million | -6.9% |
Laos compared with similar countries
- Laos's 1.23 million is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 102,714, 12.0× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Laos's 1.23 million is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 81,260, 15.2× the median. (37 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Adoption of communication technologies 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 | +390.9% | 1,100 | 5,400 |
| 2012 | +318.0% | 107,643 | 450,000 |
| 1994 | +110.8% | 8,598 | 18,126 |
| 2013 | +55.9% | 450,000 | 701,712 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 868 | 736 | 1,000 | 10 |
| 1970s | 3,330 | 1,100 | 5,700 | 10 |
| 1980s | 5,882 | 5,400 | 6,468 | 10 |
| 1990s | 17,361 | 6,910 | 35,107 | 10 |
| 2000s | 80,598 | 40,876 | 127,799 | 10 |
| 2010s | 857,332 | 103,102 | 1.48 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.31 million | 1.23 million | 1.36 million | 4 |
Countries ranked near Laos
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 adoption of communication technologies in Laos?
- Adoption of communication technologies in Laos was 1.23 million in 2023, according to International Telecommunication Union (ITU), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest adoption of communication technologies recorded in Laos?
- The highest recorded value was 1.48 million in 2018.
- What is the lowest adoption of communication technologies recorded in Laos?
- The lowest recorded value was 736 in 1960.
- How does Laos rank for adoption of communication technologies?
- Laos ranks 58th out of 212 countries with data for 2023.
- Is adoption of communication technologies rising or falling in Laos?
- Over the last ten years it is up 75.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Laos data come from?
- The figures come from International Telecommunication Union (ITU), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Adoption of communication technologies. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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