Military spending per armed forces personnel in Laos
Laos: Military spending per armed forces personnel was 168.94 constant 2024 US$ in 2013. ◆ Volatile
Military spending per armed forces personnel in Laos, 1992–2013
Source: Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (2026); The Military Balance - International Institute for Strategic Studies, via World Bank (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in constant 2024 US$.
Analysis
The most recent figure for military spending per armed forces personnel in Laos is 168.94 constant 2024 US$, measured in 2013.
That represents a change of up 2.9% on the previous year and down 14.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military spending per armed forces personnel in Laos peaked at 6,317 constant 2024 US$ in 1992 and was at its lowest, 142.59 constant 2024 US$, in 2009.
That places Laos 156th out of 160 countries with data for 2013, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Military spending per armed forces personnel in Laos, year by year
| Year | constant 2024 US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 | 6,317 constant 2024 US$ | — |
| 1993 | 6,257 constant 2024 US$ | -1.0% |
| 1994 | 5,207 constant 2024 US$ | -16.8% |
| 1995 | 1,432 constant 2024 US$ | -72.5% |
| 1996 | 1,097 constant 2024 US$ | -23.4% |
| 1997 | 1,069 constant 2024 US$ | -2.6% |
| 1998 | 727.91 constant 2024 US$ | -31.9% |
| 1999 | 320.92 constant 2024 US$ | -55.9% |
| 2000 | 254.1 constant 2024 US$ | -20.8% |
| 2001 | 245.27 constant 2024 US$ | -3.5% |
| 2002 | 226.43 constant 2024 US$ | -7.7% |
| 2003 | 198.44 constant 2024 US$ | -12.4% |
| 2004 | 187.97 constant 2024 US$ | -5.3% |
| 2005 | 183.77 constant 2024 US$ | -2.2% |
| 2006 | 184.31 constant 2024 US$ | +0.3% |
| 2007 | 184.18 constant 2024 US$ | -0.1% |
| 2008 | 170.83 constant 2024 US$ | -7.3% |
| 2009 | 142.59 constant 2024 US$ | -16.5% |
| 2010 | 143.39 constant 2024 US$ | +0.6% |
| 2011 | 160.45 constant 2024 US$ | +11.9% |
| 2012 | 164.1 constant 2024 US$ | +2.3% |
| 2013 | 168.94 constant 2024 US$ | +2.9% |
Laos compared with similar countries
- Laos's 168.94 constant 2024 US$ is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 15,998 constant 2024 US$, 1% of the median. (39 countries reporting)
- Laos's 168.94 constant 2024 US$ is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 23,831 constant 2024 US$, 1% of the median. (19 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Military spending per armed forces personnel in Laos changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | -72.5% | 5,207 constant 2024 US$ | 1,432 constant 2024 US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 2,804 constant 2024 US$ | 320.92 constant 2024 US$ | 6,317 constant 2024 US$ | 8 |
| 2000s | 197.79 constant 2024 US$ | 142.59 constant 2024 US$ | 254.1 constant 2024 US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 159.22 constant 2024 US$ | 143.39 constant 2024 US$ | 168.94 constant 2024 US$ | 4 |
Countries ranked near Laos
- 153 Democratic Republic of Congo 2,978 constant 2024 US$ compare
- 154 Burundi 2,840 constant 2024 US$ compare
- 155 Zimbabwe 2,069 constant 2024 US$ compare
- 157 South Sudan 162.56 constant 2024 US$
- 158 Costa Rica 0 constant 2024 US$
- 158 Iceland 0 constant 2024 US$
- 158 Panama 0 constant 2024 US$ 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 military spending per armed forces personnel in Laos?
- Military spending per armed forces personnel in Laos was 168.94 constant 2024 US$ in 2013, according to Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (2026); The Military Balance - International Institute for Strategic Studies, via World Bank (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest military spending per armed forces personnel recorded in Laos?
- The highest recorded value was 6,317 constant 2024 US$ in 1992.
- What is the lowest military spending per armed forces personnel recorded in Laos?
- The lowest recorded value was 142.59 constant 2024 US$ in 2009.
- How does Laos rank for military spending per armed forces personnel?
- Laos ranks 156th out of 160 countries with data for 2013.
- Is military spending per armed forces personnel rising or falling in Laos?
- Over the last ten years it is down 14.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Laos data come from?
- The figures come from Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (2026); The Military Balance - International Institute for Strategic Studies, via World Bank (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Military spending per armed forces personnel. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Total military expenditure divided by armed forces personnel. This data is expressed in US dollars. It is adjusted for inflation but does not account for differences in the cost of living between countries.