Military spending per military personnel in Laos
Laos: Military spending per military personnel was 912.27 constant 2022 US$ in 2016. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2016)
912.27 constant 2022 US$
Change on year
down 3.1%
World rank
168th
of 170 countries
All-time high
5,350 constant 2022 US$
in 1992
All-time low
23.71 constant 2022 US$
in 1959
Years of data
63
1954–2016
Military spending per military personnel in Laos, 1954–2016
Source: Barnum et al. – Global Military Spending Dataset (2025); Correlates of War – National Material Capabilities Version 7.0 (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in constant 2022 US$.
Analysis
The most recent figure for military spending per military personnel in Laos is 912.27 constant 2022 US$, measured in 2016.
The figure is down 3.1% on the previous year and up 47.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military spending per military personnel in Laos peaked at 5,350 constant 2022 US$ in 1992 and was at its lowest, 23.71 constant 2022 US$, in 1959.
Laos ranks 168th of 170 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Military spending per military personnel in Laos, year by year
| Year | constant 2022 US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1954 | 248.51 constant 2022 US$ | — |
| 1955 | 39.35 constant 2022 US$ | -84.2% |
| 1956 | 38.27 constant 2022 US$ | -2.7% |
| 1957 | 34.89 constant 2022 US$ | -8.8% |
| 1958 | 29.19 constant 2022 US$ | -16.4% |
| 1959 | 23.71 constant 2022 US$ | -18.8% |
| 1960 | 4,792 constant 2022 US$ | +20111.7% |
| 1961 | 1,169 constant 2022 US$ | -75.6% |
| 1962 | 2,306 constant 2022 US$ | +97.2% |
| 1963 | 2,204 constant 2022 US$ | -4.4% |
| 1964 | 1,444 constant 2022 US$ | -34.5% |
| 1965 | 2,249 constant 2022 US$ | +55.7% |
| 1966 | 2,050 constant 2022 US$ | -8.8% |
| 1967 | 2,875 constant 2022 US$ | +40.2% |
| 1968 | 2,646 constant 2022 US$ | -8.0% |
| 1969 | 2,514 constant 2022 US$ | -5.0% |
| 1970 | 2,311 constant 2022 US$ | -8.1% |
| 1971 | 1,734 constant 2022 US$ | -25.0% |
| 1972 | 1,236 constant 2022 US$ | -28.7% |
| 1973 | 1,226 constant 2022 US$ | -0.8% |
| 1974 | 1,340 constant 2022 US$ | +9.3% |
| 1975 | 1,602 constant 2022 US$ | +19.5% |
| 1976 | 2,097 constant 2022 US$ | +30.9% |
| 1977 | 3,129 constant 2022 US$ | +49.2% |
| 1978 | 2,453 constant 2022 US$ | -21.6% |
| 1979 | 2,253 constant 2022 US$ | -8.1% |
| 1980 | 1,473 constant 2022 US$ | -34.6% |
| 1981 | 1,739 constant 2022 US$ | +18.1% |
| 1982 | 2,033 constant 2022 US$ | +16.9% |
| 1983 | 2,126 constant 2022 US$ | +4.5% |
| 1984 | 2,171 constant 2022 US$ | +2.1% |
| 1985 | 2,241 constant 2022 US$ | +3.2% |
| 1986 | 2,073 constant 2022 US$ | -7.5% |
| 1987 | 1,944 constant 2022 US$ | -6.2% |
| 1988 | 1,735 constant 2022 US$ | -10.7% |
| 1989 | 1,584 constant 2022 US$ | -8.7% |
| 1990 | 2,644 constant 2022 US$ | +66.9% |
| 1991 | 3,145 constant 2022 US$ | +18.9% |
| 1992 | 5,350 constant 2022 US$ | +70.1% |
| 1993 | 4,967 constant 2022 US$ | -7.2% |
| 1994 | 3,673 constant 2022 US$ | -26.0% |
| 1995 | 2,892 constant 2022 US$ | -21.3% |
| 1996 | 2,473 constant 2022 US$ | -14.5% |
| 1997 | 2,110 constant 2022 US$ | -14.7% |
| 1998 | 1,148 constant 2022 US$ | -45.6% |
| 1999 | 660.08 constant 2022 US$ | -42.5% |
| 2000 | 948.55 constant 2022 US$ | +43.7% |
| 2001 | 805.58 constant 2022 US$ | -15.1% |
| 2002 | 695.9 constant 2022 US$ | -13.6% |
| 2003 | 730.24 constant 2022 US$ | +4.9% |
| 2004 | 659.96 constant 2022 US$ | -9.6% |
| 2005 | 593.45 constant 2022 US$ | -10.1% |
| 2006 | 617.71 constant 2022 US$ | +4.1% |
| 2007 | 651.11 constant 2022 US$ | +5.4% |
| 2008 | 684.16 constant 2022 US$ | +5.1% |
| 2009 | 615.99 constant 2022 US$ | -10.0% |
| 2010 | 666.07 constant 2022 US$ | +8.1% |
| 2011 | 743.33 constant 2022 US$ | +11.6% |
| 2012 | 814.89 constant 2022 US$ | +9.6% |
| 2013 | 839.97 constant 2022 US$ | +3.1% |
| 2014 | 902.95 constant 2022 US$ | +7.5% |
| 2015 | 941.5 constant 2022 US$ | +4.3% |
| 2016 | 912.27 constant 2022 US$ | -3.1% |
Laos compared with similar countries
- Laos's 912.27 constant 2022 US$ is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 19,992 constant 2022 US$, 5% of the median. (42 countries reporting)
- Laos's 912.27 constant 2022 US$ is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 28,962 constant 2022 US$, 3% of the median. (20 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Military spending per military personnel in Laos changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1960 | +20111.7% | 23.71 constant 2022 US$ | 4,792 constant 2022 US$ |
| 1962 | +97.2% | 1,169 constant 2022 US$ | 2,306 constant 2022 US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 68.99 constant 2022 US$ | 23.71 constant 2022 US$ | 248.51 constant 2022 US$ | 6 |
| 1960s | 2,425 constant 2022 US$ | 1,169 constant 2022 US$ | 4,792 constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1970s | 1,938 constant 2022 US$ | 1,226 constant 2022 US$ | 3,129 constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1980s | 1,912 constant 2022 US$ | 1,473 constant 2022 US$ | 2,241 constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 2,906 constant 2022 US$ | 660.08 constant 2022 US$ | 5,350 constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 700.26 constant 2022 US$ | 593.45 constant 2022 US$ | 948.55 constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 831.57 constant 2022 US$ | 666.07 constant 2022 US$ | 941.5 constant 2022 US$ | 7 |
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 military spending per military personnel in Laos?
- Military spending per military personnel in Laos was 912.27 constant 2022 US$ in 2016, according to Barnum et al. – Global Military Spending Dataset (2025); Correlates of War – National Material Capabilities Version 7.0 (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest military spending per military personnel recorded in Laos?
- The highest recorded value was 5,350 constant 2022 US$ in 1992.
- What is the lowest military spending per military personnel recorded in Laos?
- The lowest recorded value was 23.71 constant 2022 US$ in 1959.
- How does Laos rank for military spending per military personnel?
- Laos ranks 168th out of 170 countries with data for 2016.
- Is military spending per military personnel rising or falling in Laos?
- Over the last ten years it is up 47.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Laos data come from?
- The figures come from Barnum et al. – Global Military Spending Dataset (2025); Correlates of War – National Material Capabilities Version 7.0 (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Military spending per military personnel. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
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.