Personal remittances and foreign aid received in Laos
Laos: Personal remittances and foreign aid received was 219.52 million current US$ in 2021. ◆ Volatile
Personal remittances and foreign aid received in Laos, 1984–2021
Source: World Bank based on International Monetary Fund balance of payments data (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in current US$.
Analysis
The most recent figure for personal remittances and foreign aid received in Laos is 219.52 million current US$, measured in 2021.
That represents a change of down 5.4% on the previous year and up 99.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, personal remittances and foreign aid received in Laos peaked at 296.52 million current US$ in 2019 and was at its lowest, 400,000 current US$, in 1995.
That places Laos 137th out of 193 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Personal remittances and foreign aid received in Laos, year by year
| Year | current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1984 | 2.80 million current US$ | — |
| 1985 | 3.50 million current US$ | +25.0% |
| 1986 | 3.70 million current US$ | +5.7% |
| 1987 | 3.50 million current US$ | -5.4% |
| 1988 | 6.70 million current US$ | +91.4% |
| 1989 | 8.30 million current US$ | +23.9% |
| 1990 | 10.90 million current US$ | +31.3% |
| 1991 | 10.40 million current US$ | -4.6% |
| 1992 | 10.80 million current US$ | +3.8% |
| 1993 | 12.10 million current US$ | +12.0% |
| 1994 | 10.00 million current US$ | -17.4% |
| 1995 | 400,000 current US$ | -96.0% |
| 1996 | 500,000 current US$ | +25.0% |
| 1997 | 500,000 current US$ | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 600,000 current US$ | +20.0% |
| 1999 | 600,000 current US$ | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 660,000 current US$ | +10.0% |
| 2001 | 694,575 current US$ | +5.2% |
| 2002 | 729,304 current US$ | +5.0% |
| 2003 | 765,769 current US$ | +5.0% |
| 2004 | 804,057 current US$ | +5.0% |
| 2005 | 830,000 current US$ | +3.2% |
| 2006 | 4.24 million current US$ | +410.5% |
| 2007 | 6.20 million current US$ | +46.4% |
| 2008 | 17.77 million current US$ | +186.5% |
| 2009 | 37.58 million current US$ | +111.4% |
| 2010 | 41.77 million current US$ | +11.2% |
| 2011 | 110.30 million current US$ | +164.0% |
| 2012 | 202.99 million current US$ | +84.0% |
| 2013 | 170.44 million current US$ | -16.0% |
| 2014 | 188.05 million current US$ | +10.3% |
| 2015 | 189.21 million current US$ | +0.6% |
| 2016 | 189.36 million current US$ | +0.1% |
| 2017 | 242.71 million current US$ | +28.2% |
| 2018 | 239.88 million current US$ | -1.2% |
| 2019 | 296.52 million current US$ | +23.6% |
| 2020 | 232.17 million current US$ | -21.7% |
| 2021 | 219.52 million current US$ | -5.4% |
Laos compared with similar countries
- Laos's 219.52 million current US$ is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 650.39 million current US$, 34% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Laos's 219.52 million current US$ is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 453.09 million current US$, 48% of the median. (31 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Personal remittances and foreign aid received in Laos changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | +410.5% | 830,000 current US$ | 4.24 million current US$ |
| 2008 | +186.5% | 6.20 million current US$ | 17.77 million current US$ |
| 2011 | +164.0% | 41.77 million current US$ | 110.30 million current US$ |
| 2009 | +111.4% | 17.77 million current US$ | 37.58 million current US$ |
| 1995 | -96.0% | 10.00 million current US$ | 400,000 current US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 4.75 million current US$ | 2.80 million current US$ | 8.30 million current US$ | 6 |
| 1990s | 5.68 million current US$ | 400,000 current US$ | 12.10 million current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 7.03 million current US$ | 660,000 current US$ | 37.58 million current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 187.12 million current US$ | 41.77 million current US$ | 296.52 million current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 225.84 million current US$ | 219.52 million current US$ | 232.17 million current US$ | 2 |
Countries ranked near Laos
- 134 Zambia 239.71 million current US$ compare
- 135 Trinidad and Tobago 233.99 million current US$ compare
- 136 Benin 230.91 million current US$ compare
- 138 Tonga 215.67 million current US$ compare
- 139 Guinea-Bissau 206.11 million current US$ compare
- 140 Mozambique 201.87 million current 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 personal remittances and foreign aid received in Laos?
- Personal remittances and foreign aid received in Laos was 219.52 million current US$ in 2021, according to World Bank based on International Monetary Fund balance of payments data (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest personal remittances and foreign aid received recorded in Laos?
- The highest recorded value was 296.52 million current US$ in 2019.
- What is the lowest personal remittances and foreign aid received recorded in Laos?
- The lowest recorded value was 400,000 current US$ in 1995.
- How does Laos rank for personal remittances and foreign aid received?
- Laos ranks 137th out of 193 countries with data for 2021.
- Is personal remittances and foreign aid received rising or falling in Laos?
- Over the last ten years it is up 99.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Laos data come from?
- The figures come from World Bank based on International Monetary Fund balance of payments data (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Personal remittances and foreign aid received. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Remittances are financial transfers from non-residents to residents of a country, such as a worker abroad sending money to family and friends. Foreign aid is measured as official development assistance. Both are measured in current US$.