Poverty: Share of population living on less than $4.20 a day in Laos

Laos: Poverty: Share of population living on less than $4.20 a day was 22.5% in 2024. ▼ Falling

Latest (2024)
22.5%
World rank
32nd
of 120 countries
All-time high
80.1%
in 1997
All-time low
22.5%
in 2024
Years of data
7
1992–2024

Poverty: Share of population living on less than $4.20 a day in Laos, 1992–2024

204060801992200820241992: 65.2 %1997: 80.1 %2002: 68.5 %2007: 61.1 %2012: 43.2 %2018: 35 %2024: 22.5 %

Source: World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.

Analysis

The most recent figure for poverty: share of population living on less than $4.20 a day in Laos is 22.5%, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 7 years on record.

The figure is down 47.9% over ten years.

Over the whole period, poverty: share of population living on less than $4.20 a day in Laos peaked at 80.1% in 1997 and was at its lowest, 22.5%, in 2024.

That places Laos 32nd out of 120 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 72.7% 65.2% 80.1% 2
2000s 64.8% 61.1% 68.5% 2
2010s 39.1% 35.0% 43.2% 2
2020s 22.5% 22.5% 22.5% 1

Countries ranked near Laos

  1. 29 Mauritania 26.0% compare
  2. 30 India 23.9% compare
  3. 31 Honduras 23.5% compare
  4. 33 Bangladesh 20.5% compare
  5. 34 Guatemala 17.6% compare
  6. 35 Tajikistan 16.9% compare

See the full ranking of 120 places →

More reference data data for Laos

All data for Laos →

Frequently asked questions

What is poverty: share of population living on less than $4.20 a day in Laos?
Poverty: share of population living on less than $4.20 a day in Laos was 22.5% in 2024, according to World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
What is the highest poverty: share of population living on less than $4.20 a day recorded in Laos?
The highest recorded value was 80.1% in 1997.
What is the lowest poverty: share of population living on less than $4.20 a day recorded in Laos?
The lowest recorded value was 22.5% in 2024.
How does Laos rank for poverty: share of population living on less than $4.20 a day?
Laos ranks 32nd out of 120 countries with data for 2024.
Is poverty: share of population living on less than $4.20 a day rising or falling in Laos?
Over the last ten years it is down 47.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Laos data come from?
The figures come from World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Poverty: Share of population living on less than $4.20 a day. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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About this data

Indicator
Poverty: Share of population living on less than $4.20 a day
Unit
%
Source
World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
120 places, 2,148 data points, 1963–2025
Last refreshed

Percentage of population living in households with an income or consumption below $4.20 per day.