Laos: health and care

What is life expectancy in the Lao PDR?

Life expectancy at birth in the Lao PDR was 69.7 years in 2023, according to the World Health Organization, up from 68.7 in 2022 and 68.4 in 2021. It was 72.3 years for women and 67.3 for men.

Life expectancy at birth is the number of years a newborn would live if death rates at each age stayed as they were that year. WHO estimates it from censuses, surveys and other data, and adjusts the figures so they can be compared across countries.

Official sources: World Health Organization

How many children die before age five in the Lao PDR?

29.4 of every 1,000 children born in the Lao PDR died before their fifth birthday in 2024, according to the World Health Organization, down from 31.8 in 2022. The infant mortality rate, for deaths before age one, was 27.2 per 1,000 live births.

The estimates come from the UN inter-agency group for child mortality, which combines household survey data with other sources. Most deaths of children under five in the Lao PDR happen in the first year of life, as the two rates show.

Official sources: World Health Organization · infant mortality rate

How many women die in childbirth in the Lao PDR?

The Lao PDR had an estimated 112 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births in 2023, according to the World Health Organization, down from 139 in 2021.

The maternal mortality ratio counts deaths of women from causes related to pregnancy or childbirth, during pregnancy or within 42 days after it ends. The figures are modelled estimates from the UN inter-agency group on maternal mortality, so they come with wide uncertainty ranges. Women in the Lao PDR have 2.4 children on average, according to World Bank data for 2024.

Official sources: World Health Organization · World Bank data

How common is tuberculosis in the Lao PDR?

The Lao PDR had an estimated 127 new tuberculosis cases per 100,000 people in 2024, according to the World Health Organization, down from 132 in 2023 and 138 in 2022.

The incidence rate estimates all new and relapse cases each year, including people who were never diagnosed, so it is higher than the number of cases notified by health services. WHO builds the estimates from national case notifications, surveys and other data. Malaria, by contrast, has become rare: WHO estimates 0.13 cases per 1,000 people at risk in 2024.

Official sources: World Health Organization · 0.13 cases per 1,000 people at risk

How much does the Lao PDR spend on health?

The Lao PDR's total health spending was 1.33% of GDP in 2023, according to the World Health Organization, down from 2.74% in 2021. Out-of-pocket payments by households made up 44.8% of the total.

Spending per person was USD 27.42 in 2023, according to the World Bank. WHO's universal health coverage index for the Lao PDR rose from 60 in 2021 to 64 in 2023.

Official sources: World Health Organization · Out-of-pocket payments · USD 27.42 · universal health coverage index

How many doctors does the Lao PDR have?

The Lao PDR had 3.77 medical doctors per 10,000 people in 2024, according to the World Health Organization, up from 3.25 in 2021. It had 13.64 nurses and midwives per 10,000 people.

The figures come from the national health workforce accounts that countries report to WHO. WHO also records 17.1 hospital beds per 10,000 people in 2023, up from 12.9 in 2022.

Official sources: World Health Organization · nurses and midwives · 17.1 hospital beds

What is life expectancy in Laos?

The UN Population Division puts life expectancy at birth in Laos at 69.2 years in 2024. No year since 2005 has been higher. It is 21st highest of 30 in East Asia & Pacific, where the median is 71.5 years. World rank, highest first: 136th of 193.

What is Laos' infant mortality rate?

The UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation puts the infant mortality rate in Laos at 27.2 per 1,000 in 2024. No year since 2005 has been lower. It is 5th highest of 30 in East Asia & Pacific, where the median is 13.9 per 1,000. World rank, highest first: 53rd of 192.

What is maternal mortality in Laos?

In 2023, the maternal mortality ratio in Laos was 112 per 100,000, according to the WHO. It is the bottom of the series, which starts in 2005. Across East Asia & Pacific the middle value was 82.0 per 100,000, and Laos placed 11th highest of 30. World rank, highest first: 64th of 192.

What is Laos' health spending?

The WHO puts current health spending in Laos at 1.3% of GDP in 2023. No year since 2005 has been lower. Across East Asia & Pacific the middle value was 5.9% of GDP, and Laos placed 29th highest of 29. World rank, highest first: 191st of 191.

How much do people in Laos pay for health care themselves?

The WHO puts out-of-pocket health spending in Laos at 44.8% in 2023. Since 2005 it has ranged from 26.9% (2009) to 52.6% (2011). Across East Asia & Pacific the middle value was 12.2%, and Laos placed 4th highest of 29. Worldwide: 44th of 191.

What is the doctor to patient ratio in Laos?

According to the WHO, the number of doctors per 1,000 people in Laos was 0.33 per 1,000 in 2022. Since 2005 it has ranged from 0.20 per 1,000 (2009) to 0.44 per 1,000 (2017). Across East Asia & Pacific the middle value was 2.6 per 1,000, and Laos placed 11th highest of 11. Of 125 countries with 2022 data, 87th highest.

How many hospital beds does Laos have?

1.7 per 1,000: that is hospital beds per 1,000 people in Laos for 2023, according to the WHO. It is the top of the series, which starts in 2005. It is 8th highest of 11 in East Asia & Pacific, where the median is 2.4 per 1,000. Of 73 countries with 2023 data, 51st highest.

How many children in Laos are vaccinated against measles?

The latest figure from WHO and UNICEF, for 2024, is 69.0%. Its high point since 2005 was 2014, at 81.0%; its low point was 2007, at 40.0%. East Asia & Pacific median: 91.0%; Laos is 28th highest of 30. Of 191 countries with 2024 data, 169th highest.