Laos: immigration

How many refugees come from Laos?

6,489 refugees and 466 asylum seekers from the Lao PDR were living in other countries at the end of 2025, according to UNHCR.

UNHCR compiles these figures from government and UNHCR data. UNHCR's database lists no refugee population hosted in the Lao PDR for 2025. No national migration statistics were found on the site of the Lao Statistics Bureau, checked on 15 October 2026.

Official sources: UNHCR

How many foreigners live in the Lao PDR?

51,446 international migrants lived in the Lao PDR in 2024, according to UN estimates published by the World Bank, up from 32,955 in 2010.

International migrants are people living in a country other than the one where they were born. UNHCR records no refugees or asylum seekers hosted in the Lao PDR in 2025. The 2025 Population and Housing Census will give a new count of foreign residents when its results are published by the Lao Statistics Bureau.

Official sources: World Bank · UNHCR · Lao Statistics Bureau

How many people from the Lao PDR seek asylum abroad?

People from the Lao PDR lodged 199 asylum applications abroad in 2025, according to UNHCR's asylum statistics. 466 Lao asylum seekers were waiting for a decision at the end of the year.

By host country, Australia had 264 pending Lao asylum seekers and the United States 133. Of the 6,489 Lao refugees counted by UNHCR, 6,145 live in France. Asylum figures count people in the asylum system, not all Lao citizens living or working abroad.

Official sources: asylum statistics · By host country

How many immigrants live in Laos?

In 2024, the share of people born abroad in Laos was 0.7%, according to the UN Population Division. East Asia & Pacific median: 2.1%; Laos is 19th highest of 30. Of 193 countries with 2024 data, 161st highest.

What is net migration in Laos?

The UN Population Division puts net migration in Laos at -10,645 in 2025. Its high point since 2005 was 2022, at -10,003; its low point was 2011, at -30,538. It is 24th highest of 30 in East Asia & Pacific, where the median is -373. World rank, highest first: 132nd of 193.

How many people from Laos are refugees?

6,489: that is the number of refugees from the country living abroad in Laos for 2025, according to UNHCR. It is the bottom of the series, which starts in 2005. It is 6th highest of 29 in East Asia & Pacific, where the median is 73. World rank, highest first: 71st of 189.

How big are remittances in Laos' economy?

In 2025, personal remittances received in Laos was 2.6% of GDP, according to the World Bank. It is the top of the series, which starts in 2005. It is 7th highest of 15 in East Asia & Pacific, where the median is 2.2% of GDP. World rank, highest first: 54th of 127.