Poverty and living standards in Phongsaly, Laos: official figures
56.3% of people in Phongsaly lived in households in the poorest fifth of the national wealth index in 2017 (an index built from housing and household assets; by definition 20% of Laos is in each fifth), the highest of 18 provinces.
How many people in Phongsaly are in the richest wealth group?
4.0% of people in Phongsaly lived in households in the richest fifth of the national wealth index in 2017, the lowest of 18 provinces.
Source: Lao Statistics Bureau, with the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Education and Sports · saved copyHow many births are registered in Phongsaly?
71.8% of children under 5 in Phongsaly had their birth registered, with the civil authorities or in the family book, in 2017, 9th lowest of 18 provinces. The national figure is 73.0%.
Source: Lao Statistics Bureau, with the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Education and Sports · saved copyHow common is child marriage in Phongsaly?
33.1% of women aged 20-49 in Phongsaly first married or entered a union before their 18th birthday, according to the 2017 survey, 5th lowest of 18 provinces. The national figure is 32.8%.
Source: Lao Statistics Bureau, with the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Education and Sports · saved copyHow many households have a handwashing facility in Phongsaly?
47.6% of people in Phongsaly lived in households with a handwashing place where water and soap were present when the 2017 survey team checked, 8th lowest of 18 provinces. The national figure is 54.1%.
Source: Lao Statistics Bureau, with the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Education and Sports · saved copyWhat is the poverty rate in Phongsaly?
An estimated 7.8% of people in Phongsaly lived below the national poverty line in 2018-19, 2nd lowest of 18 provinces. This is the sum of district estimates from the Lao Statistics Bureau and World Bank poverty map, which combines the 2018-19 Lao Expenditure and Consumption Survey with the 2015 census; the national poverty rate in the survey was 18.3%.
Source: Lao Statistics Bureau and World Bank · saved copyHow many poor people live in Phongsaly?
The 2018-19 poverty map estimates that 14,807 people were poor in Phongsaly, out of a population of 189,772 in 2018. That is 1.1% of the 1,386,296 poor people counted across Laos, 2nd lowest of 18 provinces by number of poor people.
Source: Lao Statistics Bureau and World Bank · saved copyWhich district of Phongsaly has the highest poverty rate?
Phongsaly has 7 districts. In the 2018-19 poverty map, the district poverty rate ranges from 4.6% in Khoua District to 13.6% in May District.
Source: Lao Statistics Bureau and World Bank · saved copyWhat was the poverty rate in Phongsaly in 2015?
In 2015, 22.7% of the population of Phongsaly was below the poverty line in the Lao Statistics Bureau 2015 census-based poverty map, 7th lowest of 18 provinces. The poverty method was revised in 2018-19, so the 2015 and 2018-19 rates are not directly comparable.
Source: Lao Statistics Bureau, Centre for Development and Environment and World Bank · saved copyHow Phongsaly compares with other provinces
People in the poorest national wealth quintile (2017)
Phongsaly ranks 1 of 18, highest first.
| Rank | Region | People in the poorest national wealth quintile |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Phongsaly | 56.3% |
| 2 | Houaphan | 42.1% |
| 3 | Salavan | 36.8% |
| 4 | Sekong | 36.5% |
| 5 | Oudomxay | 34.2% |
| 6 | Luang Prabang | 30.2% |
| 7 | Savannakhet | 27.6% |
People below the poverty line, 2018-19 (poverty map) (2018-19)
Phongsaly ranks 17 of 18, highest first. Sum of district estimates from the Lao Statistics Bureau and World Bank poverty map (LECS 6 2018-19 and 2015 census).
| Rank | Region | People below the poverty line, 2018-19 (poverty map) |
|---|---|---|
| 12 | Luang Prabang | 20.3% |
| 13 | Champasak | 12.3% |
| 14 | Luang Namtha | 11.8% |
| 15 | Xaysomboun | 10.0% |
| 16 | Vientiane | 8.3% |
| 17 | Phongsaly | 7.8% |
| 18 | Vientiane Capital | 5.1% |
Number of poor people, 2018-19 (poverty map) (2018-19)
Phongsaly ranks 17 of 18, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Number of poor people, 2018-19 (poverty map) |
|---|---|---|
| 12 | Bokeo | 42,265 |
| 13 | Attapeu | 41,172 |
| 14 | Vientiane | 37,328 |
| 15 | Sekong | 37,212 |
| 16 | Luang Namtha | 22,666 |
| 17 | Phongsaly | 14,807 |
| 18 | Xaysomboun | 10,187 |
People below the poverty line, 2015 (census-based poverty map) (2015)
Phongsaly ranks 12 of 18, highest first.
| Rank | Region | People below the poverty line, 2015 (census-based poverty map) |
|---|---|---|
| 9 | Bokeo | 25.5% |
| 10 | Luang Prabang | 22.9% |
| 11 | Champasak | 22.8% |
| 12 | Phongsaly | 22.7% |
| 13 | Luang Namtha | 21.1% |
| 14 | Bolikhamxay | 20.7% |
| 15 | Xayaboury | 20.2% |
More on Phongsaly: overview · economy and jobs · health · education and schools · Laos
Sources
- Lao Statistics Bureau, with the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Education and Sports: Lao Social Indicator Survey II 2017 (MICS/DHS), Survey Findings Report: provincial tables, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 e06617c29d2b…)
- Lao Statistics Bureau and World Bank: Where Are the Poor in Lao PDR? District-level poverty maps from LECS 6 (2018-19) and the 2015 census: Table 1 and Appendix 3 (poverty rate and number of poor by district), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 ecabcecadf27…)
- Lao Statistics Bureau, Centre for Development and Environment and World Bank: Lao PDR Poverty 2015, table extract: share of population below the poverty line by province (2015 census-based poverty map), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 21f37c7aa915…)
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