Poverty and living standards in Salavan, Laos: official figures
36.8% of people in Salavan 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), 3rd highest of 18 provinces.
How many people in Salavan are in the richest wealth group?
7.0% of people in Salavan lived in households in the richest fifth of the national wealth index in 2017, 5th 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 Salavan?
59.6% of children under 5 in Salavan had their birth registered, with the civil authorities or in the family book, in 2017, the 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 Salavan?
36.3% of women aged 20-49 in Salavan first married or entered a union before their 18th birthday, according to the 2017 survey, joint 8th 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 Salavan?
39.2% of people in Salavan lived in households with a handwashing place where water and soap were present when the 2017 survey team checked, 4th 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 Salavan?
An estimated 31.4% of people in Salavan lived below the national poverty line in 2018-19, the highest 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 Salavan?
The 2018-19 poverty map estimates that 133,942 people were poor in Salavan, out of a population of 426,988 in 2018. That is 9.7% of the 1,386,296 poor people counted across Laos, 2nd highest of 18 provinces by number of poor people.
Source: Lao Statistics Bureau and World Bank · saved copyWhich district of Salavan has the highest poverty rate?
Salavan has 8 districts. In the 2018-19 poverty map, the district poverty rate ranges from 14.6% in Lakhonepheng District to 61.8% in Toumlane District.
Source: Lao Statistics Bureau and World Bank · saved copyWhat was the poverty rate in Salavan in 2015?
In 2015, 48.2% of the population of Salavan was below the poverty line in the Lao Statistics Bureau 2015 census-based poverty map, the highest 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 Salavan compares with other provinces
People in the poorest national wealth quintile (2017)
Salavan ranks 3 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)
Salavan ranks 1 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) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Salavan | 31.4% |
| 2 | Sekong | 29.9% |
| 3 | Savannakhet | 29.5% |
| 4 | Houaphan | 29.2% |
| 5 | Oudomxay | 28.7% |
| 6 | Attapeu | 26.8% |
| 7 | Xiengkhuang | 25.6% |
Number of poor people, 2018-19 (poverty map) (2018-19)
Salavan ranks 2 of 18, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Number of poor people, 2018-19 (poverty map) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Savannakhet | 305,718 |
| 2 | Salavan | 133,942 |
| 3 | Khammouane | 102,055 |
| 4 | Oudomxay | 95,954 |
| 5 | Luang Prabang | 93,279 |
| 6 | Champasak | 90,477 |
| 7 | Houaphan | 89,309 |
People below the poverty line, 2015 (census-based poverty map) (2015)
Salavan ranks 1 of 18, highest first.
| Rank | Region | People below the poverty line, 2015 (census-based poverty map) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Salavan | 48.2% |
| 2 | Houaphan | 37.0% |
| 3 | Savannakhet | 32.0% |
| 4 | Sekong | 31.4% |
| 5 | Xiengkhuang | 28.2% |
| 6 | Xaysomboun | 27.8% |
| 7 | Khammouane | 27.1% |
More on Salavan: 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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