Cambodia vs Laos
Cambodia vs Laos: Forest area
Forest area in 2024: 37.6% in Cambodia and 56.6% in Laos, by FAO estimates. In 2024 the value was higher in Laos, by 19 percentage points, or 1.51 times that in Cambodia.
% of land · FAO
What the numbers say
- Laos has been higher since 2011, when it overtook Cambodia.
- In 2024, Cambodia ranked 87 and Laos ranked 41 of 209 countries, counting from the highest.
Every year
% of land · FAO
| Year | Cambodia | Laos | World |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 37.6 | 56.6 | – |
| 2023 | 39.4 | 56.8 | 31.1 |
| 2022 | 41.1 | 56.9 | 31.1 |
| 2021 | 42.9 | 57.1 | 31.2 |
| 2020 | 44.6 | 57.3 | 31.2 |
| 2019 | 45.7 | 57.4 | 31.2 |
| 2018 | 46.8 | 57.5 | 31.3 |
| 2017 | 47.9 | 57.7 | 31.3 |
| 2016 | 49 | 57.8 | 31.3 |
| 2015 | 50.1 | 57.9 | 31.4 |
| 2014 | 52.1 | 58.2 | 31.4 |
| 2013 | 54.1 | 58.4 | 31.4 |
| 2012 | 56 | 58.7 | 31.5 |
| 2011 | 58 | 58.9 | 31.9 |
| 2010 | 60 | 59.2 | 32 |
| 2009 | 60.1 | 59.4 | 32 |
| 2008 | 60.2 | 59.5 | 32 |
| 2007 | 60.3 | 59.7 | 32.1 |
| 2006 | 60.4 | 59.9 | 32.1 |
| 2005 | 60.5 | 60 | 32.1 |
| 2004 | 60.6 | 60.2 | 32.2 |
| 2003 | 60.8 | 60.4 | 32.3 |
| 2002 | 60.9 | 60.5 | 32.3 |
| 2001 | 61 | 60.7 | 32.3 |
| 2000 | 61.1 | 60.9 | 32.4 |
| 1999 | 61.2 | 61 | 32.5 |
| 1998 | 61.3 | 61.2 | 32.5 |
| 1997 | 61.5 | 61.3 | 32.6 |
| 1996 | 61.6 | 61.5 | 32.7 |
| 1995 | 61.7 | 61.6 | 32.7 |
| 1994 | 61.8 | 61.8 | 32.8 |
| 1993 | 62 | 61.9 | 32.8 |
| 1992 | 62.1 | 62.1 | 33 |
| 1991 | 62.2 | 62.2 | – |
| 1990 | 62.3 | 62.4 | – |
Each country on its own
Good to know
- The share of land under trees at least 5 metres tall, natural or planted, leaving out orchards and city parks.
- Source: FAO, via the World Bank.
- Ranks count the 209 countries with a value in 2024, highest first.
- The faint line is the world as a whole, as the same source counts it.
How the layers work, where their data comes from and what they can’t tell you: Countries through time
Cambodia vs Laos
Health
- Life expectancyCambodia: 70.7 years in 2023Laos: 69 years in 2023
- Child mortalityCambodia: 1.8 per 100 live births in 2024Laos: 2.9 per 100 live births in 2024
- Infant mortalityCambodia: 19.2 per 1,000 live births in 2023Laos: 31.7 per 1,000 live births in 2023
- Safe drinking waterCambodia: 29.1% in 2022Laos: 17.9% in 2022
- DepressionCambodia: 3.1% in 2017Laos: 2.91% in 2017
- Suicide rateCambodia: 4.5 per 100,000 people in 2017Laos: 8.4 per 100,000 people in 2017
People
- PopulationCambodia: 17.4 million people in 2023Laos: 7.67 million people in 2023
- Population growthCambodia: 1.25% a year in 2023Laos: 1.38% a year in 2023
- Fertility rateCambodia: 2.58 births per woman in 2023Laos: 2.42 births per woman in 2023
- Urban populationCambodia: 41.1% in 2025Laos: 40.3% in 2025
- Median ageCambodia: 25.8 years in 2023Laos: 24.3 years in 2023
- People aged 65 and overCambodia: 6% in 2023Laos: 4.5% in 2023
- Net migration rateCambodia: -1.8 per 1,000 people in 2023Laos: -1.3 per 1,000 people in 2023
Economy
Education
Politics
Conflict
Military
- Military spendingCambodia: 1.45% of GDP in 2025Laos: 0.19% of GDP in 2013
- Military spending in US dollarsCambodia: $716M in 2025Laos: $21.8M in 2013
- Military spending per personCambodia: $42 in 2025Laos: $3 in 2013
- Military share of state spendingCambodia: 8.2% of government spending in 2025Laos: 0.8% of government spending in 2013
- Armed forces personnelCambodia: 191,000 people in 2020Laos: 129,000 people in 2020
- National powerCambodia: 0.16% of world capability in 2022Laos: 0.06% of world capability in 2022
- Armed forces, share of workersCambodia: 2.02% of the labour force in 2020Laos: 4.08% of the labour force in 2020
- Arms importsCambodia: 56 million TIV in 2023Laos: 7 million TIV in 2024