Cambodia vs Laos
Cambodia vs Laos: Military spending in US dollars
Military spending in US dollars: $716M in Cambodia in 2025 and $21.8M in Laos in 2013, by SIPRI estimates. In 2013 the value was higher in Cambodia, by $300M, or 15 times that in Laos.
US dollars at 2024 prices · SIPRI
What the numbers say
- Cambodia has been higher since 1995, when it overtook Laos.
Every year
US dollars at 2024 prices · SIPRI
| Year | Cambodia | Laos |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $716M | – |
| 2024 | $721M | – |
| 2023 | $680M | – |
| 2022 | $640M | – |
| 2021 | $683M | – |
| 2020 | $695M | – |
| 2019 | $682M | – |
| 2018 | $632M | – |
| 2017 | $547M | – |
| 2016 | $471M | – |
| 2015 | $413M | – |
| 2014 | $355M | – |
| 2013 | $322M | $21.8M |
| 2012 | $296M | $21.2M |
| 2011 | $271M | $20.7M |
| 2010 | $258M | $18.5M |
| 2009 | $216M | $18.4M |
| 2008 | $126M | $22M |
| 2007 | $150M | $23.8M |
| 2006 | $158M | $23.8M |
| 2005 | $156M | $23.7M |
| 2004 | $160M | $24.3M |
| 2003 | $161M | $25.6M |
| 2002 | $154M | $29.2M |
| 2001 | $168M | $31.7M |
| 2000 | $187M | $32.8M |
| 1999 | $201M | $41.4M |
| 1998 | $194M | $94M |
| 1997 | $217M | $138M |
| 1996 | $229M | $150M |
| 1995 | $249M | $196M |
| 1994 | $223M | $234M |
| 1993 | $102M | $232M |
| 1992 | $70.6M | $234M |
| 1991 | $31.6M | – |
| 1990 | $13.5M | – |
| 1989 | $5.82M | – |
| 1988 | $3.18M | – |
| 1987 | $2.11M | – |
| 1986 | $2.32M | – |
- Estimate
Each country on its own
Good to know
- What the country spends on its armed forces and defence, in constant 2024 US dollars so that years compare, by SIPRI’s count.
- Source: Information from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) Military Expenditure Database, https://doi.org/10.55163/CQGC9685.
- Marked points are SIPRI’s own: a dot where it gives the figure as its estimate, a ring where it calls the figure highly uncertain.
- Ranks count the 151 countries with a value in 2025, highest first.
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 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