Laos vs Vietnam
Laos vs Vietnam: Military spending in US dollars
Military spending in US dollars: $21.8M in Laos in 2013 and $10.9B in Vietnam in 2025, by SIPRI estimates. In 2013 the value was higher in Vietnam, by $6.55B, or 300 times that in Laos.
US dollars at 2024 prices · SIPRI
What the numbers say
- Vietnam has been higher in every year both have figures for since 1992.
Every year
US dollars at 2024 prices · SIPRI
| Year | Laos | Vietnam |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | – | $10.9B |
| 2024 | – | $8.59B |
| 2023 | – | $8.12B |
| 2022 | – | $7.31B |
| 2021 | – | $7.96B |
| 2020 | – | $7.73B |
| 2019 | – | $8.03B |
| 2018 | – | $7.69B |
| 2017 | – | $7.32B |
| 2016 | – | $7.34B |
| 2015 | – | $7.2B |
| 2014 | – | $6.51B |
| 2013 | $21.8M | $6.58B |
| 2012 | $21.2M | $5.99B |
| 2011 | $20.7M | $4.11B |
| 2010 | $18.5M | $3.96B |
| 2009 | $18.4M | $4.23B |
| 2008 | $22M | $3.06B |
| 2007 | $23.8M | $3.24B |
| 2006 | $23.8M | $2.51B |
| 2005 | $23.7M | $2.13B |
| 2004 | $24.3M | $2.05B |
| 2003 | $25.6M | $2B |
| 2002 | $29.2M | – |
| 2001 | $31.7M | – |
| 2000 | $32.8M | – |
| 1999 | $41.4M | – |
| 1998 | $94M | – |
| 1997 | $138M | – |
| 1996 | $150M | – |
| 1995 | $196M | – |
| 1994 | $234M | $1.08B |
| 1993 | $232M | $793M |
| 1992 | $234M | $1.01B |
| 1991 | – | $1.6B |
| 1990 | – | $2.25B |
| 1989 | – | $1.89B |
| 1988 | – | $1.43B |
| 1987 | – | $884M |
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.
- 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
Laos vs Vietnam
Health
- Life expectancyLaos: 69 years in 2023Vietnam: 74.6 years in 2023
- Child mortalityLaos: 2.9 per 100 live births in 2024Vietnam: 1.7 per 100 live births in 2024
- Infant mortalityLaos: 31.7 per 1,000 live births in 2023Vietnam: 15.1 per 1,000 live births in 2023
- Safe drinking waterLaos: 17.9% in 2022Vietnam: 57.8% in 2022
- DepressionLaos: 2.91% in 2017Vietnam: 2.88% in 2017
- Suicide rateLaos: 8.4 per 100,000 people in 2017Vietnam: 7.4 per 100,000 people in 2017
People
- PopulationLaos: 7.67 million people in 2023Vietnam: 100 million people in 2023
- Population growthLaos: 1.38% a year in 2023Vietnam: 0.64% a year in 2023
- Fertility rateLaos: 2.42 births per woman in 2023Vietnam: 1.91 births per woman in 2023
- Urban populationLaos: 40.3% in 2025Vietnam: 38.8% in 2025
- Median ageLaos: 24.3 years in 2023Vietnam: 32.4 years in 2023
- People aged 65 and overLaos: 4.5% in 2023Vietnam: 8.6% in 2023
- Net migration rateLaos: -1.3 per 1,000 people in 2023Vietnam: -0.8 per 1,000 people in 2023
Economy
Education
Politics
Conflict
Military
- Military spendingLaos: 0.19% of GDP in 2013Vietnam: 2.15% of GDP in 2025
- Military spending per personLaos: $3 in 2013Vietnam: $104 in 2025
- Military share of state spendingLaos: 0.8% of government spending in 2013Vietnam: 9.9% of government spending in 2025
- Armed forces personnelLaos: 129,000 people in 2020Vietnam: 522,000 people in 2020
- National powerLaos: 0.06% of world capability in 2022Vietnam: 1.11% of world capability in 2022
- Armed forces, share of workersLaos: 4.08% of the labour force in 2020Vietnam: 0.95% of the labour force in 2020
- Arms importsLaos: 7 million TIV in 2024Vietnam: 177 million TIV in 2025