Laos vs Vietnam
Laos vs Vietnam: Safe drinking water
Safe drinking water in 2022: 17.9% in Laos and 57.8% in Vietnam, by WHO/UNICEF estimates. In 2022 the value was higher in Vietnam, by 39.9 percentage points, or 3.23 times that in Laos.
% of people · WHO/UNICEF
What the numbers say
- Vietnam has been higher in every year both have figures for since 2000.
- In 2022, Laos ranked 125 and Vietnam ranked 94 of 135 countries, counting from the highest.
- The world as a whole: 72.9% in 2022.
Every year
% of people · WHO/UNICEF
| Year | Laos | Vietnam | World |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 17.9 | 57.8 | 72.9 |
| 2021 | 17.8 | 57.3 | 72.5 |
| 2020 | 17.7 | 56.7 | 72.3 |
| 2019 | 17.6 | 56.2 | 71.7 |
| 2018 | 17.2 | 55.7 | 71 |
| 2017 | 16.7 | 55.1 | 70.4 |
| 2016 | 16.3 | 54.6 | 69.7 |
| 2015 | 15.9 | 54 | 69.1 |
| 2014 | 15.5 | 53.5 | 68.4 |
| 2013 | 15 | 52.9 | 67.7 |
| 2012 | 14.6 | 52.4 | 67.1 |
| 2011 | 14.2 | 51.8 | 66.4 |
| 2010 | 13.7 | 51.3 | 65.9 |
| 2009 | 13.3 | 50.7 | 65.4 |
| 2008 | 12.9 | 50.1 | 64.9 |
| 2007 | 12.5 | 49.6 | 64.6 |
| 2006 | 12 | 49 | 64 |
| 2005 | 11.6 | 48.5 | 63.7 |
| 2004 | 11.1 | 47.9 | 63 |
| 2003 | 10.6 | 47.3 | 62.4 |
| 2002 | 8.6 | 46.8 | 61.8 |
| 2001 | 6.7 | 46.2 | 61.1 |
| 2000 | 4.9 | 45.6 | 60.8 |
Each country on its own
Good to know
- The share of people whose drinking water comes from an improved source at home, there when needed and free of contamination.
- Source: WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme, via Our World in Data.
- Ranks count the 135 countries with a value in 2022, 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
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
- 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 in US dollarsLaos: $21.8M in 2013Vietnam: $10.9B 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