Lao PDR External Debt
Total external debt stocks DT.DOD.DECT.CD
Lao PDR's external debt was $17.0B in 2025, ranked 50th globally. This represents a 5.0% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1970–2025.
Overview
Lao PDR's external debt stood at $17.0B in 2025, a decline of +$885.3M from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach $17.0B by 2025. Lao PDR ranked 50th globally.
Lao PDR’s external debt has risen sharply from a modest 8,345,623.60 in 1970 to 16,951,331,461.01 in 2025, placing the country at rank 50 globally. The debt trajectory accelerated after the early 2000s, reaching an all‑time peak of 20,435,014,770.00 in 2020 before retreating modestly over the subsequent five years. This pattern mirrors the experience of peers such as Bolivia, Plurinational State of, whose external debt stands at 16,145,118,809.66, and Armenia, with 17,593,904,170.66, suggesting that mid‑income economies in the region have similarly expanded borrowing to finance infrastructure and development projects. The 56‑year coverage shows a persistent upward trend, albeit with a recent slowdown that may reflect tighter fiscal consolidation or higher debt‑service costs. Continued moderation of fiscal deficits and diversification of export earnings will be crucial to prevent a renewed surge and to steer the debt path toward a sustainable plateau.
Data & projection
| Year | External Debt | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2027* trend | $15.8B | - | - |
| 2026* trend | $16.4B | - | - |
| 2025* trend | $17.0B | - | - |
| 2025 | $17.0B | −$885.3M | #50 |
| 2024 | $17.8B | −$219.8M | #71 |
| 2023 | $18.1B | −$438.2M | #71 |
| 2022 | $18.5B | −$217.3M | #71 |
| 2021 | $18.7B | −$1.7B | #71 |
| 2020 | $20.4B | +$1.4B | #76 |
| 2019 | $19.0B | +$3.1B | #77 |
| 2018 | $16.0B | +$881.5M | #71 |
| 2017 | $15.1B | +$1.5B | #74 |
| 2016 | $13.5B | +$2.0B | #73 |
| 2015 | $11.5B | +$2.1B | #70 |
| 2014 | $9.4B | +$1.4B | #65 |
| 2013 | $8.0B | +$766.0M | #60 |
| 2012 | $7.2B | +$340.5M | #62 |
| 2011 | $6.9B | +$525.4M | #64 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Lao PDR matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2023. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw external debt improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Lao PDR's external debt was $17.0B in 2025. Ranked 50th globally. This represents a 5.0% decrease from the previous year.
Lao PDR's external debt peaked at $20.4B in 2020.
The lowest external debt in Lao PDR was $8.3M in 1970.
Lao PDR ranks 50th globally in external debt as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is DT.DOD.DECT.CD. Data sourced from World Bank.
Lao PDR's external debt is projected to reach $17.0B by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
Lao PDR's external debt was approximately 16.95 billion ($17.0B) in 2025.
The external debt of Lao PDR in 2025 was $17.0B. This ranks 50th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_lao-pdr_external-debt,
title = {Lao PDR External Debt},
url = {https://historysaid.com/lao-pdr/external-debt/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}