Lao PDR Poverty Rate
Poverty headcount ratio at $2.15/day SI.POV.DDAY
Lao PDR's poverty rate was 15.70% in 2018, ranked 77th globally. This represents a 27.6% decrease from 2017. Data from World Bank, covering 1992–2018.
Overview
Lao PDR's poverty rate stood at 15.70% in 2018, a decline of +6.00pp from 2012. Lao PDR ranked 77th globally.
Lao PDR’s poverty rate fell dramatically from a high of 62.00 % in 1997 to a trough of 15.70 % in 2018, placing the country 77th globally for the most recent year. The decline, measured over a six‑year coverage period, reflects sustained reductions in extreme deprivation and aligns Lao PDR more closely with Indonesia’s 12.50 % rate and Pakistan’s 16.50 % rate, its nearest peers in the World Bank ranking. The early 1990s saw poverty at 42.10 % (1992), underscoring the depth of the structural shifts that have occurred over the past three decades, including expanded social protection, agricultural reforms and modest growth in non‑farm sectors. While the 2018 trough marks a historic low, the trajectory remains vulnerable to external shocks such as commodity price volatility and climate‑related disruptions to rural livelihoods. Continued investment in diversified economic activities and resilient social safety nets will be pivotal to sustaining the downward trend in poverty.
Data & projection
| Year | Poverty Rate | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 15.70% | −6.00pp | #77 |
| 2012 | 21.70% | −14.30pp | #77 |
| 2007 | 36.00% | −7.10pp | #66 |
| 2002 | 43.10% | −18.90pp | #56 |
| 1997 | 62.00% | +19.90pp | #34 |
| 1992 | 42.10% | – | #34 |
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 poverty rate improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Lao PDR's poverty rate was 15.70% in 2018. Ranked 77th globally. This represents a 27.6% decrease from the previous year.
Lao PDR's poverty rate peaked at 62.00% in 1997.
The lowest poverty rate in Lao PDR was 15.70% in 2018.
Lao PDR ranks 77th globally in poverty rate as of 2018.
The World Bank indicator code is SI.POV.DDAY. Data sourced from World Bank.
The poverty rate of Lao PDR in 2018 was 15.70%. This ranks 77th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_lao-pdr_poverty-rate,
title = {Lao PDR Poverty Rate},
url = {https://historysaid.com/lao-pdr/poverty-rate/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}