Laos

Country in Asia

In brief

Public spending on education, share of GDP: 1.2% (2023). World rank 178 of 184; in Asia, 41 of 42. Health spending, share of GDP: 1.3% (2023). World rank 193 of 193; in Asia, 46 of 46. Health spending per person: $27 (2023). World rank 187 of 193; in Asia, 46 of 46. From 2015 to 2025: primary school enrolment 114% → 93.1% and secondary school enrolment 62.3% → 50.5%. Worse than all its neighbours (Myanmar, Cambodia, China, Thailand, and Vietnam): children vaccinated against measles and access to clean cooking fuels.

Education

Adult literacy: 75.6% 2023
Primary school enrolment: 93.1% 2025
Secondary school enrolment: 50.5% 2025
Higher education enrolment: 14.9% 2023
Public spending on education, share of GDP: 1.2% 2023

Healthcare

Health spending, share of GDP: 1.3% 2023
Health spending per person: $27 2023
Out-of-pocket health spending, share of total: 44.8% 2023
Doctors per 1,000 people: 0.3 2022
Nurses and midwives per 1,000 people: 1 2023
Hospital beds per 1,000 people: 1.7 2023
Children vaccinated against measles: 69% 2024

Public health

Infant deaths per 1,000 births: 27.2 2024
Deaths under age 5 per 1,000 births: 29.4 2024
Maternal deaths per 100,000 births: 112 2023
HIV prevalence, ages 15–49: 0.4% 2024
Diabetes prevalence, ages 20–79: 6.7% 2024
Overweight adults: 31% 2022
Adults who use tobacco: 25.4% 2024

Living conditions

Access to safe drinking water: 95.9% 2024
Access to basic sanitation: 88.7% 2024
Access to clean cooking fuels: 10% 2024