Value of imported goods as a share of GDP (International Monetary) in Laos
Laos: Value of imported goods as a share of GDP (International Monetary) was 23.8% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Value of imported goods as a share of GDP in Laos, 1984–2025
Source: International Monetary Fund (2026); National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Laos recorded 23.8% for value of imported goods as a share of gdp in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 17.8% on the previous year and down 46.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, value of imported goods as a share of gdp in Laos peaked at 104.8% in 2011 and was at its lowest, 2.2%, in 1984.
That places Laos 134th out of 201 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Value of imported goods as a share of GDP (International Monetary) in Laos, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1984 | 2.2% | — |
| 1985 | 2.2% | +0.4% |
| 1986 | 3.3% | +47.6% |
| 1987 | 7.1% | +114.2% |
| 1988 | 16.8% | +136.6% |
| 1989 | 17.6% | +4.7% |
| 1990 | 17.0% | -3.1% |
| 1991 | 14.9% | -12.5% |
| 1992 | 22.7% | +52.6% |
| 1993 | 23.4% | +3.1% |
| 1994 | 26.0% | +11.1% |
| 1995 | 24.3% | -6.8% |
| 1996 | 24.6% | +1.4% |
| 1997 | 22.9% | -6.8% |
| 1998 | 49.7% | +116.5% |
| 1999 | 55.0% | +10.7% |
| 2000 | 56.5% | +2.7% |
| 2001 | 47.8% | -15.4% |
| 2002 | 60.7% | +27.0% |
| 2003 | 50.7% | -16.5% |
| 2004 | 67.7% | +33.5% |
| 2005 | 55.4% | -18.1% |
| 2006 | 40.5% | -26.9% |
| 2007 | 44.1% | +8.9% |
| 2008 | 57.9% | +31.3% |
| 2009 | 55.2% | -4.6% |
| 2010 | 80.0% | +44.8% |
| 2011 | 104.8% | +31.1% |
| 2012 | 79.5% | -24.2% |
| 2013 | 66.2% | -16.7% |
| 2014 | 60.1% | -9.3% |
| 2015 | 44.2% | -26.5% |
| 2016 | 25.8% | -41.5% |
| 2017 | 30.2% | +17.1% |
| 2018 | 30.6% | +1.3% |
| 2019 | 30.9% | +1.1% |
| 2020 | 26.4% | -14.6% |
| 2021 | 32.9% | +24.7% |
| 2022 | 41.2% | +25.1% |
| 2023 | 32.8% | -20.5% |
| 2024 | 29.0% | -11.6% |
| 2025 | 23.8% | -17.8% |
Laos compared with similar countries
- Laos's 23.8% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 28.5%, 83% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Laos's 23.8% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 42.4%, 56% of the median. (35 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 8.2% | 2.2% | 17.6% | 6 |
| 1990s | 28.1% | 14.9% | 55.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 53.6% | 40.5% | 67.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 55.2% | 25.8% | 104.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 31.0% | 23.8% | 41.2% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Laos
- 131 Costa Rica 24.4% compare
- 132 Mali 24.2% compare
- 133 Cape Verde 24.0% compare
- 135 Antigua and Barbuda 23.6% compare
- 136 Iraq 23.5% compare
- 137 France 23.3% compare
More economy & growth data for Laos
- Real gdp growth, annual growth rate 11 % change on previous year (2025)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 3.39 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 4.6 Percent per annum (2029)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, annual growth rate 60.62 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0083 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per capita 19.21 units per person (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, annual growth rate 52.95 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per unit of GDP 0.006 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per capita 14.03 units per person (2025)
- IMF holdings of currency, US dollar, annual growth rate 5.01 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is value of imported goods as a share of gdp in Laos?
- Value of imported goods as a share of gdp in Laos was 23.8% in 2025, according to International Monetary Fund (2026); National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest value of imported goods as a share of gdp recorded in Laos?
- The highest recorded value was 104.8% in 2011.
- What is the lowest value of imported goods as a share of gdp recorded in Laos?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.2% in 1984.
- How does Laos rank for value of imported goods as a share of gdp?
- Laos ranks 134th out of 201 countries with data for 2025.
- Is value of imported goods as a share of gdp rising or falling in Laos?
- Over the last ten years it is down 46.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Laos data come from?
- The figures come from International Monetary Fund (2026); National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Value of imported goods as a share of GDP. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Value of a country’s total goods imports, including freight and insurance costs, as a percentage of a country’s gross domestic product (GDP).