Value of imported goods as a share of GDP in Laos

Laos: Value of imported goods as a share of GDP was 67.8% in 2014. ▲ Rising

Latest (2014)
67.8%
Change on year
up 4.2%
World rank
42nd
of 193 countries
All-time high
67.8%
in 2014
All-time low
8.2%
in 1985
Years of data
39
1969–2014

Value of imported goods as a share of GDP in Laos, 1969–2014

02040601969199120141969: 50.2 %1970: 35.2 %1971: 24.5 %1972: 23 %1973: 29.5 %1974: 31.1 %1977: 16.3 %1982: 41.2 %1984: 9.2 %1985: 8.2 %1986: 10.5 %1987: 19.9 %1988: 32.2 %1989: 25.9 %1990: 21.4 %1991: 16.5 %1992: 22.9 %1993: 32.5 %1994: 38 %1995: 33.6 %1996: 36.8 %1997: 34.6 %1998: 50.4 %1999: 55.6 %2000: 39.8 %2001: 40.6 %2002: 41.2 %2003: 40 %2004: 44.7 %2005: 46.4 %2006: 47.9 %2007: 49.9 %2008: 52.1 %2009: 49.6 %2010: 49.8 %2011: 56 %2012: 67.7 %2013: 65.1 %2014: 67.8 %

Source: Fouquin and Hugot (2016) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.

Analysis

In 2014, value of imported goods as a share of gdp in Laos stood at 67.8%. That is the highest value across all 39 years on record.

The figure is up 4.2% on the previous year and up 51.7% over ten years.

Over the whole period, value of imported goods as a share of gdp in Laos peaked at 67.8% in 2014 and was at its lowest, 8.2%, in 1985.

Laos ranks 42nd of 193 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 39 years of available data.

Value of imported goods as a share of GDP in Laos, year by year

Annual values for Value of imported goods as a share of GDP in Laos, 1969 to 2014.
Year % Change
1969 50.2%
1970 35.2% -29.8%
1971 24.5% -30.4%
1972 23.0% -6.0%
1973 29.5% +27.9%
1974 31.1% +5.5%
1977 16.3% -47.7%
1982 41.2% +153.7%
1984 9.2% -77.6%
1985 8.2% -11.5%
1986 10.5% +28.4%
1987 19.9% +89.8%
1988 32.2% +62.2%
1989 25.9% -19.6%
1990 21.4% -17.5%
1991 16.5% -22.6%
1992 22.9% +38.5%
1993 32.5% +42.0%
1994 38.0% +16.7%
1995 33.6% -11.5%
1996 36.8% +9.6%
1997 34.6% -6.0%
1998 50.4% +45.5%
1999 55.6% +10.5%
2000 39.8% -28.4%
2001 40.6% +1.9%
2002 41.2% +1.6%
2003 40.0% -2.9%
2004 44.7% +11.7%
2005 46.4% +3.9%
2006 47.9% +3.1%
2007 49.9% +4.3%
2008 52.1% +4.4%
2009 49.6% -4.8%
2010 49.8% +0.4%
2011 56.0% +12.4%
2012 67.7% +21.1%
2013 65.1% -3.9%
2014 67.8% +4.2%

Laos compared with similar countries

  • Laos's 67.8% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 42.3%, 1.6× the median. (46 countries reporting)
  • Laos's 67.8% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 50.8%, 1.3× the median. (32 countries reporting)

Biggest year-on-year movements

Years where Value of imported goods as a share of GDP in Laos changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.

YearChange FromTo
1982 +153.7% 16.3% 41.2%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1960s 50.2% 50.2% 50.2% 1
1970s 26.6% 16.3% 35.2% 6
1980s 21.0% 8.2% 41.2% 7
1990s 34.2% 16.5% 55.6% 10
2000s 45.2% 39.8% 52.1% 10
2010s 61.3% 49.8% 67.8% 5

Countries ranked near Laos

  1. 39 Belize 69.8% compare
  2. 40 Slovenia 68.7% compare
  3. 41 East Timor 68.6% compare
  4. 43 United Arab Emirates 67.2% compare
  5. 44 Jordan 66.2% compare
  6. 45 Grenada 63.6% compare

See the full ranking of 193 places →

More economy & growth data for Laos

All data for Laos →

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 67.8% in 2014, according to Fouquin and Hugot (2016) – processed 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 67.8% in 2014.
What is the lowest value of imported goods as a share of gdp recorded in Laos?
The lowest recorded value was 8.2% in 1985.
How does Laos rank for value of imported goods as a share of gdp?
Laos ranks 42nd out of 193 countries with data for 2014.
Is value of imported goods as a share of gdp rising or falling in Laos?
Over the last ten years it is up 51.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Laos data come from?
The figures come from Fouquin and Hugot (2016) – processed 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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Value of imported goods as a share of GDP in Laos. Statizoid, drawing on Fouquin and Hugot (2016) – processed by Our World in Data. Retrieved 23 September 2026, from https://economy.statizoid.com/stat/merchandise-imports-gdp-cepii/lao-pdr/

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About this data

Indicator
Value of imported goods as a share of GDP
Unit
%
Source
Fouquin and Hugot (2016) – processed by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
193 places, 12,772 data points, 1827–2014
Last refreshed

Estimates correspond to merchandise import-to-GDP ratios for countries and regions. All ratios are taken at current prices. See source for more details.