Electricity generation from hydropower in Laos
Laos: Electricity generation from hydropower was 40 terawatt-hours in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Electricity generation from hydropower in Laos, 2000–2024
Source: Ember (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in terawatt-hours.
Analysis
The most recent figure for electricity generation from hydropower in Laos is 40 terawatt-hours, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 25 years on record.
The figure is up 164.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, electricity generation from hydropower in Laos peaked at 40 terawatt-hours in 2023 and was at its lowest, 2.83 terawatt-hours, in 2003.
That places Laos 18th out of 215 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Electricity generation from hydropower in Laos, year by year
| Year | terawatt-hours | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 3.28 terawatt-hours | — |
| 2001 | 3.3 terawatt-hours | +0.6% |
| 2002 | 3.21 terawatt-hours | -2.7% |
| 2003 | 2.83 terawatt-hours | -11.8% |
| 2004 | 3 terawatt-hours | +6.0% |
| 2005 | 3.51 terawatt-hours | +17.0% |
| 2006 | 3.6 terawatt-hours | +2.6% |
| 2007 | 3.37 terawatt-hours | -6.4% |
| 2008 | 3.72 terawatt-hours | +10.4% |
| 2009 | 3.37 terawatt-hours | -9.4% |
| 2010 | 8.36 terawatt-hours | +148.1% |
| 2011 | 12.84 terawatt-hours | +53.6% |
| 2012 | 12.93 terawatt-hours | +0.7% |
| 2013 | 15.35 terawatt-hours | +18.7% |
| 2014 | 15.12 terawatt-hours | -1.5% |
| 2015 | 13.9 terawatt-hours | -8.1% |
| 2016 | 17.53 terawatt-hours | +26.1% |
| 2017 | 20.1 terawatt-hours | +14.7% |
| 2018 | 22.33 terawatt-hours | +11.1% |
| 2019 | 19.74 terawatt-hours | -11.6% |
| 2020 | 28.51 terawatt-hours | +44.4% |
| 2021 | 32.9 terawatt-hours | +15.4% |
| 2022 | 38.74 terawatt-hours | +17.8% |
| 2023 | 40 terawatt-hours | +3.3% |
| 2024 | 40 terawatt-hours | +0.0% |
Laos compared with similar countries
- Laos's 40 terawatt-hours is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 2.8 terawatt-hours, 14.3× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Laos's 40 terawatt-hours is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 0.57 terawatt-hours, 70.2× the median. (32 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Electricity generation from hydropower 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.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | +148.1% | 3.37 terawatt-hours | 8.36 terawatt-hours |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 3.32 terawatt-hours | 2.83 terawatt-hours | 3.72 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2010s | 15.82 terawatt-hours | 8.36 terawatt-hours | 22.33 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2020s | 36.03 terawatt-hours | 28.51 terawatt-hours | 40 terawatt-hours | 5 |
Countries ranked near Laos
More energy & mining data for Laos
- Fossil fuel consumption by fuel, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary energy use, annual growth rate 8.72 % change on previous year (2024)
- Coal consumption, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2024)
- Coal consumption, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary energy use, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary energy use, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2024)
- Coal production, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2024)
- Coal production, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Fossil fuel consumption by fuel, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2024)
- Fuel imports 18.8% (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is electricity generation from hydropower in Laos?
- Electricity generation from hydropower in Laos was 40 terawatt-hours in 2024, according to Ember (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest electricity generation from hydropower recorded in Laos?
- The highest recorded value was 40 terawatt-hours in 2023.
- What is the lowest electricity generation from hydropower recorded in Laos?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.83 terawatt-hours in 2003.
- How does Laos rank for electricity generation from hydropower?
- Laos ranks 18th out of 215 countries with data for 2024.
- Is electricity generation from hydropower rising or falling in Laos?
- Over the last ten years it is up 164.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Laos data come from?
- The figures come from Ember (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Electricity generation from hydropower. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 25 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Measured in terawatt-hours.