Number of people without access to electricity in Laos
Laos: Number of people without access to electricity was 271,944 people in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Number of people without access to electricity in Laos, 1993–2024
Source: Data compiled from multiple sources by the World Bank – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
In 2024, number of people without access to electricity in Laos stood at 271,944 people.
The figure is up 1.4% on the previous year and down 76.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of people without access to electricity in Laos peaked at 3.70 million people in 1995 and was at its lowest, 0 people, in 2021.
Laos ranks 66th of 214 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Number of people without access to electricity in Laos, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1993 | 3.23 million people | — |
| 1994 | 3.58 million people | +10.7% |
| 1995 | 3.70 million people | +3.3% |
| 1996 | 3.47 million people | -6.2% |
| 1997 | 3.40 million people | -2.1% |
| 1998 | 3.31 million people | -2.5% |
| 1999 | 3.22 million people | -2.8% |
| 2000 | 3.12 million people | -3.2% |
| 2001 | 3.02 million people | -3.1% |
| 2002 | 3.01 million people | -0.2% |
| 2003 | 2.96 million people | -1.7% |
| 2004 | 2.69 million people | -9.3% |
| 2005 | 2.51 million people | -6.6% |
| 2006 | 2.56 million people | +2.1% |
| 2007 | 2.73 million people | +6.3% |
| 2008 | 2.09 million people | -23.3% |
| 2009 | 2.03 million people | -2.7% |
| 2010 | 1.89 million people | -7.2% |
| 2011 | 1.93 million people | +2.1% |
| 2012 | 1.54 million people | -20.2% |
| 2013 | 1.37 million people | -11.0% |
| 2014 | 1.17 million people | -14.3% |
| 2015 | 700,570 people | -40.3% |
| 2016 | 759,968 people | +8.5% |
| 2017 | 449,162 people | -40.9% |
| 2018 | 506,091 people | +12.7% |
| 2019 | 115,802 people | -77.1% |
| 2020 | 51,426 people | -55.6% |
| 2021 | 0 people | -100.0% |
| 2022 | 0 people | — |
| 2023 | 268,275 people | — |
| 2024 | 271,944 people | +1.4% |
Laos compared with similar countries
- Laos's 271,944 people is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 781,524 people, 35% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Number of people without access to electricity 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | -100.0% | 51,426 people | 0 people |
| 2019 | -77.1% | 506,091 people | 115,802 people |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 3.42 million people | 3.22 million people | 3.70 million people | 7 |
| 2000s | 2.67 million people | 2.03 million people | 3.12 million people | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.04 million people | 115,802 people | 1.93 million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 118,329 people | 0 people | 271,944 people | 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)
- Coal production, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2024)
- Coal production, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary energy use, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2024)
- Fuel imports 18.8% (2023)
- Ores and metals imports 1.3% (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of people without access to electricity in Laos?
- Number of people without access to electricity in Laos was 271,944 people in 2024, according to Data compiled from multiple sources by the World Bank – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest number of people without access to electricity recorded in Laos?
- The highest recorded value was 3.70 million people in 1995.
- What is the lowest number of people without access to electricity recorded in Laos?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 people in 2021.
- How does Laos rank for number of people without access to electricity?
- Laos ranks 66th out of 214 countries with data for 2024.
- Is number of people without access to electricity rising or falling in Laos?
- Over the last ten years it is down 76.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Laos data come from?
- The figures come from Data compiled from multiple sources by the World Bank – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Number of people without access to electricity. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Access to electricity means having an electricity source that can provide very basic lighting, and charge a phone or power a radio for 4 hours per day.