Laos: capital, population, area and flag
Laos is a country in Southeast Asia (Asia). Its capital is Vientiane. The population is about 7.87M (#102 of 193) and the area is about 236,800 km² (#82 of 193).
Key facts
- Capital
- Vientiane
- Region
- Asia / Southeast Asia
- Population
- 7,873,046 (2025) #102 of 193
- Total area
- 236,800 km² (2024) #82 of 193
- Population density
- 33.7 people/km² (2024) #146 of 193
- GDP (total)
- $18.3B (2025) #135 of 189
- GDP per capita
- $2,325 (2025) #151 of 189
- Life expectancy
- 69.2 years (2024) #136 of 193
- Distance from Japan
- 4,136 km #184 of 192
- Area compared with Japan
- about 0.6 times that of Japan
- Population compared with Japan
- about 1/16 that of Japan
- Main languages
- Lao
- Currency
- Laotian Kip (LAK)
- Calling code
- +856
- Time zone (capital)
- UTC+7
- Time difference from Japan (standard time)
- 2 h behind Japan
- Driving side
- Right
- Capital location
- 17.98°N 102.63°E
Population of Laos, 1950–2100 (Japanese)
See past estimates, future projections and the population pyramid in the World Population Time Machine.
Map of Laos
Capital: Vientiane
Laos: in the world’s top 10 for food & farming
Laos ranks among the world’s top 10 for these crops, animals, seafood and farm products (latest FAO data).
Neighbors by land
Top rankings
Laos is in the top 10 for:
Laos in world rankings
How Laos compares with other countries, indicator by indicator. Click an indicator to see the full ranking.
Questions about Laos
What is the capital of Laos?
The capital of Laos is Vientiane.
What is the population of Laos?
Laos has a population of about 7.87M (2025), #102 of 193 among countries.
How big is Laos?
Laos covers about 236,800 km², #82 of 193 among countries.
Which continent is Laos in?
Laos is in Asia, in the region of Southeast Asia.
What currency and languages are used in Laos?
The currency is the Laotian Kip. Main languages: Lao.
How does Laos compare with Japan in size and population?
The area of Laos is about 0.6 times that of Japan, and its population is about 1/16 that of Japan.
How far is Laos from Japan?
The capital, Vientiane, is about 4,136 km from Tokyo, the capital of Japan, in a straight line.
What is the time difference between Laos and Japan?
The capital, Vientiane, is on UTC+7 in standard time: 2 h behind Japan.
More countries in Southeast Asia
Play with Laos
Test what you learned in the quiz.