Arms imports in Laos
Laos: Arms imports was 7.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
7.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values
Change on year
up 133.3%
World rank
123rd
of 173 countries
All-time high
134.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values
in 1977
All-time low
0 SIPRI trend indicator values
in 2003
Years of data
47
1960–2024
Arms imports in Laos, 1960–2024
Source: Arms Transfers Programme, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Measured in SIPRI trend indicator values.
Analysis
Laos recorded 7.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values for arms imports in 2024.
The figure is up 133.3% on the previous year and down 63.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, arms imports in Laos peaked at 134.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values in 1977 and was at its lowest, 0 SIPRI trend indicator values, in 2003.
Laos ranks 123rd of 173 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.
Arms imports in Laos, year by year
| Year | SIPRI trend indicator values | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 3.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | — |
| 1961 | 4.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +33.3% |
| 1962 | 19.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +375.0% |
| 1963 | 15.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -21.1% |
| 1964 | 7.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -53.3% |
| 1965 | 7.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +0.0% |
| 1966 | 14.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +100.0% |
| 1967 | 14.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +0.0% |
| 1968 | 4.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -71.4% |
| 1969 | 10.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +150.0% |
| 1970 | 23.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +130.0% |
| 1971 | 17.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -26.1% |
| 1972 | 14.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -17.6% |
| 1973 | 44.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +214.3% |
| 1974 | 1.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -97.7% |
| 1975 | 37.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +3600.0% |
| 1976 | 21.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -43.2% |
| 1977 | 134.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +538.1% |
| 1978 | 26.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -80.6% |
| 1980 | 35.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +34.6% |
| 1981 | 54.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +54.3% |
| 1982 | 1.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -98.1% |
| 1983 | 94.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +9300.0% |
| 1984 | 26.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -72.3% |
| 1985 | 59.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +126.9% |
| 1987 | 29.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -50.8% |
| 1988 | 18.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -37.9% |
| 1990 | 8.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -55.6% |
| 1997 | 43.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +437.5% |
| 1998 | 22.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -48.8% |
| 1999 | 30.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +36.4% |
| 2000 | 7.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -76.7% |
| 2003 | 0 SIPRI trend indicator values | -100.0% |
| 2005 | 4.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | — |
| 2008 | 7.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +75.0% |
| 2009 | 26.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +271.4% |
| 2011 | 15.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -42.3% |
| 2012 | 19.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +26.7% |
| 2013 | 19.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 7.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -63.2% |
| 2017 | 2.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -71.4% |
| 2018 | 123.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +6050.0% |
| 2019 | 27.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -78.0% |
| 2020 | 17.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -37.0% |
| 2021 | 3.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -82.4% |
| 2023 | 3.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +0.0% |
| 2024 | 7.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +133.3% |
Laos compared with similar countries
- Laos's 7.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 11.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values, 64% of the median. (41 countries reporting)
- Laos's 7.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 58.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values, 12% of the median. (21 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Arms imports 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | +9300.0% | 1.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 94.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values |
| 2018 | +6050.0% | 2.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 123.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values |
| 1975 | +3600.0% | 1.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 37.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 9.70 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 3.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 19.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 10 |
| 1970s | 35.22 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 1.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 134.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 9 |
| 1980s | 39.50 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 1.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 94.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 8 |
| 1990s | 25.75 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 8.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 43.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 4 |
| 2000s | 8.80 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 0 SIPRI trend indicator values | 26.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 5 |
| 2010s | 30.29 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 2.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 123.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 7 |
| 2020s | 7.50 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 3.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 17.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 4 |
Countries ranked near Laos
- 121 Costa Rica 8.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values compare
- 121 Cuba 8.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values compare
- 123 Honduras 7.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values compare
- 123 Malaysia 7.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values compare
- 123 Maldives 7.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values compare
- 123 Micronesia (country) 7.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values compare
- 123 Syria 7.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values compare
- 123 Tonga 7.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values compare
More public sector data for Laos
- Democracy, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Chief executive of the government is elected, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Universal right to vote in practice, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Elected parliament, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Universal right to vote, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Men's universal right to vote, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Democracy 1 (2025)
- Chief executive of the government is elected 1 (2025)
- Elected parliament 1 (2025)
- Men's universal right to vote 1 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is arms imports in Laos?
- Arms imports in Laos was 7.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values in 2024, according to Arms Transfers Programme, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
- What is the highest arms imports recorded in Laos?
- The highest recorded value was 134.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values in 1977.
- What is the lowest arms imports recorded in Laos?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 SIPRI trend indicator values in 2003.
- How does Laos rank for arms imports?
- Laos ranks 123rd out of 173 countries with data for 2024.
- Is arms imports rising or falling in Laos?
- Over the last ten years it is down 63.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Laos data come from?
- The figures come from Arms Transfers Programme, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), published as part of Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 47 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Arms transfers (imports) cover the volume of transfers of major arms through sales and gifts, and those made through manufacturing licenses. Data cover major conventional weapons such as aircraft, armored vehicles, artillery, radar systems, missiles, and ships. Figures are SIPRI Trend Indicator Values (TIVs). A '0' indicates that the volume of deliveries is between 0 and 0.5 million SIPRI TIV.