Military expenditure (current LCU) in Laos
Laos: Military expenditure (current LCU) was 178.25 billion current LCU in 2013. ◆ Volatile
Military expenditure in Laos, 1967–2013
Source: SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Measured in current LCU.
Analysis
The most recent figure for military expenditure in Laos is 178.25 billion current LCU, measured in 2013. That is the highest value across all 29 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 9.5% on the previous year and up 53.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military expenditure in Laos peaked at 178.25 billion current LCU in 2013 and was at its lowest, 8.51 billion current LCU, in 1968.
That places Laos 58th out of 168 countries with data for 2013, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Military expenditure (current LCU) in Laos, year by year
| Year | current LCU | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1967 | 8.53 billion current LCU | — |
| 1968 | 8.51 billion current LCU | -0.2% |
| 1969 | 8.67 billion current LCU | +1.9% |
| 1970 | 9.13 billion current LCU | +5.3% |
| 1971 | 9.37 billion current LCU | +2.7% |
| 1972 | 10.33 billion current LCU | +10.2% |
| 1973 | 12.73 billion current LCU | +23.3% |
| 1992 | 73.25 billion current LCU | +475.3% |
| 1993 | 77.10 billion current LCU | +5.3% |
| 1994 | 83.33 billion current LCU | +8.1% |
| 1995 | 83.45 billion current LCU | +0.2% |
| 1996 | 72.25 billion current LCU | -13.4% |
| 1997 | 84.50 billion current LCU | +17.0% |
| 1998 | 110.00 billion current LCU | +30.2% |
| 1999 | 109.25 billion current LCU | -0.7% |
| 2000 | 108.20 billion current LCU | -1.0% |
| 2001 | 112.60 billion current LCU | +4.1% |
| 2002 | 115.00 billion current LCU | +2.1% |
| 2003 | 116.40 billion current LCU | +1.2% |
| 2004 | 121.70 billion current LCU | +4.6% |
| 2005 | 127.50 billion current LCU | +4.8% |
| 2006 | 136.25 billion current LCU | +6.9% |
| 2007 | 142.50 billion current LCU | +4.6% |
| 2008 | 142.25 billion current LCU | -0.2% |
| 2009 | 119.00 billion current LCU | -16.3% |
| 2010 | 126.83 billion current LCU | +6.6% |
| 2011 | 152.65 billion current LCU | +20.4% |
| 2012 | 162.78 billion current LCU | +6.6% |
| 2013 | 178.25 billion current LCU | +9.5% |
Laos compared with similar countries
- Laos's 178.25 billion current LCU is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 121.21 billion current LCU, 1.5× the median. (40 countries reporting)
- Laos's 178.25 billion current LCU is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 206.67 billion current LCU, 86% of the median. (20 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Military expenditure (current LCU) 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | +475.3% | 12.73 billion current LCU | 73.25 billion current LCU |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 8.57 billion current LCU | 8.51 billion current LCU | 8.67 billion current LCU | 3 |
| 1970s | 10.39 billion current LCU | 9.13 billion current LCU | 12.73 billion current LCU | 4 |
| 1990s | 86.64 billion current LCU | 72.25 billion current LCU | 110.00 billion current LCU | 8 |
| 2000s | 124.14 billion current LCU | 108.20 billion current LCU | 142.50 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 2010s | 155.12 billion current LCU | 126.83 billion current LCU | 178.25 billion current LCU | 4 |
Countries ranked near Laos
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)
- Elected parliament, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Men's universal right to vote, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Universal right to vote, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Universal right to vote in practice, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Arms imports 7.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values (2024)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per capita 0.9009 SIPRI trend indicator values per person (2024)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per unit of GDP 0.0004 SIPRI trend indicator values per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), annual growth rate 133.33 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military expenditure in Laos?
- Military expenditure in Laos was 178.25 billion current LCU in 2013, according to SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
- What is the highest military expenditure recorded in Laos?
- The highest recorded value was 178.25 billion current LCU in 2013.
- What is the lowest military expenditure recorded in Laos?
- The lowest recorded value was 8.51 billion current LCU in 1968.
- How does Laos rank for military expenditure?
- Laos ranks 58th out of 168 countries with data for 2013.
- Is military expenditure rising or falling in Laos?
- Over the last ten years it is up 53.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Laos data come from?
- The figures come from SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), published as part of Military expenditure (current LCU). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Military expenditure in local currency at current prices (by calendar year)