Military expenditure (% of GDP) in Laos
Laos: Military expenditure (% of GDP) was 0.2% in 2013. ◆ Volatile
Military expenditure in Laos, 1992–2013
Source: SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
The most recent figure for military expenditure in Laos is 0.2%, measured in 2013. That is the lowest value across all 22 years on record.
The figure is down 4.8% on the previous year and down 61.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military expenditure in Laos peaked at 8.7% in 1992 and was at its lowest, 0.2%, in 2013.
Laos ranks 162nd of 167 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Military expenditure (% of GDP) in Laos, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 | 8.7% | — |
| 1993 | 8.1% | -6.5% |
| 1994 | 7.5% | -7.2% |
| 1995 | 5.8% | -22.4% |
| 1996 | 4.2% | -28.2% |
| 1997 | 3.8% | -8.3% |
| 1998 | 2.6% | -32.4% |
| 1999 | 1.1% | -59.2% |
| 2000 | 0.8% | -25.2% |
| 2001 | 0.7% | -9.4% |
| 2002 | 0.6% | -18.6% |
| 2003 | 0.5% | -15.7% |
| 2004 | 0.4% | -11.9% |
| 2005 | 0.4% | -9.5% |
| 2006 | 0.3% | -12.6% |
| 2007 | 0.3% | -9.0% |
| 2008 | 0.3% | -12.3% |
| 2009 | 0.2% | -20.7% |
| 2010 | 0.2% | -5.8% |
| 2011 | 0.2% | +3.7% |
| 2012 | 0.2% | -6.0% |
| 2013 | 0.2% | -4.8% |
Laos compared with similar countries
- Laos's 0.2% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 1.5%, 13% of the median. (40 countries reporting)
- Laos's 0.2% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 1.4%, 13% of the median. (19 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 5.2% | 1.1% | 8.7% | 8 |
| 2000s | 0.5% | 0.2% | 0.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.2% | 0.2% | 0.2% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Laos
- 159 Sierra Leone 0.4% compare
- 160 Papua New Guinea 0.4% compare
- 161 Ireland 0.2% compare
- 163 Mauritius 0.1% compare
- 164 Haiti 0.1% compare
- 165 Panama 0.0% compare
- 165 Costa Rica 0.0%
- 165 Iceland 0.0%
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 0.2% 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 8.7% in 1992.
- What is the lowest military expenditure recorded in Laos?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.2% in 2013.
- How does Laos rank for military expenditure?
- Laos ranks 162nd out of 167 countries with data for 2013.
- Is military expenditure rising or falling in Laos?
- Over the last ten years it is down 61.4%. 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 (% of GDP). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Military expenditure by country as percentage of gross domestic product