International tourism, expenditures (% of total imports) in Laos
Laos: International tourism, expenditures (% of total imports) was 4.5% in 2020. ◆ Volatile
International tourism, expenditures in Laos, 1995–2020
Source: Yearbook of Tourism Statistics, Compendium of Tourism Statistics and data files, UN Tourism. Measured in % of total imports.
Analysis
The most recent figure for international tourism, expenditures in Laos is 4.5%, measured in 2020.
The figure is down 67.3% on the previous year and down 51.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, international tourism, expenditures in Laos peaked at 22.1% in 2013 and was at its lowest, 0.8%, in 2001.
Laos ranks 65th of 186 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.
International tourism, expenditures (% of total imports) in Laos, year by year
| Year | % of total imports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 5.1% | — |
| 1996 | 4.1% | -19.9% |
| 1997 | 3.8% | -6.4% |
| 1998 | 4.9% | +27.6% |
| 1999 | 3.4% | -29.5% |
| 2001 | 0.8% | -77.9% |
| 2002 | 0.9% | +19.1% |
| 2003 | 1.0% | +12.8% |
| 2004 | 1.1% | +5.5% |
| 2005 | 1.1% | +1.0% |
| 2006 | 1.4% | +25.9% |
| 2007 | 1.3% | -7.6% |
| 2008 | 3.4% | +167.2% |
| 2009 | 5.7% | +68.9% |
| 2010 | 9.3% | +62.4% |
| 2011 | 9.0% | -2.7% |
| 2012 | 16.2% | +80.1% |
| 2013 | 22.1% | +36.1% |
| 2014 | 17.2% | -22.1% |
| 2015 | 14.8% | -13.8% |
| 2016 | 14.3% | -3.9% |
| 2017 | 13.7% | -3.9% |
| 2018 | 13.3% | -3.1% |
| 2019 | 13.7% | +3.0% |
| 2020 | 4.5% | -67.3% |
Laos compared with similar countries
- Laos's 4.5% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 3.9%, 1.1× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Laos's 4.5% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 4.6%, 98% of the median. (32 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 4.3% | 3.4% | 5.1% | 5 |
| 2000s | 1.8% | 0.8% | 5.7% | 9 |
| 2010s | 14.4% | 9.0% | 22.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.5% | 4.5% | 4.5% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Laos
More private sector data for Laos
- Merchandise trade 124.1% (2025)
- Food imports 12.7% (2023)
- Manufactures imports 61.7% (2023)
- Merchandise imports 10.34 billion current US$ (2025)
- Commercial service imports 1.65 billion current US$ (2025)
- Food exports 23.2% (2023)
- Manufactures exports 32.8% (2023)
- Merchandise exports 12.38 billion current US$ (2025)
- Commercial service exports 1.83 billion current US$ (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per capita 1,572 current US$ per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is international tourism, expenditures in Laos?
- International tourism, expenditures in Laos was 4.5% in 2020, according to Yearbook of Tourism Statistics, Compendium of Tourism Statistics and data files, UN Tourism.
- What is the highest international tourism, expenditures recorded in Laos?
- The highest recorded value was 22.1% in 2013.
- What is the lowest international tourism, expenditures recorded in Laos?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.8% in 2001.
- How does Laos rank for international tourism, expenditures?
- Laos ranks 65th out of 186 countries with data for 2020.
- Is international tourism, expenditures rising or falling in Laos?
- Over the last ten years it is down 51.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Laos data come from?
- The figures come from Yearbook of Tourism Statistics, Compendium of Tourism Statistics and data files, UN Tourism, published as part of International tourism, expenditures (% of total imports). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
International tourism expenditures are expenditures of international outbound visitors in other countries, including payments to foreign carriers for international transport. These expenditures may include those by residents traveling abroad as same-day visitors, except in cases where these are important enough to justify separate classification. For some countries they do not include expenditures for passenger transport items. Their share in imports is calculated as a ratio to imports of goods and services, which comprise all transactions between residents of a country and the rest of the world involving a change of ownership from nonresidents to residents of general merchandise, goods sent for processing and repairs, nonmonetary gold, and services.