Manufactures imports (% of merchandise imports) in Laos
Laos: Manufactures imports (% of merchandise imports) was 61.7% in 2023. ▲ Rising
Manufactures imports in Laos, 1962–2023
Source: Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division. Measured in % of merchandise imports.
Analysis
The most recent figure for manufactures imports in Laos is 61.7%, measured in 2023.
That represents a change of up 17.4% on the previous year and down 20.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, manufactures imports in Laos peaked at 78.9% in 2014 and was at its lowest, 41.0%, in 1967.
Laos ranks 101st of 196 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 27 years of available data.
Manufactures imports (% of merchandise imports) in Laos, year by year
| Year | % of merchandise imports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1962 | 46.2% | — |
| 1963 | 51.1% | +10.5% |
| 1964 | 54.6% | +6.8% |
| 1965 | 53.2% | -2.4% |
| 1966 | 44.7% | -15.9% |
| 1967 | 41.0% | -8.4% |
| 1968 | 51.1% | +24.6% |
| 1969 | 54.5% | +6.7% |
| 1970 | 52.2% | -4.3% |
| 1971 | 53.4% | +2.3% |
| 1972 | 41.7% | -21.8% |
| 1973 | 46.1% | +10.5% |
| 1974 | 55.1% | +19.4% |
| 2010 | 57.6% | +4.5% |
| 2011 | 70.0% | +21.7% |
| 2012 | 65.1% | -7.0% |
| 2013 | 77.4% | +18.8% |
| 2014 | 78.9% | +2.0% |
| 2015 | 73.1% | -7.3% |
| 2016 | 68.6% | -6.1% |
| 2017 | 72.2% | +5.2% |
| 2018 | 70.0% | -3.0% |
| 2019 | 64.9% | -7.3% |
| 2020 | 63.3% | -2.5% |
| 2021 | 57.9% | -8.5% |
| 2022 | 52.5% | -9.3% |
| 2023 | 61.7% | +17.4% |
Laos compared with similar countries
- Laos's 61.7% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 58.5%, 1.1× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Laos's 61.7% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 60.0%, 1.0× the median. (31 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 49.6% | 41.0% | 54.6% | 8 |
| 1970s | 49.7% | 41.7% | 55.1% | 5 |
| 2010s | 69.8% | 57.6% | 78.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 58.8% | 52.5% | 63.3% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Laos
More private sector data for Laos
- Merchandise trade 124.1% (2025)
- Food imports 12.7% (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)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.6762 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is manufactures imports in Laos?
- Manufactures imports in Laos was 61.7% in 2023, according to Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division.
- What is the highest manufactures imports recorded in Laos?
- The highest recorded value was 78.9% in 2014.
- What is the lowest manufactures imports recorded in Laos?
- The lowest recorded value was 41.0% in 1967.
- How does Laos rank for manufactures imports?
- Laos ranks 101st out of 196 countries with data for 2023.
- Is manufactures imports rising or falling in Laos?
- Over the last ten years it is down 20.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Laos data come from?
- The figures come from Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division, published as part of Manufactures imports (% of merchandise imports). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Manufactures comprise commodities in SITC (Rev. 3) sections 5 (chemicals), 6 (basic manufactures), 7 (machinery and transport equipment), and 8 (miscellaneous manufactured goods), excluding division 68 (non-ferrous metals). This indicator is expressed as a percentage of merchandise imports which is comprised of goods whose economic ownership is changed between a non-resident and a resident and that are not included in the following specific categories: goods under merchanting, non-monetary gold, and parts of travel, construction, and government goods and services n.i.e.