Merchandise imports by the reporting economy in Laos
Laos: Merchandise imports by the reporting economy was 5.47 billion current US$ in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
5.47 billion current US$
Change on year
up 25.4%
World rank
135th
of 206 countries
All-time high
10.16 billion current US$
in 2012
All-time low
16.10 million current US$
in 1961
Years of data
57
1960–2023
Merchandise imports by the reporting economy in Laos, 1960–2023
Source: Staff estimates, World Bank (WB). Measured in current US$.
Analysis
The most recent figure for merchandise imports by the reporting economy in Laos is 5.47 billion current US$, measured in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 25.4% on the previous year and down 32.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, merchandise imports by the reporting economy in Laos peaked at 10.16 billion current US$ in 2012 and was at its lowest, 16.10 million current US$, in 1961.
Laos ranks 135th of 206 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Merchandise imports by the reporting economy in Laos, year by year
| Year | current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 31.30 million current US$ | — |
| 1961 | 16.10 million current US$ | -48.6% |
| 1962 | 24.30 million current US$ | +50.9% |
| 1963 | 28.70 million current US$ | +18.1% |
| 1964 | 24.10 million current US$ | -16.0% |
| 1965 | 28.80 million current US$ | +19.5% |
| 1967 | 45.09 million current US$ | +56.6% |
| 1968 | 49.23 million current US$ | +9.2% |
| 1969 | 76.54 million current US$ | +55.5% |
| 1970 | 53.60 million current US$ | -30.0% |
| 1971 | 38.22 million current US$ | -28.7% |
| 1972 | 45.15 million current US$ | +18.2% |
| 1973 | 56.10 million current US$ | +24.3% |
| 1974 | 63.19 million current US$ | +12.6% |
| 1981 | 72.01 million current US$ | +14.0% |
| 1982 | 76.10 million current US$ | +5.7% |
| 1983 | 25.48 million current US$ | -66.5% |
| 1984 | 36.42 million current US$ | +43.0% |
| 1985 | 51.68 million current US$ | +41.9% |
| 1986 | 56.94 million current US$ | +10.2% |
| 1987 | 74.83 million current US$ | +31.4% |
| 1988 | 98.64 million current US$ | +31.8% |
| 1989 | 124.20 million current US$ | +25.9% |
| 1990 | 147.27 million current US$ | +18.6% |
| 1991 | 152.86 million current US$ | +3.8% |
| 1992 | 256.19 million current US$ | +67.6% |
| 1993 | 311.10 million current US$ | +21.4% |
| 1994 | 401.80 million current US$ | +29.2% |
| 1995 | 427.90 million current US$ | +6.5% |
| 1996 | 461.00 million current US$ | +7.7% |
| 1997 | 400.73 million current US$ | -13.1% |
| 1998 | 635.70 million current US$ | +58.6% |
| 1999 | 799.50 million current US$ | +25.8% |
| 2000 | 1.07 billion current US$ | +34.2% |
| 2001 | 882.50 million current US$ | -17.7% |
| 2002 | 1.08 billion current US$ | +22.1% |
| 2003 | 1.03 billion current US$ | -4.4% |
| 2004 | 1.75 billion current US$ | +69.4% |
| 2005 | 1.49 billion current US$ | -14.9% |
| 2006 | 1.43 billion current US$ | -3.6% |
| 2007 | 2.28 billion current US$ | +59.2% |
| 2008 | 3.50 billion current US$ | +53.7% |
| 2009 | 3.67 billion current US$ | +4.9% |
| 2010 | 5.33 billion current US$ | +45.1% |
| 2011 | 8.44 billion current US$ | +58.3% |
| 2012 | 10.16 billion current US$ | +20.4% |
| 2013 | 8.14 billion current US$ | -19.9% |
| 2014 | 9.27 billion current US$ | +13.9% |
| 2015 | 6.78 billion current US$ | -26.9% |
| 2016 | 4.11 billion current US$ | -39.4% |
| 2017 | 5.16 billion current US$ | +25.6% |
| 2018 | 5.55 billion current US$ | +7.6% |
| 2019 | 5.80 billion current US$ | +4.4% |
| 2020 | 5.01 billion current US$ | -13.5% |
| 2021 | 6.33 billion current US$ | +26.3% |
| 2022 | 4.36 billion current US$ | -31.1% |
| 2023 | 5.47 billion current US$ | +25.4% |
Laos compared with similar countries
- Laos's 5.47 billion current US$ is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 8.62 billion current US$, 63% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Laos's 5.47 billion current US$ is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 6.01 billion current US$, 91% of the median. (36 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 36.02 million current US$ | 16.10 million current US$ | 76.54 million current US$ | 9 |
| 1970s | 51.25 million current US$ | 38.22 million current US$ | 63.19 million current US$ | 5 |
| 1980s | 68.48 million current US$ | 25.48 million current US$ | 124.20 million current US$ | 9 |
| 1990s | 399.41 million current US$ | 147.27 million current US$ | 799.50 million current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.82 billion current US$ | 882.50 million current US$ | 3.67 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 6.87 billion current US$ | 4.11 billion current US$ | 10.16 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.29 billion current US$ | 4.36 billion current US$ | 6.33 billion current US$ | 4 |
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)
- Food exports 23.2% (2023)
- Manufactures exports 32.8% (2023)
- Merchandise exports 12.38 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)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), annual growth rate 31.87 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is merchandise imports by the reporting economy in Laos?
- Merchandise imports by the reporting economy in Laos was 5.47 billion current US$ in 2023, according to Staff estimates, World Bank (WB).
- What is the highest merchandise imports by the reporting economy recorded in Laos?
- The highest recorded value was 10.16 billion current US$ in 2012.
- What is the lowest merchandise imports by the reporting economy recorded in Laos?
- The lowest recorded value was 16.10 million current US$ in 1961.
- How does Laos rank for merchandise imports by the reporting economy?
- Laos ranks 135th out of 206 countries with data for 2023.
- Is merchandise imports by the reporting economy rising or falling in Laos?
- Over the last ten years it is down 32.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Laos data come from?
- The figures come from Staff estimates, World Bank (WB), published as part of Merchandise imports by the reporting economy (current US$). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Merchandise imports by the reporting economy are the total merchandise imports by the reporting economy from the rest of the world, as reported in the IMF's Direction of trade database. Data are in current U.S. dollars.