Merchandise imports (current US$), annual growth rate in Laos
Laos: Merchandise imports (current US$), annual growth rate was 19.38 % change on previous year in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Merchandise imports (current US$), annual growth rate in Laos, 1961–2025
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in % change on previous year.
Analysis
The most recent figure for merchandise imports (current us$), annual growth rate in Laos is 19.38 % change on previous year, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 46.2% on the previous year and down 41.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, merchandise imports (current us$), annual growth rate in Laos peaked at 337.5 % change on previous year in 1979 and was at its lowest, -68.89 % change on previous year, in 1977.
That places Laos 19th out of 206 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Merchandise imports (current US$), annual growth rate in Laos, year by year
| Year | % change on previous year | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | -10.53 % change on previous year | — |
| 1962 | 35.29 % change on previous year | -435.3% |
| 1963 | 13.04 % change on previous year | -63.0% |
| 1964 | 0 % change on previous year | -100.0% |
| 1965 | 26.92 % change on previous year | — |
| 1966 | 27.27 % change on previous year | +1.3% |
| 1967 | 16.67 % change on previous year | -38.9% |
| 1968 | 10.2 % change on previous year | -38.8% |
| 1969 | 53.7 % change on previous year | +426.3% |
| 1970 | 37.35 % change on previous year | -30.5% |
| 1971 | -28.07 % change on previous year | -175.2% |
| 1972 | -23.17 % change on previous year | -17.5% |
| 1973 | -9.52 % change on previous year | -58.9% |
| 1974 | 14.04 % change on previous year | -247.4% |
| 1975 | -30.77 % change on previous year | -319.2% |
| 1976 | 0 % change on previous year | -100.0% |
| 1977 | -68.89 % change on previous year | — |
| 1978 | 14.29 % change on previous year | -120.7% |
| 1979 | 337.5 % change on previous year | +2262.5% |
| 1980 | 31.43 % change on previous year | -90.7% |
| 1981 | 19.57 % change on previous year | -37.7% |
| 1982 | 20 % change on previous year | +2.2% |
| 1983 | 13.64 % change on previous year | -31.8% |
| 1984 | 8 % change on previous year | -41.3% |
| 1985 | 19.14 % change on previous year | +139.2% |
| 1986 | -3.63 % change on previous year | -119.0% |
| 1987 | 16.13 % change on previous year | -544.7% |
| 1988 | -10.65 % change on previous year | -166.0% |
| 1989 | -4.15 % change on previous year | -61.1% |
| 1990 | 0 % change on previous year | -100.0% |
| 1991 | -8.11 % change on previous year | — |
| 1992 | 58.82 % change on previous year | -825.5% |
| 1993 | 60 % change on previous year | +2.0% |
| 1994 | 30.56 % change on previous year | -49.1% |
| 1995 | 4.43 % change on previous year | -85.5% |
| 1996 | 17.15 % change on previous year | +286.9% |
| 1997 | 2.32 % change on previous year | -86.5% |
| 1998 | -21.67 % change on previous year | -1034.6% |
| 1999 | -5.06 % change on previous year | -76.6% |
| 2000 | 1.9 % change on previous year | -137.6% |
| 2001 | -4.67 % change on previous year | -345.3% |
| 2002 | -12.35 % change on previous year | +164.4% |
| 2003 | 3.36 % change on previous year | -127.2% |
| 2004 | 54.33 % change on previous year | +1519.0% |
| 2005 | 23.7 % change on previous year | -56.4% |
| 2006 | 20.18 % change on previous year | -14.9% |
| 2007 | 0.6604 % change on previous year | -96.7% |
| 2008 | 31.49 % change on previous year | +4668.5% |
| 2009 | 4.13 % change on previous year | -86.9% |
| 2010 | 41 % change on previous year | +891.8% |
| 2011 | 16.7 % change on previous year | -59.3% |
| 2012 | 27.08 % change on previous year | +62.2% |
| 2013 | 0.8511 % change on previous year | -96.9% |
| 2014 | 38.62 % change on previous year | +4438.3% |
| 2015 | 32.87 % change on previous year | -14.9% |
| 2016 | -5.34 % change on previous year | -116.2% |
| 2017 | 5.49 % change on previous year | -202.9% |
| 2018 | 11.43 % change on previous year | +108.2% |
| 2019 | -0.6809 % change on previous year | -106.0% |
| 2020 | -14.38 % change on previous year | +2012.1% |
| 2021 | 16.85 % change on previous year | -217.2% |
| 2022 | 15.44 % change on previous year | -8.4% |
| 2023 | 5.59 % change on previous year | -63.8% |
| 2024 | 13.26 % change on previous year | +137.1% |
| 2025 | 19.38 % change on previous year | +46.2% |
Laos compared with similar countries
- Laos's 19.38 % change on previous year is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 9.33 % change on previous year, 2.1× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Laos's 19.38 % change on previous year is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 5.01 % change on previous year, 3.9× the median. (37 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Merchandise imports (current US$), annual growth rate 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | +4668.5% | 0.6604 % change on previous year | 31.49 % change on previous year |
| 2014 | +4438.3% | 0.8511 % change on previous year | 38.62 % change on previous year |
| 1979 | +2262.5% | 14.29 % change on previous year | 337.5 % change on previous year |
| 2020 | -2012.1% | -0.6809 % change on previous year | -14.38 % change on previous year |
| 2004 | +1519.0% | 3.36 % change on previous year | 54.33 % change on previous year |
| 1998 | -1034.6% | 2.32 % change on previous year | -21.67 % change on previous year |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 19.18 % change on previous year | -10.53 % change on previous year | 53.7 % change on previous year | 9 |
| 1970s | 24.27 % change on previous year | -68.89 % change on previous year | 337.5 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 1980s | 10.95 % change on previous year | -10.65 % change on previous year | 31.43 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 1990s | 13.84 % change on previous year | -21.67 % change on previous year | 60 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2000s | 12.27 % change on previous year | -12.35 % change on previous year | 54.33 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2010s | 16.8 % change on previous year | -5.34 % change on previous year | 41 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2020s | 9.36 % change on previous year | -14.38 % change on previous year | 19.38 % change on previous year | 6 |
Countries ranked near Laos
- 16 Syria 22.48 % change on previous year compare
- 17 Moldova 20.49 % change on previous year compare
- 18 Sao Tome and Principe 19.61 % change on previous year compare
- 20 Vietnam 19.25 % change on previous year compare
- 21 Tajikistan 18.5 % change on previous year compare
- 22 Uzbekistan 18.47 % change on previous year compare
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$), annual growth rate 31.87 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is merchandise imports (current us$), annual growth rate in Laos?
- Merchandise imports (current us$), annual growth rate in Laos was 19.38 % change on previous year in 2025, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest merchandise imports (current us$), annual growth rate recorded in Laos?
- The highest recorded value was 337.5 % change on previous year in 1979.
- What is the lowest merchandise imports (current us$), annual growth rate recorded in Laos?
- The lowest recorded value was -68.89 % change on previous year in 1977.
- How does Laos rank for merchandise imports (current us$), annual growth rate?
- Laos ranks 19th out of 206 countries with data for 2025.
- Is merchandise imports (current us$), annual growth rate rising or falling in Laos?
- Over the last ten years it is down 41.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Laos data come from?
- The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of Merchandise imports (current US$), annual growth rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 65 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.
How this figure is calculated
The year-on-year percentage change in Merchandise imports (current US$). Computed from consecutive annual observations; years either side of a gap are skipped rather than bridged.
Computed from
- Merchandise imports World Trade Organization (WTO)
Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.
About this data
The year-on-year percentage change in Merchandise imports (current US$). Computed from consecutive annual observations; years either side of a gap are skipped rather than bridged.