Laos: cities by population
Laos has a population of 7,974,017 (UN estimate, 2026), with Vientiane as its capital. The 50 largest of its 83 recorded towns and cities, ranked.
+47%
since 2000 (5,431,212)
+22%
projected by 2050 (9,757,285)
35
people per km²
Figures are the latest available in GeoNames (CC BY 4.0), which draws on national censuses of varying dates — treat them as recent, not same-year. Country totals are UN World Population Prospects 2024 (medium variant) where the UN lists the country separately; the handful it reports under a parent state keep a GeoNames figure and are marked as such. Sources & method.
Largest cities in Laos
| # | Place | Region | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vientiane | Vientiane Prefecture | 840,940 |
| 2 | Savannakhet | Savannakhet Province | 125,760 |
| 3 | Thakhèk | Khammouane Province | 90,800 |
| 4 | Pakse | Champasak Province | 77,900 |
| 5 | Ban Khoan | Bokeo | 65,348 |
| 6 | Xam Nua | Houaphan | 56,900 |
| 7 | Luang Prabang | Luang Prabang Province | 55,027 |
| 8 | Muang Phônsavan | Xiangkhoang | 37,507 |
| 9 | Ban Xénô | Savannakhet Province | 25,135 |
| 10 | Muang Xay | Oudômxai | 25,000 |
| 11 | Vang Vieng | Vientiane | 25,000 |
| 12 | Muang Sing | Loungnamtha | 23,500 |
| 13 | Pakxan | Bolikhamsai | 21,967 |
| 14 | Ban Laongam | Salavan Province | 21,304 |
| 15 | Sekong | Xékong | 20,116 |
| 16 | Borikhan | Bolikhamsai | 18,354 |
| 17 | Ban Kèngkok | Savannakhet Province | 15,658 |
| 18 | Ban Houakhoua | Bokeo | 15,500 |
| 19 | Muang Không | Champasak Province | 15,000 |
| 20 | Ban Lak Xao | Bolikhamsai | 14,117 |
| 21 | Ban Thatèng | Xékong | 14,021 |
| 22 | Phôngsali | Phôngsali | 13,500 |
| 23 | Sainyabuli | Xiagnabouli | 13,500 |
| 24 | Champasak | Champasak Province | 12,994 |
| 25 | Ban Houayxay | Bokeo | 12,500 |
| 26 | Ban Siphôm | Xiagnabouli | 12,479 |
| 27 | Ban Bachiang | Champasak Province | 12,116 |
| 28 | Ban Muang-Nan | Luang Prabang Province | 11,104 |
| 29 | Muang Phôn-Hông | Vientiane | 10,112 |
| 30 | Ban Xamtai | Houaphan | 6,244 |
| 31 | Muang Hôngsa | Xiagnabouli | 6,000 |
| 32 | Salavan | Salavan Province | 5,521 |
| 33 | Pakxong | Champasak Province | 5,000 |
| 34 | Muang Xon | Houaphan | 4,899 |
| 35 | Lamam | Xékong | 4,463 |
| 36 | Attapeu | Attapu | 4,297 |
| 37 | Ban Boun-Nua | Phôngsali | 3,855 |
| 38 | Dak Cheung | Xékong | 3,625 |
| 39 | Ban Nambak | Luang Prabang Province | 3,571 |
| 40 | Ban Phônsavang-Nua | Savannakhet Province | 3,556 |
| 41 | Ban Nahin | Bolikhamsai | 3,466 |
| 42 | Ban Nalaotay | Savannakhet Province | 3,405 |
| 43 | Luang Namtha | Loungnamtha | 3,225 |
| 44 | Ban Nongdeun | Savannakhet Province | 2,880 |
| 45 | Oudomsouk | Khammouane Province | 2,783 |
| 46 | Ban Simuangngam | Bokeo | 2,428 |
| 47 | Ban Thakham | Savannakhet Province | 2,281 |
| 48 | Pakkading | Bolikhamsai | 2,176 |
| 49 | Ban Hatxao | Luang Prabang Province | 2,045 |
| 50 | Ban Achung | Salavan Province | 2,044 |
Twenty years earlier: Laos in the 2005 World Gazetteer — population then 5,612,274.
Common questions
What is the population of Laos?
Laos has a population of 7,974,017, the UN World Population Prospects estimate for 2026. The UN's medium-variant projection for 2050 is 9,757,285 — a forecast, not a measurement.
What is the capital of Laos?
Vientiane.