The ratio of national debt to gross domestic product (GDP) of Laos was approximately 96.45 percent in 2024. Between 2001 and 2024, the ratio rose by around 1.72 percentage points, though the increase followed an uneven trajectory rather than a consistent upward trend. The ratio is expected to drop by about 19.27 percentage points between 2024 and 2030, showing a continuous downward movement throughout the period.The general government gross debt consists of all liabilities that require payment or payments of interest and/or principal by the debtor to the creditor at a date or dates in the future. Here it is depicted in relation to the country's GDP, which refers to the total value of goods and services produced during a year.

Laos recorded a Government Debt to GDP of 68.71 percent of the country's Gross Domestic Product in 2024. This dataset provides - Laos Government Debt To GDP - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

The national debt of Laos amounted to approximately ************* U.S. dollars in 2024. Following a continuous upward trend, the national debt has risen by around ************* U.S. dollars since 2001. Between 2024 and 2030, the national debt will rise by around ************ U.S. dollars, continuing its consistent upward trajectory.

Key information about Laos External Debt

• Laos External Debt reached 10.3 USD bn in Dec 2023, compared with 10.5 USD bn in the previous year.
• Laos External Debt: USD mn data is updated yearly, available from Dec 1996 to Dec 2023.
• The data reached an all-time high of 10.7 USD bn in Dec 2020 and a record low of 769.6 USD mn in Dec 1996.

• In the latest reports of Laos, Current Account recorded a surplus of 64.4 USD mn in Sep 2024.
• Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) increased by 176.1 USD mn in Sep 2024.
• Its Foreign Portfolio Investment fell by 132.7 USD mn in Sep 2024.
• The country's Nominal GDP was reported at 15.4 USD bn in Dec 2022.

External Debt in Laos decreased to 10350.50 USD Million in 2024 from 10525.20 USD Million in 2023. This dataset provides - Laos External Debt- actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Key information about Laos External Debt: % of GDP

• Laos External Debt accounted for 74.2 % of the country's Nominal GDP in 2023, compared with the ratio of 69.7 % in the previous year.
• Laos External Debt: % of Nominal GDP data is updated yearly, available from Dec 1996 to Dec 2023.
• The data reached an all-time high of 101.0 % in Dec 1998 and a record low of 36.5 % in Dec 2011.

• In the latest reports of Laos, Current Account recorded a surplus of 64.4 USD mn in Sep 2024.
• Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) increased by 176.1 USD mn in Sep 2024.
• Its Foreign Portfolio Investment fell by 132.7 USD mn in Sep 2024.
• The country's External Debt reached 10,253.1 in Dec 2023.
• The country's Nominal GDP was reported at 15.4 USD bn in Dec 2022.

Key information about Laos Private Debt: % of Nominal GDP

• Laos Private Debt accounted for 56.65 % of its Nominal GDP in Dec 2023, compared with a ratio of 54.41 % in the previous year
• Laos Private Debt contribution to Nominal GDP ratio is updated yearly, available from Dec 2012 to Dec 2023, with an average share of 41.64 %
• The data reached an all-time high of 56.65 % in Dec 2023 and a record low of 29.33 % in Dec 2012

International debt issues to GDP (%) in Laos was reported at 16.62 % in 2020, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Laos - International debt issues to GDP - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

Laos: Short-term debt, percent of total external debt: The latest value from 2023 is 0.7 percent, a decline from 3.97 percent in 2022. In comparison, the world average is 11.22 percent, based on data from 118 countries. Historically, the average for Laos from 1970 to 2023 is 1.38 percent. The minimum value, 0 percent, was reached in 1970 while the maximum of 9.79 percent was recorded in 2013.

Laos: Government debt as percent of GDP: The latest value from 2023 is 115.88 percent, a decline from 130.73 percent in 2022. In comparison, the world average is 61.85 percent, based on data from 137 countries. Historically, the average for Laos from 2001 to 2023 is 69.78 percent. The minimum value, 43.01 percent, was reached in 2011 while the maximum of 130.73 percent was recorded in 2022.

Laos: External debt, percent of Gross National Income: The latest value from 2022 is 130.74 percent, an increase from 108.36 percent in 2021. In comparison, the world average is 56.76 percent, based on data from 113 countries. Historically, the average for Laos from 1984 to 2022 is 123.16 percent. The minimum value, 26.25 percent, was reached in 1985 while the maximum of 221.73 percent was recorded in 1988.

Laos LA: External Debt: DIS: PPG: Official Creditors data was reported at 689.303 USD mn in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 611.868 USD mn for 2016. Laos LA: External Debt: DIS: PPG: Official Creditors data is updated yearly, averaging 107.344 USD mn from Dec 1970 (Median) to 2017, with 48 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 769.794 USD mn in 2015 and a record low of 5.385 USD mn in 1972. Laos LA: External Debt: DIS: PPG: Official Creditors data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Laos – Table LA.World Bank.WDI: External Debt: Disbursements and Interest Payment. Public and publicly guaranteed debt from official creditors includes loans from international organizations (multilateral loans) and loans from governments (bilateral loans). Loans from international organization include loans and credits from the World Bank, regional development banks, and other multilateral and intergovernmental agencies. Excluded are loans from funds administered by an international organization on behalf of a single donor government; these are classified as loans from governments. Government loans include loans from governments and their agencies (including central banks), loans from autonomous bodies, and direct loans from official export credit agencies. Disbursements are drawings by the borrower on loan commitments during the year specified. Data are in current U.S. dollars.; ; World Bank, International Debt Statistics.; Sum;

Outstanding international public debt securities to GDP (%) in Laos was reported at 11.07 % in 2020, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Laos - Outstanding international public debt securities to GDP - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on August of 2025.

This article identifies the root of the government debt crisis focusing on the role of hydropower in form of the provision of the new short term credit of china. Outlining the options as well as policy recommendations for Laos on the reform of the energy sector.

Laos LA: External Debt: TDS: Debt Service: Total data was reported at 555.667 USD mn in 2016. This records an increase from the previous number of 420.786 USD mn for 2015. Laos LA: External Debt: TDS: Debt Service: Total data is updated yearly, averaging 19.774 USD mn from Dec 1970 (Median) to 2016, with 47 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 555.667 USD mn in 2016 and a record low of 1.581 USD mn in 1970. Laos LA: External Debt: TDS: Debt Service: Total data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Laos – Table LA.World Bank: External Debt: Debt Outstanding, Debt Ratio and Debt Service. Total debt service is the sum of principal repayments and interest actually paid in currency, goods, or services on long-term debt, interest paid on short-term debt, and repayments (repurchases and charges) to the IMF. Data are in current U.S. dollars.; ; World Bank, International Debt Statistics.; Sum;

International debt securities, all maturities in Laos was reported at 6482000000 in 2024, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Laos - International debt securities, all maturities - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

This Debt Sustainability Analysis continues to classify the risk of debt distress as moderate, but Lao P.D.R. is on the verge of a transition to high risk, with heightened vulnerabilities for public debt. The indicative debt distress thresholds remain unchanged from the 2013 Article IV DSA. Under the baseline scenario of the current DSA, some of the external and public debt distress indicators breach the policy-dependent indicative thresholds for some years, the PV of external debt follows a downward trend and returns to levels below the respective thresholds in the medium term. Given the traditional approach classifies the debt distress risk as borderline high/moderate, a probability approach is adopted. The results of the probability approach suggest moderate debt distress risks, since all the indicators remain under their corresponding thresholds, with the exception of debt-to-GDP ratio, which breaches the threshold for a brief period.

République démocratique populaire lao: Government debt as percent of GDP: Pour cet indicateur, International Monetary Fund (IMF) fournit des données pour la République démocratique populaire lao de 2001 à 2023. La valeur moyenne pour République démocratique populaire lao pendant cette période était de 69.78 pour cent avec un minimum de 43.01 pour cent en 2011 et un maximum de 130.73 pour cent en 2022.

Laos External Debt: DE: IP: Bilateral data was reported at 109.070 USD mn in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 98.890 USD mn for 2016. Laos External Debt: DE: IP: Bilateral data is updated yearly, averaging 4.875 USD mn from Dec 1996 (Median) to 2017, with 22 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 144.020 USD mn in 2014 and a record low of 0.300 USD mn in 1998. Laos External Debt: DE: IP: Bilateral data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Bank of the Lao PDR. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Laos – Table LA.JB005: External Debt.

Laos External Debt: Debt Service Ratio data was reported at 6.750 % in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 6.560 % for 2016. Laos External Debt: Debt Service Ratio data is updated yearly, averaging 6.155 % from Dec 2000 (Median) to 2017, with 18 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 8.900 % in 2002 and a record low of 4.300 % in 2007. Laos External Debt: Debt Service Ratio data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Bank of the Lao PDR. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Laos – Table LA.JB005: External Debt.