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Brunei vs Laos
Side-by-side comparison of Brunei and Laos from official statistics: size, economy, people, trade, natural resources, health, infrastructure and military, with world ranks, years and sources.
In short
Brunei scores 54.8 in the NationsTree Index (69th in the world) and Laos scores 36.2 (141st), a gap of 18.7 points. Their trees are 4.0 m and 5.0 m tall; tree height grows with real GDP and is adjusted by the index.
Laos has 17 times the population of Brunei. Laos is 41 times larger than Brunei by land area. The economy of Laos is 90% larger than that of Brunei (GDP at purchasing power parity). Population: Brunei 466,330 and Laos 7.9 million (2025).
GDP per person at purchasing power parity is $92,430 in Brunei and $10,383 in Laos (2025, international dollars). People in Brunei live on average 6.3 years longer (75.5 vs 69.2 years).
Of 32 indicators reported by both countries, Brunei ranks higher in the world on 25 and Laos on 7. Brunei is clearly stronger in institutions & safety, infrastructure & digital and society & health. Laos is clearly stronger in trade, land & people and main industries.
As a nation, Brunei is the older of the two (statehood since 1368, 658 years), compared with Laos (since 1949). Over the last five years Laos improved faster (direction score 75 vs 6 out of 100).
Where they differ most
The indicators with the biggest gap in world position between Brunei and Laos.
Bruneibetter
99%
1st of 193
Laos
67%
176th of 193
Government budget balanceEconomy
Brunei
-17.7%
190th of 192
Laosbetter
1.9%
24th of 192
General government gross debtEconomy
Bruneibetter
1.6%
3rd of 189
Laos
88.8%
158th of 189
Renewable energyEnvironment & energy
Brunei
0.0%
207th of 212
Laosbetter
49.2%
50th of 212
Access to electricityInfrastructure & digital
Bruneibetter
100.0%
1st of 215
Laos
96.5%
147th of 215
Over time
How the two countries moved against each other, from the yearly data.
Laos overtook Brunei in GDP (PPP) in 2013 and has stayed ahead since.
Brunei has been ahead of Laos in the NationsTree Index in every year since 1996.
Brunei has been ahead of Laos in GDP per person (PPP) and life expectancy in every year since 1990.
Laos has been ahead of Brunei in population in every year since 1990.
Strength by category
Average world percentile of the indicators in each category (0–100, direction taken into account). i
BruneiLaos All indicators
Latest available value for each country with its year and world rank. Green: the better world position of the two, red: the weaker one.
| Indicator | Brunei | Laos |
|---|---|---|
| Land & people | ||
| Surface area km² | 5,770168th/216 · 2024 | 236,80083rd/216 · 2024 |
| Land area km² | 5,270167th/216 · 2024 | 230,80080th/216 · 2024 |
| Population people | 466,330173rd/217 · 2025 | 7.9 m102nd/217 · 2025 |
| Population growth % | 0.78%116th/217 · 2025 | 1.32%77th/217 · 2025 |
| Population density people/km² | 87.8114th/216 · 2024 | 33.7167th/216 · 2024 |
| Urban population % | 75.0%74th/217 · 2025 | 40.3%172nd/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 0–14 % | 20.6%120th/217 · 2025 | 29.8%72nd/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 65+ % | 7.2%122nd/217 · 2025 | 4.8%152nd/217 · 2025 |
| Economy | ||
| GDP USD | $15.03 bn146th/210 · 2025 | $18.30 bn137th/210 · 2025 |
| GDP (PPP) intl. USD | $43.10 bn137th/199 · 2025 | $81.75 bn111th/199 · 2025 |
| Real GDP (PPP, constant 2021 prices) intl. USD 2021 | $36.83 bn138th/199 · 2025 | $69.86 bn111th/199 · 2025 |
| GDP per person USD | $32,23555th/210 · 2025 | $2,325172nd/210 · 2025 |
| GDP per person (PPP) intl. USD | $92,43010th/199 · 2025 | $10,383138th/199 · 2025 |
| GNI per person (Atlas) USD | $34,79044th/201 · 2025 | $2,150163rd/201 · 2025 |
| GDP growth % | 0.7%182nd/210 · 2025 | 4.5%62nd/210 · 2025 |
| Inflation % | -0.3%9th/180 · 2025 | 7.7%149th/180 · 2025 |
| Unemployment % | 5.3%96th/187 · 2025 | 1.2%8th/187 · 2025 |
| General government gross debt % of GDP | 1.6%3rd/189 · 2025 | 88.8%158th/189 · 2025 |
| Government budget balance % of GDP | -17.7%190th/192 · 2025 | 1.9%24th/192 · 2025 |
| Main industries | ||
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing % of GDP | 1.2%166th/197 · 2025 | 16.6%45th/197 · 2025 |
| Industry incl. construction % of GDP | 60.0%3rd/200 · 2025 | 29.2%58th/200 · 2025 |
| Manufacturing % of GDP | 9.9%102nd/192 · 2025 | 9.1%111th/192 · 2025 |
| Services % of GDP | 40.2%185th/200 · 2025 | 43.6%173rd/200 · 2025 |
| Trade | ||
| Exports of goods & services USD | $10.76 bn110th/182 · 2025 | $5.28 bn2016 |
| Imports of goods & services USD | $7.82 bn125th/182 · 2025 | $6.66 bn2016 |
| Exports % of GDP | 71.6%26th/183 · 2025 | 33.2%2016 |
| Imports % of GDP | 52.0%75th/183 · 2025 | 41.9%2016 |
| Trade openness % of GDP | 123.6%40th/183 · 2025 | 75.1%2016 |
| Fuel exports % of merchandise exports | 75.0%12th/170 · 2025 | 1.8%104th/170 · 2023 |
| Manufactures exports % of merchandise exports | 24.3%98th/171 · 2025 | 32.8%86th/171 · 2023 |
| Food exports % of merchandise exports | 0.1%171st/171 · 2025 | 23.2%63rd/171 · 2023 |
| Ores & metals exports % of merchandise exports | 0.2%159th/171 · 2025 | 20.2%26th/171 · 2023 |
| High-tech exports % of manufactured exports | 1.1%147th/168 · 2024 | 7.4%83rd/168 · 2023 |
| Current account balance % of GDP | 18.0%7th/191 · 2025 | 12.0%19th/191 · 2025 |
| Foreign direct investment, inflows % of GDP | 0.4%162nd/196 · 2025 | 7.7%26th/196 · 2025 |
| Natural resources | ||
| Natural resource rents % of GDP | 24.3%18th/209 · 2021 | 5.4%69th/209 · 2021 |
| Oil rents % of GDP | 10.37%19th/197 · 2021 | 0.00%120th/197 · 2021 |
| Natural gas rents % of GDP | 13.86%2nd/197 · 2021 | 0.00%100th/197 · 2021 |
| Coal rents % of GDP | 0.00%68th/195 · 2021 | 0.23%2012 |
| Mineral rents % of GDP | 0.00%91st/209 · 2021 | 3.89%27th/209 · 2021 |
| Forest rents % of GDP | 0.05%129th/209 · 2021 | 1.49%44th/209 · 2021 |
| Arable land % of land area | 0.8%189th/206 · 2024 | 5.3%134th/206 · 2024 |
| Renewable freshwater per person m³ | 18,66633rd/183 · 2022 | 25,18825th/183 · 2022 |
| Tourism | ||
| International tourist arrivals arrivals | 1.1 m95th/194 · 2020 | 886,400103rd/194 · 2020 |
| Tourism receipts USD | $190.0 m129th/175 · 2018 | $227.0 m121st/175 · 2020 |
| Tourism receipts % of exports | 2.7%114th/168 · 2018 | 3.5%97th/168 · 2020 |
| Outbound trips departures | — | 707,00068th/107 · 2020 |
| Society & health | ||
| Life expectancy years | 75.5102nd/217 · 2024 | 69.2159th/217 · 2024 |
| Under-5 mortality per 1,000 births | 9.976th/196 · 2024 | 29.4138th/196 · 2024 |
| Physicians per 1,000 people | 1.8983rd/174 · 2021 | 0.33131st/174 · 2022 |
| Hospital beds per 1,000 people | 3.647th/145 · 2023 | 1.795th/145 · 2023 |
| DPT immunization % of children 12–23 months | 99%1st/193 · 2024 | 67%176th/193 · 2024 |
| Completed lower secondary, 25+ % of adults | 88.7%54th/153 · 2023 | 29.0%132nd/153 · 2023 |
| Secondary enrolment % gross | 91.8%92nd/173 · 2023 | 50.5%155th/173 · 2025 |
| Social protection coverage (incl. pensions) % of population | — | 2.2%2018 |
| Old-age dependency ratio % of working-age population | 10.0%132nd/217 · 2025 | 7.4%154th/217 · 2025 |
| Health spending % of GDP | 2.2%191st/193 · 2023 | 1.3%193rd/193 · 2023 |
| Adult literacy % | 96.1%2011 | 75.6%72nd/98 · 2023 |
| Tertiary enrolment % gross | 36.4%100th/150 · 2023 | 14.9%130th/150 · 2023 |
| Human Development Index index 0–1 | 0.83760th/193 · 2023 | 0.617147th/193 · 2023 |
| Income inequality (Gini) index | — | 34.760th/108 · 2024 |
| Extreme poverty % of population | — | 7.1%81st/108 · 2024 |
| Infrastructure & digital | ||
| Access to electricity % of population | 100.0%1st/215 · 2024 | 96.5%147th/215 · 2024 |
| Safely managed drinking water % of population | — | 35.2%124th/150 · 2024 |
| Safely managed sanitation % of population | — | 71.4%63rd/144 · 2024 |
| Internet users % of population | 96.3%18th/186 · 2024 | 65.6%132nd/186 · 2024 |
| Mobile subscriptions per 100 people | 11896th/210 · 2024 | 65187th/210 · 2023 |
| Fixed broadband per 100 people | 21.286th/208 · 2024 | 2.7154th/208 · 2023 |
| Trade & transport infrastructure quality (LPI) score 1–5 | 2.4694th/164 · 2018 | 2.30117th/164 · 2022 |
| Air passengers carried passengers | 820,886103rd/161 · 2023 | 842,280101st/161 · 2023 |
| Environment & energy | ||
| CO₂ emissions per person t CO₂e | 20.24199th/203 · 2024 | 3.35115th/203 · 2024 |
| Renewable energy % of final energy use | 0.0%207th/212 · 2021 | 49.2%50th/212 · 2022 |
| Air pollution (PM2.5) µg/m³ | 7.630th/200 · 2023 | 26.0140th/200 · 2023 |
| Forest area % of land area | 72.1%16th/214 · 2024 | 56.6%41st/214 · 2024 |
| Energy use per person kg oil eq. | 8,9306th/149 · 2024 | 84298th/149 · 2024 |
| Institutions & safety | ||
| Government effectiveness score 0–100 | 70.644th/205 · 2025 | 40.2148th/205 · 2025 |
| Control of corruption score 0–100 | 68.138th/207 · 2025 | 28.0169th/207 · 2025 |
| Rule of law score 0–100 | 69.755th/207 · 2025 | 48.1142nd/207 · 2025 |
| Political stability score 0–100 | 91.95th/207 · 2025 | 75.375th/207 · 2025 |
| Regulatory quality score 0–100 | 72.137th/205 · 2025 | 44.1150th/205 · 2025 |
| Voice & accountability score 0–100 | 40.2149th/205 · 2025 | 27.5189th/205 · 2025 |
| Homicide rate per 100,000 | 0.52013 | — |
| Military | ||
| Military expenditure USD | $560.3 m102nd/156 · 2024 | $22.8 m2013 |
| Military expenditure % of GDP | 3.7%15th/156 · 2024 | 0.2%2013 |
| Military expenditure % of government spending | 12.2%23rd/154 · 2024 | 0.8%2013 |
| Armed forces personnel people | 8,000140th/170 · 2020 | 129,00047th/170 · 2020 |
| Armed forces personnel % of labour force | 3.57%12th/168 · 2020 | 4.08%9th/168 · 2020 |
| Arms imports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 28.0 m83rd/163 · 2024 | 7.0 m117th/163 · 2024 |
| Arms exports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 12.0 m2016 | — |
| Science & innovation | ||
| R&D spending % of GDP | 0.28%2018 | 0.04%2002 |
| Patent applications by residents applications | 1126th/137 · 2024 | 1126th/137 · 2023 |
| Scientific articles articles | 50298th/197 · 2023 | 72146th/197 · 2023 |
Questions and answers
Which has more people, Brunei or Laos?
Laos has the larger population: 7.9 m (2025) compared with 466,330 for Brunei (2025). Source: World Bank, SP.POP.TOTL.
Which is bigger by area, Brunei or Laos?
Laos is larger: 236,800 km² (2024) compared with 5,770 km² for Brunei (2024). Source: World Bank, AG.SRF.TOTL.K2.
Which economy is larger, Brunei or Laos?
Laos has the larger economy at purchasing power parity: $81.75 bn intl. (2025) compared with $43.10 bn intl. for Brunei (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.MKTP.PP.CD.
Which is richer per person, Brunei or Laos?
Brunei has the higher GDP per person (PPP): $92,430 intl. (2025) compared with $10,383 intl. for Laos (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.PCAP.PP.CD.
Where do people live longer, in Brunei or Laos?
Brunei has the higher life expectancy at birth: 75.5 years (2024) compared with 69.2 years for Laos (2024). Source: World Bank, SP.DYN.LE00.IN.
Which spends more on the military, Brunei or Laos?
Brunei spends more on the military: $560.3 m (2024) compared with $22.8 m for Laos (2013). Source: World Bank, MS.MIL.XPND.CD.
Which ranks higher in the NationsTree Index, Brunei or Laos?
Brunei: 54.8 points (69th in the world); Laos: 36.2 points (141st). The index combines foundations, economic strength, quality of life, problems and 5-year direction from public statistics.
Fiji
Macao
Mongolia
Papua New Guinea
CambodiaSources
World Bank World Development Indicators and Worldwide Governance Indicators, compiling UN agencies, the IMF, WHO, SIPRI and national statistical offices; every row links to its world ranking with the source series. See Sources & licences and Methodology.
Cite as: NationsTree (2026). Brunei vs Laos — country comparison. https://nationstree.org/compare/brunei-vs-laos. Data as of 26 October 2026.