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Laos vs Macao
Side-by-side comparison of Laos and Macao from official statistics: size, economy, people, trade, natural resources, health, infrastructure and military, with world ranks, years and sources.
In short
Macao scores 70.9 in the NationsTree Index (33rd in the world) and Laos scores 36.2 (141st), a gap of 34.7 points. Their trees are 5.0 m and 6.3 m tall; tree height grows with real GDP and is adjusted by the index.
Laos has 11 times the population of Macao. Laos is 7,111 times larger than Macao by land area. The economy of Macao is 15% larger than that of Laos (GDP at purchasing power parity). Population: Laos 7.9 million and Macao 685,900 (2025).
GDP per person at purchasing power parity is $137,031 in Macao and $10,383 in Laos (2025, international dollars). People in Macao live on average 14.1 years longer (83.3 vs 69.2 years).
Of 25 indicators reported by both countries, Laos ranks higher in the world on 3 and Macao on 22. Laos is clearly stronger in natural resources, main industries and environment & energy. Macao is clearly stronger in society & health, infrastructure & digital and institutions & safety.
As a nation, Macao is the older of the two (statehood since 1557, 469 years), compared with Laos (since 1949). Over the last five years Laos improved faster (direction score 75 vs 67 out of 100).
Where they differ most
The indicators with the biggest gap in world position between Laos and Macao.
Laos
14.9%
130th of 150
Macaobetter
141.9%
2nd of 150
General government gross debtEconomy
Laos
88.8%
158th of 189
Macaobetter
0.0%
1st of 189
Safely managed drinking waterInfrastructure & digital
Laos
35.2%
124th of 150
Macaobetter
100.0%
1st of 150
GDP per personEconomy
Laos
$2,325
172nd of 210
Macaobetter
$75,902
14th of 210
Access to electricityInfrastructure & digital
Laos
96.5%
147th of 215
Macaobetter
100.0%
1st of 215
Over time
How the two countries moved against each other, from the yearly data.
Macao overtook Laos in GDP (PPP) in 2023 and has stayed ahead since.
Macao has been ahead of Laos in the NationsTree Index in every year since 2000.
Macao has been ahead of Laos in GDP per person (PPP) and life expectancy in every year since 1990.
Laos has been ahead of Macao 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
LaosMacao 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 | Laos | Macao |
|---|---|---|
| Land & people | ||
| Surface area km² | 236,80083rd/216 · 2024 | 33213th/216 · 2024 |
| Land area km² | 230,80080th/216 · 2024 | 33212th/216 · 2024 |
| Population people | 7.9 m102nd/217 · 2025 | 685,900167th/217 · 2025 |
| Population growth % | 1.32%77th/217 · 2025 | -0.16%184th/217 · 2025 |
| Population density people/km² | 33.7167th/216 · 2024 | 20,630.61st/216 · 2024 |
| Urban population % | 40.3%172nd/217 · 2025 | 100.0%1st/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 0–14 % | 29.8%72nd/217 · 2025 | 13.7%201st/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 65+ % | 4.8%152nd/217 · 2025 | 15.1%66th/217 · 2025 |
| Economy | ||
| GDP USD | $18.30 bn137th/210 · 2025 | $52.06 bn94th/210 · 2025 |
| GDP (PPP) intl. USD | $81.75 bn111th/199 · 2025 | $93.99 bn105th/199 · 2025 |
| Real GDP (PPP, constant 2021 prices) intl. USD 2021 | $69.86 bn111th/199 · 2025 | $80.32 bn105th/199 · 2025 |
| GDP per person USD | $2,325172nd/210 · 2025 | $75,90214th/210 · 2025 |
| GDP per person (PPP) intl. USD | $10,383138th/199 · 2025 | $137,0314th/199 · 2025 |
| GNI per person (Atlas) USD | $2,150163rd/201 · 2025 | $69,92014th/201 · 2024 |
| GDP growth % | 4.5%62nd/210 · 2025 | 4.7%57th/210 · 2025 |
| Inflation % | 7.7%149th/180 · 2025 | 0.3%22nd/180 · 2025 |
| Unemployment % | 1.2%8th/187 · 2025 | 2.3%23rd/187 · 2025 |
| General government gross debt % of GDP | 88.8%158th/189 · 2025 | 0.0%1st/189 · 2025 |
| Government budget balance % of GDP | 1.9%24th/192 · 2025 | 8.3%4th/192 · 2025 |
| Main industries | ||
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing % of GDP | 16.6%45th/197 · 2025 | — |
| Industry incl. construction % of GDP | 29.2%58th/200 · 2025 | 4.7%198th/200 · 2024 |
| Manufacturing % of GDP | 9.1%111th/192 · 2025 | 0.6%187th/192 · 2024 |
| Services % of GDP | 43.6%173rd/200 · 2025 | 92.0%2nd/200 · 2024 |
| Trade | ||
| Exports of goods & services USD | $5.28 bn2016 | $48.05 bn68th/182 · 2025 |
| Imports of goods & services USD | $6.66 bn2016 | $24.39 bn90th/182 · 2025 |
| Exports % of GDP | 33.2%2016 | 92.3%12th/183 · 2025 |
| Imports % of GDP | 41.9%2016 | 46.9%88th/183 · 2025 |
| Trade openness % of GDP | 75.1%2016 | 139.1%27th/183 · 2025 |
| Fuel exports % of merchandise exports | 1.8%104th/170 · 2023 | 0.0%165th/170 · 2023 |
| Manufactures exports % of merchandise exports | 32.8%86th/171 · 2023 | 5.9%147th/171 · 2025 |
| Food exports % of merchandise exports | 23.2%63rd/171 · 2023 | 37.2%43rd/171 · 2025 |
| Ores & metals exports % of merchandise exports | 20.2%26th/171 · 2023 | 45.8%9th/171 · 2025 |
| High-tech exports % of manufactured exports | 7.4%83rd/168 · 2023 | 0.0%166th/168 · 2024 |
| Current account balance % of GDP | 12.0%19th/191 · 2025 | 39.6%1st/191 · 2025 |
| Foreign direct investment, inflows % of GDP | 7.7%26th/196 · 2025 | 2.2%95th/196 · 2025 |
| Natural resources | ||
| Natural resource rents % of GDP | 5.4%69th/209 · 2021 | 0.0%184th/209 · 2021 |
| Oil rents % of GDP | 0.00%120th/197 · 2021 | 0.00%120th/197 · 2021 |
| Natural gas rents % of GDP | 0.00%100th/197 · 2021 | 0.00%100th/197 · 2021 |
| Coal rents % of GDP | 0.23%2012 | 0.00%68th/195 · 2021 |
| Mineral rents % of GDP | 3.89%27th/209 · 2021 | 0.00%91st/209 · 2021 |
| Forest rents % of GDP | 1.49%44th/209 · 2021 | 0.00%173rd/209 · 2021 |
| Arable land % of land area | 5.3%134th/206 · 2024 | — |
| Renewable freshwater per person m³ | 25,18825th/183 · 2022 | — |
| Tourism | ||
| International tourist arrivals arrivals | 886,400103rd/194 · 2020 | 5.9 m33rd/194 · 2020 |
| Tourism receipts USD | $227.0 m121st/175 · 2020 | $9.44 bn21st/175 · 2020 |
| Tourism receipts % of exports | 3.5%97th/168 · 2020 | 60.6%13th/168 · 2020 |
| Outbound trips departures | 707,00068th/107 · 2020 | 125,00096th/107 · 2020 |
| Society & health | ||
| Life expectancy years | 69.2159th/217 · 2024 | 83.316th/217 · 2024 |
| Under-5 mortality per 1,000 births | 29.4138th/196 · 2024 | — |
| Physicians per 1,000 people | 0.33131st/174 · 2022 | — |
| Hospital beds per 1,000 people | 1.795th/145 · 2023 | — |
| DPT immunization % of children 12–23 months | 67%176th/193 · 2024 | — |
| Completed lower secondary, 25+ % of adults | 29.0%132nd/153 · 2023 | 73.3%2016 |
| Secondary enrolment % gross | 50.5%155th/173 · 2025 | 94.7%82nd/173 · 2024 |
| Social protection coverage (incl. pensions) % of population | 2.2%2018 | — |
| Old-age dependency ratio % of working-age population | 7.4%154th/217 · 2025 | 21.2%70th/217 · 2025 |
| Health spending % of GDP | 1.3%193rd/193 · 2023 | — |
| Adult literacy % | 75.6%72nd/98 · 2023 | 96.5%2016 |
| Tertiary enrolment % gross | 14.9%130th/150 · 2023 | 141.9%2nd/150 · 2024 |
| Human Development Index index 0–1 | 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 | 96.5%147th/215 · 2024 | 100.0%1st/215 · 2024 |
| Safely managed drinking water % of population | 35.2%124th/150 · 2024 | 100.0%1st/150 · 2024 |
| Safely managed sanitation % of population | 71.4%63rd/144 · 2024 | 80.0%50th/144 · 2024 |
| Internet users % of population | 65.6%132nd/186 · 2024 | 89.8%56th/186 · 2024 |
| Mobile subscriptions per 100 people | 65187th/210 · 2023 | 2016th/210 · 2024 |
| Fixed broadband per 100 people | 2.7154th/208 · 2023 | 29.959th/208 · 2024 |
| Trade & transport infrastructure quality (LPI) score 1–5 | 2.30117th/164 · 2022 | — |
| Air passengers carried passengers | 842,280101st/161 · 2023 | 2.1 m80th/161 · 2023 |
| Environment & energy | ||
| CO₂ emissions per person t CO₂e | 3.35115th/203 · 2024 | 2.53101st/203 · 2024 |
| Renewable energy % of final energy use | 49.2%50th/212 · 2022 | 11.0%141st/212 · 2022 |
| Air pollution (PM2.5) µg/m³ | 26.0140th/200 · 2023 | — |
| Forest area % of land area | 56.6%41st/214 · 2024 | — |
| Energy use per person kg oil eq. | 84298th/149 · 2024 | — |
| Institutions & safety | ||
| Government effectiveness score 0–100 | 40.2148th/205 · 2025 | 76.133rd/205 · 2025 |
| Control of corruption score 0–100 | 28.0169th/207 · 2025 | 59.662nd/207 · 2025 |
| Rule of law score 0–100 | 48.1142nd/207 · 2025 | 72.745th/207 · 2025 |
| Political stability score 0–100 | 75.375th/207 · 2025 | 84.337th/207 · 2025 |
| Regulatory quality score 0–100 | 44.1150th/205 · 2025 | 79.317th/205 · 2025 |
| Voice & accountability score 0–100 | 27.5189th/205 · 2025 | 50.0126th/205 · 2025 |
| Homicide rate per 100,000 | — | 0.612th/145 · 2023 |
| Military | ||
| Military expenditure USD | $22.8 m2013 | — |
| Military expenditure % of GDP | 0.2%2013 | — |
| Military expenditure % of government spending | 0.8%2013 | — |
| Armed forces personnel people | 129,00047th/170 · 2020 | — |
| Armed forces personnel % of labour force | 4.08%9th/168 · 2020 | — |
| Arms imports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 7.0 m117th/163 · 2024 | — |
| Science & innovation | ||
| R&D spending % of GDP | 0.04%2002 | 0.31%72nd/110 · 2024 |
| Patent applications by residents applications | 1126th/137 · 2023 | 8109th/137 · 2024 |
| Scientific articles articles | 72146th/197 · 2023 | — |
Questions and answers
Which has more people, Laos or Macao?
Laos has the larger population: 7.9 m (2025) compared with 685,900 for Macao (2025). Source: World Bank, SP.POP.TOTL.
Which is bigger by area, Laos or Macao?
Laos is larger: 236,800 km² (2024) compared with 33 km² for Macao (2024). Source: World Bank, AG.SRF.TOTL.K2.
Which economy is larger, Laos or Macao?
Macao has the larger economy at purchasing power parity: $93.99 bn intl. (2025) compared with $81.75 bn intl. for Laos (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.MKTP.PP.CD.
Which is richer per person, Laos or Macao?
Macao has the higher GDP per person (PPP): $137,031 intl. (2025) compared with $10,383 intl. for Laos (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.PCAP.PP.CD.
Where do people live longer, in Laos or Macao?
Macao has the higher life expectancy at birth: 83.3 years (2024) compared with 69.2 years for Laos (2024). Source: World Bank, SP.DYN.LE00.IN.
Which ranks higher in the NationsTree Index, Laos or Macao?
Macao: 70.9 points (33rd 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.
Brunei
Cambodia
Mongolia
Papua New Guinea
New ZealandSources
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). Laos vs Macao — country comparison. https://nationstree.org/compare/laos-vs-macao. Data as of 26 October 2026.