Laos vs Papua New Guinea

Laos scores 36.2 in the NationsTree Index (141st in the world) and Papua New Guinea scores 29.5 (164th), a gap of 6.7 points. Their trees are 5.0 m and 4.0 m tall; tree height grows with real GDP and is adjusted by the index.

Papua New Guinea has 37% more people than Laos. Papua New Guinea has 95% more land area than Laos. The economy of Laos is 46% larger than that of Papua New Guinea (GDP at purchasing power parity). Population: Laos 7.9 million and Papua New Guinea 10.8 million (2025).

GDP per person at purchasing power parity is $10,383 in Laos and $5,215 in Papua New Guinea (2025, international dollars). People in Laos live on average 3.0 years longer (69.2 vs 66.3 years).

Of 33 indicators reported by both countries, Laos ranks higher in the world on 15 and Papua New Guinea on 18. Laos is clearly stronger in military, tourism and infrastructure & digital. Papua New Guinea is clearly stronger in environment & energy and natural resources.

As a nation, Laos is the older of the two (statehood since 1949, 77 years), compared with Papua New Guinea (since 1975). Over the last five years Laos improved faster (direction score 75 vs 72 out of 100).