Measure
Snapshot

Laos

Ranked 23 of 26 for comprehensive power, with an overall score of 6.4 out of 100.

Gained 0.3 points (+6% change) in overall score in 2023.

Analysis

Laos is a minor power in Asia.

The country’s overall score showed a slight increase of 0.3 points over the past year, making Laos one of just six countries in the region to register an upward change in overall score.

Laos performs best in the economic relationships and diplomatic influence measures, ranking 19th for both. By contrast, it places last in future resources, dropping one place in the past year.

In 2022, Laos saw the greatest improvement in its diplomatic influence measure, which rose by three places to 19th. However, Laos has slipped by two places in its cultural influence measure to 23rd due to the negative impacts of Covid-19 on its tourism industry.

Laos exerts less influence in the region than expected given its available resources, as indicated by the country’s negative power gap score. While Laos is a net underachiever in Asia, its negative power gap improved in 2022.

Read more analysis in the Key Findings report. Explore further results in the Scores section.

Annual changes

+5.9Diplomaticinfluence —Defencenetworks —Economicrelationships —Futureresources —Militarycapability —Resilience −0.6Economiccapability −1.3Culturalinfluence

Bilateral Influence

Bilateral trade, current dollars (2020)

Countries that influence Laos

Globally, which countries does Laos do most of its trade with?

Thailand 49.6%

China 28.5%

Vietnam 8.1%

European Union 3.9%

Japan 2.1%

Countries influenced by Laos

Which countries in the region rely most on trade with Laos?

Thailand 1.4%

Cambodia 0.3%

Vietnam 0.2%

View Laos’ regional influence on the Network Power map

Scores

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