Laos

South-eastern Asia

Asia

A low-cost Asian country with low university tuition, but a weak passport, a long 10-year naturalisation wait and no dual citizenship.

Overall score

Limited · Penalty applied · 90% data coverage

Language

Lao

Currency

LAK

Citizenship

10 years

Personal tax

Progressive, up to 25%

Cost of living

$750 / mo (single)

Rules change often. Confirm any immigration, tax or legal decision with a qualified professional.

Score breakdown

Access

17%

39Residence12%

21Citizenship and passport5%

Earning power

25%

60Salary and work12%

67Buying power13%

Business and wealth

20%

66Taxes7%

42Business8%

40Investment5%

Daily life

25%

48Quality of life18%

35Education7%

Rights and institutions

13%

13Freedom6%

22Rule of law7%

Healthcare collapse (37) cut the overall score from 46 to 44.

Weak rights and institutions (18) cut the overall score from 44 to 34.

Pros

Low university tuition

Cons

A weak passport
A long 10-year naturalisation wait
No dual citizenship

Best for

Students

Score profile

Access

Residence

Citizenship

Passport

Earning power

Salary & work

Buying power

Cost of living

Economy

Business and wealth

Taxes

Personal tax

Corporate tax

Business

Investment

Wealth building

Daily life

Safety

Healthcare

Environment

Infrastructure

Education

HDI

Rights and institutions

Freedom

Rule of law

How the scores are calculated

Access

Residence

Openness to residents

Limited

Migrant stock0.7% of population (2024)

Regulatory quality-0.64 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Main pathways

EmploymentStudyFamily reunificationBusiness or investment where eligible

Student	Rules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting.
Work	Rules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting.
Self-employed	Rules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting.
Permanent	Rules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting.

Citizenship

Citizenship accessibility

Low

Years required	10 years
Dual allowed	No
Language	Check the current naturalisation rules for the selected route
Residence	Typical headline route: 10 years; qualifying residence and absence rules apply
Notes	Rules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting.

Passport

Passport power

Limited

62 / 198

Mobility

#79

Global rank

Yes

Biometric

Visa-free25
On arrival33
eTA4
Visa required136

Placeholder estimates for 2024 to 2025. Check entry rules with each destination before travelling.

Earning power

Salary & work

Labour-market strength

Moderate

Output per worker$18,893 PPP (2024)

Unemployment1.2% (2025)

Participation66.1% of 15+ (2025)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Mean monthly earnings of employees

Overall$142 · $539 PPP (2022)

Tech (IT & comms)$173 · $656 PPP (2022)

Source: ILOSTAT (International Labour Organization)

Freelance	Market access depends on language, sector, and work authorisation
Job market	Use current local vacancy and salary data for role-specific decisions.

Buying power

Purchasing power score

Good

GNI / person$9,800 PPP (2025)

Consumption / person$3,360 PPP (2016)

Price level29 (US = 100) (2025)

Income inequality34.7 Gini (2024)

Inflation7.7% / yr (2025)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Cost of living

Affordability

Excellent

Price level29 (US = 100) (2025)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Rent	Varies substantially by city and neighbourhood
Monthly	$750 / mo (single)
Cities	Vientiane, Luang Prabang, Pakse

Economy

Economic strength

Moderate

Output & income

GDP$18.3B (2025)

GDP / person$2,325 (2025)

GNI / person$9,800 PPP (2025)

GDP growth4.1% / yr (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Stability & labour

Inflation7.7% / yr (2025)

Unemployment1.2% (2025)

Output per worker$18,893 PPP (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Sector composition

Agriculture16.6% of GDP (2025)

Industry29.2% of GDP (2025)

Services43.6% of GDP (2025)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Main industries

HydropowerMiningAgricultureTourismForestry

Top exports

ElectricityCopper & goldWood productsCoffee

Type	Lower-middle-income, resources- and hydropower-led
Key sectors	Hydropower ('battery of Southeast Asia'), Mining, Agriculture
Summary	A landlocked economy exporting hydropower and minerals, growing fast but carrying heavy external debt.
Currency	Lao kip

Business and wealth

Taxes

Tax friendliness

Good

Personal	Progressive, up to 25%
Corporate	Generally 20%
Capital gains	Treatment varies by asset, holding structure, residence, and treaty position
Dividends	Rates and withholding depend on residence and treaty eligibility
Exit tax	Check current domestic rules before changing tax residence
Foreign companies	Management, permanent-establishment, CFC, and reporting rules may apply

Personal tax

Moderate

Personal	Progressive, up to 25%
Freelance	Registration, immigration permission, tax, and social contributions may apply
Capital gains	Treatment varies by asset, holding structure, residence, and treaty position
Dividends	Rates and withholding depend on residence and treaty eligibility
Exit tax	Check current domestic rules before changing tax residence

Corporate tax

Limited

Corporate	Generally 20%
Capital gains	Treatment varies by asset, holding structure, residence, and treaty position
Dividends	Rates and withholding depend on residence and treaty eligibility
Foreign companies	Management, permanent-establishment, CFC, and reporting rules may apply

Business

Business friendliness

Limited

Regulation & bureaucracy

Regulatory quality-0.64 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)

Government effectiveness-0.58 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Operating rules

Foreign company	Generally possible, subject to sector, registration, tax, and substance rules
Local company	Available company forms and capital requirements vary
Freelance	Registration, immigration permission, tax, and social contributions may apply

Investment

Investing environment

Limited

Private credit21% of GDP (2010)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Capital gains	Treatment varies by asset, residence, holding period, and treaty position
Dividends	Data not available yet
ETFs & funds	Data not available yet
Wealth tax	Check current national and subnational rules
Brokers	Local and international availability varies by residency and compliance checks
Foreign access	Data not available yet
Tax-advantaged	Data not available yet

Wealth building

Wealth accumulation

Moderate

Salary & work

Moderate

Business

Limited

Investment

Limited

Tax friendliness

Good

Cost of living

Excellent

Daily life

Safety

Safety & stability

Moderate

Institutions & stability

Control of corruption-0.98 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)

Political stability0.56 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Check current government travel and security advice before relocating.

Healthcare

Healthcare score

Limited

Outcomes

Life expectancy69.2 years (2024)

Under-5 mortality29.4 per 1,000 births (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Capacity & resourcing

Physicians0.33 per 1,000 (2022)

Hospital beds1.71 per 1,000 (2023)

Health spending$123 PPP / person (2023)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

System & costs

System	Public/private mix varies by eligibility and residence status
Insurance	Check residence-permit and local coverage requirements
Average cost	Depends on eligibility, income, insurer, and chosen coverage

Environment

Environment score

Good

Environmental pressure

PM2.5 exposure26.0 μg/m³ annually (2023)

Water stress4.8% (2022)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Infrastructure

Infrastructure score

Moderate

Digital infrastructure

Internet use65.6% (2024)

Internet resilience50 / 100 (2026)

Fixed speed65 / 100 download index (2026)

Mobile speed57 / 100 download index (2026)

Sources: World Bank World Development Indicators · Internet Society Pulse Internet Resilience Index

Utilities

Electricity access96.5% (2023)

Grid losses6.2% of output (2023)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Transport

Transport quality2.30 / 5 (2022)

Air connectivity1,392 departures / million people (2023)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Education

Education score

Limited

Attainment

Expected schooling9.6 years (2023)

Mean schooling6.1 years (2023)

Source: UNDP Human Development Report 2025

Participation & investment

Tertiary enrolment15% gross (2023)

Education spending1.2% of GDP (2023)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Tuition	$1,500-5,000 / yr
Public university	Varies by institution, programme, and student nationality
Languages	Lao
Student work	Rules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting.

HDI

Human development score

Moderate

HDI0.617 (2023)

Source: UNDP Human Development Report 2025

Long & healthy life

Life expectancy69.0 years (2023)

Source: UNDP Human Development Report 2025

Knowledge

Expected schooling9.6 years (2023)

Mean schooling6.1 years (2023)

Source: UNDP Human Development Report 2025