Lao PDR
The World Bank systematically assesses the appropriateness of official exchange rates as conversion factors. In this country, multiple or dual exchange rate activity exists and must be accounted for appropriately in underlying statistics. An alternative estimate (“alternative conversion factor” - PA.NUS.ATLS) is thus calculated as a weighted average of the different exchange rates in use in the country. Doing so better reflects economic reality and leads to more accurate cross-country comparisons and country classifications by income level. For this country, this applies to the period 1960-2020. Alternative conversion factors are used in the Atlas methodology and elsewhere in World Development Indicators as single-year conversion factors.
Global Rank (2023)
#188 / 205
Top 92% of global economies
Composite Score (2023)
36.2 / 100
Living Standard (2023)
$2,649
Subscore: 40.39 / 100
CPI Inflation (2023)
31.23%
Stability Score: 0 / 100
4-Pillar Structural Health Diagnostic (2023)
Harmonized subscores evaluating Output, Productivity, Inflation Stability, and External Buffer
Raw: $2,649 (2015 USD)
Raw: 31.23% (Anchor: 3.0%)
Raw: 2.55% of GDP
Raw: $15.8B Current USD
Optimal Component Weights & Peak Rank Frontier (2023)
External Solvency & Trade Surplus DrivenWhat we are doing here: We simulate an automated mathematical simplex across all 286 valid permutations of weights for the 4 pillars (summing to 100%) against every competing sovereign country in 2023. This discovers which weighting system maximizes Lao PDR's global competitive ranking by accentuating its comparative strengths.
Policy Insight & Strategic Advantage: Lao PDR achieves peak standing through massive current account surpluses and external asset buffers.
Under this bespoke weighting, Lao PDR's composite score climbs to 58.5 (compared to 36.2 under standard multilateral weighting).
Longitudinal Trajectory & Peer Comparison Sandbox (1960–2025)
Tracking Lao PDR's multi-decade trajectory overlaid with peer benchmark economies in Year 2023
Cross-Sectional Benchmark Standing in Year 2023
5 economies compared · Ordered by Global Rank| Country | Rank (2023) | Composite Score | GDP per Capita | CPI Inflation | Current Account (% GDP) | Nominal GDP ($) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Germany (DEU) | #16 | 81.1 | $44,369 | 5.95% | 5.50% | $4562.2B |
| United States (USA) | #17 | 80.0 | $65,667 | 4.12% | -3.34% | $27811.5B |
| China (CHN) | #37 | 72.3 | $12,484 | 0.23% | 1.41% | $18270.4B |
| India (IND) | #93 | 59.5 | $2,230 | 5.65% | -0.91% | $3500.9B |
| Lao PDR (LAO) Active | #188 | 36.2 | $2,649 | 31.23% | 2.55% | $15.8B |
Decade-by-Decade Historical Milestones (1970–2023)
Visualizing seminal macroeconomic shifts, shocks, and structural transitions for Lao PDR