🇱🇦 Laos National Debt Clock
Live tracker for Laos government debt. The national debt currently stands at
approximately $14.3 billion, growing at $32 every second based on IMF fiscal
deficit projections. Debt-to-GDP: 91%. Per-citizen share: $1,937.
Debt distress; Chinese creditor negotiations ongoing
About Laos's National Debt
Laos is in debt distress, weighed down by heavy borrowing from China — notably for a flagship railway — amid a slumping currency and dwindling reserves.
Laos's debt-to-GDP ratio of 91% exceeds the IMF's 90% threshold associated with potential growth drag. Stabilising it would require sustained primary surpluses — spending less than tax revenue before interest. By total government debt, Laos ranks 106th of the 138 governments tracked here.
At the current borrowing rate of $32 per second, Laos adds about $0.0 billion to its national debt every day — roughly $1 billion per year. Each of Laos's 7 million citizens carries an individual share of approximately $1,937. That is below the world average of roughly $12,600 in government debt per person.
Figures are computed by Global Debt Clock using linear extrapolation from IMF general government gross debt baselines (Fiscal Monitor / WEO April 2026) and national treasury data. Actual debt changes through discrete bond issuances — these counters illustrate the approximate scale and pace of sovereign borrowing.
Laos National Debt — Frequently Asked Questions
What is Laos's national debt right now?
Laos's national debt is approximately $14.3 billion as of July 29, 2026, growing at $32 per second. Its debt-to-GDP ratio is 91% and each citizen's share is about $1,937.
How fast is Laos's debt growing?
Laos's government debt grows at approximately $32 per second — about $0.0 billion per day — derived from IMF fiscal-deficit projections anchored to the April 2026 baseline.
What is Laos's debt per capita?
Each of Laos's 7 million citizens carries a notional share of approximately $1,937 of the national debt.
What is Laos's debt-to-GDP ratio?
Laos's debt-to-GDP ratio is 91%. This sits above the IMF's 90% threshold associated with potential growth drag.
Why is Laos's government debt at this level?
Laos is in debt distress, weighed down by heavy borrowing from China — notably for a flagship railway — amid a slumping currency and dwindling reserves.
Compare Laos vs another country
Live side-by-side debt comparisons — shareable cards for journalists and social.
Further reading
Other Asia-Pacific countries
Data & Citation
Source: IMF World Economic Outlook · World Bank International Debt Statistics · baseline anchored .
Methodology: debt = 14,000,000,000 + 32 × seconds_since(2026-04-01)
Machine-readable data: /api/debt?c=la (live JSON) · /data/debt.json (full dataset)
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