Laos at its true size
Laos covers 236,800 km², number 85 of 235 by area. Home to 7,873,046 people (2025). Sitting near the equator, it is one of the few places Mercator gets almost right.
Equal-area projection · Natural Earth 50m
| Area | 236,800 km² Wikidata |
|---|---|
| Population | 7,873,046 World Bank, 2025 |
| Density | 33 per km² |
| Capital | Vientiane |
| Region | South-Eastern Asia, Asia |
| Status | Independent state |
| Coast | Landlocked |
| Codes | LA · LAO · 418 |
Countries of a similar size
- Romania0.99×Laos and Romania are almost exactly the same size.
- Ghana0.99×Laos and Ghana are almost exactly the same size.
- Uganda0.98×Laos and Uganda are almost exactly the same size.
- United Kingdom0.98×Laos and United Kingdom are almost exactly the same size.
- Guinea0.96×Laos is 4% smaller than Guinea.
- Ecuador0.92×Laos is 8% smaller than Ecuador.
How many times does Laos fit into…
- Russia: about 72 times
- Canada: about 42 times
- United States: about 41 times
Neighbours
Questions about Laos
- How big is Laos?
- Laos covers 236,800 km², which makes it number 85 of 235 countries and territories by area. About 7,873,046 people live there (2025), 33 per km².
- Is Laos bigger than Romania?
- Laos and Romania are almost exactly the same size. Laos: 236,800 km²; Romania: 238,397 km².
- How much does the Mercator map distort Laos?
- Laos lies close to the equator, so Mercator draws it at nearly its true size. It is the countries far from the equator that Mercator inflates.
- Which countries border Laos?
- Laos shares a land border with China, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia.