Lao PDR: Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values)

Key figures

Over five years it is down 74.07% from 27 million in 2019 (23.66% a year on average, compounded). Since 1960 it is up 133.33% from 3 million in 1960 (1.33% a year on average, compounded). The World Bank has no value for 18 of the years in between; the chart leaves those gaps open rather than joining across them.

What the numbers say

In 2024, Lao PDR's arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values) rose 4 million on 2023 (from 3 million to 7 million).

Across the 30 yearly changes before that (1965 to 2023), the average change was +666,667 and a typical year strayed about 51.97 million from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 0.1 standard deviations above that average, so it was an ordinary year: it sits within the range of normal year-to-year movement.

On record, the biggest yearly rise was 134 million in 2018 and the biggest yearly fall was 109 million in 2019. The numbers show how large and when, not why; for the cause, look at what happened in that country in those years.

From 2015 to 2024 there is no clear straight-line trend: a straight line explains 5% of the movement over 8 observed years, so the value is moving around more than it is heading anywhere.

Worked out from the yearly values above. How the checks work: standard deviation, z-scores and straight-line trends.

How it compares

In 2024, Lao PDR had the 16th highest value of the 23 economies reporting that year. Higher is not always better: for some indicators the lowest value is the one to aim for. See the full ranking.

Closest to Lao PDR in the 2024 ranking

• Congo, Rep. — 14th of 23: 9 million
• Lebanon — 15th of 23: 9 million
• Honduras — 16th of 23: 7 million
• Malaysia — 18th of 23: 7 million
• Gabon — 19th of 23: 6 million
• Libya — 20th of 23: 5 million

What this measures

Arms transfers (imports) cover the volume of transfers of major arms through sales and gifts, and those made through manufacturing licenses. Data cover major conventional weapons such as aircraft, armored vehicles, artillery, radar systems, missiles, and ships. Figures are SIPRI Trend Indicator Values (TIVs). A '0' indicates that the volume of deliveries is between 0 and 0.5 million SIPRI TIV.

Limitations: SIPRI calculates the volume of transfers to, from and between all parties using the TIV and the number of weapon systems or subsystems delivered in a given year. This data is intended to provide a common unit to allow the measurement if trends in the flow of arms to particular countries and regions over time. Therefore, the main priority is to ensure that the TIV system remains consistent over time, and that any changes introduced are backdated. SIPRI TIV figures do not represent sales prices for arms transfers.

Regional and income-group figures are computed by the World Bank as a sum.

All 47 values

Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values) in nearby economies

• Australia — 826 million (2025)
• Brunei Darussalam — 28 million (2024)
• Cambodia — 56 million (2023)
• China — 207 million (2025)
• Indonesia — 1.28 billion (2025)
• Japan — 1.72 billion (2025)
• Korea, Rep. — 222 million (2025)
• Malaysia — 7 million (2024)
• Mongolia — 3 million (2022)
• Myanmar — 70 million (2025)

More public sector data for Lao PDR

• Armed forces personnel, total — 129,000 (2020)
• Armed forces personnel (% of total labor force) — 4.08% (2020)
• CPIA business regulatory environment rating (1=low to 6=high) — 3.5 (2025)
• CPIA debt policy rating (1=low to 6=high) — 2 (2025)
• CPIA economic management cluster average (1=low to 6=high) — 3 (2025)
• CPIA policy and institutions for environmental sustainability rating (1=low to 6=high) — 3.5 (2025)
• CPIA quality of budgetary and financial management rating (1=low to 6=high) — 3 (2025)
• CPIA financial sector rating (1=low to 6=high) — 2.5 (2025)
• CPIA fiscal policy rating (1=low to 6=high)

Reading data like this

• Where to find free public data, and how to check it before you trust it — 2 min read
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Questions people ask

What is Lao PDR's arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values)?

7 million in 2024, according to the World Bank (World Development Indicators).

How has it changed since 1960?

It is up 133.33% from 3 million in 1960 (1.33% a year on average, compounded). The highest value was 136 million in 2018 and the lowest 0 in 2003.

How does Lao PDR rank?

16th highest of 23 economies with data for 2024.

Is the latest change in arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values) unusual for Lao PDR?

In 2024, Lao PDR's arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values) rose 4 million on 2023 (from 3 million to 7 million). Across the 30 yearly changes before that (1965 to 2023), the average change was +666,667 and a typical year strayed about 51.97 million from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 0.1 standard deviations above that average, so it was an ordinary year: it sits within the range of normal year-to-year movement.

Source

World Bank, World Development Indicators, indicator MS.MIL.MPRT.KD, licensed CC BY 4.0. Original source: Arms Transfers Programme, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), uri: https://armstransfers.sipri.org/ArmsTransfer/ Figures are fetched from the World Bank API and refreshed monthly; see the series on data.worldbank.org. The full definition and method are in the World Bank's metadata glossary. Comparisons use the same World Bank release.

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