Lao PDR: Borrowers from commercial banks (per 1,000 adults)

Key figures

What the numbers say

In 2024, Lao PDR's borrowers from commercial banks (per 1,000 adults) rose 1.04 on 2023 (from 20.03 to 21.07).

Across the 10 yearly changes before that (2014 to 2023), the average change was −0.92 and a typical year strayed about 15.15 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 30.81 in 2020 and the biggest yearly fall was 28.38 in 2021. 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 4% of the movement over 10 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 78th highest value of the 78 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

• Comoros — 74th of 78: 24.09
• Pakistan — 75th of 78: 23.34
• Guinea — 76th of 78: 22.48
• South Sudan — 78th of 78: 1.02

What this measures

Borrowers from commercial banks are the reported number of resident customers that are nonfinancial corporations (public and private) and households who obtained loans from commercial banks and other banks functioning as commercial banks.

Limitations: For many countries data cover the total number of loan accounts due to lack of information on loan account holders. For several countries, data cover all borrowers including commercial banks, credit unions and financial cooperatives, deposit taking microfinance institutions, and other deposit takers. These include all resident financial corporations and quasi-corporations (except the central bank) that are mainly engaged in financial intermediation and that issue liabilities included in the national definition of broad money.

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

All 12 values

Borrowers from commercial banks (per 1,000 adults) in nearby economies

• Brunei Darussalam — 352.34 (2021)
• China — 662.06 (2024)
• Indonesia — 358.68 (2024)
• Malaysia — 305.09 (2024)
• Myanmar — 13.49 (2020)
• Samoa — 151.97 (2024)
• Singapore — 1,074 (2020)
• Solomon Islands — 40.11 (2024)
• Thailand — 309.67 (2024)
• Timor-Leste

More financial sector data for Lao PDR

• DEC alternative conversion factor (LCU per US$) — US$20,444 (2025)
• Official exchange rate (LCU per US$, period average) — US$20,444 (2025)
• GDP deflator (base year varies by country) — 240 (2025)
• Inflation, GDP deflator (annual % growth) — 7.55% (2025)
• Consumer price index (2010 = 100) — 317.16 (2025)
• Inflation, consumer prices (annual % growth) — 7.74% (2025)
• Inflation, GDP deflator, linked series (annual % growth) — 7.55% (2025)
• GDP deflator, linked series (base year varies by country) — 240 (2025)
• Automated teller machines (ATMs) (per 100,000 adults) — 28.3 (2024)

Reading data like this

• Where to find free public data, and how to check it before you trust it — 2 min read
• Data analysis examples: 6 worked from one dataset — 3 min read
• Real change or random noise? A plain guide to reading your numbers — 2 min read

Questions people ask

What is Lao PDR's borrowers from commercial banks (per 1,000 adults)?

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

How has it changed since 2013?

It is down 27.92% from 29.22 in 2013 (2.93% a year on average, compounded). The highest value was 57.17 in 2020 and the lowest 20.03 in 2023.

How does Lao PDR rank?

78th highest of 78 economies with data for 2024.

Is the latest change in borrowers from commercial banks (per 1,000 adults) unusual for Lao PDR?

In 2024, Lao PDR's borrowers from commercial banks (per 1,000 adults) rose 1.04 on 2023 (from 20.03 to 21.07). Across the 10 yearly changes before that (2014 to 2023), the average change was −0.92 and a typical year strayed about 15.15 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 FB.CBK.BRWR.P3, licensed CC BY 4.0. Original source: Financial Access Survey, International Monetary Fund (IMF), uri: https://data.imf.org/en/datasets/IMF.STA:FAS 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.

Want to ask your own questions of data like this? Try AnalyzeIt: upload a file or ask about public data in plain words, and every figure comes with its working.