Lao PDR: Carbon dioxide (CO2) net fluxes from LULUCF - Deforestation (Mt CO2e)

Key figures

What the numbers say

In 2023, Lao PDR's carbon dioxide (CO2) net fluxes from LULUCF - Deforestation (Mt CO2e) did not change 0% on 2022 (from 20.06 to 20.06).

Across the 22 yearly changes before that (2001 to 2022), the average change was +6.1% and a typical year strayed about 14.4% from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 0.4 standard deviations below 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 53.8% in 2011. The numbers show how large and when, not why; for the cause, look at what happened in that country in those years.

From 2014 to 2023 there is no clear straight-line trend: a straight line explains less than 1% 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 2023, Lao PDR had the 27th highest value of the 167 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 2023 ranking

• Bolivia — 24th of 167: 28.24
• South Sudan — 25th of 167: 28.1
• Sudan — 26th of 167: 23.92
• Guinea — 28th of 167: 19
• Mali — 29th of 167: 17.64
• Somalia, Fed. Rep. — 30th of 167: 17.35

What this measures

Net flux of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the category "Deforestation".

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

All 24 values

Carbon dioxide (CO2) net fluxes from LULUCF - Deforestation (Mt CO2e) in nearby economies

• Australia — 4.36 (2023)
• Brunei Darussalam — 0.16 (2022)
• Cambodia — 32.62 (2023)
• China — 3.25 (2023)
• Fiji — 0 (2023)
• Indonesia — 45.77 (2023)
• Japan — 2.64 (2023)
• Korea, Dem. People's Rep. — 2.3 (2023)
• Korea, Rep.

More environment data for Lao PDR

• Population in largest city — 755,941 (2025)
• Population in the largest city (% of urban population) — 23.82% (2025)
• Rural population — 4.7 million (2025)
• Rural population (% of total population) — 59.69% (2025)
• Urban population — 3.17 million (2025)
• Urban population (% of total population) — 40.31% (2025)
• Aquaculture production (metric tons) — 153,504 (2024)
• Capture fisheries production (metric tons) — 78,795 (2024)
• Total fisheries production (metric tons) — 232,299 (2024)
• Rural population growth (annual %) — 0.06% (2025)

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Questions people ask

What is Lao PDR's carbon dioxide (CO2) net fluxes from LULUCF - Deforestation (Mt CO2e)?

20.06 in 2023, according to the World Bank (World Development Indicators).

How has it changed since 2000?

It is up 215.18% from 6.36 in 2000 (5.12% a year on average, compounded). The highest value was 20.06 in 2014 and the lowest 6.36 in 2000.

How does Lao PDR rank?

27th highest of 167 economies with data for 2023.

Is the latest change in carbon dioxide (CO2) net fluxes from LULUCF - Deforestation (Mt CO2e) unusual for Lao PDR?

In 2023, Lao PDR's carbon dioxide (CO2) net fluxes from LULUCF - Deforestation (Mt CO2e) did not change 0% on 2022 (from 20.06 to 20.06). Across the 22 yearly changes before that (2001 to 2022), the average change was +6.1% and a typical year strayed about 14.4% from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 0.4 standard deviations below 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 EN.GHG.CO2.LU.DF.MT.CE.AR5, licensed CC BY 4.0. Original source: Carbon fluxes from land 2000–2020: bringing clarity on countries’ reporting, uri: https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-14-4643-2022, note: Data available from https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7190605, publisher: Earth System Science Data (ESSD) 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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