Lao PDR: Investment in energy with private participation (current US$)

Key figures

Since 1996 it is up 258.17% from US$267.75 million in 1996 (4.84% a year on average, compounded). The World Bank has no value for 17 of the years in between; the chart leaves those gaps open rather than joining across them.

How it compares

See how every economy compares in the full ranking.

Closest to Lao PDR in the 2023 ranking

• Cambodia — 2nd of 5: US$447.5 million
• Honduras — 3rd of 5: US$370 million
• Armenia — 4th of 5: US$26 million

What this measures

The Private Participation in Infrastructure (PPI) Database records contractual arrangements for public infrastructure projects in low- and middle-income countries (as classified by the World Bank) that have reached financial closure, in which private parties assume operating risk. Investment in energy projects with private participation refers to commitments to infrastructure projects in energy (electricity and natural gas: generation, transmission and distribution) that have reached financial closure and directly or indirectly serve the public. The types of projects included are management and lease contracts, brownfield projects, greenfield projects (in which a private entity or a public-private joint venture builds and operates a new facility), and divestitures. Investments are classified as one of two types: (1) Investments in physical assets: resources the project company commits to invest in expanding and modernizing facilities and (2) payments to the government: to acquire state-owned enterprises or rights to provide services in a specific area or to use radio spectrum. Data is presented based on investment year. Data are in current U.S. dollars.

Limitations: The data on investment in infrastructure projects with private participation refer to all investment (public and private) in projects in which a private company assumes operating risk during the operating period or development and operating risk during the contract period. Investment refers to commitments not disbursements. Foreign state-owned companies are considered private entities for the purposes of this measure. Investment commitments are the sum of investments in physical assets and payments to the government.

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

All 11 values

Investment in energy with private participation (current US$) in nearby economies

• Cambodia — US$447.5 million (2023)
• China — US$36.35 billion (2024)
• Indonesia — US$146 million (2024)
• Malaysia — US$411.32 million (2024)
• Philippines — US$4.14 billion (2024)
• Thailand — US$1.86 billion (2024)
• Viet Nam — US$1.64 billion (2024)

More private sector & trade data for Lao PDR

• Merchandise imports (current US$) — US$10.34 billion (2025)
• Merchandise exports (current US$) — US$12.38 billion (2025)
• Merchandise imports from high-income economies (% of total merchandise imports) — 17.45% (2023)
• Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in East Asia & Pacific (% of total merchandise imports) — 81.87% (2023)
• Merchandise imports by the reporting economy, residual (% of total merchandise imports) — 0% (2023)
• Merchandise imports by the reporting economy (current US$) — US$5.47 billion (2023)
• Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies within region (% of total merchandise imports) — 81.87% (2023)

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Questions people ask

What is Lao PDR's investment in energy with private participation (current US$)?

US$959 million in 2023, according to the World Bank (World Development Indicators).

How has it changed since 1996?

It is up 258.17% from US$267.75 million in 1996 (4.84% a year on average, compounded). The highest value was US$5.89 billion in 2012 and the lowest US$49 million in 2019.

Where does this data come from?

The World Bank's World Development Indicators, licensed CC BY 4.0. Original source: Private Participation in Infrastructure Project Database, World Bank (WB), uri: https://ppi.worldbank.org/en/ppidata.

Source

World Bank, World Development Indicators, indicator IE.PPI.ENGY.CD, licensed CC BY 4.0. Original source: Private Participation in Infrastructure Project Database, World Bank (WB), uri: https://ppi.worldbank.org/en/ppidata 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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