Freedom Score in Laos
Laos: Freedom Score was 13 in 2025. ▬ Flat
Freedom Score in Laos, 2002–2025
Source: Freedom House (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for freedom score in Laos is 13, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 8.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, freedom score in Laos peaked at 14 in 2018 and was at its lowest, 11, in 2012.
Laos ranks 171st of 197 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
Freedom Score in Laos, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 12 | — |
| 2003 | 13 | +8.3% |
| 2004 | 13 | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 13 | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 13 | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 13 | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 13 | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 13 | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 12 | -7.7% |
| 2011 | 12 | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 11 | -8.3% |
| 2013 | 12 | +9.1% |
| 2014 | 12 | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 12 | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 12 | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 12 | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 14 | +16.7% |
| 2019 | 14 | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 13 | -7.1% |
| 2021 | 13 | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 13 | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 13 | +0.0% |
| 2024 | 13 | +0.0% |
| 2025 | 13 | +0.0% |
Laos compared with similar countries
- Laos's 13 is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 41, 32% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Laos's 13 is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 73, 18% of the median. (31 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 12.88 | 12 | 13 | 8 |
| 2010s | 12.3 | 11 | 14 | 10 |
| 2020s | 13 | 13 | 13 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Laos
More social development data for Laos
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 80 (1987)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 6,489 (2025)
- Political Rights Rating 7 (2025)
- Electoral democracy 0 (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, gaps filled 7 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0008 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 6,489 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0 units per person (1987)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of -4.76 % change on previous year (1984)
Frequently asked questions
- What is freedom score in Laos?
- Freedom score in Laos was 13 in 2025, according to Freedom House (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest freedom score recorded in Laos?
- The highest recorded value was 14 in 2018.
- What is the lowest freedom score recorded in Laos?
- The lowest recorded value was 11 in 2012.
- How does Laos rank for freedom score?
- Laos ranks 171st out of 197 countries with data for 2025.
- Is freedom score rising or falling in Laos?
- Over the last ten years it is up 8.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Laos data come from?
- The figures come from Freedom House (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Freedom Score. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 24 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Freedom House’s freedom score captures the extent of free and fair elections, political pluralism and participation, a functioning government, freedom of expression and association, the rule of law, and personal autonomy. Higher scores indicate more freedom.