“Counting Everyone, Because Everyone Counts”

The 5th Population and Housing Census (PHC) of Lao PDR, scheduled for 2025, is not only one of Lao government’s most extensive and intricate peacetime operations, it is also a pivotal measure in shaping the nation’s future socio-demographic and economic development planning . The Lao Statistics Bureau (LSB), the Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI), in close collaboration with relevant line ministries and a wide range of key development partners, have been diligently preparing for this monumental task since 2021.

The PHC serves as a cornerstone for national and sub-national planning and decision-making, providing crucial population data to inform development and humanitarian strategies and allocating resources. The census will help track population dynamics and changes, provide baseline data on the progress towards the 9th National Socio-Economic Development Plan (NSEDP) 2021-2025 implementation, and aid in the monitoring of the 10th NSEDP 2026-2030. Moreover, it will provide evidence to the Lao’s achievements in relation to the International Conference on Population and Development Programme of Action (ICPD PoA) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The significance of the census is underscored by the fact that up to 107 of the 231 indicators of the SDGs require population data for monitoring. The PHC provides invaluable insights into the demographics of disadvantaged regions and vulnerable groups, such as the poor, elderly, persons with disabilities and migrants.

The 2025 PHC will be the nation’s first-ever digital census. Utilizing handheld devices and GIS-based maps. It is estimated that nearly 13,000 census field staff will collect data across 18 provinces within a four to five-week period in 2025.

Investing in the 5th PHC is investing in the future of Laos, for accurate, transparent, and timely data which is the bedrock upon which effective policies are built.