Socio-Economic Development

Vientiane Completes New 9.3-Kilometer Mekong Embankment

On 1 July, Vientiane officially opened a new 9.3-kilometer stretch of Mekong riverfront featuring parks, walking and cycling paths, sports facilities, and flood protection infrastructure following the completion of Phase II of the Mekong River Integrated Management Project. The new embankment extends from Wat Nak village in Sisattanak District to...

Laos Raises Tax-Free Income Threshold Under New Personal Income Tax Rules

Laos has officially raised the monthly income exempt from personal income tax from LAK...

Laos Reports Economic Growth as Inflation Slows to 7.4 Percent in June

Laos recorded 5 percent economic growth in the first half of 2026, while inflation...

Laos Restores Higher Fuel Excise Taxes as Emergency Relief Measures End

On 24 June, Laos reinstated higher excise taxes on fuel, restoring regular gasoline tax...

Japan Approves USD 2.3 Million Scholarship Grant for Lao Civil Servants

Japan has approved JPY 378 million (USD 2.3 million) in scholarship funding to support...

Laos Calls for Increased ASEAN Investment in Nature-Based Solutions

Laos is urging ASEAN member states to ramp up investment in Nature-based Solutions (NbS) and Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA), calling them powerful tools for protecting...

New Incentives for Nature-Based Tourism Investment in Lao Forests

World Bank Laos - A decision announced today by the Lao Ministry of Agriculture and Environment will promote nature-based tourism in forested areas of...

One in Three Girls in Laos Married Before 18, UNICEF Reports

One in three girls in Laos is married before 18, making it one of the highest child marriage rates in the region, UNICEF reports. Despite...

Lao Overseas Workers Send Home USD 29 Million in First Half of 2025

Lao nationals working overseas remitted more than USD 29 million in the first half of 2025, according to the Ministry of Labour and Social...

Inflation Eases to Five Percent in August 2025

Inflation in Laos eased slightly in August 2025, with the annual rate recorded at five percent, down from 5.3 percent in July, according to...

Laos Provinces Show Steady Economic Growth in First Half of 2025

Several provinces across Laos have reported solid economic progress in the first half of 2025, according to recent updates from local government offices. Vientiane Province...