Laos' energy mix and electricity

🇱🇦 In 2024, Laos generated 52.3 TWh of electricity. The largest source was hydro at 77%, followed by coal (23%). In total, 77% came from low-carbon sources (nuclear and renewables) and 23% from fossil fuels.

On average, each kilowatt hour produced about 232 grams of carbon dioxide (CO₂), below the world average of 458 grams in 2025. That makes Laos the 48th cleanest of 158 countries that generate at least 1 TWh a year.

Electricity demand was 15.6 TWh. Laos exported 36.7 TWh more electricity than it imported.

Since 2000, electricity generation has grown by 1,333%, from 3.65 TWh. The low-carbon share went from 90% to 77%. The biggest rise was in coal, from 0% to 23% of generation. The biggest fall was in hydro, from 90% to 77%. Carbon intensity rose from 88 to 232 grams per kWh.

Live, hour-by-hour figures for Laos are not connected yet. The dashboard shows its yearly figures, energy mix since 2000 and interconnector trade.

Energy mix in 2024

Hydro 77%
Coal 23%
Solar 0.2%
Bioenergy 0.1%

Source	Share	Generated
Hydro	77%	40.0 TWh
Coal	23%	12.2 TWh
Solar	0.2%	0.10 TWh
Bioenergy	0.1%	0.05 TWh

Energy security score

78out of 100

Strong. Laos ranks 25th of 158 countries and 4th of 46 in Asia. The score shows how well a country could keep electricity affordable and on if fuel supplies were disrupted. It is based on 4 of the 5 measures.

Measure	Score
Produces its own energy No reliable figure exists for Laos, so this measure is left out and the other four count for more.	n/a
Variety of power sources How evenly generation is spread across nine sources. The largest, hydro, made 77%.	41
Little reliance on imported power Laos exported more electricity than it imported, so it scores full marks.	100
Low-carbon power Nuclear and renewables made 77% of generation.	77
Low gas and oil use Gas and oil made 0% of generation; the score is 100 minus that share.	100

The five measures are weighted 30%, 20%, 20%, 15% and 15%. How the score works.

How it has changed

Year	Generated	Low-carbon	Fossil	CO₂ g/kWh
2000	3.65 TWh	90%	10%	88
2005	3.51 TWh	100%	0%	23
2010	8.36 TWh	100%	0%	24
2015	16.2 TWh	86%	14%	149
2020	40.0 TWh	71%	28%	278
2023	52.3 TWh	77%	23%	232
2024	52.3 TWh	77%	23%	232

Questions about Laos' energy

What is Laos' energy mix?

In 2024, Laos' electricity came from hydro 77% and coal 23%.

How much of Laos' electricity is renewable?

77% of its electricity came from renewables in 2024 (hydro 77%).

What is Laos' main source of electricity?

Hydro, which made 77% of its electricity in 2024.

How clean is Laos' electricity?

About 232 grams of CO₂ for each kilowatt hour in 2024, below the world average of 458 grams. It ranks 48th cleanest of 158 countries that generate at least 1 TWh a year.

Does Laos import electricity?

It is a net exporter: in 2024 it exported 36.7 TWh more electricity than it imported.

How secure is Laos' energy supply?

Global Grid's energy security score for Laos is 78 out of 100 (strong), 25th of 158 countries. It looks at how much of its own energy it produces, how varied its power sources are, its reliance on imported power and its use of low-carbon power, gas and oil.

Other countries in Asia

See every country

Sources: Ember yearly electricity data (CC BY 4.0), figures up to 2024. Ember's latest-year figures are first estimates and may be revised. TWh: terawatt hours (one billion kWh).