Moving to United Kingdom from Laos

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What to Expect

A comprehensive look at what changes when you move from Laos to United Kingdom — from daily expenses to quality of life.

If you moved from Laos to United Kingdom, and you’d need to navigate life in English. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left. Expect a noticeable climate shift — London averages 60°F vs 88°F in Vientiane, making it significantly cooler.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

Real numbers on people moving from Laos to United Kingdom, and how the trend has changed.

Living there in 2020
741 ↑ 13% vs 2015

people born in Laos live in United Kingdom · UN DESA

Who's moving to United Kingdom?

Top countries of origin for United Kingdom's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

How Laos and United Kingdom stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.

Is it safe?

Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

LA
16.4
GB
2.4

United Kingdom performs significantly better than Laos across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2024

annual government + private spending per person

LA
$123
GB
$6,606
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

LA
3.3
GB
31.7

Laos generally does better on health & wellbeing, though United Kingdom leads in doctors per 10,000 people.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

LA
69.0
GB
13.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

LA
3.4t
GB
4.2t

Laos generally does better on environment, though United Kingdom leads in air pollution deaths.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

LA
2.4
GB
41.4
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

LA
4.8%
GB
14.3%

United Kingdom generally does better on infrastructure, though Laos leads in water stress level.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

LA
1.2%
GB
4.1%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

LA
$8,400
GB
$54,100

Laos generally does better on employment & economy, though United Kingdom leads in gdp per capita.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

LA
68.2 yrs
GB
81.9 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

LA
37.8
GB
3.8

United Kingdom performs significantly better than Laos across all family life metrics.

Data: Ministry of Finance, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Vientiane Rain: 65.4 in/yr (1660 mm)
88° / 71°F

Avg. annual high / low

London Rain: 22.0 in/yr (558 mm)
60° / 46°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Vientiane London
Jan–Mar 87°/66°F (31°/19°C) 49°/38°F (9°/3°C)
Apr–Jun 91°/76°F (33°/24°C) 64°/48°F (18°/9°C)
Jul–Sep 88°/76°F (31°/24°C) 72°/56°F (22°/13°C)
Oct–Dec 85°/67°F (30°/20°C) 53°/43°F (12°/6°C)
View all months
Month Vientiane London
Jan 83°/62°F (28.4°/16.4°C) 47°/38°F (8.1°/3.1°C)
Feb 87°/65°F (30.3°/18.5°C) 47°/37°F (8.6°/2.7°C)
Mar 91°/71°F (33.0°/21.5°C) 53°/40°F (11.6°/4.6°C)
Apr 94°/75°F (34.3°/23.8°C) 58°/43°F (14.6°/5.9°C)
May 91°/76°F (33.0°/24.6°C) 65°/48°F (18.1°/8.9°C)
Jun 89°/77°F (31.9°/24.9°C) 70°/53°F (21.0°/11.8°C)
Jul 88°/76°F (31.3°/24.7°C) 74°/57°F (23.4°/13.7°C)
Aug 87°/76°F (30.8°/24.6°C) 74°/57°F (23.1°/13.8°C)
Sep 88°/75°F (30.9°/24.1°C) 68°/53°F (20.0°/11.4°C)
Oct 87°/73°F (30.8°/22.9°C) 60°/48°F (15.5°/8.8°C)
Nov 86°/67°F (29.8°/19.3°C) 52°/42°F (11.3°/5.8°C)
Dec 83°/62°F (28.1°/16.7°C) 47°/38°F (8.4°/3.4°C)

Data: Department of Meteorology and Hydrology (DMH), Lao PDR Department of Meteorology and Hydrology (DMH), Lao PDR, Met Office Met Office

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Laos and United Kingdom. To live, work, or study long-term in United Kingdom, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check United Kingdom's immigration authority.

Laos passport

Laos passport holder visiting United Kingdom

Visa Online (e-Visa)
Laos passport holders need to apply for an e-Visa before travelling to United Kingdom.
United Kingdom passport

United Kingdom passport holder visiting Laos

Visa on Arrival
United Kingdom passport holders can obtain a visa on arrival in Laos.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work remotely from United Kingdom?

With 41.4 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people, United Kingdom can support video calls in major cities. The hard part is paperwork — visa category, employer policy on overseas staff, and tax residency in Laos and United Kingdom.

Is United Kingdom safe for expats?

United Kingdom performs significantly better than Laos across all safety metrics.

How is healthcare in United Kingdom compared to Laos?

Laos generally does better on health & wellbeing, though United Kingdom leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 31.7 doctors per 10,000 people in United Kingdom, compared to 3.3 in Laos. United Kingdom scores 88 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Laos: 52).

What's the weather like in United Kingdom compared to Laos?

The average high temperature in London is 60°F, compared to 88°F in Vientiane. London receives around 22.0 in of rainfall per year, while Vientiane gets 65.4 in.

What language do they speak in United Kingdom?

The official language in United Kingdom is English. In Laos, the official language is Lao.

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At a Glance

LA GB
Population 7,749,595 67,791,400
Currency Laotian Kip (LAK) British Pound Sterling (£)
Languages Lao English
Driving side Right Left
Calling code +856 +44
Time zones 1 9
Emergency number 191 999