Moving to Laos from Tonga

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What to Expect

Everything you need to know before relocating from Tonga to Laos — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.

If you moved from Tonga to Laos, and you’d need to navigate life in Lao. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right.

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Key Indicator Comparison

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Tonga to Laos.

Is it safe?

Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

TO
8.5
LA
16.4

Tonga performs better than Laos across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

TO
$512
LA
$123
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

affects wait times and access to care

TO
10.1
LA
3.3

Tonga generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Laos leads in healthcare spending per person.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

TO
24.0
LA
69.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

TO
1.6t
LA
3.4t

Tonga performs better than Laos across all environment metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

TO
8.0
LA
2.4
Internet access The World Factbook, 2021

share of households with internet

TO
67.0%
LA
62.0%

Tonga performs better than Laos across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

TO
2.3%
LA
1.2%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

TO
$6,600
LA
$8,400

Laos performs significantly better than Tonga across all employment & economy metrics.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

TO
77.5 yrs
LA
68.2 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

TO
12.4
LA
37.8

Tonga performs better than Laos across all family life metrics.

Data: The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

Visitor Visa Requirements

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

Tonga passport

Tonga passport holder visiting Laos

Visa Required
Tonga passport holders need a visa to enter Laos.
Laos passport

Laos passport holder visiting Tonga

Visa Required
Laos passport holders need a visa to enter Tonga.

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work remotely from Laos?

Internet is rarely the blocker — Laos has 2.4 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people. The real questions are legal: digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.

Is Laos safe for expats?

Tonga performs better than Laos across all safety metrics.

How is healthcare in Laos compared to Tonga?

Tonga generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Laos leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 3.3 doctors per 10,000 people in Laos, compared to 10.1 in Tonga. Laos scores 52 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Tonga: 57).

What language do they speak in Laos?

The official language in Laos is Lao. In Tonga, the official languages are English and Tongan.

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At a Glance

TO LA
Population 105,517 7,749,595
Currency Tongan Paʻanga (TOP) Laotian Kip (LAK)
Languages English, Tongan Lao
Driving side Left Right
Calling code +676 +856
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 191