Moving to Laos from Zambia

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from Zambia 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 Zambia to Laos.

Is it safe?

Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

ZM
17.1
LA
16.4

Laos performs significantly better than Zambia across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

ZM
$244
LA
$123
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

ZM
2.6
LA
3.3

Laos generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Zambia leads in health coverage index.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

ZM
50.0
LA
69.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

ZM
0.5t
LA
3.4t

Zambia 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

ZM
0.4
LA
2.4
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

ZM
2.8%
LA
4.8%

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

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

ZM
5.9%
LA
1.2%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

ZM
$3,700
LA
$8,400

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

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

ZM
66.3 yrs
LA
68.2 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

ZM
37.1
LA
37.8

Zambia generally does better on family life, though Laos leads in life expectancy.

Data: The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank, Zambia Revenue Authority

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Lusaka Rain: 31.4 in/yr (798 mm)
80° / 59°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Lusaka Vientiane
Jan–Mar 80°/62°F (27°/17°C) 87°/66°F (31°/19°C)
Apr–Jun 77°/55°F (25°/13°C) 91°/76°F (33°/24°C)
Jul–Sep 79°/55°F (26°/13°C) 88°/76°F (31°/24°C)
Oct–Dec 85°/64°F (29°/18°C) 85°/67°F (30°/20°C)
View all months
Month Lusaka Vientiane
Jan 80°/63°F (26.6°/17.1°C) 83°/62°F (28.4°/16.4°C)
Feb 80°/62°F (26.5°/16.8°C) 87°/65°F (30.3°/18.5°C)
Mar 81°/62°F (27.0°/16.6°C) 91°/71°F (33.0°/21.5°C)
Apr 80°/59°F (26.5°/15.1°C) 94°/75°F (34.3°/23.8°C)
May 78°/55°F (25.3°/12.7°C) 91°/76°F (33.0°/24.6°C)
Jun 74°/51°F (23.4°/10.6°C) 89°/77°F (31.9°/24.9°C)
Jul 73°/50°F (23.0°/10.2°C) 88°/76°F (31.3°/24.7°C)
Aug 79°/54°F (25.9°/12.3°C) 87°/76°F (30.8°/24.6°C)
Sep 85°/60°F (29.4°/15.3°C) 88°/75°F (30.9°/24.1°C)
Oct 87°/64°F (30.8°/17.5°C) 87°/73°F (30.8°/22.9°C)
Nov 86°/64°F (29.9°/17.9°C) 86°/67°F (29.8°/19.3°C)
Dec 81°/63°F (27.2°/17.3°C) 83°/62°F (28.1°/16.7°C)

Data: Zambia Meteorological Department (ZMD) Zambia Meteorological Department (ZMD), Department of Meteorology and Hydrology (DMH), Lao PDR Department of Meteorology and Hydrology (DMH), Lao PDR

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Zambia 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.

Zambia passport

Zambia passport holder visiting Laos

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

Laos passport holder visiting Zambia

Visa Free
Laos passport holders can enter Zambia without a visa.

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?

Laos performs significantly better than Zambia across all safety metrics.

How is healthcare in Laos compared to Zambia?

Laos generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Zambia leads in health coverage index. There are 3.3 doctors per 10,000 people in Laos, compared to 2.6 in Zambia. Laos scores 52 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Zambia: 56).

What's the weather like in Laos compared to Zambia?

The average high temperature in Vientiane is 88°F, compared to 80°F in Lusaka. Vientiane receives around 65.4 in of rainfall per year, while Lusaka gets 31.4 in.

What language do they speak in Laos?

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

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At a Glance

ZM LA
Population 19,642,123 7,749,595
Currency Zambian Kwacha (ZMW) Laotian Kip (LAK)
Languages English Lao
Driving side Left Right
Calling code +260 +856
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 191