VIENTIANE, Dec. 11 (Xinhua) -- Lao Statistics Bureau is researching to estimate the growth rate of the youth population from 2015-2035 as a valuable data to assist the country's socio-economic development plans.
Local daily Vientiane Times on Wednesday quoted Lao Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment and Head of the Lao Statistics Bureau Samaichanh Boupha recently as saying that, a 2015 survey revealed that young people made up over half of Laos' population, the highest proportion among ASEAN countries.
The fourth Population and Housing Census in 2015 showed 60 percent of the Lao populace was under 25 years old while those aged from 10 to 24 years reached 31 percent.
One in three people now live in urban areas, but the rural population still represents a large majority of Laos.
Samaichanh said the research carried out in 2015 was necessary because it provided statistics to facilitate planning and decision-making by government planners and policymakers.
Laos will also conduct a population census in 2020 using age-cohort component analysis to provide updated information for indicators, baselines and targets to be incorporated in the 2021-2025 National Socio-Economic Development Plan, said the report.
The population census is used to set targets in national development plans and directly contributes to efforts to ensure Laos graduates from the least-developed country status.
However, the country's young population will lead to both opportunities and challenges for the public health, education, welfare and labor sectors. Lao Statistics Bureau will continue researching the young population from 2015-2045, both on growth and changes such as the rate of birth, death, and immigration to set up plans and policies in human resource development to achieve the government's development goals.
According to the fourth Population and Housing Census in 2015, the reported total population was 6,492,228. This increased from 5,621,982 in 2005, of which 3,237,458 were females.
