Vientiane:The Lao Statistics Bureau (LSB) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) are working together to prepare key thematic reports for the upcoming 2025 Population and Housing Census. A recent meeting convened key partners to review preliminary findings and indicators, marking a significant step towards transforming demographic data into actionable national policies.
According to Lao News Agency, the thematic reports, financially and technically supported by UNFPA and development partners, including the Australian Government through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Government of Luxembourg, and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, will focus on four priority areas Fertility and Nuptiality, Mortality, Migration and Urbanization, and Population Projections. These reports are part of a larger series of 12 thematic reports aimed at analyzing key data from the 2025 census.
The consultation involved representatives from national line ministries such as the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Public Security, and the Lao Women's Union. National academic and research institutions, international development partners, and core census donors also participated. Mr. Vilaysook Sisoulath, Deputy Director General of the Department of Economic and Social Statistics, emphasized the importance of these reports in transitioning from baseline statistics to targeted policy design.
During the meeting, international experts presented preliminary findings on demographic indicators for Fertility, Nuptiality, and Mortality in Lao PDR. Experts Mr. Ralph Hakkert and Mr. Ben Jarabi highlighted key indicators such as fertility rates, marriage patterns, and adolescent birth trends, along with baseline data on infant, child, and maternal mortality. Discussions included linking census data to digital mapping tools for provincial and district-level visualization.
Feedback from participants will be incorporated into the draft reports, which are set to be finalized and launched in 2027. The findings aim to strengthen national data systems and support improvements in health services, including sexual and reproductive health and rights, thereby expanding opportunities for women, girls, and young people across Lao PDR.