2016年，国内生产总值平均增长7.5%。然而，20%的人口消费低于最低饮食需求，国家在减少儿童发育迟缓方面仍然落后。
尽管在水电和采矿业的推动下，十年来经济有所增长，但其创造的就业机会却很少。老挝的大多数劳动力在农业部门，私营部门发展面临的主要问题之一是缺乏劳动力。该地区文盲率最高，缺乏教育使其发展非常不利。
由于地处内陆，老挝面临着经济和贸易方面的挑战。另外还有逐步向外国开放投资的管理及政策问题。
老挝政府热衷于增加外国投资和区域贸易流通。1987年，老挝对外经济贸易开放。1997年，老挝加入了《东盟自由贸易协定》，2013年，老挝加入了世界贸易组织。
采矿和能源部门将推动中长期增长。据估计，南屯河二级水电站运营第一年的年收入为1300万美元，预计到2033年将达到1.5亿美元。老挝只需要生产少量能源，就可以出口到泰国和越南。
该国的第七个国家计划希望保持强劲的经济增长和减轻贫困，以便到2020年脱离最不发达国家名单。该计划着眼于通过改善公共基础设施和扩大经济基础来实现可持续经济增长，同时确保自然资源和环境受到保护。
In 2016, GDP grew by an average of 7.5%. However, 20 per cent of the population consumes less than the minimum dietary needs, and the country still lags behind in reducing child stunting.
Despite a decade of economic growth driven by hydropower and mining, it has created few jobs. Most of the labor force in Laos is in the agricultural sector, and one of the main problems facing the development of the private sector is the lack of labor force. The region has the highest illiteracy rate and the lack of education makes its development very disadvantageous.
Due to its inland location, Laos faces economic and trade challenges. In addition, there are the management and policy issues of gradually opening up investment to foreign countries.
The Lao government is keen to increase foreign investment and regional trade flows. In 1987, Laos opened its foreign economy and trade. Laos joined the ASEAN Free Trade Agreement in 1997 and the World Trade Organization in 2013.
The mining and energy sectors will drive medium - and long-term growth. It is estimated that the annual revenue of Nantun River Cascade II hydropower station in the first year of operation is US $13 million, and it is expected to reach US $150 million by 2033. Laos only needs to produce a small amount of energy, which can be exported to Thailand and Vietnam.
The country's seventh national plan hoped to maintain strong economic growth and reduce poverty in order to graduate from the list of least developed countries by 2020. The plan aims to achieve sustainable economic growth by improving public infrastructure and expanding the economic base, while ensuring the protection of natural resources and the environment.
