Laos vs Sri Lanka: Electricity Compared
Laos generated 52.3 TWh of electricity in 2024 and Sri Lanka 17.1 TWh, according to Ember. Hydro was the largest source in both, at 76.5% in Laos and 40.8% in Sri Lanka. Each kWh generated emitted 232 gCO2/kWh in Laos and 387 gCO2/kWh in Sri Lanka. These are Ember annual statistics for 2024, compiled from national sources; they are not real time.
Ember's latest annual figures for Laos are for 2024, while Sri Lanka has figures to 2025, so this comparison uses 2024 for both.
Why this comparison: similar electricity demand on the same continent.
Key Facts
- Hydro supplied 76.5% of Laos' electricity in 2024, against 40.8% in Sri Lanka.
- Sri Lanka's electricity was 1.7 times as carbon intensive as Laos' in 2024, at 387 gCO2/kWh against 232 gCO2/kWh.
- The average person in Laos used 2.01 MWh of electricity in 2024, 2.7 times as much as in Sri Lanka (0.74 MWh).
- Low carbon sources supplied 76.7% of Laos' electricity in 2024 and 54.1% of Sri Lanka's.
- Electricity demand in 2024 was 15.6 TWh in Laos and 17.1 TWh in Sri Lanka.
Key Figures, 2024
Ember annual statistics| Measure | Laos | Sri Lanka |
|---|---|---|
| Total generation | 52.3 TWh | 17.1 TWh |
| Electricity demand | 15.6 TWh | 17.1 TWh |
| Demand per person | 2.01 MWh | 0.74 MWh |
| Carbon intensity | 232 gCO2/kWh | 387 gCO2/kWh |
| Power sector emissions | 12.1 MtCO2 | 6.62 MtCO2 |
| Low carbon share | 76.7% | 54.1% |
| Largest source | Hydro 76.5% | Hydro 40.8% |
Generation Mix, 2024
Share of generation| Source | Laos | Sri Lanka |
|---|---|---|
| Hydro | 76.5% | 40.8% |
| Coal | 23.3% | 33.3% |
| Other fossil | 0.0% | 12.6% |
| Solar | 0.2% | 6.8% |
| Wind | 0.0% | 5.1% |
| Bioenergy | 0.1% | 1.2% |
| Other renewables | 0.0% | 0.2% |
Carbon Intensity, 2000 to 2025
Ember annual statisticsAnnual statistics through 2025, gCO2/kWh
| Year | Laos | Sri Lanka |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 88 gCO2/kWh | 358 gCO2/kWh |
| 2001 | 88 gCO2/kWh | 361 gCO2/kWh |
| 2002 | 88 gCO2/kWh | 411 gCO2/kWh |
| 2003 | 88 gCO2/kWh | 382 gCO2/kWh |
| 2004 | 24 gCO2/kWh | 425 gCO2/kWh |
| 2005 | 24 gCO2/kWh | 409 gCO2/kWh |
| 2006 | 24 gCO2/kWh | 346 gCO2/kWh |
| 2007 | 24 gCO2/kWh | 403 gCO2/kWh |
| 2008 | 24 gCO2/kWh | 392 gCO2/kWh |
| 2009 | 24 gCO2/kWh | 407 gCO2/kWh |
| 2010 | 24 gCO2/kWh | 320 gCO2/kWh |
| 2011 | 24 gCO2/kWh | 416 gCO2/kWh |
| 2012 | 24 gCO2/kWh | 496 gCO2/kWh |
| 2013 | 24 gCO2/kWh | 302 gCO2/kWh |
| 2014 | 24 gCO2/kWh | 462 gCO2/kWh |
| 2015 | 149 gCO2/kWh | 419 gCO2/kWh |
| 2016 | 303 gCO2/kWh | 522 gCO2/kWh |
| 2017 | 338 gCO2/kWh | 533 gCO2/kWh |
| 2018 | 336 gCO2/kWh | 449 gCO2/kWh |
| 2019 | 351 gCO2/kWh | 518 gCO2/kWh |
| 2020 | 278 gCO2/kWh | 513 gCO2/kWh |
| 2021 | 261 gCO2/kWh | 418 gCO2/kWh |
| 2022 | 237 gCO2/kWh | 410 gCO2/kWh |
| 2023 | 232 gCO2/kWh | 417 gCO2/kWh |
| 2024 | 232 gCO2/kWh | 387 gCO2/kWh |
| 2025 | n/a | 368 gCO2/kWh |
Demand per Person, 2000 to 2025
Ember annual statisticsAnnual statistics through 2025, MWh
| Year | Laos | Sri Lanka |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 0.19 MWh | 0.35 MWh |
| 2001 | 0.18 MWh | 0.34 MWh |
| 2002 | 0.18 MWh | 0.35 MWh |
| 2003 | 0.20 MWh | 0.38 MWh |
| 2004 | 0.14 MWh | 0.40 MWh |
| 2005 | 0.23 MWh | 0.44 MWh |
| 2006 | 0.29 MWh | 0.46 MWh |
| 2007 | 0.40 MWh | 0.48 MWh |
| 2008 | 0.37 MWh | 0.48 MWh |
| 2009 | 0.42 MWh | 0.48 MWh |
| 2010 | 0.46 MWh | 0.51 MWh |
| 2011 | 0.48 MWh | 0.55 MWh |
| 2012 | 0.60 MWh | 0.56 MWh |
| 2013 | 0.63 MWh | 0.56 MWh |
| 2014 | 0.71 MWh | 0.58 MWh |
| 2015 | 0.98 MWh | 0.61 MWh |
| 2016 | 0.97 MWh | 0.65 MWh |
| 2017 | 0.95 MWh | 0.67 MWh |
| 2018 | 1.05 MWh | 0.72 MWh |
| 2019 | 1.17 MWh | 0.74 MWh |
| 2020 | 1.44 MWh | 0.73 MWh |
| 2021 | 1.55 MWh | 0.77 MWh |
| 2022 | 1.58 MWh | 0.73 MWh |
| 2023 | 2.23 MWh | 0.71 MWh |
| 2024 | 2.01 MWh | 0.74 MWh |
| 2025 | n/a | 0.74 MWh |
Laos history · Sri Lanka history
Source: Ember (ember-energy.org), licensed under CC BY 4.0. Data as of 2024.