Laos
Death penalty and prisoners' rights · Archive since 2000
Data card
- Legal status
- Abolitionist de facto
- Executions recorded in 2026
- 0
- Executions recorded in 2025
- 0
- First news item in the archive
- MARCH 13, 2000 · The People's Court in Lai Chau, Vietnam, gave a death...
- News items in the archive
- 46
Source: Hands Off Cain database, updated to 2026.
Laos is classified as Abolitionist de facto in the Hands Off Cain database, updated to 2026. In 2026 the association recorded 0 executions in the country, against 0 the year before. The archive holds 46 news items on Laos, from 2000 to today.
Latest news
- SEPTEMBER 2, 2025LaosDEATH PENALTY
LAOS: MAN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR METH TRAFFICKING
The Xayabouly Provincial People’s Court on August 27,2025 sentenced a 29-year-old man to death after convicting him of trafficking methamphetamine and crystal meth. The ruling became public on 30 August.
JULY 11, 2023LaosDEATH PENALTYLAOS: WEAK LAWS MEAN DEATH-ROW INMATES WON’T FACE EXECUTION ANYTIME SOON
More than 500 prison inmates have been sentenced to death in Laos – some more than a decade ago – but the country’s dysfunctional legal system and unclear prison procedures have left the inmates languishing for years, the country’s minister of public secu
JANUARY 28, 2020LaosDEATH PENALTYLAOS: EIGHT MEMBERS OF MR. X DRUG RING SENTENCED TO DEATH
Authorities in Laos last week sentenced eight people to death for their roles in connection with the major Southeast Asian drug ring run by drug kingpin Xaysana Keopimpha, better known as Mr. X., Radio Free Asia reported on 27 January 2020.
- JANUARY 1, 2020LaosDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty in Laos is applied in cases of treason, murder and rape
The death penalty in Laos is applied in cases of treason, murder and rape
- JANUARY 1, 2019LaosDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty in Laos is applied in cases of treason, murder and rape
The death penalty in Laos is applied in cases of treason, murder and rape
- JANUARY 1, 2018LaosDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty in Laos is applied in cases of treason, murder and rape
The death penalty in Laos is applied in cases of treason, murder and rape
- NOVEMBER 2, 2017LaosDEATH PENALTY
Dead penalty sentence for a drug trafficker in Laos
2 November 2017: the Supreme Court of the Vientiane Provincial Court decided a death penalty sentence for the case of Meng Vang, a 29-year-old resident in Vang Vieng district, where police officials detained in 2016 with 165,000 amphetamine tablets and 58
- JANUARY 1, 2017LaosDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty in Laos is applied in cases of treason, murder and rape
The death penalty in Laos is applied in cases of treason, murder and rape
- AUGUST 1, 2016LaosDEATH PENALTY
the Vientiane People’s Court recently sentenced three people to death after they were arrested in connection with a drug deal involving 132,000 amphetamine pills, the Khuamsangob newspaper reported.
the Vientiane People’s Court recently sentenced three people to death after they were arrested in connection with a drug deal involving 132,000 amphetamine pills, the Khuamsangob newspaper reported.
- JANUARY 1, 2016LaosDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty in Laos is applied in cases of treason, murder and rape
The death penalty in Laos is applied in cases of treason, murder and rape
- JANUARY 1, 2015LaosDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty in Laos is applied in cases of treason, murder and rape
The death penalty in Laos is applied in cases of treason, murder and rape
- JANUARY 1, 2014LaosDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty in Laos is applied in cases of treason, murder and rape
The death penalty in Laos is applied in cases of treason, murder and rape
MAY 24, 2013LaosDEATH PENALTYLAOS: THREE DRUG TRAFFICKERS SENTENCED TO DEATH
- JANUARY 1, 2013LaosDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty in Laos is applied in cases of treason, murder and rape
The death penalty in Laos is applied in cases of treason, murder and rape
- JANUARY 1, 2012LaosDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty in Laos is applied in cases of treason, murder and rape
The death penalty in Laos is applied in cases of treason, murder and rape
- JANUARY 1, 2011LaosDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty in Laos is applied in cases of treason, murder and rape
The death penalty in Laos is applied in cases of treason, murder and rape
- SEPTEMBER 21, 2010LaosDEATH PENALTY
Laos signed the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel...
Laos signed the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel...
- JANUARY 1, 2010LaosDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty in Laos is applied in cases of treason, murder and rape
The death penalty in Laos is applied in cases of treason, murder and rape
- JANUARY 1, 2009LaosDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty in Laos is applied in cases of treason, murder and rape
The death penalty in Laos is applied in cases of treason, murder and rape
- JULY 16, 2008LaosDEATH PENALTY
LAOS URGED TO IMPLEMENT OFFICIAL MORATORIUM ON DEATH PENALTY
Amnesty International and the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) urge the Lao government to introduce an official moratorium on executions.
- JANUARY 1, 2008LaosDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty in Laos is applied in cases of treason, murder and rape
The death penalty in Laos is applied in cases of treason, murder and rape
- DECEMBER 18, 2007LaosDEATH PENALTY
Lao abstained on the Resolution on a Moratorium...
Lao abstained on the Resolution on a Moratorium...
- JANUARY 1, 2007LaosDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty in Laos is applied in cases of treason, murder and rape
The death penalty in Laos is applied in cases of treason, murder and rape
- SEPTEMBER 6, 2006LaosDEATH PENALTY
LAOS. MAN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR AMPHETAMINE TRAFFICKING
the Luang Prabang People's Court, Laos, sentenced to death and seized all assets of Vanthong...
- AUGUST 7, 2006LaosDEATH PENALTY
LAOS. BOKEO COURT PROVIDES DEATH SENTENCE FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
it was reported that the Primary People's Court of Bokeo province, Laos, sentenced to death Ms Bouavanh, 40, for drug trafficking.
- FEBRUARY 27, 2006VietnamDEATH PENALTY
VIETNAM. LAOS MAN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
the Quang Ninh provincial first instance court, Vietnam, sentenced to death Xom Phon, a 30-year-old Laotian, for trafficking over 70 cakes of heroin and 4,000 tablets of Methamphetamine from Lao to northern Quang Ninh province late in 2005.
- JANUARY 1, 2006LaosDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty in Laos is applied in cases of treason, murder and rape
The death penalty in Laos is applied in cases of treason, murder and rape
- NOVEMBER 17, 2005TaiwanDEATH PENALTY
LAOS. TWO TAIWANESE SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
a Lao court sentenced to death two Taiwanese men for drug trafficking.
- JULY 13, 2005LaosDEATH PENALTY
LAOS. TWO PEOPLE SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
Laos, which is not believed to have carried out an execution for more than a decade, passed death sentences on two drug traffickers, the official KPL news agency said.
- JUNE 2, 2005Myanmar (Burma)DEATH PENALTY
the Lao People's Court of Vientiane have given the death penalty to six people...
the Lao People's Court of Vientiane have given the death penalty to six people...