According to the results of the third economic census conducted by the General Statistics Office of Laos in 2019-2020, the number of grassroots economic units in Laos has increased by 9,124 units, from 124,873 in 2013 to 133,997 in 2019. , of which micro enterprises accounted for 94.2%.

According report by the Bank of Lao PDR, the “Lao economy continued to maintain a steady economic growth with an annual GDP growth rate of 7.6 percent in 2009 compared with 2008, slightly higher than 7.5 percent of previous year. The total value of GDP expressed in constant price rose to 28,833.41 billion Kip or 46,796.94 billion Kip expressed in nominal terms. Compared to the performance of regional economies, GDP growth rate of Laos was relatively higher amid global financial crisis and the outbreak of influenza 2009 (A/H1N1). The key factors supporting a sustained GDP growth are mainly driven by the continued growth in mining, manufacturing and constructions as well as service and tourism sectors and so forth. The component of GDP growth in 2009 as compared to 2008, service remained a major share of GDP accounting for 38.36 percent, rising from 36.52 percent in 2008; agriculture was accounted for 31.09 percent, while industry was down from 26.23 percent in 2008 to 24.12 percent in 2009, and import duties accounted for 6.4 percent, slightly dropped from 6.8 percent in 2008. Average annual inflation was 0.03 percent, lower than the figure of 7.63 percent in 2008. In comparison with neighboring countries the Lao inflation was relatively low. This figure was the lowest for the first time for its Lao economic events.”

SMEs have an important role in the economic system of the country in various sectors, such as trade, manufacturing and services. Most of the labor force in the country are employ by SMEs which contribute to the generating income, raising the well-being of the majority of the people. SMEs are thus a main trust of the economic growth of the country. Lao enterprises are mainly concentrated in the central region and large urban areas, of which micro enterprises in the central region and large urban areas account for 50.6 and 59% respectively, the rest are small, medium and large enterprises have the same ratio. Due to the limited transport infrastructure in the southern provinces and rural areas, businesses are very limited.

Vientiane capital is home to the largest number of enterprises, accounting for 22.3%, followed by Champassack province with 11.8%; Savannakhet accounted for 11.4%. Among the total economic units, there are 126,168 micro enterprises (accounting for 94.2%), 6,600 small enterprises (accounting for 4.9%), 954 medium enterprises (accounting for 0.7%) and 276 enterprises large (accounting for 0.2%). The total registered capital of all enterprises reached 490,000 billion kip. In 2018, businesses generated a total income of 107,584 billion kip. Enterprises employ 490,373 employees, in which, male employees accounted for 50.1%, female employees accounted for 49.9%. There are 90.6% of enterprises only employ 1-5 employees/enterprise.