Attapeu Province has endorsed the results of its late-2025 assessment of poverty-exit and development standards, covering the whole province. The review found that 30,838 households, or 88.32% of those surveyed, have moved out of poverty, and 126 villages, or 90%, have done the same. Three districts have also been classed as poverty-free. The province has now laid out a roadmap toward comprehensive development by 2030.

The findings come from a provincial decision dated 5 November 2025, issued under Decree No. 348 on poverty-exit and development standards. The preliminary assessment covers 5 districts, 140 villages, 37,772 households and a population of 168,587.

Of the 34,915 households directly surveyed, 4,077 (11.68%) remain poor, 30,838 (88.32%) have exited poverty, and 25,385 (72.71%) are classed as developed households.

Village and district results

• Villages: 14 remain poor (10%), 126 have exited poverty (90%), and 76 are developed (54.29%).
• Districts: Xaisettha, Samakkhixay and Sanamxay are now poverty-free. Xansai and Phouvong are still classed as poor.

Eleven villages in five districts were selected for upgrading into small urban-style rural centres. Three of them, Vongsamphan in Phouvong, Sakhae in Xaisettha and Muenhuamuang in Samakkhixay, have met 16 criteria so far, which is 27.27% of the group.

No district has yet met all 16 criteria and 60 indicators required to be a comprehensively strong district.

Targets for 2026 to 2030

• 2026: Lift 1,445 poor households out of poverty and create 1,745 developed households. Upgrade 8 villages to developed status, make Xansai and Phouvong poverty-free districts, build 4 urban-style rural centres, and establish 2 comprehensively strong districts.
• 2027 to 2030: Continue lifting poor households and steadily move households and villages up to higher development levels. Add three more urban-style rural centres: Hin Lat in Sanamxay, Namngon Neua in Xansai and Namkong in Phouvong. Make Sanamxay the first comprehensively strong district in the province by 2030.

Overall, the plan aims to reduce poverty, raise living standards for residents and build lasting strength in rural development.