List of ethnic groups in Laos

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The following is a list of ethnic groups in Laos.

Classification

Specialists are largely in agreement as to the ethnolinguistic classification of the ethnic groups of Laos. [1] For the purposes of the 1995 census, the government of Laos recognized 149 ethnic groups within 47 main ethnicities. [1] whereas the Lao Front for National Construction (LFNC) recently revised the list to include 49 ethnicities consisting of over 160 ethnic groups. [1]

Contents

The term ethnic minorities is used by some to classify the non-Lao ethnic groups, while the term indigenous peoples is not used by Lao authorities. [1] These 160 ethnic groups speak a total of 73 distinct living languages as of 2025. [2]

Austronesian

Mon-Khmer

Palaungic

Khmuic

Tibeto-Burman

Hmong-Mien

Tai and Rau

Chinese

Unclassified

Below are some ethnic groups of Laos who speak unclassified languages, listed roughly from north to south. [11] District codes are also given (see districts of Laos ).

Unclassified languages of Laos
Ethnolinguistic groupPopulationPossible linguistic affiliationLocations
Poumong1,000Tibeto-Burman (Phunyot) [12] Ban Phoumon. Boun-Tai (2-07) and Khoa (2-03) districts, southern Phongsaly Province
Pouhoy200 (1995; 35 families) [8] Oy, Katuic?Kang Village, Namo District (4-03), northern Oudomxai Province
Taket< 1,000 [8] Austro-Asiatic? [8] Nambak District (6-05), Luang Prabang Province
Tamoy500 (< 15 villages)Palaungic, Khmuic?Viangphoukha District (3-04), Luang Namtha Province
Nguan30,000Lametic, Palaungic?Nale (3-05), Viangphoukha (3-04), and Luang Namtha (3-01) districts of Luang Namtha Province, near the Khuen, Lamet, and Khmu Rok peoples; also in Houayxay District (5-01), Bokeo Province
Salao800Ethnic Lao [8] Pakxong District (16-04), Champasak Province

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Indigenous Peoples Development Planning Document" (PDF). Lao People's Democratic Republic: Northern Region Sustainable Livelihoods Development Project. August 2006. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 "Ethnologue report for Laos" . Ethnologue . Retrieved 2025-06-17.
  3. ↑ Schliesinger, Joachim (2003). Ethnic Groups of Laos: Profiles of Austro-Thai-speaking peoples. White Lotus Press. ISBN   978-974-480-037-4.
  4. ↑ "The Crescent in Laos: Muslims of Vientiane". islamawareness.net. Islam Awareness. Retrieved 2025-01-06.
  5. ↑ Ta Ong Trail Archived 2007-11-18 at the Wayback Machine
  6. 1 2 3 Laos Cultural Profile (Ministry of Information and Culture/Visiting Arts)
  7. ↑ Ta La, Laos [ permanent dead link ]
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 Schliesinger, Joachim (2003). Ethnic Groups of Laos, Volume 2, Profiles of Austro-Asiatic-speaking peoples. Bangkok: White Lotus. ISBN   9744800364.
  9. ↑ Doré, Amphay. 2016. The Kassak — an ethnological and historical enigma. In Tai Culture Journal, Volume 24. Interdisciplinary Tai Studies Series. ISSN 1431-1240
  10. 1 2 "Biodatabase". Archived from the original on 2011-05-18. Retrieved 2007-11-03.
  11. ↑ "Bit" (PDF). Asia Harvest. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
  12. ↑ Schliesinger, Joachim (2003). Ethnic Groups of Laos, Volume 4, Profiles of Sino-Tibetan-speaking peoples. Bangkok: White Lotus. ISBN   9744800321.

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