List of ethnic groups in Laos

Classification

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

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. These 160 ethnic groups speak a total of 73 distinct living languages as of 2025.

Austronesian

• Cham (population of 250–700 in Laos; known as Laotian Cham)

Mon-Khmer

• Aheu (population of approximately 1,770 in Bolikhamsai Province)
• Alak (population of approximately 4,000 in southern Laos)
• Arem (population of approximately 500 in Laos)
• Bo (population of 2,950 in Laos)
• Bru (population of approximately 69,000 in Laos)
• Chut (population of 450 in Khammouane Province)
• Halang Doan (population of 2,350 in Attapeu Province and on the Kasseng Plateau)
• Hung or Tum (population of 2,000 in Bolikhamsai and Khammouane Provinces)
• Ir (population of 4,420 in Salavan Province)
• Jeh (population of 8,013 in southern Laos)
• Katang (population of 107,350 in Laos)
• Katu (population of 14,700 in Laos)
• Khlor (population of 6,000 in Laos)
• Khmer (population of 10,400 in Laos)
• Khua (population of 2,000 in Laos)
• Kri
• Kuy (population of 51,180 in Laos)
• Lavae (also referred to as Brao)
• Lave (population of 12,750 in Laos)
• Laven (population of 40,519 in Laos)
• Lavi
• Maleng (population of 800 in Laos)
• Mon (population of 4000-8000 in Laos)
• Ngae (population of 12,189 in Laos)
• Nguon
• Nyaheun
• Ong
• Oi (population of 23,500 in Laos)
• Pakoh
• Phong
• Sadang
• Salang (ethnic group)
• Sapuan (ethnic group)
• Makong
• Sou
• Souei
• Taliang
• Ta-oi
• Vietnamese (population of 76,000 in Laos)
• Yae

Palaungic

• Bit (population of 1,530 in Laos, disputed as to whether Palaungic or Khmuic)
• Con (population of 1,000 in Luang Namtha Province)
• Samtao (population of 2,359 in Laos)
• Lamet (population of 16,740 in Laos)

Khmuic

• Khmu (population of 389,694 in Laos)
• Khuen (population of approximately 8,000 in Laos)
• Mal (population of 23,200 in Laos)
• Mlabri (population of 24 in Laos, also known as the Yumbri)
• O'du
• Phai (population of 15,000 in Laos)
• Xinh Mul (population of 3,164 in Laos, including Phong-Kniang and Puoc, also known as the Sing Mun)

Tibeto-Burman

• Lolo ethnicity
  • Kaw (population of approximately 58,000 in Laos)
  • Hani (population of 1,122 in Phongsaly Province)
  • Kaduo (population of 5,000 on Laos-China border)
  • Lahu (population of 8,702 in Laos, also referred to as Museu)
  • Lahu Shi (population of 3,240 in Laos)
  • Phana
  • Phunoi
  • Si La
• Kado (population of 225 in Phongsaly Province)

Hmong-Mien

• Hmong Daw (population of 200,000 in Laos)
• Hmong Njua (population of 245,600 in Laos)
• Iu Mien (population of 20,250, also called Yao)
• Kim Mun (population of 4,500 in Laos)

Tai and Rau

• Tai Daeng
• Tai Dam
• Tai Gapong
• Tai He (or Tai E)
• Tai Khang (population of 47,636 in Laos)
• Tay Khang
• Tai Kao
• Kongsat
• Kuan (population of 2,500 in Laos)
• Tai Laan
• Tai Maen
• Lao (population of 3,000,000 in Laos)
• Lao Lom
• Tai Long
• Tai Lue (population of 300,000 in Laos)
• Northeastern Thai (including the Tai Kaleun and Isan people)
• Tai Nuea
• Kassak (located to the south and southeast of Luang Prabang, in an area bounded by the Nam Khan River, Phu Hin Salik, Nam Sanane River, Nam Ming River, and Nam Khan River up to Xieng Ngeun District). The Kassak language is a Lao dialect, although the Kassak people live a lifestyle similar to that of the Khmu people.
• Nùng
• Nyaw
• Tai Pao
• Tai Peung
• Phuan (population of 106,099 in Laos)
• Phutai (population of 154,400 in Laos)
• Saek
• Tai Sam
• Tai Yo
• Tayten
• Yoy
• Zhuang (including the Nùng people)
• Shan
• Yang

Chinese

• Chinese
• Laotian Chinese

Unclassified

• Chere
• Jri

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

References

References

1. (August 2006). "Indigenous Peoples Development Planning Document". Lao People's Democratic Republic: Northern Region Sustainable Livelihoods Development Project.
2. "Ethnologue report for Laos".
3. Schliesinger, Joachim. (2003). "Ethnic Groups of Laos: Profiles of Austro-Thai-speaking peoples". White Lotus Press.
4. "The Crescent in Laos: Muslims of Vientiane". Islam Awareness.
5. [http://www.ecotourismlaos.com/activities/taong.htm Ta Ong Trail] {{webarchive. link. (2007-11-18)
6. [http://www.laos.culturalprofiles.net Laos Cultural Profile (Ministry of Information and Culture/Visiting Arts)]
7. [http://relocate-anyplace.selfip.com/relocate/Laos/Attapu/Ta%20La Ta La, Laos]{{dead link. (December 2017)
8. Doré, Amphay. 2016. ''The Kassak — an ethnological and historical enigma''. In ''Tai Culture Journal'', Volume 24. Interdisciplinary Tai Studies Series. ISSN 1431-1240
9. "Biodatabase".
10. "Bit".
11. Schliesinger, Joachim. (2003). "Ethnic Groups of Laos, Volume 4, Profiles of Sino-Tibetan-speaking peoples". White Lotus.
12. Schliesinger, Joachim. (2003). "Ethnic Groups of Laos, Volume 2, Profiles of Austro-Asiatic-speaking peoples". White Lotus.