Laos (LAO)

Laos is a country in Asia with a population of 8,357,085. Laos, a landlocked country in Southeast Asia, is famous for its misty mountains, Buddhist temples, and the slow flow of the Mekong River. Laotians value simplicity, family, and a gentle approach to life. Theravada Buddhism shapes spiritual life, with monks, pagodas, and festivals like Pi Mai (Lao New Year) central to community events. Many people also honor ancestral spirits, blending ancient beliefs with Buddhist practice.

People Groups of Laos:

Laos Fast Facts:

158 People Groups · 8.4M People

Engagement	Groups	Population
Unengaged and Unreached	108	1.1M
Engaged yet Unreached	29	6.1M
No Longer Unreached	21	1.1M

Laos Realities:

Weighted GSEC: 1
Dying Daily: 139
Dying Daily Without Christ: (98.6%) 137
Birth Rate per 1,000: 21.0
Death Rate per 1,000: 6.2

People Groups of Laos

Strategic Progress Index

All

Engaged yet Unreached UUPG No Longer Unreached

Religion

158 people groups

People Group ID	Name	Country	Population ▼	Strategic Progress Index	Language	Religion
PG009139	Lao	Laos	3,980,000	Engaged yet Unreached	Lao	Theravada Buddhism
PG020913	Ou Khmu	Laos	822,000	No Longer Unreached	Khmu	Animism
PG020945	White Thai	Laos	327,000	Engaged yet Unreached	Tai Dón	Ethnoreligion
PG020900	Hmong Daw	Laos	294,000	Engaged yet Unreached	Hmong Daw	Chinese Folk Religion
PG009164	Phu Thai	Laos	264,000	Engaged yet Unreached	Phu Thai	Theravada Buddhism
PG020901	Hmong Njua	Laos	253,000	Engaged yet Unreached	Hmong Njua	Animism
PG009145	Tai Lu	Laos	208,000	Engaged yet Unreached	Lü	Ethnoreligion
PG009176	So	Laos	182,000	Engaged yet Unreached	Sô	Ethnoreligion
PG020932	Phuan	Laos	175,000	Engaged yet Unreached	Phuan	Theravada Buddhism
PG020963	Vietnamese	Laos	139,000	No Longer Unreached	Vietnamese	Ethnoreligion
PG009128	Katang	Laos	118,000	Engaged yet Unreached	Southern Katang	Animism
PG020893	Akha	Laos	113,000	Unengaged and Unreached	Akha	Animism
PG020946	Tai Khang	Laos	83,500	Unengaged and Unreached	Kang	Animism
PG047751	Deaf Laotians	Laos	68,000	Unengaged and Unreached	Laos Sign Language	Ethnoreligion
PG020944	Black Thai	Laos	65,000	Engaged yet Unreached	Tai Dam	Animism
PG009140	Laven	Laos	56,500	Unengaged and Unreached	Laven	Animism
PG020934	Phunoi	Laos	48,500	Unengaged and Unreached	Phunoi	Animism
PG033466	Red Thai	Laos	47,500	Unengaged and Unreached	Tai Daeng	Animism
PG020957	Talieng	Laos	47,000	Engaged yet Unreached	Talieng	Animism
PG033465	Kui	Laos	46,500	Engaged yet Unreached	Kuy	Ethnoreligion
PG020941	Nguan	Laos	46,000	Unengaged and Unreached	Khmu	Animism
PG020956	Northern Thai	Laos	45,000	Unengaged and Unreached	Northern Thai	Animism
PG033457	Pong	Laos	41,500	Unengaged and Unreached	Hung	Ethnoreligion
PG020895	Eastern Bru	Laos	37,500	Engaged yet Unreached	Eastern Bru	Animism
PG009111	Han Chinese	Laos	36,500	No Longer Unreached	Yue Chinese	Chinese Folk Religion
PG022372	Iu Mien	Laos	32,500	Engaged yet Unreached	Iu Mien	Ethnoreligion
PG020964	Ta Oi	Laos	32,000	No Longer Unreached	Upper Ta'oih	Animism
PG009129	Katu	Laos	30,500	Engaged yet Unreached	Eastern Katu	Animism
PG033456	Phai	Laos	28,500	Unengaged and Unreached	Phai	Animism
PG009138	Lamet	Laos	28,000	Unengaged and Unreached	Rmeet	Animism
PG009160	Pacoh	Laos	26,500	Engaged yet Unreached	Pacoh	Animism
PG009101	Brao	Laos	26,000	Unengaged and Unreached	Brao	Animism
PG009091	Alak	Laos	25,500	Unengaged and Unreached	Alak	Animism
PG009159	Oy	Laos	23,500	No Longer Unreached	Oy	Animism
PG020896	Cali	Laos	23,000	Unengaged and Unreached	Sô	Animism
PG020952	Tai Nyo	Laos	21,500	Unengaged and Unreached	Nyaw	Ethnoreligion
PG020939	Ngae	Laos	17,500	No Longer Unreached	Kriang	Animism
PG020962	Tong	Laos	17,500	Unengaged and Unreached	Ong	Ethnoreligion
PG033450	Khuen	Laos	15,500	Unengaged and Unreached	Khuen	Animism
PG033468	Tai He	Laos	15,500	Unengaged and Unreached	Undetermined	Ethnoreligion
PG009130	Khlor	Laos	15,000	Unengaged and Unreached	Kriang	Animism
PG020921	Lahu	Laos	15,000	No Longer Unreached	Lahu	Animism
PG020951	Tai Nua	Laos	15,000	Unengaged and Unreached	Tai Nüa	Animism
PG050537	Khom Khea	Laos	13,500	Engaged yet Unreached	Khmer	Animism
PG020949	Tai Men	Laos	12,500	Unengaged and Unreached	Tai Do	Animism
PG033469	Tai Kaleun	Laos	12,500	Unengaged and Unreached	Northeastern Thai	Ethnoreligion
PG009119	Jeh	Laos	11,500	No Longer Unreached	Jeh	Animism
PG020925	Laoseng	Laos	11,500	Unengaged and Unreached	Tareng	Animism
PG020942	Nyahon	Laos	11,000	Unengaged and Unreached	Nyaheun	Animism
PG033461	Puoc	Laos	9,900	Unengaged and Unreached	Puoc	Animism
PG050524	Akha Jipea	Laos	9,800	Unengaged and Unreached	Akha	Folk Buddhism
PG009468	Laopang	Laos	9,600	No Longer Unreached	Laopang	Ethnoreligion
PG020938	Singmoon	Laos	9,600	Unengaged and Unreached	Puoc	Ethnoreligion
PG050547	Pako Kado	Laos	9,300	No Longer Unreached	Pacoh	Animism
PG009120	Jeng	Laos	8,700	Unengaged and Unreached	Oy	Animism
PG020899	Giay	Laos	8,700	Unengaged and Unreached	Bouyei	Animism
PG050569	Ta-Oy Yin	Laos	8,600	No Longer Unreached	Upper Ta'oih	Animism
PG020894	Alu	Laos	8,200	Unengaged and Unreached	Eastern Nisu	Chinese Folk Religion
PG009118	Ir	Laos	7,400	Unengaged and Unreached	Ir	Animism
PG009172	Saek	Laos	7,000	Engaged yet Unreached	Lao	Animism
PG020888	Akha Luma	Laos	6,800	Unengaged and Unreached	Akha	Animism
PG050629	Yang	Laos	6,800	Unengaged and Unreached	Bouyei	Polytheism
PG050528	Akha Pala	Laos	6,600	Unengaged and Unreached	Akha	Animism
PG050527	Akha Nuver	Laos	6,500	Unengaged and Unreached	Akha	Animism
PG020923	Lanten	Laos	6,300	No Longer Unreached	Kim Mun	Ethnoreligion
PG050539	Xingmoun Laomai	Laos	6,200	Unengaged and Unreached	Puoc	Animism
PG009174	Sapuan	Laos	6,000	Unengaged and Unreached	Sapuan	Animism
PG050521	Akha Eurba	Laos	6,000	Unengaged and Unreached	Akha	Animism
PG020907	Khmer	Laos	5,800	Unengaged and Unreached	Khmer	Theravada Buddhism
PG050529	Akha Piso	Laos	5,600	Unengaged and Unreached	Akha	Animism
PG050546	Oy Layao	Laos	5,600	Engaged yet Unreached	Oy	Animism
PG050554	Phutai Silur	Laos	5,600	Engaged yet Unreached	Phu Thai	Animism
PG050543	Akha Muji	Laos	5,400	Unengaged and Unreached	Akha	Animism
PG050523	Akha Jijor	Laos	5,200	Unengaged and Unreached	Akha	Animism
PG050530	Alak Sanak	Laos	5,100	Engaged yet Unreached	Alak	Animism
PG009099	Bo	Laos	5,000	Unengaged and Unreached	Bo (Laos)	Animism
PG050522	Akha Jaweuy	Laos	4,900	Engaged yet Unreached	Akha	Animism
PG009134	Khua	Laos	4,600	Unengaged and Unreached	Khua	Animism
PG020902	Hung	Laos	4,500	Unengaged and Unreached	Hung	Animism
PG020918	Kuan	Laos	4,400	Unengaged and Unreached	Kuan	Animism
PG050552	Phutai Joy	Laos	4,400	Engaged yet Unreached	Phu Thai	Folk Buddhism
PG050556	Pong Phen	Laos	3,900	Unengaged and Unreached	Phong-Kniang	Folk Buddhism
PG050558	Pong Puang	Laos	3,900	Unengaged and Unreached	Phong-Kniang	Folk Buddhism
PG009175	Sila	Laos	3,700	Unengaged and Unreached	Sila	Animism
PG009179	Sou	Laos	3,600	Unengaged and Unreached	Sou	Animism
PG020919	Lahu Shi	Laos	3,600	No Longer Unreached	Lahu Shi	Animism
PG033460	Poussang	Laos	3,600	Unengaged and Unreached	Lao	Ethnoreligion
PG033463	Samtao	Laos	3,400	Unengaged and Unreached	Samtao	Ethnoreligion
PG050564	Tai Moey	Laos	3,400	Engaged yet Unreached	Tai Dam	Folk Buddhism
PG050526	Akha Ker	Laos	3,300	Unengaged and Unreached	Akha	Animism
PG020883	Akeu	Laos	3,200	Unengaged and Unreached	Biyo	Ethnoreligion
PG050573	Oy Sok	Laos	2,900	Engaged yet Unreached	Oy	Animism
PG050562	Sida	Laos	2,800	Unengaged and Unreached	Sila	Animism
PG020882	Aheu	Laos	2,700	Unengaged and Unreached	Aheu	Animism
PG050535	Katu Triew	Laos	2,600	Unengaged and Unreached	Western Katu	Animism
PG050542	Makong Trui	Laos	2,600	Engaged yet Unreached	Sô	Animism
PG050572	Thai Toum	Laos	2,600	Unengaged and Unreached	Hung	Animism
PG009152	Nguon	Laos	2,400	Unengaged and Unreached	Nguôn	Animism
PG009110	Halang Doan	Laos	2,300	Unengaged and Unreached	Halang Doan	Animism
PG050533	Katu Dak Kang	Laos	2,100	Unengaged and Unreached	Western Katu	Animism
PG050548	Pako Kanai	Laos	2,100	No Longer Unreached	Pacoh	Animism
PG009095	Bit	Laos	2,000	Unengaged and Unreached	Bit	Animism
PG020954	Tai Peung	Laos	1,900	Unengaged and Unreached	Lao	Ethnoreligion
PG050549	Phongku	Laos	1,900	Unengaged and Unreached	Phunoi	Folk Buddhism
PG009191	Yoy	Laos	1,800	Unengaged and Unreached	Yoy	Animism
PG033459	Poumong	Laos	1,700	Unengaged and Unreached	Lao	Ethnoreligion
PG050551	Phuthai Angkham	Laos	1,700	Unengaged and Unreached	Phu Thai	Folk Buddhism
PG050538	Lahu Kuisoong	Laos	1,600	No Longer Unreached	Lahu Shi	Animism
PG050541	Makong Pua	Laos	1,600	No Longer Unreached	Sô	Animism
PG050568	Ta-Oy Tamla	Laos	1,600	Unengaged and Unreached	Upper Ta'oih	Animism
PG050544	Akha Mutuen	Laos	1,500	Engaged yet Unreached	Akha	Animism
PG020917	Kri	Laos	1,400	Unengaged and Unreached	Halang	Ethnoreligion
PG050531	Kathonglueng	Laos	1,400	Engaged yet Unreached	Lao	Animism
PG050545	Oy Kamsang	Laos	1,400	Unengaged and Unreached	Oy	Animism
PG050553	Phutai Kata	Laos	1,400	Unengaged and Unreached	Phu Thai	Animism
PG020955	Tai Sam	Laos	1,300	Unengaged and Unreached	Shan	Ethnoreligion
PG033462	Salao	Laos	1,300	Unengaged and Unreached	Lao	Ethnoreligion
PG033464	Sedang	Laos	1,300	Unengaged and Unreached	Sedang	Animism
PG050540	Makong Maroy	Laos	1,300	No Longer Unreached	Sô	Animism
PG050566	Ta-Oy Pras	Laos	1,300	Unengaged and Unreached	Upper Ta'oih	Animism
PG050571	Thai Teng	Laos	1,300	Engaged yet Unreached	Tai Daeng	Animism
PG009127	Kasseng	Laos	1,200	Unengaged and Unreached	Talieng	Animism
PG033452	Maleng	Laos	1,100	Unengaged and Unreached	Maleng	Animism
PG050550	Phongset	Laos	1,100	Unengaged and Unreached	Phunoi	Folk Buddhism
PG050557	Pong Poong	Laos	1,100	Unengaged and Unreached	Phong-Kniang	Folk Buddhism
PG009109	Salang	Laos	1,000	Unengaged and Unreached	Halang	Animism
PG020926	Lawi	Laos	1,000	Unengaged and Unreached	Lao	Ethnoreligion
PG049316	Katong	Laos	1,000	Unengaged and Unreached	Eastern Bru	Theravada Buddhism
PG050536	Khatavueng	Laos	1,000	Unengaged and Unreached	Lao	Animism
PG050559	Pong Seng	Laos	1,000	Unengaged and Unreached	Phong-Kniang	Folk Buddhism
PG050560	Sadang Duan	Laos	1,000	No Longer Unreached	Sedang	Animism
PG020906	Kate	Laos	950	Unengaged and Unreached	Lao	Ethnoreligion
PG020958	Tamoy	Laos	950	Unengaged and Unreached	Lao	Ethnoreligion
PG050570	Thai Ae	Laos	950	Unengaged and Unreached	Tai Do	Animism
PG009094	Arem	Laos	900	Unengaged and Unreached	Lao	Animism
PG020916	Kongsat	Laos	850	Unengaged and Unreached	Akha	Animism
PG050567	Ta-Oy Ralok	Laos	850	Unengaged and Unreached	Upper Ta'oih	Animism
PG020930	Myen	Laos	800	Unengaged and Unreached	Burmese	Ethnoreligion
PG009113	Hani	Laos	750	Unengaged and Unreached	Hani	Ethnoreligion
PG020947	Tai Laan	Laos	750	Unengaged and Unreached	Undetermined	Ethnoreligion
PG050534	Katu Hanna	Laos	750	Unengaged and Unreached	Western Katu	Animism
PG050563	Xingmoun Kor	Laos	750	Unengaged and Unreached	Puoc	Animism
PG009181	Tai Loi	Laos	600	Unengaged and Unreached	Tai Loi	Ethnoreligion
PG020943	Tahang	Laos	600	Unengaged and Unreached	Lao	Ethnoreligion
PG033455	Pana	Laos	600	Unengaged and Unreached	Phana'	Animism
PG020959	Tayten	Laos	550	Unengaged and Unreached	T'en	Ethnoreligion
PG050525	Akha Jowhoi	Laos	550	Unengaged and Unreached	Akha	Animism
PG020937	Chut	Laos	500	Unengaged and Unreached	Chut	Animism
PG050532	Katu Adek	Laos	500	Unengaged and Unreached	Western Katu	Animism
PG020960	Tchaho	Laos	475	Unengaged and Unreached	Lao	Ethnoreligion
PG009157	O'du	Laos	400	Unengaged and Unreached	O'du	Animism
PG020929	Mon	Laos	400	Unengaged and Unreached	Tho	Animism
PG033458	Pouhoy	Laos	375	Unengaged and Unreached	Oy	Ethnoreligion
PG050555	Pong Javieng	Laos	375	No Longer Unreached	Phong-Kniang	Animism
PG050561	Sin	Laos	300	No Longer Unreached	Lao	Animism
PG050565	Ta-Oy Haang	Laos	300	No Longer Unreached	Upper Ta'oih	Animism
PG020897	Western Chams	Laos	250	Unengaged and Unreached	Western Cham	Sunni Islam
PG020928	Mlabri	Laos	60	Unengaged and Unreached	Mlabri	Animism

To download a comprehensive people group list in spreadsheet form, visit our Research Data page.

Peoplegroups.org relies on updates from the field and other organizations for much of our data, so if you have any updates, please contact us. We use various international naming standards. For a list of these standards and fields, visit our Data Standards section.

People Groups of the World

Countries of the World

Languages of the World

Religions of the World

Advanced Dashboard

What are People Groups?

Using Peoplegroups.org

People Group Research

Definitions and FAQs

About Us

Maps

Research Data

Resource Links

People Groups of the World

Countries of the World

Languages of the World

Religions of the World

Advanced Dashboard

What are People Groups?

Using Peoplegroups.org

People Group Research

Definitions and FAQs

About Us

Maps

Research Data

Resource Links

Laos (LAO)

People Groups of Laos:

Laos Fast Facts:

Laos Realities:

People Groups of Laos

Download the People Group List (16 languages .csv)

People Groups of the World

Countries of the World

Languages of the World

Religions of the World

Advanced Dashboard

What are People Groups?

Using Peoplegroups.org

People Group Research

Definitions and FAQs

About Us

Maps

Research Data

Resource Links

People Groups of the World

Countries of the World

Languages of the World

Religions of the World

Advanced Dashboard

What are People Groups?

Using Peoplegroups.org

People Group Research

Definitions and FAQs

About Us

Maps

Research Data

Resource Links

Laos (LAO)

People Groups of Laos:

Laos Fast Facts:

Laos Realities:

People Groups of Laos