Laos (LAO)

Laos is a country in Asia with a population of 8,352,685. 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

EngagementGroupsPopulation
Unengaged and Unreached1081.1M
Engaged yet Unreached296.1M
No Longer Unreached211.1M

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

158 people groups

PhotoPeople Group IDName ▲CountryPopulationStrategic Progress IndexLanguageReligion
AheuAheuLaos2,700Unengaged and UnreachedAheuAnimism
AkeuAkeuLaos3,200Unengaged and UnreachedBiyoEthnoreligion
AkhaAkhaLaos113,000Unengaged and UnreachedAkhaAnimism
Akha EurbaAkha EurbaLaos6,000Unengaged and UnreachedAkhaAnimism
Akha JaweuyAkha JaweuyLaos4,900Engaged yet UnreachedAkhaAnimism
Akha JijorAkha JijorLaos5,200Unengaged and UnreachedAkhaAnimism
Akha JipeaAkha JipeaLaos9,800Unengaged and UnreachedAkhaFolk Buddhism
Akha JowhoiAkha JowhoiLaos550Unengaged and UnreachedAkhaAnimism
Akha KerAkha KerLaos3,300Unengaged and UnreachedAkhaAnimism
Akha LumaAkha LumaLaos6,800Unengaged and UnreachedAkhaAnimism
Akha MujiAkha MujiLaos5,400Unengaged and UnreachedAkhaAnimism
Akha MutuenAkha MutuenLaos1,500Engaged yet UnreachedAkhaAnimism
Akha NuverAkha NuverLaos6,500Unengaged and UnreachedAkhaAnimism
Akha PalaAkha PalaLaos6,600Unengaged and UnreachedAkhaAnimism
Akha PisoAkha PisoLaos5,600Unengaged and UnreachedAkhaAnimism
AlakAlakLaos25,500Unengaged and UnreachedAlakAnimism
Alak SanakAlak SanakLaos5,100Engaged yet UnreachedAlakAnimism
AluAluLaos8,200Unengaged and UnreachedEastern NisuChinese Folk Religion
AremAremLaos900Unengaged and UnreachedLaoAnimism
BitBitLaos2,000Unengaged and UnreachedBitAnimism
Black ThaiBlack ThaiLaos65,000Engaged yet UnreachedTai DamAnimism
BoBoLaos5,000Unengaged and UnreachedBo (Laos)Animism
BraoBraoLaos26,000Unengaged and UnreachedBraoAnimism
CaliCaliLaos23,000Unengaged and UnreachedSôAnimism
ChutChutLaos500Unengaged and UnreachedChutAnimism
Deaf LaotiansDeaf LaotiansLaos68,000Unengaged and UnreachedLaos Sign LanguageEthnoreligion
Eastern BruEastern BruLaos37,500Engaged yet UnreachedEastern BruAnimism
GiayGiayLaos8,800Unengaged and UnreachedBouyeiAnimism
Halang DoanHalang DoanLaos2,300Unengaged and UnreachedHalang DoanAnimism
Han ChineseHan ChineseLaos36,500No Longer UnreachedYue ChineseChinese Folk Religion
HaniHaniLaos750Unengaged and UnreachedHaniEthnoreligion
Hmong DawHmong DawLaos294,000Engaged yet UnreachedHmong DawChinese Folk Religion
Hmong NjuaHmong NjuaLaos254,000Engaged yet UnreachedHmong NjuaAnimism
HungHungLaos4,500Unengaged and UnreachedHungAnimism
IrIrLaos7,400Unengaged and UnreachedIrAnimism
Iu MienIu MienLaos32,500Engaged yet UnreachedIu MienEthnoreligion
JehJehLaos11,500No Longer UnreachedJehAnimism
JengJengLaos8,700Unengaged and UnreachedOyAnimism
KassengKassengLaos1,200Unengaged and UnreachedTaliengAnimism
KatangKatangLaos118,000Engaged yet UnreachedSouthern KatangAnimism
KateKateLaos950Unengaged and UnreachedLaoEthnoreligion
KathongluengKathongluengLaos1,400Engaged yet UnreachedLaoAnimism
KatongKatongLaos1,000Unengaged and UnreachedEastern BruTheravada Buddhism
KatuKatuLaos30,500Engaged yet UnreachedEastern KatuAnimism
Katu AdekKatu AdekLaos500Unengaged and UnreachedWestern KatuAnimism
Katu Dak KangKatu Dak KangLaos2,100Unengaged and UnreachedWestern KatuAnimism
Katu HannaKatu HannaLaos750Unengaged and UnreachedWestern KatuAnimism
Katu TriewKatu TriewLaos2,600Unengaged and UnreachedWestern KatuAnimism
KhatavuengKhatavuengLaos1,000Unengaged and UnreachedLaoAnimism
KhlorKhlorLaos15,000Unengaged and UnreachedKriangAnimism
KhmerKhmerLaos5,800Unengaged and UnreachedKhmerTheravada Buddhism
Khom KheaKhom KheaLaos13,500Engaged yet UnreachedKhmerAnimism
KhuaKhuaLaos4,600Unengaged and UnreachedKhuaAnimism
KhuenKhuenLaos15,500Unengaged and UnreachedKhuenAnimism
KongsatKongsatLaos850Unengaged and UnreachedAkhaAnimism
KriKriLaos1,400Unengaged and UnreachedHalangEthnoreligion
KuanKuanLaos4,400Unengaged and UnreachedKuanAnimism
KuiKuiLaos46,500Engaged yet UnreachedKuyEthnoreligion
LahuLahuLaos15,000No Longer UnreachedLahuAnimism
Lahu KuisoongLahu KuisoongLaos1,600No Longer UnreachedLahu ShiAnimism
Lahu ShiLahu ShiLaos3,600No Longer UnreachedLahu ShiAnimism
LametLametLaos28,000Unengaged and UnreachedRmeetAnimism
LantenLantenLaos6,300No Longer UnreachedKim MunEthnoreligion
LaoLaoLaos3,980,000Engaged yet UnreachedLaoTheravada Buddhism
LaopangLaopangLaos9,600No Longer UnreachedLaopangEthnoreligion
LaosengLaosengLaos11,500Unengaged and UnreachedTarengAnimism
LavenLavenLaos56,500Unengaged and UnreachedLavenAnimism
LawiLawiLaos1,000Unengaged and UnreachedLaoEthnoreligion
Makong MaroyMakong MaroyLaos1,300No Longer UnreachedSôAnimism
Makong PuaMakong PuaLaos1,600No Longer UnreachedSôAnimism
Makong TruiMakong TruiLaos2,600Engaged yet UnreachedSôAnimism
MalengMalengLaos1,100Unengaged and UnreachedMalengAnimism
MlabriMlabriLaos60Unengaged and UnreachedMlabriAnimism
MonMonLaos400Unengaged and UnreachedThoAnimism
MyenMyenLaos800Unengaged and UnreachedBurmeseEthnoreligion
NgaeNgaeLaos17,500No Longer UnreachedKriangAnimism
NguanNguanLaos46,000Unengaged and UnreachedKhmuAnimism
NguonNguonLaos2,400Unengaged and UnreachedNguônAnimism
Northern ThaiNorthern ThaiLaos45,000Unengaged and UnreachedNorthern ThaiAnimism
NyahonNyahonLaos11,000Unengaged and UnreachedNyaheunAnimism
O'duO'duLaos400Unengaged and UnreachedO'duAnimism
Ou KhmuOu KhmuLaos822,000No Longer UnreachedKhmuAnimism
OyOyLaos23,500No Longer UnreachedOyAnimism
Oy KamsangOy KamsangLaos1,400Unengaged and UnreachedOyAnimism
Oy LayaoOy LayaoLaos5,600Engaged yet UnreachedOyAnimism
Oy SokOy SokLaos2,900Engaged yet UnreachedOyAnimism
PacohPacohLaos26,500Engaged yet UnreachedPacohAnimism
Pako KadoPako KadoLaos9,300No Longer UnreachedPacohAnimism
Pako KanaiPako KanaiLaos2,100No Longer UnreachedPacohAnimism
PanaPanaLaos600Unengaged and UnreachedPhana'Animism
PhaiPhaiLaos28,500Unengaged and UnreachedPhaiAnimism
PhongkuPhongkuLaos1,900Unengaged and UnreachedPhunoiFolk Buddhism
PhongsetPhongsetLaos1,100Unengaged and UnreachedPhunoiFolk Buddhism
Phu ThaiPhu ThaiLaos264,000Engaged yet UnreachedPhu ThaiTheravada Buddhism
PhuanPhuanLaos175,000Engaged yet UnreachedPhuanTheravada Buddhism
PhunoiPhunoiLaos48,500Unengaged and UnreachedPhunoiAnimism
Phutai JoyPhutai JoyLaos4,400Engaged yet UnreachedPhu ThaiFolk Buddhism
Phutai KataPhutai KataLaos1,400Unengaged and UnreachedPhu ThaiAnimism
Phutai SilurPhutai SilurLaos5,600Engaged yet UnreachedPhu ThaiAnimism
Phuthai AngkhamPhuthai AngkhamLaos1,700Unengaged and UnreachedPhu ThaiFolk Buddhism
PongPongLaos35,000Unengaged and UnreachedPhong-KniangEthnoreligion
Pong JaviengPong JaviengLaos375No Longer UnreachedPhong-KniangAnimism
Pong PhenPong PhenLaos3,900Unengaged and UnreachedPhong-KniangFolk Buddhism
Pong PoongPong PoongLaos1,100Unengaged and UnreachedPhong-KniangFolk Buddhism
Pong PuangPong PuangLaos3,900Unengaged and UnreachedPhong-KniangFolk Buddhism
Pong SengPong SengLaos1,000Unengaged and UnreachedPhong-KniangFolk Buddhism
PouhoyPouhoyLaos375Unengaged and UnreachedOyEthnoreligion
PoumongPoumongLaos1,700Unengaged and UnreachedLaoEthnoreligion
PoussangPoussangLaos3,600Unengaged and UnreachedLaoEthnoreligion
PuocPuocLaos9,900Unengaged and UnreachedPuocAnimism
Red ThaiRed ThaiLaos47,500Unengaged and UnreachedTai DaengAnimism
Sadang DuanSadang DuanLaos1,000No Longer UnreachedSedangAnimism
SaekSaekLaos7,000Engaged yet UnreachedLaoAnimism
SalangSalangLaos1,000Unengaged and UnreachedHalangAnimism
SalaoSalaoLaos1,300Unengaged and UnreachedLaoEthnoreligion
SamtaoSamtaoLaos3,400Unengaged and UnreachedSamtaoEthnoreligion
SapuanSapuanLaos6,000Unengaged and UnreachedSapuanAnimism
SedangSedangLaos1,300Unengaged and UnreachedSedangAnimism
SidaSidaLaos2,800Unengaged and UnreachedSilaAnimism
SilaSilaLaos3,700Unengaged and UnreachedSilaAnimism
SinSinLaos300No Longer UnreachedLaoAnimism
SingmoonSingmoonLaos9,600Unengaged and UnreachedPuocEthnoreligion
SoSoLaos182,000Engaged yet UnreachedSôEthnoreligion
SouSouLaos3,600Unengaged and UnreachedSouAnimism
Ta OiTa OiLaos32,000No Longer UnreachedUpper Ta'oihAnimism
Ta-Oy HaangTa-Oy HaangLaos300No Longer UnreachedUpper Ta'oihAnimism
Ta-Oy PrasTa-Oy PrasLaos1,300Unengaged and UnreachedUpper Ta'oihAnimism
Ta-Oy RalokTa-Oy RalokLaos850Unengaged and UnreachedUpper Ta'oihAnimism
Ta-Oy TamlaTa-Oy TamlaLaos1,600Unengaged and UnreachedUpper Ta'oihAnimism
Ta-Oy YinTa-Oy YinLaos8,600No Longer UnreachedUpper Ta'oihAnimism
TahangTahangLaos600Unengaged and UnreachedLaoEthnoreligion
Tai HeTai HeLaos15,500Unengaged and UnreachedUndeterminedEthnoreligion
Tai KaleunTai KaleunLaos12,500Unengaged and UnreachedNortheastern ThaiEthnoreligion
Tai KhangTai KhangLaos83,500Unengaged and UnreachedKangAnimism
Tai LaanTai LaanLaos750Unengaged and UnreachedUndeterminedEthnoreligion
Tai LoiTai LoiLaos600Unengaged and UnreachedTai LoiEthnoreligion
Tai LuTai LuLaos209,000Engaged yet UnreachedLüEthnoreligion
Tai MenTai MenLaos12,500Unengaged and UnreachedTai DoAnimism
Tai MoeyTai MoeyLaos3,400Engaged yet UnreachedTai DamFolk Buddhism
Tai NuaTai NuaLaos15,000Unengaged and UnreachedTai NüaAnimism
Tai NyoTai NyoLaos21,500Unengaged and UnreachedNyawEthnoreligion
Tai PeungTai PeungLaos1,900Unengaged and UnreachedLaoEthnoreligion
Tai SamTai SamLaos1,300Unengaged and UnreachedShanEthnoreligion
TaliengTaliengLaos47,000Engaged yet UnreachedTaliengAnimism
TamoyTamoyLaos950Unengaged and UnreachedLaoEthnoreligion
TaytenTaytenLaos550Unengaged and UnreachedT'enEthnoreligion
TchahoTchahoLaos475Unengaged and UnreachedLaoEthnoreligion
Thai AeThai AeLaos950Unengaged and UnreachedTai DoAnimism
Thai TengThai TengLaos1,300Engaged yet UnreachedTai DaengAnimism
Thai ToumThai ToumLaos2,600Unengaged and UnreachedHungAnimism
TongTongLaos17,500Unengaged and UnreachedOngEthnoreligion
VietnameseVietnameseLaos139,000No Longer UnreachedVietnameseEthnoreligion
Western ChamsWestern ChamsLaos250Unengaged and UnreachedWestern ChamSunni Islam
White ThaiWhite ThaiLaos327,000Engaged yet UnreachedTai DónEthnoreligion
Xingmoun KorXingmoun KorLaos750Unengaged and UnreachedPuocAnimism
Xingmoun LaomaiXingmoun LaomaiLaos6,200Unengaged and UnreachedPuocAnimism
YangYangLaos6,800Unengaged and UnreachedBouyeiPolytheism
YoyYoyLaos1,800Unengaged and UnreachedYoyAnimism

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.

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