Editing Demographics of Laos (section)

== Ethnic groups ==
{{See|List of ethnic groups in Laos}}
[[File:Distribution of ethno-linguistic groups in Laos.png|alt=Languages of Laos. Four language families.|thumb|Ethno-linguistic groups in Laos ([[Tai languages|Lao-Tai]], [[Austroasiatic languages|Mon-Khmer]], [[Hmong–Mien languages|Hmung-lu Mien]], [[Sino-Tibetan languages|Sino-Tibetan]])]]
[[Image:LaosDSCN4342a.jpg|200px|thumb|In [[Luang Prabang]], a woman at the time of a Hmong Meeting Festival.]]

Some specialists are in agreement as to the ethnolinguistic classification of the ethnic groups of Laos.<ref name="Indigenous Peoples Development Planning Document">{{Cite web |url=http://www.asianlii.org/asia/other/ADBLPRes/2006/4.pdf |title=Indigenous Peoples Development Planning Document |access-date=4 November 2011 |archive-date=30 September 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110930061646/http://www.asianlii.org/asia/other/ADBLPRes/2006/4.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> For the purposes of the 1995 census, the government of Laos recognised 149 ethnic groups within 47 main ethnicities.<ref name="Indigenous Peoples Development Planning Document"/> whereas the [[Lao Front for National Construction]] (LFNC) recently revised the list to include 49 ethnicities consisting of over 160 ethnic groups.<ref name="Indigenous Peoples Development Planning Document"/>

The term ''ethnic minorities'' is used by some to classify the non-Lao ethnic groups, while the term ''indigenous peoples'' is not used by the Lao PDR.<ref name="Indigenous Peoples Development Planning Document"/> These 160 ethnic groups speak a total of 82 living languages.<ref name="Ethnologue">{{Cite web|url=https://www.ethnologue.com/show_country.asp|title=Redirecting...|website=www.ethnologue.com|accessdate=17 December 2024|archive-date=16 December 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241216035022/https://www.ethnologue.com/show_country.asp|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[Lao people|Lao]] 53.2%, [[Khmu people|Khmu]] 11%, [[Hmong people|Hmong]] 9.2%, and other (over 100 minor ethnic groups) 26.6% (2015 census).<ref name="Census2015">{{cite web|url=https://lao.unfpa.org/sites/default/files/pub-pdf/PHC-ENG-FNAL-WEB_0.pdf|title=Results of Population and Housing Census 2015|publisher=Lao Statistics Bureau|access-date=1 May 2020|archive-date=8 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308153132/https://lao.unfpa.org/sites/default/files/pub-pdf/PHC-ENG-FNAL-WEB_0.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+
'''Population of Laos according to ethnic group in 1985, 1995, 2005, and 2015'''
|- bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! rowspan="2" | Ethnic<br />group
! rowspan="2" | Language <br />family
! colspan="2" | census 1985<ref name="Ethnic Groups of Laos. Volume 1. Introduction and Overview.">Schliesinger, Joachim. White Lotus Press. Bangkok. 2003</ref>
! colspan="2" | census 1995<ref name="UN Demographic Yearbooks">{{Cite web |url=http://unstats.un.org/unsd/demographic/products/dyb/dyb2.htm#2001 |title=UN Demographic Yearbooks |access-date=6 November 2011 |archive-date=25 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181225121538/https://unstats.un.org/unsd/demographic/products/dyb/dyb2.htm#2001 |url-status=live }}</ref>
! colspan="2" | census 2005<ref name="UN Demographic Yearbooks"/>
! colspan="2" | census 2015<ref name="Census2015"/>
|- bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! Number
! %
! Number
! %
! Number
! %
! Number
! %
|-
| [[Lao people|Lao]]
| [[Tai-Kadai]]
| align="right" | 1,804,101
| align="right" |
| align="right" | 2,403,891
| align="right" | 52.5
| align="right" | 3,067,005
| align="right" | 54.6
| align="right" | 3,427,665
| align="right" | 53.2
|-
| [[Khmu people|Khmu]] (Keummeu)
| [[Mon-Khmer]]
| align="right" | 389,694
| align="right" |
| align="right" | 500,957
| align="right" | 11.0
| align="right" | 613,893
| align="right" | 10.9
| align="right" | 708,412
| align="right" | 11.0
|-
| [[Hmong people|Hmong]] (Mong)
| [[Hmong-Mien]]
| align="right" | 231,168
| align="right" |
| align="right" | 315,465
| align="right" | 6.9
| align="right" | 415,946
| align="right" | 8.0
| align="right" | 595,028
| align="right" | 9.2
|-
| [[Thai people|Thai]] (Tai)
| [[Tai-Kadai]]
| align="right" | 1,459
| align="right" |
| align="right" |
| align="right" |
| align="right" | 215,254
| align="right" | 3.8
| align="right" | 201,576
| align="right" | 3.1
|-
| [[Tai Nuea language|Tai Nuea]]
| [[Tai-Kadai]]
| align="right" |
| align="right" |
| align="right" |
| align="right" |
| align="right" | 14,799
| align="right" |
| align="right" | 11,622
| align="right" | 0.2
|-
| [[Phu Thai|Puthai]] (Phuthai or Phouthay)
| [[Tai-Kadai]]
| align="right" | 441,497
| align="right" |
| align="right" | 472,458
| align="right" | 10.3
| align="right" | 187,391
| align="right" | 3.3
| align="right" | 218,108
| align="right" | 3.4
|-
| [[Lu people|Lü]] (Lue or Leu)
| [[Tai-Kadai]]
| align="right" | 102,760
| align="right" |
| align="right" | 119,191
| align="right" | 2.6
| align="right" | 123,054
| align="right" | 2.2
| align="right" | 126,229
| align="right" | 2.0
|-
| [[Katang people|Katang]]
| [[Mon-Khmer]]
| align="right" | 72,391
| align="right" |
| align="right" | 95,440
| align="right" | 2.1
| align="right" | 118,276
| align="right" | 2.1
| align="right" | 144,255
| align="right" | 2.2
|-
| [[Bru language|Makong]] (So) (Bru)
| [[Mon-Khmer]]
| align="right" | 70,382
| align="right" |
| align="right" | 92,321
| align="right" | 2.0
| align="right" | 117,872
| align="right" | 2.1
| align="right" | 163,285
| align="right" | 2.5
|-
| [[Akha people|Akha]] (Kor)
| [[Sino-Tibetan languages|Sino-Tibetan]]
| align="right" | 57,500
| align="right" |
| align="right" | 66,108
| align="right" | 1.4
| align="right" | 90,698
| align="right" | 1.6
| align="right" | 112,979
| align="right" | 1.8
|-
| Yrou ([[Laven language|Laven]], Loven, Jru', Yuroo)
| [[Mon-Khmer]]
| align="right" | 28,057
| align="right" |
| align="right" | 40,519
| align="right" | 0.9
| align="right" | 47,175
| align="right" | 0.8
| align="right" | 56,411
| align="right" | 0.9
|-
| [[Juk language|Xuay]] (Juk, Suai, Kui, Kuy, Suay, or Shuay)
| [[Mon-Khmer]]
| align="right" | 49,059
| align="right" |
| align="right" | 45,498
| align="right" | 1.0
| align="right" | 42,834
| align="right" | 0.8
| align="right" | 46,592
| align="right" | 0.7
|-
| Singsily ([[Phunoi people|Phounoy]]) (Singsiri)
| [[Sino-Tibetan languages|Sino-Tibetan]]
| align="right" | 23,618
| align="right" |
| align="right" | 35,635
| align="right" | 0.8
| align="right" | 37,447
| align="right" | 0.7
| align="right" | 39,192
| align="right" | 0.6
|-
| Duon (Nhuon, Nghieu, San
|
| align="right" | 33,240
| align="right" |
| align="right" |
| align="right" |
| align="right" |
| align="right" |
| align="right" |
| align="right" |
|-
| [[Ta Oi people|Taoey]] (Ta-oy)
| [[Mon-Khmer]]
| align="right" | 24,577
| align="right" |
| align="right" | 30,876
| align="right" | 0.7
| align="right" | 32,177
| align="right" | 0.6
| align="right" | 45,991
| align="right" | 0.7
|-
| [[Nguồn language|Nguan]] (Nguồn, Ngoaun, Nguane, Nguan or Nguane)
| [[Mon-Khmer]]
| align="right" | 988
| align="right" |
| align="right" |
| align="right" |
| align="right" | 29,442
| align="right" | 0.5
| align="right" | 27,779
| align="right" | 0.4
|-
| [[Yao people|Iewmien]] (Yao, Ewmien, Mien, Ilmearn)
| [[Hmong-Mien]]
| align="right" | 18,091
| align="right" |
| align="right" | 22,665
| align="right" | 0.5
| align="right" | 27,449
| align="right" | 0.5
| align="right" | 32,400
| align="right" | 0.5
|-
| [[Phong-Kniang language|Phong]]
| [[Mon-Khmer]]
| align="right" | 18,165
| align="right" |
| align="right" | 21,395
| align="right" | 0.5
| align="right" | 26,314
| align="right" | 0.5
| align="right" | 30,696
| align="right" | 0.5
|-
| [[Bru people|Brao (Larvae)]]
| [[Mon-Khmer]]
| align="right" | 16,434
| align="right" |
| align="right" | 17,544
| align="right" | 0.4
| align="right" | 22,772
| align="right" | 0.4
| align="right" | 26,010
| align="right" | 0.4
|-
| [[Katu people|Katu]]
| [[Mon-Khmer]]
| align="right" | 14,676
| align="right" |
| align="right" | 17,024
| align="right" | 0.4
| align="right" | 22,759
| align="right" | 0.4
| align="right" | 28,378
| align="right" | 0.4
|-
| [[Oi language|Oey]] (Oy or Oi)
| [[Mon-Khmer]]
| align="right" | 11,194
| align="right" |
| align="right" | 14,947
| align="right" | 0.3
| align="right" | 22,458
| align="right" | 0.4
| align="right" | 23,513
| align="right" | 0.4
|-
| [[Pray people|Pray]] (Prai)
| [[Mon-Khmer]]
| align="right" |
| align="right" |
| align="right" | 15,000<ref name="Ethnologue"/>
| align="right" | 0.3
| align="right" | 21,922
| align="right" | 0.4
| align="right" | 28,732
| align="right" | 0.4
|-
| [[Lamet people|Lamed]] (Lamet)
| [[Mon-Khmer]]
| align="right" | 14,355
| align="right" |
| align="right" | 16,740
| align="right" | 0.3
| align="right" | 19,827
| align="right" | 0.4
| align="right" | 22,383
| align="right" | 0.3
|-
| [[Lahu people|Lahu]] (Musir, Mussor, Lahoo, or Lahou)
| [[Sino-Tibetan languages|Sino-Tibetan]]
| align="right" | 9,200
| align="right" |
| align="right" | 8,702
| align="right" | 0.2
| align="right" | 15,238
| align="right" | 0.3
| align="right" | 19,187
| align="right" | 0.3
|-
| [[Kriang]] (Griang, Grieng, Ngae, or Ngeh)
| [[Mon-Khmer]]
| align="right" | 8,917
| align="right" |
| align="right" | 12,189
| align="right" | 0.3
| align="right" | 12,879
| align="right" | 0.2
| align="right" | 16,807
| align="right" | 0.2
|-
| [[Chin Haw|Hor]] (Haw, Ho, Hoa, Chin Haw, Yunnanese, Yunnanese Chinese, or Panthay)
| [[Sino-Tibetan languages|Sino-Tibetan]]
| align="right" | 6,361
| align="right" |
| align="right" | 8,900
| align="right" | 0.2
| align="right" | 10,437
| align="right" | 0.2
| align="right" | 12,098
| align="right" | 0.2
|-
| [[Xinh Mun people|Xingmoon]] (Puoc, Sing Mun, Xinhmun, or Xingmoun)
| [[Mon-Khmer]]
| align="right" | 2,164
| align="right" |
| align="right" | 5,834
| align="right" | 0.1
| align="right" | 8,565
| align="right" | 0.2
| align="right" | 9,874
| align="right" | 0.2
|-
| [[Cheng language|Jeng]] (Cheng, Ceng, Chieng, Chenh, Jeng)
| [[Mon-Khmer]]
| align="right" | 4,540
| align="right" |
| align="right" | 6,511
| align="right" | 0.1
| align="right" | 7,559
| align="right" | 0.1
| align="right" | 8,688
| align="right" | 0.1
|-
| [[Nyaheun language|Nhaheun]] (Nyaheun, Nahoen, Nha Heun, Nha Hon, Nya Hoen, Ngahearn, Nhahem)
| [[Mon-Khmer]]
| align="right" | 3,960
| align="right" |
| align="right" | 5,152
| align="right" | 0.1
| align="right" | 6,785
| align="right" | 0.1
| align="right" | 8,976
| align="right" | 0.1
|-
| [[Khmer people|Kmer]] (Khmer, Kamer, Khome)
| [[Mon-Khmer]]
| align="right" | 169
| align="right" |
| align="right" | 3,902
| align="right" | 0.1
| align="right" | 5,825
| align="right" | 0.1
| align="right" | 7,141
| align="right" | 0.1
|-
| Toum (Tum, Hung)
| [[Mon-Khmer]]
| align="right" | 2,042
| align="right" |
| align="right" | 2,510
| align="right" | 0.05
| align="right" | 4,458
| align="right" | 0.08
| align="right" | 3,632
| align="right" | 0.05
|-
| [[Saek people|Xaek]] (Saek or Sairk)
| [[Tai-Kadai]]
| align="right" | 2,459
| align="right" |
| align="right" | 2,745
| align="right" | 0.06
| align="right" | 3,733
| align="right" | 0.07
| align="right" | 3,841
| align="right" | 0.05
|-
| [[Samtao]] (Sam Tao)
| [[Mon-Khmer]]
| align="right" | 2,359
| align="right" |
| align="right" | 2,213
| align="right" | 0.05
| align="right" | 3,533
| align="right" | 0.06
| align="right" | 3,417
| align="right" | 0.05
|-
| [[Si La people|Sila]] (Sida or Syla)
| [[Sino-Tibetan languages|Sino-Tibetan]]
| align="right" | 1,538
| align="right" |
| align="right" | 1,772
| align="right" | 0.04
| align="right" | 2,939
| align="right" | 0.05
| align="right" | 3,151
| align="right" | 0.05
|-
| [[Tri people|Tri]] (Chali, Cali, or So Tri)
| [[Mon-Khmer]]
| align="right" | 20,902
| align="right" |
| align="right" | 20,906
| align="right" | 0.5
| align="right" | 26,680
| align="right" | 0.05
| align="right" | 37,446
| align="right" | 0.6
|-
| [[Alak people|Harak]] (Alak, Alack, Hahak)
| [[Mon-Khmer]]
| align="right" | 13,217
| align="right" |
| align="right" | 16,594
| align="right" | 0.4
| align="right" | 21,280
| align="right" | 0.04
| align="right" | 25,430
| align="right" | 0.4
|-
| [[Bit people|Bid]] (Bit)
| [[Mon-Khmer]]
| align="right" | 1,530
| align="right" |
| align="right" | 1,509
| align="right" | 0.03
| align="right" | 1,691
| align="right" | 0.03
| align="right" | 2,372
| align="right" | 0.04
|-
| [[Yi people|Lolo]] ([[Alu language (Sino-Tibetan)|Alu]])
| [[Sino-Tibetan languages|Sino-Tibetan]]
| align="right" | 842
| align="right" |
| align="right" | 1,407
| align="right" | 0.03
| align="right" | 1,691
| align="right" | 0.03
| align="right" | 2,203
| align="right" | 0.03
|-
| [[Pacoh people|Pako]] (Pacoh)
| [[Mon-Khmer]]
| align="right" | 12,923
| align="right" |
| align="right" | 13,224
| align="right" | 0.3
| align="right" | 16,750
| align="right" | 0.03
| align="right" | 22,640
| align="right" | 0.4
|-
| [[Lavi language|Lavy]] (Lavi)
| [[Mon-Khmer]]
| align="right" | 584
| align="right" |
| align="right" | 538
| align="right" | 0.01
| align="right" | 1,193
| align="right" | 0.02
| align="right" | 1,215
| align="right" | 0.02
|-
| [[Jeh language|Yae]] (Jeh, Gie, Yerh)
| [[Mon-Khmer]]
| align="right" | 3,376
| align="right" |
| align="right" | 8,013
| align="right" | 0.2
| align="right" | 10,570
| align="right" | 0.02
| align="right" | 11,452
| align="right" | 0.2
|-
|-
| [[Sedang language|Sadang]] (Sedang, Sdang, Gayong)
| [[Mon-Khmer]]
| align="right" | 520
| align="right" |
| align="right" | 786
| align="right" | 0.02
| align="right" | 938
| align="right" | 0.02
| align="right" | 898
| align="right" | 0.01
|-
| [[Hani people|Hanyi]] (Hayi or Hayee)
| [[Sino-Tibetan languages|Sino-Tibetan]]
| align="right" | 727
| align="right" |
| align="right" | 1,122
| align="right" | 0.02
| align="right" | 848
| align="right" | 0.02
| align="right" | 741
| align="right" | 0.01
|-
| [[Kuan language (Laos)|Guan]] (Kuan or Tai Guan)
| [[Tai-Kadai]]
| align="right" |
| align="right" |
| align="right" |
| align="right" |
| align="right" | 722
| align="right" | 0.01
| align="right" | 886
| align="right" | 0.01
|-
| [[O Du people|Oedou]] (Ơ Đu, Adoo)
| [[Mon-Khmer]]
| align="right" |
| align="right" |
| align="right" |
| align="right" |
| align="right" | 649
| align="right" | 0.01
| align="right" | 602
| align="right" | 0.01
|-
| [[Yang people|Yang]] ([[Giáy people|Giáy]], Nhang, Dang, or Niang)
| [[Tai-Kadai]]
| align="right" |
| align="right" |
| align="right" | 4,630
| align="right" | 0.1
| align="right" | 616
| align="right" | 0.01
| align="right" | 5,843
| align="right" | 0.1
|-
| [[Moy people|Moy]]
|
| align="right" |
| align="right" |
| align="right" |
| align="right" |
| align="right" | 534
| align="right" | 0.01
| align="right" | 789
| align="right" | 0.01
|-
| [[Mal people|Thin]] (Mal, Htin, or Thein)
| [[Mon-Khmer]]
| align="right" | 13,977
| align="right" |
| align="right" | 23,193
| align="right" | 0.51
| align="right" | 514
| align="right" | 0.01
| align="right" |
| align="right" |
|-
| [[Kri people|Kree]] (Kri)
| [[Mon-Khmer]]
| align="right" | 110
| align="right" |
| align="right" | 739
| align="right" | 0.02
| align="right" | 495
| align="right" | 0.01
| align="right" | 1,067
| align="right" | 0.02
|-
| [[Tariang language|Trieng]] (Talieng, Tariang, Caliang, or Treang)
| [[Mon-Khmer]]
| align="right" | 23,665
| align="right" |
| align="right" | 23,091
| align="right" | 0.5
| align="right" | 29,134
| align="right" | 0.5
| align="right" | 38,407
| align="right" | 0.6
|-
| Kui (Yellow Lahu)
| [[Sino-Tibetan languages|Sino-Tibetan]]
| align="right" | 6,493
| align="right" |
| align="right" | 6,268
| align="right" | 0.1
| align="right" |
| align="right" |
| align="right" |
| align="right" |
|-
| [[Khir (ethnic group)|Khir]]
|
| align="right" |
| align="right" |
| align="right" | 1,639
| align="right" | 0.04
| align="right" |
| align="right" |
| align="right" |
| align="right" |
|-
| [[Mlabri people|Numbri]] (Yumbri, Mlabri, or Yhumbri)
| [[Mon-Khmer]]
| align="right" | 67
| align="right" |
| align="right" |
| align="right" |
| align="right" |
| align="right" |
| align="right" |
| align="right" |
|-
| Yung
|
| align="right" |
| align="right" |
| align="right" |
| align="right" |
| align="right" | 6,160
| align="right" |
| align="right" |
| align="right" |
|-
| Thaen
|
| align="right" |
| align="right" |
| align="right" |
| align="right" |
| align="right" |
| align="right" |
| align="right" | 828
| align="right" | 0.01
|-
| Mone (Meuang or Mon)
|
| align="right" | 2,022
| align="right" |
| align="right" | 217
| align="right" | 0.00
| align="right" |
| align="right" |
| align="right" |
| align="right" |
|-
| Vietnamese
|
| align="right" | 12,086
| align="right" |
| align="right" |
| align="right" |
| align="right" |
| align="right" |
| align="right" |
| align="right" |
|-
| Chinese
|
| align="right" | 2,624
| align="right" |
| align="right" |
| align="right" |
| align="right" |
| align="right" |
| align="right" |
| align="right" |
|-
| Thai
|
| align="right" | 1,459
| align="right" |
| align="right" |
| align="right" |
| align="right" |
| align="right" |
| align="right" |
| align="right" |
|-
| Cambodian
|
| align="right" | 274
| align="right" |
| align="right" |
| align="right" |
| align="right" |
| align="right" |
| align="right" |
| align="right" |
|-
| Burmese
|
| align="right" | 185
| align="right" |
| align="right" |
| align="right" |
| align="right" |
| align="right" |
| align="right" |
| align="right" |
|-
| Indian
|
| align="right" | 44
| align="right" |
| align="right" |
| align="right" |
| align="right" |
| align="right" |
| align="right" |
| align="right" |
|-
| French
|
| align="right" | 13
| align="right" |
| align="right" |
| align="right" |
| align="right" |
| align="right" |
| align="right" |
| align="right" |
|-
| colspan="2"   | Others & not stated
| align="right" | 11,277
| align="right" |
| align="right" | 19,285
| align="right" | 0.4
| align="right" | 67,175
| align="right" | 1.2
| align="right" |
| align="right" |
|- bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! align="left" colspan="2" | Total
! colspan="2" | 3,584,803
! colspan="2" | 4,574,848
! colspan="2" | 5,621,982
! colspan="2" | 6,446,690
|}