Editing List of ethnic groups in Laos

{{Short description|None}}
The following is a list of  [[ethnic group]]s in [[Laos]].

==Classification==
Specialists are largely in agreement as to the ethnolinguistic classification of the ethnic groups of Laos.<ref name="IPPD-2006">{{cite web |title=Indigenous Peoples Development Planning Document |url=http://www.asianlii.org/asia/other/ADBLPRes/2006/4.pdf |publisher=Lao People's Democratic Republic: Northern Region Sustainable Livelihoods Development Project |access-date=2 November 2020 |date=August 2006}}</ref> For the purposes of the 1995 census, the government of Laos recognized 149 ethnic groups within 47 main ethnicities.<ref name="IPPD-2006" /> whereas the [[Lao Front for National Construction]] (LFNC) recently revised the list to include 49 ethnicities consisting of over 160 ethnic groups.<ref name="IPPD-2006" />

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.<ref name="IPPD-2006" /> These 160 ethnic groups speak a total of 73 distinct living languages as of 2025.<ref name="Ethnologue">{{cite web |title=Ethnologue report for Laos |url=http://www.ethnologue.com/show_country.asp?name=LA |website=Ethnologue |access-date=2 November 2020}}{{subscription required}}</ref>
==Austronesian==
*[[Chams|Cham]] (population of 250–700 in Laos; known as [[Laotian Chams|Laotian Cham]])<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.islamawareness.net/Asia/Laos/laos_article0001.html|title=The Crescent in Laos: Muslims of Vientiane|language=en|access-date=2025-01-06|website=islamawareness.net|publisher=Islam Awarness}}</ref>

==Mon-Khmer==
*[[Aheu language|Aheu]] (population of approximately 1,770 in [[Bolikhamsai Province]])<ref name="Ethnologue"/>
*[[Alak people|Alak]] (population of approximately 4,000 in southern Laos)<ref name="Ethnologue"/>
*[[Arem people|Arem]] (population of approximately 500 in Laos)<ref name="Ethnologue"/>
*[[Bo people (Laos)|Bo]] (population of 2,950 in Laos)<ref name="Ethnologue"/>
*[[Bru people|Bru]] (population of approximately 69,000 in Laos)<ref name="Ethnologue"/>
*[[Chứt people|Chut]] (population of 450 in [[Khammouane Province]])<ref name="Ethnologue"/>
*[[Duan language (Austroasiatic)|Halang Doan]] (population of 2,350 in [[Attapeu Province]] and on the [[Kasseng Plateau]])<ref name="Ethnologue"/>
*[[Cuoi language|Hung]] or Tum (population of 2,000 in [[Bolikhamsai Province|Bolikhamsai]] and [[Khammouane Province|Khammouane]] Provinces)<ref name="Ethnologue"/>
*[[Ir (ethnic group)|Ir]] (population of 4,420 in [[Salavan Province]])<ref name="Ethnologue"/>
*[[Jeh language|Jeh]] (population of 8,013 in southern Laos)<ref name="Ethnologue"/>
*[[Katang people|Katang]] (population of 107,350 in Laos)<ref name="Ethnologue"/>
*[[Katu (ethnic group)|Katu]] (population of 14,700 in Laos)<ref name="Ethnologue"/>
*[[Khlor (ethnic group)|Khlor]] (population of 6,000 in Laos)<ref name="Ethnologue"/>
*[[Khmer people|Khmer]] (population of 10,400 in Laos)<ref name="Ethnologue"/>
*[[Khua (ethnic group)|Khua]] (population of 2,000 in Laos)<ref name="Ethnologue"/>
*[[Kri people|Kri]]
*[[Kuy language|Kuy]] (population of 51,180 in Laos)<ref name="Ethnologue"/>
*[[Lavae]] (also referred to as Brao)<ref name="Ta Ong Trail">[http://www.ecotourismlaos.com/activities/taong.htm Ta Ong Trail] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071118042546/http://www.ecotourismlaos.com/activities/taong.htm |date=2007-11-18 }}</ref>
*[[Lave (ethnic group)|Lave]] (population of 12,750 in Laos)<ref name="Ethnologue"/>
*[[Laven (ethnic group)|Laven]] (population of 40,519 in Laos)<ref name="Ethnologue"/>
*[[Lavi (ethnic group)|Lavi]]<ref name="Laos Cultural Profile">[http://www.laos.culturalprofiles.net Laos Cultural Profile (Ministry of Information and Culture/Visiting Arts)]</ref>{{failed verification|date=November 2020}}
*[[Maleng]] (population of 800 in Laos)<ref name="Ethnologue"/>
*[[Mon people|Mon]] (population of 4000-8000 in Laos)
*[[Ngae]] (population of 12,189 in Laos)<ref name="Ethnologue"/>
*[[Nguồn people|Nguon]]
*[[Nyaheun]]<ref name="Ethnologue"/>
*[[Ong (ethnic group)|Ong]]<ref name="Ethnologue"/>
*[[Oi language|Oi]] (population of 23,500 in Laos)<ref name="Ethnologue"/>
*[[Pakoh]]<ref name="Ethnologue"/>
*[[Phong-Kniang language|Phong]]<ref name="Ethnologue"/>
*[[Xo Dang people|Sadang]]<ref name="Laos Cultural Profile"/>
*[[Halang language|Salang]] (ethnic group)<ref name="Ethnologue"/>
*[[Sapuan language|Sapuan]] (ethnic group)<ref name="Ethnologue"/>
*[[So (ethnic group)|Makong]]<ref name="Ethnologue"/>
*[[Sou (ethnic group)|Sou]]<ref name="Ethnologue"/>
*[[Souei]]
*[[Taliang]]<ref name="Ethnologue"/>
*[[Ta Oi people|Ta-oi]]<ref name="Ethnologue"/>
*[[Vietnamese people|Vietnamese]] (population of 76,000 in Laos)<ref name="Ethnologue"/>
*[[Yae people|Yae]]<ref name="Laos Cultural Profile"/>

==Palaungic==
*[[Bit language|Bit]] (population of 1,530 in Laos, disputed as to whether Palaungic or Khmuic)<ref name="Ethnologue"/>
*[[Con ethnic group|Con]] (population of 1,000 in [[Luang Namtha Province]])<ref name="Ethnologue"/>
*[[Samtao]] (population of 2,359 in Laos)<ref name="Ethnologue"/>
*[[Lamet people|Lamet]] (population of 16,740 in Laos)<ref name="Ethnologue"/>

==Khmuic==
{{see also|Khmuic peoples}}
*[[Khmu people|Khmu]] (population of 389,694 in Laos)<ref name="Ethnologue"/>
*[[Khuen people|Khuen]] (population of approximately 8,000 in Laos)<ref name="Ethnologue"/>
*[[Mal people|Mal]] (population of 23,200 in Laos)<ref name="Ethnologue"/>
*[[Mlabri people|Mlabri]] (population of 24 in Laos,<ref name="Ethnologue"/> also known as the Yumbri)
*[[O'du]]<ref name="Ethnologue"/>
*[[Phai people|Phai]] (population of 15,000 in Laos)<ref name="Ethnologue"/>
*[[Xinh Mul people|Xinh Mul]] (population of 3,164 in Laos, including Phong-Kniang and Puoc, also known as the ''Sing Mun'')<ref name="Ta La, Laos">[http://relocate-anyplace.selfip.com/relocate/Laos/Attapu/Ta%20La Ta La, Laos]{{dead link|date=December 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

==Tibeto-Burman==
*[[Yi people|Lolo ethnicity]]
**[[Akha people|Kaw]] (population of approximately 58,000 in Laos)<ref name="Ethnologue"/>
**[[Hani people|Hani]] (population of 1,122 in [[Phongsaly Province]])<ref name="Ethnologue"/>
**[[Kaduo (ethnic group)|Kaduo]] (population of 5,000 on Laos-China border)<ref name="Ethnologue"/>
**[[Lahu people|Lahu]] (population of 8,702 in Laos, also referred to as Museu)<ref name="Ethnologue"/>
**[[Lahu Shi]] (population of 3,240 in Laos)<ref name="Ethnologue"/>
**[[Phana]]<ref name="Ethnologue"/>
**[[Phunoi people|Phunoi]]<ref name="Ethnologue"/>
**[[Si La people|Si La]]<ref name="Ethnologue"/>
*[[Kado (ethnic group)|Kado]] (population of 225 in [[Phongsaly Province]])<ref name="Ethnologue"/>

==Hmong-Mien==
*[[Hmong people|Hmong Daw]] (population of 200,000 in Laos)<ref name="Ethnologue"/>
*[[Hmong people|Hmong Njua]] (population of 245,600 in Laos)<ref name="Ethnologue"/>
*[[Iu Mien language|Iu Mien]] (population of 20,250, also called [[Yao people|Yao]])<ref name="Ethnologue"/>
*[[Kim Mun]] (population of 4,500 in Laos)<ref name="Ethnologue"/>

==Tai and Rau==
{{see also|Tai peoples|Rau peoples}}
*[[Red Thai|Tai Daeng]]<ref name="Ethnologue"/>
*[[Tai Dam people|Tai Dam]]<ref name="Ethnologue"/>
*[[Tai Gapong]]
*[[Tai He people|Tai He]]<ref name=JS-Vol.2 /> (or Tai E)
*[[Tai Khang]] (population of 47,636 in Laos)<ref name="Ethnologue"/>
*[[Tay Khang]]<ref name="Ethnologue"/>
*[[Tai Dón people|Tai Kao]]<ref name="Ethnologue"/>
*[[Kongsat]]
*[[Kuan (ethnic group)|Kuan]] (population of 2,500 in Laos)<ref name="Ethnologue"/>
*[[Tai Laan]]
*[[Tai Maen]]<ref name="Ethnologue"/>
*[[Lao people|Lao]] (population of 3,000,000 in Laos)<ref name="Ethnologue"/>
*[[Lao Lom]]<ref name="Ethnologue"/>
*[[Tai Long language|Tai Long]]<ref name="Ethnologue"/>
*[[Tai Lue people|Tai Lue]] (population of 300,000 in Laos)<ref name="Ethnologue"/>
*[[Isan people|Northeastern Thai]] (including the Tai Kaleun and Isan people)
*[[Tai Nuea]]<ref name="Ethnologue"/>
*[[Kassak people|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]].<ref>Doré, Amphay. 2016. ''The Kassak &mdash; an ethnological and historical enigma''. In ''Tai Culture Journal'', Volume 24. Interdisciplinary Tai Studies Series. ISSN 1431-1240</ref>
*[[Nùng people|Nùng]]<ref name="Ethnologue"/>
*[[Nyaw people|Nyaw]]
*[[Tai Pao]]<ref name="Ethnologue"/>
*[[Tai Peung]]
*[[Phuan people|Phuan]] (population of 106,099 in Laos)<ref name="Ethnologue"/>
*[[Phutai]] (population of 154,400 in Laos)<ref name="Ethnologue"/>
*[[Saek people|Saek]]<ref name="Ethnologue"/>
*[[Tai Sam]]
*[[Tai Yo]]
*[[Tayten]]
*[[Yoy people|Yoy]]<ref name="Ethnologue"/>
*[[Zhuang people|Zhuang]] (including the [[Nùng people]])
*[[Shan people|Shan]]
*[[Yang people|Yang]]

==Chinese==
*[[Chinese people|Chinese]]<ref name="Ethnologue"/>
*[[Laotian Chinese]]

==Unclassified==
*[[Chere (people)|Chere]]<ref name="Biodatabase">{{Cite web |url=http://www.biodatabase.de/List%20of%20ethnic%20groups |title=Biodatabase |access-date=2007-11-03 |archive-date=2011-05-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110518201441/http://www.biodatabase.de/List%20of%20ethnic%20groups |url-status=dead }}</ref>
*[[Jri]]<ref name="Biodatabase"/>

Below are some ethnic groups of Laos who speak unclassified languages, listed roughly from north to south.<ref name="AH-Bit">{{cite web |title=Bit |url=https://asiaharvest.org/wp-content/uploads/people-groups/Laos/Bit-OC.pdf |website=Asia Harvest |access-date=2 November 2020}}</ref> District codes are also given (see ''[[districts of Laos]]'').
{| class="wikitable"
|+Unclassified languages of Laos
!c=01| Ethnolinguistic group
!c=02| Population
!c=03| Possible linguistic affiliation
!c=04| Locations
|-
!c=01| Poumong
|c=02| 1,000
|c=03| Tibeto-Burman ([[Phunyot language|Phunyot]])<ref>{{cite book |last=Schliesinger |first=Joachim |title=Ethnic Groups of Laos, Volume 4, Profiles of Sino-Tibetan-speaking peoples |publisher=White Lotus |location=Bangkok |date=2003 |isbn=9744800321}}</ref>
|c=04| Ban Phoumon. Boun-Tai (2-07) and Khoa (2-03) districts, southern Phongsaly Province
|-
!c=01| Pouhoy
|c=02| 200 (1995; 35 families)<ref name=JS-Vol.2>{{cite book |last=Schliesinger |first=Joachim |title=Ethnic Groups of Laos, Volume 2, Profiles of Austro-Asiatic-speaking peoples |publisher=White Lotus |location=Bangkok |date=2003 |isbn=9744800364}}</ref>
|c=03| Oy, Katuic?
|c=04| Kang Village, Namo District (4-03), northern Oudomxai Province
|-
!c=01| Taket
|c=02| < 1,000<ref name=JS-Vol.2 />
|c=03| Austro-Asiatic?<ref name=JS-Vol.2 />
|c=04| Nambak District (6-05), Luang Prabang Province
|-
!c=01| Tamoy
|c=02| 500 (< 15 villages)
|c=03| Palaungic, Khmuic?
|c=04| Viangphoukha District (3-04), Luang Namtha Province
|-
!c=01| Nguan
|c=02| 30,000
|c=03| Lametic, Palaungic?
|c=04| 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
|-
!c=01| Salao
|c=02| 800
|c=03| Ethnic Lao<ref name=JS-Vol.2 />
|c=04| Pakxong District (16-04), Champasak Province
|}

==See also==
* [[Demographics of Laos]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite book |last=Schliesinger |first=Joachim |title=Ethnic Groups of Laos, Volume 1, Introduction and overview |publisher=White Lotus |location=Bangkok |date=2003 |isbn=9744800321|url=https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/1040815}}
* {{cite book |last=Schliesinger |first=Joachim |title=Ethnic Groups of Laos, Volume 3, Profile of Austro-Thai-speaking peoples |publisher=White Lotus |location=Bangkok |date=2003 |isbn=9744800372}}

{{Ethnic groups in Laos}}
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[[Category:Ethnic groups in Laos| ]]
[[Category:Lists of ethnic groups|Laos]]
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