List of ethnic groups in Laos
The following is a list of ethnic groups within Laos.
Classification
Specialists are largely in agreement as to the ethnolinguistic classification of the ethnic groups of Laos.[1] For the purposes of the 1995 census, the government of Laos recognized 149 ethnic groups within 47 main ethnicities.[1] whereas the Lao Front for National Construction (LFNC) recently revised the list to include 49 ethnicities consisting of over 160 ethnic groups.[1]
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.[1] These 160 ethnic groups speak a total of 82 distinct living languages.[2]
Mon-Khmer
- Aheu (population of approximately 1,770 in Bolikhamxai Province)[2]
- Alak (population of approximately 4,000 in southern Laos)[2]
- Arem (population of approximately 500 in Laos)[2]
- Bo (population of 2,950 in Laos)[2]
- Bru (population of approximately 69,000 in Laos)[2]
- Chut (population of 450 in Khammouane Province)[2]
- Halang Doan (population of 2,350 in Attapeu Province and on the Kasseng Plateau)[2]
- Hung or Tum (population of 2,000 in Bolikhamsai and Khammouane Provinces)[2]
- Ir (population of 4,420 in Salavan Province)[2]
- Jeh (population of 8,013 in southern Laos)[2]
- Jeng (population of 7,320 in Attapeu Province)[2]
- Kasseng (population of 6,000 in southern Laos)[2]
- Katang (population of 107,350 in Laos)[2]
- Katu (population of 14,700 in Laos)[2]
- Khlor (population of 6,000 in Laos)[2]
- Khmer (population of 10,400 in Laos)[2]
- Khua (population of 2,000 in Laos)[2]
- Kri
- Kuy (population of 51,180 in Laos)[2]
- Lavae (also referred to as Brao)[3]
- Lave (population of 12,750 in Laos)[2]
- Laven (population of 40,519 in Laos)[2]
- Lavi[4]
- Maleng (population of 800 in Laos)[2]
- Mon
- Ngae (population of 12,189 in Laos)[2]
- Nguon
- Nyaheun[2]
- Ong[2]
- Oi (population of 11,200 in Laos)[2]
- Pakoh[2]
- Phong[2]
- Sadang[4]
- Salang[2]
- Sapuan[2]
- Makong[2]
- Sok[2]
- Sou[2]
- Souei
- Taliang[2]
- Ta-oi[2]
- Vietnamese (population of 76,000 in Laos)[2]
- Yae[4]
Palaungic
- Bit (population of 1,530 in Laos, disputed as to whether Palaungic or Khmuic)[2]
- Con (population of 1,000 in Luang Namtha Province)[2]
- Samtao (population of 2,359 in Laos)[2]
- Lamet (population of 16,740 in Laos)[2]
Khmuic
- Khmu (population of 389,694 in Laos)[2]
- Khuen (population of approximately 8,000 in Laos)[2]
- Mal (population of 23,200 in Laos)[2]
- Mlabri (population of 24 in Laos,[2] also known as the Yumbri)
- O'du[2]
- Phai (population of 15,000 in Laos)[2]
- Xinh Mul (population of 3,164 in Laos, including Phong-Kniang and Puoc, also known as the Sing Mun)[5]
Tibeto-Burman
- Lolo ethnicity
- Kado (population of 225 in Phongsaly Province)[2]
Hmong-Mien
- Hmong Daw (population of 169,800 in Laos)[2]
- Hmong Njua (population of 145,600 in Laos)[2]
- Iu Mien (population of 20,250, also called Yao)[2]
- Kim Mun (population of 4,500 in Laos)[2]>
Tai and Rau
- Tai Daeng[2]
- Tai Dam[2]
- Tai Gapong
- Tai He[6] (or Tai E)
- Tai Khang (population of 47,636 in Laos)[2]
- Tay Khang[2]
- Tai Kao[2]
- Kongsat
- Kuan (population of 2,500 in Laos)[2]
- Tai Laan
- Tai Maen[2]>
- Lao (population of 3,000,000 in Laos)[2]
- Lao Lom[2]>
- Tai Long[2]
- Tai Lue (population of 300,000 in Laos)[2]
- Northeastern Thai (including the Tai Kaleun and Isan people)
- Tai Nuea[2]
- Nùng[2]
- Nyaw
- Tai Pao[2]
- Tai Peung
- Phuan (population of 106,099 in Laos)[2]
- Phutai (population of 154,400 in Laos)[2]
- Pu Ko[2]
- Rien[2]
- Saek[2]
- Tai Sam
- Tai Yo
- Tayten
- Yoy[2]
- Zhuang (including the Nùng people)
- Shan
- Yang
Chinese
Unclassified
Below are some ethnic groups of Laos who speak unclassified languages, listed roughly from north to south.[8] District codes are also given (see districts of Laos).
Ethnolinguistic group | Population | Possible linguistic affiliation | Locations |
---|---|---|---|
Poumong | 1,000 | ? | Boun-Tai (2-07) and Khoa (2-03) districts, southern Phongsali Province |
Pouhoy | 200 (1995; 35 families)[6] | Oy, Katuic? | Kang Village, Namo District (4-03), northern Oudomxai Province |
Taket | <1000[6] | Austro-Asiatic?[6] | Nambak District (6-05), Luang Prabang Province |
Tamoy | 500 (< 15 villages) | Palaungic, Khmuic? | Viangphoukha District (3-04), Luang Namtha Province |
Nguan | 30,000 | Lametic, Palaungic? | 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 |
Salao | 800 | Ethnic Lao[6] | Pakxong District (16-04), Champasak Province |
See also
References
- 1 2 3 4 Indigenous Peoples Development Planning Document
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 Ethnologue report for Laos
- ↑ Ta Ong Trail
- 1 2 3 Laos Cultural Profile (Ministry of Information and Culture/Visiting Arts)
- ↑ Ta La, Laos
- 1 2 3 4 5 Schliesinger, Jachim. 2003. Ethnic Groups of Laos. vol. 2. Profile of Austro-Asiatic Speaking Peoples. White Lotus. Bangkok.
- 1 2 Biodatabase
- ↑ http://asiaharvest.org/people-group-profiles/laos/