Lao people

Lao people

ລາວ
A Lao woman wearing traditional clothing in Luang Prabang, Laos
Total population
c. 22 million (including Lao Isan)[a][1]
Regions with significant populations
Laos	3,427,665[2]
Thailand	17,822,432 (including Lao Isan people) (2010)[3]
France	200,000[4]
United States	200,000 (2015)[5]
Cambodia	101,400 (including Khmer Lao people)[1]
Canada	24,580 (2016)[6]
Myanmar	17,000[1]
Vietnam	17,532[7]
Germany	4,000[8]
Japan	3,602[9]
Argentina	2,000[10]
Belgium	1,067[11]
Languages
Lao
Religion
Theravada Buddhism, Laotian folk religion
Related ethnic groups
Other Tai peoples (e.g. Black Tai people, Isan people, Dai people, etc.)

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The Lao people are a Tai ethnic group native to Southeast Asia. They primarily speak the Lao language, which belongs to the Kra–Dai language family. Lao people constitute the majority ethnic group of Laos, comprising 53.2% of the country's total population. They are also found in significant numbers in northeastern Thailand, particularly in the Isan region, as well as in smaller communities in Cambodia, Vietnam, and Myanmar.

Culturally and linguistically, the Lao are closely related to other Tai peoples, especially the Thai and Isan people of Thailand. The majority of Lao people adhere to Theravada Buddhism, which plays a central role in their cultural and social life. However, animist beliefs and practices also remain influential, particularly in rural areas.^[12]

Historically, the terms "Lao" and "Laotian" have been used inconsistently in Western literature. Prior to Laos gaining independence from French colonial rule in 1953, these terms were often applied interchangeably to all inhabitants of Laos, regardless of their ethnic background. Since independence, "Lao" has come to refer specifically to the ethnic group, while "Laotian" denotes any citizen of Laos, irrespective of ethnicity. However, some countries and international organizations continue to use these terms interchangeably in their demographic statistics.

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