Lao people
The Lao people are a Tai ethnic group native to Southeast Asia, who speak the Lao language of the Kra–Dai languages. They are the majority ethnic group of Laos, making up 53.2% of the total population. The majority of Lao people adhere to Theravada Buddhism. They are closely related to other Tai people, especially (or synonymous) with the Isan people, who are also speakers of Lao language, native to neighboring Thailand.
A Lao woman wearing traditional clothing in Luang Prabang, Laos | |
| Total population | |
| c. 22 million (including Lao Isan) | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| Laos | 3,427,665 |
| Thailand | 17,822,432 (including Lao Isan people) (2010) |
| France | 200,000 |
| United States | 200,000 (2015) |
| Cambodia | 101,400 (including Khmer Lao people) |
| Canada | 24,580 (2016) |
| Myanmar | 17,000 |
| Vietnam | 17,532 |
| Germany | 4,000 |
| Belgium | 1,067 |
| Languages | |
| Lao | |
| Religion | |
| Theravada Buddhism, Laotian folk religion | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Other Tai peoples (e.g. Black Tai people, Isan people, Dai people, etc.) | |
In Western historiography, terms Lao people and Laotian have had a loose meaning. Both terms have been irregularly applied both to all natives of Laos in general, aside from or alongside ethnic Lao during different periods in history. Since the end of French rule in Laos in 1953, Lao has been applied solely to the ethnic group while Laotian refers to any citizen of Laos regardless of their ethnic identity. Certain countries still conflate the terms in their statistics.