People & Society

With a population of nearly 6 million with a density of only 20 people per square kilometre, Laos is the most sparsely populated country in Southeast Asia. Roughly 85% of the people live in rural areas.

Lao is a true melting pot. The number of ethnic groups has been variably placed between 50 to over 70, and fall into four loosely defined families. Half the 6 million people are lowland Lao Loum, and live a mostly subsistence life along the Mekong. They speak Lao, and are culturally similar to the Isan in northeast Thailand.

The Lao Theung make up roughly 30% of the population. These middle-altitude mountain dwellers of Malay/Mon-Khmer ancestry live a slash-and-burn existence along streams. They mostly grow coffee, tobacco and cotton, and barter for other items. The Lao Theung are skilled bamboo builders, who don’t use metal tools.

Minorities residing in the high altitudes belong to the Lao Sung family, and originated in Tibet and Myanmar. The Hmong, or Meo, dominate this group, which mostly raise livestock. The remaining ethnicities include the Thai Dam and the Lao Thai.

Language

Lao is the official language, though English, Chinese, Thai and Vietnamese are spoken in the larger cities. Lao is a member of the Tai language group, also known as Kadai, and is similar to the Thai language. In the northeast Isan region of Thailand, more people speak Lao than Thai.

Speaking Lao

Hello                 Sabai dee
How are you?   Sabai dee, baw?
I am fine           Sabai dee
How much?       Thao dai?
Thank you         Khap jai
Never mind        Baw pen nyang
Restaurant        Haan ahaan
Toilet                 Hawng nam
Yes                    Jao
No                     Baw

Religion

Nearly all of the lowland Lao practise Theravada Buddhism, and the men are expected to spend at least part of their lives as a monk. The more rural areas combine Buddhism with animism, the belief of spirits and ghosts (phi). Most Lao people believe they are protected by the 32 khwan spirits. When someone becomes ill, it is believed that one or more khwan have left the body, and are recalled during a ceremony known as baci during which cotton strings are tied around the wrists of the participants to keep the khwan in place. Baci is also the central ritual for weddings, naming ceremonies for newborn children and for welcoming or bidding adieu to visitors.