Ethnicity Culture_of_Laos

, laos has estimated population of 8.3 million. lao government recognizes 47 distinct ethnicities, further sub-divided 149 subgroups. lao society traditionally categorized 3 broad groups based on ethnicity , location. approximately 50% of total population ethnic lao (lao loum or lao tai); 10% categorized lao theung or “upland lao” predominantly people of mon or khmer ancestry; 34% lao sung or “mountain lao,” , commonly referred “hill tribes.” hill tribe peoples in laos include hmong, yao (mien), akha, , lahu. laos home sizeable communities of vietnamese , chinese make 6% remaining.

brao couple farming

anthropologists consider lao loum subcategory of wider “tai” ethnic group share common genetic, linguistic, , cultural heritage. tai family includes lao , thai, smaller groups have been distinguished traditional dress , include tai dam (black tai), tai daeng (red tai), , tai khao (white tai). laos define both ethnicity , nationality. further complication added geopolitical history between laos , thailand, there estimated 19 million “lao” speakers living in northeastern thailand (thai isan or lao tai) , 3 million in laos. consequence identity politics has played major role in defining lao loum. lao government makes no distinction between bordering groups , views them sharing common identity, government of thailand has through process known “thaification” assimilated lao living in isan. lao loum define based on location, agricultural practice, language , religion. lao loum occupy mekong river valleys , cultivate wet rice crops, predominantly theravada buddhist have strong syncretism traditional animist beliefs.

akha girl in traditional dress

lao theung culturally distinct both lao loum , lao sung. lao theung include mon-khmer peoples among indigenous peoples mekong river valleys. largest single group (11% or 500,000 people) khmu (khmou, kmhmu, khammu, khamu, kammu). included in lao theung population katang, bru, kui, laven, mal, phai, katu, lave, ngae, jeh, khuen, jeng, alak, ir, kasseng, khlor, aheu, bo, halang, doan, hung, xinh mul, khua, arem, bit, chut, maleng , mlabri. lao theung peoples distinguished dry rice cultivation, , animist beliefs.

the lao sung commonly known “hill tribe” peoples, , among recent mass populations migrate laos having arrived in nineteenth century southern china , vietnam. hmong largest group, subdivided traditional dress including white, red, black , striped hmong. yao (mien , lu mien) large group of lao sung, , distinguish through incorporation of taoist deities animist beliefs. other groups of lao sung include akha, kaw, lahu, kaduo, lisu, hani, phana, si la, , kado. lao sung heavily recruited united states , allies during wars against communists in 1960s. as 10% of lao population , 50% of lao sung population fled communist takeover of laos in 1975, , continued during following decade. remaining lao sung population has been target of government suspicion low intensity armed conflict since time. there sizeable communities of hmong in united states , france. lao sung commonly identified language, dry rice production, slash-and-burn agriculture, traditional opium production , animist beliefs.