Laos Ethnic
Laos is a multi-ethnics country with more than 7 main groups: Mon-Khmer, Palaungic, Khmuic, Tibeto-Burman, Hmong-Mien, Tai and Rau, and Chinese. Laos has the total population of about 6.5 million, most of which live in valleys along Mekong River and its tributaries. The population living along Mekong River in Laos can be divided into three main groups based on their place of living: Lowland people, Midland people and Highland people.
Lao Loum taking up the majority of Lao’s total population (about 60%) formed and developed the Lowland Lao Society. Having migrated into Laos from the south of China since the first century, Lao Loum populate in flat area along the lower part of Mekong River.
Accounting for 24% of the whole population, Lao Theung is the second major ethnic in Laos. The community of Lao Theung lives in valleys and mountain slopes along the Mekong River.
Lao Seung is the community living at the highest place in Laos (regularly over 1000 meters). They mainly populate in the upper basin of Mekong River in the northwest. The community of upland people includes of six ethnics: Hmong, Akha, Mien and some tribes.
