PEOPLE
Laos' population was estimated at 5.8 million in mid-2007, dispersed unevenly across the country. Most people live in valleys of the Mekong River and its tributaries. Vientiane prefecture, the capital and largest city, had about 711,919 residents in 2006. The country's population density was 27/sq. km.
About
half the country's people are ethnic Lao, the principal lowland
inhabitants as well as the politically and culturally dominant
group. The Lao are descended from the Tai people who began migrating
southward from China in the first millennium A.D. Mountain tribes
of Miao-Yao, Austro-Asiatic, Tibeto-Burman -- Hmong, Yao, Akha,
and Lahu -- and Tai ethno linguistic heritage are found in northern
Laos. Collectively, they are known as Lao Sung or highland Lao.
In the central and southern mountains, Mon-Khmer tribes, known
as Lao Theung or midslope Lao, predominate. Some Vietnamese and
Chinese minorities remain, particularly in the towns, but many
left in two waves--after independence in the late 1940s and again
after 1975.
The predominant
religion is Theravada Buddhism. Animism is common among the mountain
tribes. Buddhism and spirit worship coexist easily. There also
are small numbers of Christians and Muslims.
The official and dominant language is Lao, a tonal language of the Tai linguistic group. Minorities speak an assortment of Mon-Khmer, Hmong-Yao, and Tibeto-Burman languages. French, once common in government and commerce, has declined in usage, while knowledge of English--the language of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)--has increased in recent years. The government is encouraging officials and students to learn English. High school students are required to take either French or English; the majority today choose English. The government plans to introduce English at the primary school level by 2010.
Nationality: Noun and adjective--Lao (sing. and pl.).
Population (2007 est.): 5.8 million.
Annual growth rate (2007 est.): 1.5%.
Ethnic groups: Tai-Kadai language family (6 ethnic groups)--66.2%; Austro-Asiatic (Mon-Khmer and Viet-Muong) language family (30 ethnic groups)--22.8%; Hmong-Yao (2 ethnic groups)--7.4%; Tibeto-Burman (8 ethnic groups)--2.7%; other ethnic groups (including Vietnamese and Chinese)--0.9%.
Religions: Buddhism--65%; Christianity--1.3%; others (including animism, Ba'hai, and Islam)-33.7%.
Languages: Lao (official), French, English, and various ethnic languages.
Education: Literacy--69%.
Health (2007): Infant mortality rate-81.4/1,000. Life expectancy--56 years.
Work force (2.1 million, 2006): Agriculture--78.5%; industry and services--21.5% (2006).
