Laos

Lao

[lao] 1 (National). Statutory national language (2003, Constitution, Article 89). 4,230,000 in Laos, all users. L1 users: 3,430,000 in Laos (2015 census), based on ethnicity. L2 users: 800,000. Total users in all countries: 4,505,160 (as L1: 3,705,160; as L2: 800,000).

5 (Dispersed)

Akha

[ahk] 5* (Dispersed). 113,000 in Laos (2015 census), based on ethnicity.

French

[fra] 5* (Dispersed). 190,000 in Laos (Beck et al 2018), L2 users.

5 (Developing)

Brao

[brb] 5* (Developing). 26,000 in Laos (2015 census), based on ethnicity. Total users in all countries: 35,560.

Bru, Eastern

[bru] 5* (Developing). 37,400 in Laos (2015 census), based on ethnicity. Total users in all countries: 132,000.

Hmong Daw

[mww] 5* (Developing). 170,000 in Laos (1995 census).

Iu Mien

[ium] 5* (Developing). 32,400 in Laos (2015 census), based on ethnicity.

Jeh

[jeh] 5* (Developing). 11,500 in Laos (2015 census), based on ethnicity.

Mal

[mlf] 5* (Developing). 23,200 in Laos (1995 census). Total users in all countries: 26,700.

Nung

[nut] 5* (Developing). A few in Laos.

Tai Dam

[blt] 5* (Developing). 65,000 in Laos (Schliesinger 2003a).

Khmu

[kjg] 5 (Developing). 708,000 in Laos (2015 census), based on ethnicity. Total users in all countries: 825,700.

6a (Vigorous)

Akeu

[aeu] 6a (Vigorous). 1,000 in Laos (1996 E. Johnson).

Alak

[alk] 6a* (Vigorous). 25,000 (2015 census), based on ethnicity.

Bit

[bgk] 6a (Vigorous). 2,370 in Laos (2015 census), based on ethnicity. Total users in all countries: 2,570.

Bru, Western

[brv] 6a* (Vigorous). 163,000 in Laos (2015 census), includes So [sss]. Total users in all countries: 183,000.

Hmong Njua

[hnj] 6a* (Vigorous). 100,000 in Laos (Hattaway 2003). Total users in all countries: 254,750.

[irr] 6a* (Vigorous). 4,420 (Asian Minorities Outreach 1999b), based on ethnicity.

Kaduo

[ktp] 6a* (Vigorous). 200 in Laos (Schliesinger 2003c).

Kang

[kyp] 6a* (Vigorous). 47,600 in Laos (1995 census). Total users in all countries: 81,700.

Katang, Northern

[ncq] 6a (Vigorous). 65,000 (2016).

Katang, Southern

[sct] 6a (Vigorous). 40,000 (2016).

Katu, Western

[kuf] 6a (Vigorous). 28,400 (2015 census), based on ethnicity.

Khuen

[khf] 6a* (Vigorous). 8,000 in Laos (1995 L. Chazee). Total users in all countries: 9,000.

Khün

[kkh] 6a* (Vigorous). 600 in Laos (Schliesinger 2003a).

Kim Mun

[mji] 6a* (Vigorous). 4,500 in Laos (1995 L. Chazee).

Kriang

[ngt] 6a* (Vigorous). 16,800 (2015 census), based on ethnicity. 9,030 monolinguals (2005).

Ksing Mul

[puo] 6a* (Vigorous). 9,870 in Laos (2015 census), based on ethnicity.

Lahu

[lhu] 6a* (Vigorous). 19,200 in Laos (2015 census), increasing, based on ethnicity.

Lahu Si

[lhi] 6a* (Vigorous). 3,000 in Laos (2007).

Laopang

[lbg] 6a* (Vigorous). 9,550 (2000).

Laos Sign Language

[lso] 6a* (Vigorous). 36,000 (2021 DBS/DOOR/SIL). Estimated 21,000–42,000 deaf signers, based on 0.3%–0.6% of total population.

Laven

[lbo] 6a* (Vigorous). 56,400 (2015 census), based on ethnicity.

Ngoaun

[nuo] 6a* (Vigorous). 760 in Laos (2010 N. Cheeseman).

Nyaheun

[nev] 6a (Vigorous). 9,000 (2015 census), based on ethnicity.

[oyb] 6a (Vigorous). 32,200 (2015 census), based on ethnicity. 23,500 Oy and 8,690 Jeng (2015 census). 8,960 monolinguals (2007).

Pacoh

[pac] 6a (Vigorous). 22,600 in Laos (2015 census), based on ethnicity. 11,600 monolinguals (2005).

Phong-Kniang

[pnx] 6a* (Vigorous). 30,700 (2015 census), based on ethnicity.

Phu Thai

[pht] 6a* (Vigorous). 218,000 in Laos (2015 census), based on ethnicity.

Phuan

[phu] 6a* (Vigorous). 115,000 in Laos (Schliesinger 2003a), based on ethnicity.

Phunoi

[pho] 6a* (Vigorous). 39,200 (2015 census), based on ethnicity.

Prai

[prt] 6a* (Vigorous). 28,700 in Laos (2015 census), based on ethnicity.

Rmeet

[lbn] 6a* (Vigorous). 22,400 (2015 census), based on ethnicity.

Sapuan

[spu] 6a (Vigorous). 1,000 (Sidwell 2003).

Sedang

[sed] 6a* (Vigorous). 900 in Laos (2015 census), based on ethnicity.

Sila

[slt] 6a (Vigorous). 3,150 in Laos (2015 census), based on ethnicity. Total users in all countries: 4,060.

[sss] 6a (Vigorous). 163,000 in Laos (2015 census), based on ethnicity, includes Western Bru [brv]. Total users in all countries: 233,000.

Tai Dón

[twh] 6a* (Vigorous). 33,000 in Laos (Schliesinger 2003a).

Tai Long

[thi] 6a* (Vigorous). 4,800 (2004).

Tai Yo

[tyj] 6a* (Vigorous). 7,200 in Laos (1995 census).

Talieng

[tdf] 6a (Vigorous). 38,400 (2015 census), based on ethnicity.

Ta’oih, Lower

[tto] 6a (Vigorous). 15,800 (2000), increasing.

Ta’oih, Upper

[tth] 6a (Vigorous). 30,900 in Laos (1995 census), increasing. 21,600 monolinguals (1995). Total users in all countries: 49,900.

Tareng

[tgr] 6a* (Vigorous). 5,000 (Wurm and Hattori 1981).

Thai, Northern

[nod] 6a* (Vigorous). 29,500 in Laos (2005 census).

Yang

[pcc] 6a* (Vigorous). 5,840 in Laos (2015 census), based on ethnicity.

6b (Threatened)

Aheu

[thm] 6b* (Threatened). 250 in Laos (Bradley 2007b). Ethnic population: 500 (Bradley 2007b).

[bgl] 6b (Threatened). 8,000 (Schliesinger 2003b), based on ethnicity.

Con

[cno] 6b* (Threatened). 1,000 (Wurm and Hattori 1981).

Halang Doan

[hld] 6b* (Threatened). 2,350 in Laos (2000).

Hani

[hni] 6b (Threatened). 740 in Laos (2015 census), decreasing, based on ethnicity.

Khua

[xhv] 6b* (Threatened). 2,000 in Laos (1981).

Kiorr

[xko] 6b* (Threatened). 2,360 (1985 F. Proschan).

Kuan

[uan] 6b* (Threatened). 890 (2015 census), based on ethnicity.

Kuay

[kdt] 6b (Threatened). 46,600 in Laos (2015 census), based on ethnicity. 34,200 monolinguals (2005).

Lü

[khb] 6b* (Threatened). 126,000 in Laos (2015 census), based on ethnicity.

Maleng

[pkt] 6b (Threatened). 500 in Laos (Bradley 2007a). Ethnic population: Less than 1,000. Total users in all countries: 1,700.

Phana’

[phq] 6b* (Threatened). 380 (Schliesinger 2003c). Ethnic population: Included within the Ahka [ahk] ethnic group.

Saek

[skb] 6b* (Threatened). 3,840 in Laos (2015 census), based on ethnicity.

Salang

[hal] 6b* (Threatened). 4,000 in Laos (Asian Minorities Outreach 1999b).

Samtao

[stu] 6b* (Threatened). 3,420 in Laos (2015 census), based on ethnicity.

Sou

[sqq] 6b* (Threatened). 2,500 (Schliesinger 2003b).

Tai Daeng

[tyr] 6b* (Threatened). 25,000 in Laos (Asian Minorities Outreach 1999b).

Tai Khang

[tnu] 6b (Threatened). 200. Ethnic population: 1,500 (Schliesinger 2003a).

Tai Nüa

[tdd] 6b* (Threatened). 14,100 in Laos (2015 census), based on ethnicity.

Tai Pao

[tpo] 6b* (Threatened). 2,500 in Laos (Schliesinger 2003a). Total users in all countries: 12,500.

Yoy

[yoy] 6b* (Threatened). 2,000 in Laos (1999 census).

7 (Shifting)

Chepya

[ycp] 7 (Shifting). 1,000 (Bradley 2007b). Ethnic population: 2,000 (Bradley 2007b).

Chut

[scb] 7 (Shifting). 200 in Laos (Bradley 2007a). 50 May, 150 Ruc (Bradley 2007a). Ethnic population: 400 (Bradley 2007b).

Hung

[hnu] 7 (Shifting). 3,630 in Laos (2015 census), based on ethnicity. Total users in all countries: 4,130.

O’du

[tyh] 7 (Shifting). 600 in Laos (2015 census), decreasing, based on ethnicity.

Ong

[oog] 7 (Shifting). 10,300 (2000).

8a (Moribund)

Arem

[aem] 8a (Moribund). 250 in Laos (Enfield and Diffloth 2009). Ethnic population: 500 (1995).

Cham

[cja] 8a (Moribund). Ethnic population: 340 (Schliesinger 2003a).

Lavi

[lvi] 8a (Moribund). Ethnic population: 1,220 (2015 census).

Mlabri

[mra] 8a (Moribund). 40 in Laos (Schliesinger 2003b). Ethnic population: 67 (Schliesinger 2003d).

8b (Nearly extinct)

Tai Loi

[tlq] 8b (Nearly extinct). Ethnic population: 600 (Schliesinger 2003b).

Unestablished

Chinese, Mandarin

[cmn] Unestablished. 66,000 in Laos (2018 J. Leclerc), based on ethnicity.

Chinese, Yue

[yue] Unestablished. 18,000 in Laos (2018 J. Leclerc), based on ethnicity.

Khmer

[khm] Unestablished. 7,000 in Laos (2015 census), based on ethnicity.

Myen

[mya] Unestablished. 2,840 in Laos (2015 census).

Vietnamese

[vie] Unestablished. 18,900 in Laos (2015 census), based on ethnicity.

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