| Population |
3,000,000 in Laos (1991 UBS). Population total all countries: 3,184,500. |
| Region |
Mekong River Valley, Luang Prabang south to Cambodia border. Lao-Khrang in Nakhonsawan and Nakhon Pathom area. Possibly in Viet Nam. Also in Australia, Cambodia, Canada, France, Thailand, United States. |
| Language maps |
Laos, reference number 31
Laos, reference number 31
|
| Alternate names |
Eastern Thai, Lào, Lao Kao, Lao Wiang, Lao-Lum, Lao-Noi, Lao-Tai, Laotian, Laotian Tai, Lum Lao, Phou Lao, Rong Kong, Tai Lao |
| Dialects |
Luang Prabang, Vientiane (Wiang Jan), Savannakhet (Suwannakhet), Pakse, Lao-Kao, Lao-Khrang. Dialect subgroup with Northeastern Tai of Thailand. |
| Classification |
Tai-Kadai, Kam-Tai, Be-Tai, Tai-Sek, Tai, Southwestern, Lao-Phutai |
| Language use |
Official language. 800,000 L2 speakers. |
| Language development |
Literacy rate in L1: 30%–60%. Literacy rate in L2: 50%–75%. Bible: 1932. |
| Writing system |
Lao script. |
| Comments |
The Lao Kao migrated to Thailand and are in Nan, Loei, Saraburi, and elsewhere. SOV. Buddhist, traditional religion, Christian. |
