Languages · Asia
What Language Do They Speak in Laos?
The official language of Laos is Lao. In total about 71 living languages are spoken there, the most common being Lao (69%), Tai Dam (10%) and Tai Long (9%).
1
Official language
71
Living languages · #28
0
Regional official languages
19
Endangered languages
Official languages of Laos
Most spoken languages in Laos
All languages of Laos (71)
| Language | Speakers here | Family | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lao | 5,487,956 · 69% | Tai-Kadai | Official |
| Tai Dam | 760,000 · 10% | Tai-Kadai | Safe |
| Tai Long | 720,000 · 9% | — | — |
| Khmu | 461,306 · 6% | Austroasiatic | Safe |
| Eastern Bru | 300,000 · 4% | Austroasiatic | Threatened |
| Northern Katang | 300,000 · 4% | Austroasiatic | Safe |
| Southern Katang | 300,000 · 4% | Austroasiatic | Safe |
| Hmong Njua | 238,606 · 3% | Hmong-Mien | Safe |
| Ir | 220,000 · 3% | Bookkeeping | Safe |
| Kriang | 220,000 · 3% | Austroasiatic | Vulnerable |
| Ong | 220,000 · 3% | Austroasiatic | Vulnerable |
| Hmong Daw | 182,931 · 2% | Hmong-Mien | Safe |
| Sô | 120,000 · 2% | Austroasiatic | Safe |
| Kuy | 76,354 · 0.96% | Austroasiatic | Moribund |
| Phunoi | 35,600 · 0.45% | Sino-Tibetan | Threatened |
| Phong-Kniang | 30,700 · 0.39% | Austroasiatic | Vulnerable |
| Talieng | 29,000 · 0.36% | Austroasiatic | Safe |
| Laven | 28,000 · 0.35% | Austroasiatic | Vulnerable |
| Oy | 24,000 · 0.3% | Austroasiatic | Safe |
| Western Katu | 23,000 · 0.29% | Austroasiatic | Vulnerable |
| Rmeet | 20,000 · 0.25% | Austroasiatic | Safe |
| Lower Ta'oih | 10,000 · 0.13% | Austroasiatic | Safe |
| Nyaheun | 9,000 · 0.11% | Austroasiatic | Safe |
| Khuen | 8,000 · 0.1% | Austroasiatic | Safe |
| Alak | 4,000 · 0.05% | Austroasiatic | Safe |
| Bo (Laos) | 3,700 · 0.05% | — | — |
| Con | 2,400 · 0.03% | Bookkeeping | Threatened |
| Chepya | 2,000 · 0.03% | Sino-Tibetan | Vulnerable |
| Tay Khang | 1,500 · 0.02% | Tai-Kadai | Vulnerable |
| Aheu | 1,200 · 0.02% | Austroasiatic | Vulnerable |
| Kuan | 890 · 0.01% | Tai-Kadai | Threatened |
| Chut | 650 · 0.01% | Austroasiatic | Vulnerable |
| Tai Loi | 500 · 0.01% | Austroasiatic | Threatened |
| Lavi | 500 · 0.01% | Austroasiatic | Moribund |
| Sapuan | 480 · 0.01% | Austroasiatic | Safe |
| Phana' | 350 · 0% | Sino-Tibetan | Vulnerable |
| Mlabri | 28 · 0% | Austroasiatic | Vulnerable |
| Arem | 20 · 0% | Austroasiatic | Nearly extinct |
| Bit | — | Austroasiatic | Moribund |
| Brao | — | Austroasiatic | Threatened |
| Western Bru | — | Austroasiatic | Threatened |
| Halang | — | Austroasiatic | Threatened |
| Halang Doan | — | Austroasiatic | Threatened |
| Hung | — | Austroasiatic | Vulnerable |
| Jeh | — | Austroasiatic | Safe |
| Kavet | — | — | — |
| Eastern Katu | — | Austroasiatic | Safe |
| Kang | — | Bookkeeping | Safe |
| Mal | — | Austroasiatic | Safe |
| Nyaw | — | — | — |
| Pacoh | — | Austroasiatic | Threatened |
| Maleng | — | Austroasiatic | Vulnerable |
| Phai | — | Austroasiatic | Vulnerable |
| Puoc | — | Austroasiatic | Safe |
| Sedang | — | Austroasiatic | Safe |
| Saek | — | Tai-Kadai | Vulnerable |
| Sila | — | Sino-Tibetan | Vulnerable |
| Sou | — | Austroasiatic | Vulnerable |
| Trieng | — | Austroasiatic | Safe |
| Samtao | — | Austroasiatic | Safe |
| Tareng | — | Bookkeeping | Safe |
| Tai Thanh | — | Tai-Kadai | Safe |
| Tai Pao | — | Tai-Kadai | Threatened |
| Tampuan | — | Austroasiatic | Moribund |
| Ts'ün-Lao | — | Tai-Kadai | Safe |
| Upper Ta'oih | — | Austroasiatic | Safe |
| O'du | — | Austroasiatic | Moribund |
| Tai Do | — | Tai-Kadai | Threatened |
| Khua | — | Bookkeeping | Safe |
| Kiorr | — | Bookkeeping | Threatened |
| Yoy | — | Tai-Kadai | Vulnerable |
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Frequently asked questions
What language do they speak in Laos?
The official language of Laos is Lao. In total about 71 living languages are spoken there, the most common being Lao (69%), Tai Dam (10%) and Tai Long (9%).
What is the official language of Laos?
Lao.
Is English spoken in Laos?
English is not widely spoken in Laos — learn a few words of Lao before you go.
How many languages are spoken in Laos?
About 71 living languages — #28 in the world for linguistic diversity. 19 of them are endangered.
Data: Languages of the World dataset (MIT) — ISO 639-3, Glottolog (CC BY 4.0), Unicode CLDR, Google LinguaMeta (CC BY 4.0) and Wikidata; country lists: samayo/country-json (MIT).