The population of Lao PDR today is about 5 millions consisting of 49 Ethnic Groups in four main linguistic families, according to preliminary figures given to Symposium on the name of ethic group on August 13-14/2000.

1.The Lao-Tai family includes eight groups

2.The Mone-Khmer family has 32 ethnic groups

3.The Hmong-Ioumien category has two main tribes: Hmong and Ioumien (Yao).

4.The Tibet-Burmese family includes seven ethnic groups.

Religion

Buddhism first appeared in Laos during the eighth century A.D. as shown by both the Buddha image and the stone inscription founded at Ban talat (Talat village) near Vientiane, now exhibited at the Museumm of Ho Prakeo. After the foundation of the unified Kingdom of Lane Xang, King Fa Ngum (14th century) declared Buddhism as the state relition and urged the people to abandon animism or other beliefs such as the cult of spirits. His poplicy meant to develop the Lao culture based on a common faith: the Theravada Buddhism. Today Theravada Buddhism is the professed religion of about 90 percent of Lao people. Buddhism is an inherent feature of daily liffe and casts as strong influence on Lao society. Lao women can be seen each morning giving alms to monks, earning merit to lessen the number of their rebirth. Lao men are expected to become monks for at least a short time in their lives.

Traditionally they spend three months during the rainy season in a Vat, a Buddhist temple. But nowadays most men curtail their stay to one or two weeks.

Language

Lao language is the national language. Languages used widely particularly in Vientiane are French, English, Chinese and Vietnamese. French and English languages are used widely for commercial or telecommunicational languages. These languages are spoken in most hotels, guesthouses, restaurants and shops in main cities but some in local areas.

(Source: Lao News Agency)