Lao people

The Lao people are a Tai ethnic group native to Southeast Asia, primarily inhabiting Laos and northeastern Thailand. They speak the Lao language, part of the Kra–Dai language family, and are the dominant ethnic group in Laos. Other Lao communities reside in Thailand’s Isan region, Cambodia, Vietnam, and Myanmar.

Prior to Laos gaining independence from French colonial rule in 1953, the terms "Lao" and "Laotian" were applied interchangeably to all inhabitants of Laos, regardless of their ethnic background. Since independence, "Lao" has come to refer specifically to the ethnic group, while "Laotian" denotes any citizen of Laos, irrespective of ethnicity. Some countries and international organizations continue to use these terms interchangeably in their demographic statistics.