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People of Laos
Laos'
population is increasing at an average of 2.5 percent each
year, with the 2000 population estimates at over 5.2
million, with women outnumbering men. It is estimated that
if Laos continues to grow at it's current rate, the it's
population will almost double in the next 25 years.
As
life expectancy at birth is 55 years, only a small
fraction of the population is over 60 years old and almost
half of the remaining population (approximately 45
percent) under the age of 15.
The
population density of Laos is the lowest in Asia, with
about 21 people per square kilometer with the overwhelming
majority of the population residing in rural areas.
There
are about 49 ethnic groups in Laos with 4 main linguistic
families that are found all across Lao with each
comprising their own culture and traditions. These
groups can be classified into three separate groups:
approximately 56% in Lao Lum (Lowlanders), 34% in
Lao Theung (uplanders), and 9% Lao Soung (hill
tribes). (1993 estimate)
The
linguistic families are Lao-Tai; Mone-Khmer; Tibeto-Burmese;
and the Hmong-Ioumein. The eight groups within the
Lao-Tai family are - Gnaheune, Gnouane, Lao, Lue, Phouthai,
Saek, Tai, Thai Neua, and Young.
Mone-Khmer
consists of 32 groups, among them are the Bid, Brao, Harak,
Idou, Kabkae, Katang, Katou, Khmer, Khmu, Khom, Kri,
Krieng, Lavy, Lamed, Makong, Meuang, Ngouane, Oi, Pray,
Samtao, Singmou, Souai, Ta-oi, Thene, Toum, Trieng, Try,
Yeh and Yrou.
Seven
groups are within the Tibeto-Burmese family - Ahka, Hayi,
Hor, Lahou, Lolo, Sila, and Singsali. The
Hmong-Ioumen family has two main ethnic groups comprising
it - the Hmong and the Ioumein (Yao).
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Population:
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6,368,162 (July
2010 est.)
country
comparison to the world: 104 |
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Age
structure:
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0-14 years: 40.8%
(male 1,399,674/female 1,386,526)
15-64 years: 56.2%
(male 1,900,638/female 1,938,165)
65 years and
over: 3.1%
(male 90,144/female 119,198) (2010 est.)
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Median age:
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total: 20.7
years
male: 20.4
years
female: 21
years (2010 est.)
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Population
growth rate:
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1.712% (2010
est.)
country
comparison to the world: 72 |
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Birth rate:
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26.57
births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country
comparison to the world: 55 |
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Death rate:
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8.28
deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country
comparison to the world: 95 |
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Net
migration rate:
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-1.18 migrant(s)/1,000
population
country
comparison to the world: 160 |
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Urbanization:
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urban
population: 31%
of total population (2008)
rate of
urbanization: 5.6%
annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
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Sex ratio:
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at birth: 1.04
male(s)/female
under 15 years:
1.01
male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98
male(s)/female
65 years and
over: 0.75
male(s)/female
total
population: 0.98
male(s)/female (2010 est.)
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Infant
mortality rate:
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total: 61.19
deaths/1,000 live births
country
comparison to the world: 35
male: 67.36
deaths/1,000 live births
female: 54.78
deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
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Life
expectancy at birth:
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total
population: 62
years
country
comparison to the world: 181
male: 60.14
years
female: 63.94
years (2010 est.)
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Total
fertility rate:
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3.22 children
born/woman (2010 est.)
country
comparison to the world: 56 |
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HIV/AIDS -
adult prevalence rate:
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0.2% (2007
est.)
country
comparison to the world: 100 |
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HIV/AIDS -
people living with HIV/AIDS:
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5,500 (2007
est.)
country
comparison to the world: 122 |
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HIV/AIDS -
deaths:
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fewer than 100
(2007 est.)
country
comparison to the world: 140 |
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Major
infectious diseases:
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degree of risk:
very
high
food or
waterborne diseases: bacterial
and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid
fever
vectorborne
diseases: dengue
fever and malaria
note: highly
pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been
identified in this country; it poses a negligible
risk with extremely rare cases possible among US
citizens who have close contact with birds (2008)
(2009)
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Nationality:
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noun: Lao(s)
or Laotian(s)
adjective: Lao
or Laotian
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Ethnic
groups:
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Lao 55%, Khmou
11%, Hmong 8%, other (over 100 minor ethnic
groups) 26% (2005 census)
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Religions:
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Buddhist 67%,
Christian 1.5%, other and unspecified 31.5% (2005
census)
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Languages:
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Lao (official),
French, English, and various ethnic languages
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Literacy:
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definition: age
15 and over can read and write
total
population: 73%
male: 83%
female: 63%
(2005 Census)
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School life
expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
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total: 9
years
male: 10
years
female: 9
years (2008)
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Education
expenditures:
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2.3% of GDP
(2008)
country
comparison to the world: 164
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