People group profile · PG009467
The Lao of Myanmar
The Lao of Myanmar, numbering about 26,000 people, are No Longer Unreached. They are a Lao community in Myanmar's Shan borderlands that maintains the language, traditions, and cultural heritage of a Tai people closely related to the Shan and Thai.
They are a diaspora people in the Lao people cluster of the Southeast Asian Peoples. Their primary religion is Theravada Buddhism, and they primarily speak Lao.
Fast facts
- Country
- Myanmar
- Population
- 26,000
- Affinity group
- Asian Pacific Rim Peoples
- People cluster
- Lao
- Primary language
- Lao (lao)
- Primary religion
- Theravada Buddhism
- Strategic Progress Index
- No Longer Unreached
- Evangelical
- 2% or Greater but Less than 5%
- GSEC
- 2% or Greater but Less than 5% Evangelical
- Lostness priority
- Minimally Reached People Group
- Region
- South-Eastern Asia, Asia
Where they live
Gospel status
The Lao are No Longer Unreached, which means 2% or more are evangelical Christians. In GSEC terms, this people group is greater than or equal to 2% evangelical.
- Congregations exist Yes
- Church planting in the last two years No Churches Planted
Next steps for the Lao
- Pray for the churches among this group to grow in faithfulness and maturity
- Equip believers to reach the unreached peoples around them
- Send out laborers from this people to the nations
Primary religion
Theravada Buddhism · Buddhism
54% adherents
Primary language
Lao · Tai-Kadai family
100% speak Lao
Gospel resources in Lao
- Bible available
- JESUS Film available
- Radio programs not available
- Gospel recordings available
- Audio resources available
- Bible stories not available
Films
Bibles
- Revised Lao Version · audio, text
Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.
Pray for the Lao
- Psalm 27:1. Pray that new believers will be strengthened in the face of persecution, with the Lord as their stronghold.
- Romans 12:4–5. Pray that believers from many cultures will work together as one body so that the church is built up.
- Revelation 7:9. Pray for the day when people from this group stand before the throne with every nation, tribe, people and language.
- John 17:3. Pray that many will come to know the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom he has sent.
Lao in other countries
The same people (ROP3 105643) is reported in 7 other countries.
| People group | Country | Population | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lao | Laos | 3,975,000 | Engaged yet Unreached |
| Lao | United States | 236,000 | Engaged yet Unreached |
| Lao | Vietnam | 206,000 | Unengaged and Unreached |
| Lao | Cambodia | 41,000 | Engaged yet Unreached |
| Lao | France | 19,500 | Engaged yet Unreached |
| Lao | Canada | 17,000 | Engaged yet Unreached |
| Lao | Argentina | 2,300 | Unengaged and Unreached |
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