People group profile · PG020442
The Lao of Cambodia
The Lao of Cambodia, numbering about 41,000 people, are Engaged yet Unreached. They are a community descended from Lao settlers who migrated into northeastern Cambodia and maintain a distinct Lao identity in the Mekong borderlands.
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
- Cambodia
- Population
- 41,000
- Affinity group
- Asian Pacific Rim Peoples
- People cluster
- Lao
- Primary language
- Lao (lao)
- Primary religion
- Theravada Buddhism
- Strategic Progress Index
- Engaged yet Unreached
- Evangelical
- Less than 2%
- GSEC
- Less than 2% Evangelical, No Recent CP Activity
- Lostness priority
- Frontier Unreached People Group
- Region
- South-Eastern Asia, Asia
Where they live
Gospel status
The Lao are Engaged yet Unreached, which means fewer than 2% are evangelical Christians, but there are sustained efforts to establish self-sustaining churches consistent with evangelical faith and practice. In GSEC terms, this people group is less than 2% evangelical, some evangelical resources are available, but there has been no active church planting among them within the past two years.
- Congregations exist Yes
- Church planting in the last two years No Churches Planted
Next steps for the Lao
- Continue prayer and fasting for this group
- Continue gospel seed sowing and church planting among this group
- Begin training up local leaders to lead and develop strategies to reach their own people
Primary religion
Theravada Buddhism · Buddhism
57% 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
- Romans 10:14–15. Ask God to send messengers, so that people can hear, believe and call on the name of the Lord.
- Matthew 9:37–38. Ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest field.
- 2 Timothy 2:2. Pray for faithful local leaders who will teach others, so that the church multiplies.
- Ephesians 5:8. Pray that those walking in darkness will turn to the light and live as children of light.
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 | Myanmar | 26,000 | No Longer 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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