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People group profile · PG020896

The Cali of Laos

The Cali of Laos, numbering about 23,000 people, are Unengaged and Unreached. They are an indigenous So-Bru-speaking people concentrated near the Vietnam border in Savannakhet and Khammouan provinces, known for alternating folk songs and origin legends.

They are an indigenous people in the Mon-Khmer people cluster of the Southeast Asian Peoples. Their primary religion is Animism, and they primarily speak Sô.

Pray for the CaliPrint profile

AI-generated illustration representing the Cali people
AI-generated illustration, not a photograph. Photo by Google. (2026). Image generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash: Cali

Fast facts

Country
Laos
Population
23,000
Affinity group
Asian Pacific Rim Peoples
People cluster
Mon-Khmer
Primary language
Sô (sss)
Primary religion
Animism
Strategic Progress Index
Unengaged and Unreached
Evangelical
Less than 2%
GSEC
Less than 2% Evangelical, No Recent CP Activity
Lostness priority
Expanding Unreached People Group
Region
South-Eastern Asia, Asia
Location
Bolikhamxai, Khammouan, Savannahkhet provinces

Where they live

Gospel status

The Cali are Unengaged and Unreached, which means fewer than 2% are evangelical Christians, and there has been no reported church planting activity in the past two years. 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 No
  • Church planting in the last two years No Churches Planted

Next steps for the Cali

  • Pray that God would send workers to this people group
  • Begin sowing the gospel and seek out people of peace
  • Plant the first churches consistent with evangelical faith and practice

Primary religion

Animism · Ethnoreligion

98% adherents

Primary language

Sô · Austroasiatic family

100% speak Sô

Gospel resources in Sô

  • Bible available, published 2014
  • JESUS Film not available
  • Radio programs not available
  • Gospel recordings available
  • Audio resources available
  • Bible stories not available

Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.

Pray for the Cali

  1. Ephesians 5:8. Pray that those walking in darkness will turn to the light and live as children of light.
  2. Romans 10:14–15. Ask God to send messengers, so that people can hear, believe and call on the name of the Lord.
  3. Matthew 9:37–38. Ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest field.
  4. 2 Timothy 2:2. Pray for faithful local leaders who will teach others, so that the church multiplies.

Download a prayer guide

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