Laos

The people of Laos are called Laotians. There are officially 68 ethnic groups in Laos. Among the largest are the Kammu, believed to be the original inhabitants of Laos. About 6 percent of all Laotians are Lao-lum, or lowland Lao; they are related to the people of Thailand (see Volume 9). Other groups include the Lao-theung, or slope dwellers, who form about one-third of the population; and the Laosoung, or mountain dwellers, who constitute about one-tenth of the population.