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• Area: 237,000 sq.km.
• Geography: Landlocked; part of Indo-China between Thailand, Vietnam and China. Mountainous and 70% forested
• The majority of people live in lowlands along the Mekong River
• Capital: Vientiane, 377,500
• Urbanization: 16%

Over 103 ethnic-linguistic groups known; but land inadequately surveyed. During 1975-1979 over 10% of the population fled the country.

• Lao-Tai 66.3%--17 groups
  • Largest: Lao 2,444,000
  • Tai (7) 165,000
  • Phu Thai 128,000
  • Phuan 96,000
  • Lue 20,000
• Mon-Khmer 21.4%--62 groups
  • Largest: Khmu 384,000
  • So 102,000
  • Kui 64,000
  • Bru 64,000
  • Kantu 38,000
  • Ta-Oi 38,000
  • Laven 32,000
  • Brao 23,000
• Hmong (Miao) 7.6%--4 groups
  • Largest: Hmong (2) 256,000
  • Mien (Yao) 70,000
• Sino-Tibetan 1.44%--8 groups
  • Largest: Phunoi 20,000
  • Sila 19,000
  • Akha 6,400
• Other 3.2%
  • Vietnamese 76,000
  • Chinese 25,000
  • Khmer 10,000
  • Westerners 1,000

Official language: Lao
All languages: 90
Languages with Scriptures: 6 Bibles; 7 NT; 10 portions
Literacy: 43%

Laos' economy is mainly a subsistence agricultural economy. The Vietnam war, the disastrous implementation of Marxist economics in 1975-79, flight of skilled workers, bureaucratic confusion, and the lack of cheap communications to the sea all help to make Laos one of Asia's poorest lands. Economic pressure is stimulating sweeping reforms and creating a market economy. Income per person is $170 (0.8% of USA).

Laos became independent from France in 1954. Lao and Vietnamese Communist forces finally conquered the whole country in 1975. There has been considerable anti-government guerrilla activity in the northwest. A pawn in the super-power conflict until 1990, by 1992, the Communist leaders were still in full political control despite economic liberalizations.

Communist persecution of Christians was harsh between 1975 and 1978. Thereafter, restrictions were eased, though the churches are suspected as potentially subversive, and are watched. Restrictions remain on public evangelism, building of churches and links with foreign organizations. Buddhism is regaining some of its old influence.

The Church suffered much in the early years under Communism. Two-thirds of all Christians fled, others backslid, but those who remained stood firm through years of isolation. Many others were converted in the ensuing years, and the Church is steadily growing.

Much of Laos has yet to be evangelized. After years of hard work, CMA and Christian Brethren missionaries saw significant breakthroughs among the Hmong, Khmu and Ngeq (over half the 4,000 Ngeq are Christian).

Over 90% of all trained leaders left Laos in 1975. Only ten men with Bible training remain. Pray that all informal study programs (in refugee camps, by radio and through TEE) may help existing leadership be adequately equipped.

During the Communist reign, over 350,000 people fled the country; 80% now live in North America, Europe, Australia and New Zealand. The remainder live in refugee camps in Thailand. The 70,000 refugees in Thailand are slowly returning home as conditions improve. There are 5,000 Christians among them. The Hmong resisted Communism for years and a high proportion became refugees. Nearly a quarter of these people are now Christian -- in over 100 churches in the USA, France and French Guiana. There are only about 1,200 Hmong Christians in Laos itself. The numerous small colonies of refugees from other tribal groups are hard to reach, yet vital for the eventual discipling of their homeland communities. Missionary work is not officially permitted, but a number of expatriate believers are ministering with considerable freedom through 11 non-governmental organizations administering aid and relief.

information source: Johnstone, Patrick. Operation World. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 1993.

For more information on tentmaking opportunities, please contact the Global Partnerships office.