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Languages

Languages of Laos

VientianeLocal time

Languages, writing systems and language context

ລາວ
COUNTRY LANGUAGE PROFILE
ລາວ
Lao
Text direction: LTR

Lao is the official language of Laos, and Lao script is the country’s official script.

1
Core language shown
Country-level reference set
Lao
First listed core language
Not a speaker-share estimate
1
Writing system represented
Across the core language set
LTR
Primary text direction
Additional directions noted below

Language Overview

Lao

Read the Characters

Lao · 47 characters

Lao · 47 characters
k
kh
kh
ng
ch
s
ny
n
b
p
ph
f
ph
f
m
y
r
l
w
s
h
a
aa
i
ii
y
yy
u
uu
e
ei
o
ay
ai
m

How to Read the Language Landscape

PolicyLegal and administrative language status may differ between national and subnational government.
Everyday useA language can be socially dominant without being the only language used at home, school, work or in media.
Community diversityIndigenous, minority, migrant and sign languages can remain important even when they are not part of a short national headline list.

Frequently Asked Questions

What languages are used in Laos?

Lao is the official language of Laos, and Lao script is the country’s official script.

What writing systems are used in Laos?

The represented writing system is Lao and the primary direction shown is left to right.

Sources & methodology

View sources used for this page
Constitution of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic

Constitutional text with an English translation endorsed by the Law Committee of the National Assembly. Article 89 states that Lao language and Lao script are officially used.

Unicode CLDR: Country/Region Names

Localized country display-name reference. CLDR names are customary UI/display names, not claims about a state’s full constitutional long-form name.

Unicode: Supported Scripts

Reference for the writing-system/script families represented in the character component.

Unicode: Writing Direction and Bidirectional Text

Reference for left-to-right and right-to-left script direction and bidirectional text behavior.

Unicode Character Database: NamesList

Reference for Unicode character names used as small readout labels under selected character samples; these labels are not presented as a complete transliteration standard.