Catholic Church

in

Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Laos)

Also known as: le Laos (français), Laos (Deutsch, español, Italiano, polski, Português), 老撾 (正體中文), ラオス (日本語), Laotia (latine)

By Type (4)

Apostolic Vicariates (4)

By Rite

Roman Rite (4): Luang Prabang, Pakse, Savannakhet, Vientiane

by Type | by Name | by Ecclesiastical Province
Changes in Dioceses | Vacant Dioceses | Former Dioceses

Apostolic Delegation: Laos

Conference of Bishops: Conférence Episcopale du Laos et du Cambodge

International Meeting of Bishops’ Conferences: Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences (F.A.B.C.)

Documents

Geography

Continent: South and East Asia

Capital: Vientiane

Area: 230,800 km²

Population: 7,126,706

Neighbouring Countries: ← Myanmar , ↑ China , → Vietnam , ↓ Cambodia , ↓ Thailand

Cultural Summary

Religions: Buddhist 64.7%, Christian 1.7%, none 31.4%, other/not stated 2.1%

Languages: Lao (official), French, English, various ethnic languages

Ethnic Groups: Lao 53.2%, Khmou 11%, Hmong 9.2%, Phouthay 3.4%, Tai 3.1%, Makong 2.5%, Katong 2.2%, Lue 2%, Akha 1.8%, other 11.6%

Motto: (Peace, independence, democracy, unity and prosperity)

Statistics (2023.12.31)

Area: 236,800 km²

Catholic Population: 54,000 Catholics (0.7% of 7,550,000 total)

Pastoral Centres: 179 parishes, 74 mission stations (5 with resident priest, 69 without resident priest), 2 other centres

Clergy: 4 bishops (2 diocesan, 2 titular), 55 priests (29 diocesan, 26 religious)

Non-Clergy: 108 religious (4 brothers, 104 sisters), 8 members of secular institutes (sisters), 19 major seminarians, 343 catechists

Consecrated Persons (Not Ordained)

Seminarians

Lay Missionaries

Catechists

Last updated on 2026.05.28