More than 7,000 Tai Kaleun people live in central Laos. The majority are located in the Khamkeut District of Borikhamxai Province, where they comprise a considerable proportion of the overall population of the district (47,805 in the 1995 census). The average size household in Khamkeut District is 6.4 people.
A small, geographically separated number of Tai Kaleun have moved to the Nakay District of Khammouan Province. In addition, Tai Kaleun are reportedly located in Thailand, although it is very difficult there to distinguish them from the Isan. Why or when the Tai Kaleun migrated to Thailand is uncertain.
The Tai Kaleun were not counted separately in the 1995 Lao census. They were probably either counted as part of the Lao or Phutai ethnic groups.
Even though the Tai Kaleun view themselves as a distinct ethnicity, their language is considered only a dialect of Lao and not a separate variety. In Thailand, the Tai Kaleun have been listed merely as a dialect group of Thai Isan.
The Tai Kaleun practice a mixture of Theravada Buddhism and animism. In Laos, there are major differences between the two Buddhist sects.
Maha Canla, a Buddhist monk from the Lao Thammayut sect, wrote. "In Laos the division was very wide. It was if neither sect recognized the other as made up of Lao people. They were completely distinct from each other, and were always trying to get the better of each other.. The entire Lao population was divided on the same basis, so that a young man who was an adherent of the Mahanikai could on no account marry a young woman who was an adherent of Thammayut, because their parents would not allow it. The trouble was the political left was aware of this weak point and they managed, by inciting the two sides and spreading evil rumors, to make the gap wider and wider."
Over the course of many centuries, while the two Buddhist sects in Laos struggled for supremacy, the Tai Kaleun have waited to hear the Gospel for the first time. Today, they are still waiting.
Pray the Tai Kaleun would soon receive a powerful and culturally-relevant presentation of the Gospel.
Ask God to thrust forth laborers into His harvest field of Borikhamxai.
Pray Lao Christians would be motiv-ated to take the Gospel to the linguistically similar Tai Kaleun people.
Scripture Prayers for the Tai Kaleun in Laos.
Profile Source: Peoples of Laos, Asia Harvest Copyrighted © Used with permission |
People Name General | Tai Kaleun |
People Name in Country | Tai Kaleun |
Alternate Names | Kalerng; Kaleum; Kaleun; Kaleung; Khalong; Lao Kaleun; Laoeng; Tai Kaleung; Tai Kelung |
Population this Country | 3,400 |
Population all Countries | 12,000 |
Total Countries | 2 |
Indigenous | No |
Progress Scale | 4 ● |
Unreached | No |
Frontier People Group | No |
GSEC | 1 (per PeopleGroups.org) |
Pioneer Workers Needed | |
People ID | 16147 |
ROP3 Code | 111245 |
Country | Laos | ||
Region | Asia, Southeast | ||
Continent | Asia | ||
10/40 Window | Yes | ||
Persecution Rank | 31 (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking) | ||
Location in Country | In Thailand, the Kaleung inhabit the provinces of Mukdahan (Don Tan and Chanuman districts), Nakhon Phanom (Muang District) and parts of Sakhon Nakhon Province. The majority of Kaleung in Laos are located in the Khamkeut District of Borikhamxai Province. Source: Peoples of the Buddhist World, 2004 |
Country | Laos |
Region | Asia, Southeast |
Continent | Asia |
10/40 Window | Yes |
Persecution Rank | 31 (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking) |
Location in Country | In Thailand, the Kaleung inhabit the provinces of Mukdahan (Don Tan and Chanuman districts), Nakhon Phanom (Muang District) and parts of Sakhon Nakhon Province. The majority of Kaleung in Laos are located in the Khamkeut District of Borikhamxai Province.. Source: Peoples of the Buddhist World, 2004 |
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Primary Religion: | Buddhism |
Major Religion ▲ | Percent |
---|---|
Buddhism |
93.00 %
|
Christianity (Evangelical 5.41 %) |
7.00 %
|
Ethnic Religions |
0.00 %
|
Hinduism |
0.00 %
|
Islam |
0.00 %
|
Non-Religious |
0.00 %
|
Other / Small |
0.00 %
|
Unknown |
0.00 %
|
Primary Language | Thai, Northeastern (3,400 speakers) |
Language Code | tts Ethnologue Listing |
Primary Dialect | Central Isan |
Dialect Code | 17417 Global Recordings Listing |
Language Written | Yes ScriptSource Listing |
Total Languages | 1 |
Primary Language | Thai, Northeastern (3,400 speakers) |
Language Code | tts Ethnologue Listing |
Primary Dialect | Central Isan |
Dialect Code | 17417 Global Recordings Listing |
Total Languages | 1 |
People Groups | Speaking Thai, Northeastern |
Primary Language: Thai, Northeastern
Bible Translation ▲ | Status (Years) |
---|---|
Bible-Portions | Yes (1972–1996) |
Bible-New Testament | Yes (2016) |
Bible-Complete | No |
Possible Print Bibles | |
---|---|
Amazon | |
World Bibles | |
Forum Bible Agencies | |
National Bible Societies | |
World Bible Finder | |
Virtual Storehouse |
Resource Type ▲ | Resource Name | Source |
---|---|---|
Audio Recordings | Audio Bible teaching | Global Recordings Network |
Audio Recordings | Isan Bible Online | General / Other |
Audio Recordings | Story of Jesus audio | Jesus Film Project |
Film / Video | Indigitube.tv Video / Animation | Create International |
Film / Video | Jesus Film: view in Thai, Northeastern | Jesus Film Project |
Film / Video | My Last Day video, anime | Jesus Film Project |
Film / Video | The Hope Video | Mars Hill Media |
Film / Video | World Christian Videos | World Christian Videos |
General | Gospel resources links | Scripture Earth |
Photo Source | Copyrighted © 2023 Peoples of Laos, Asia Harvest All rights reserved. Used with permission |
Profile Source | Peoples of Laos, Asia Harvest Copyrighted © Used with permission |
Data Sources | Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more. |