Lao DNA
Genetic origins and closest populations · Laos · Southeast Asia
Laos is the only landlocked country of Southeast Asia, stretched along the middle Mekong, and its Lao majority speak a Tai-Kadai language very close to the dialects of northeastern Thailand. The kingdom of Lan Xang, founded in the 14th century, is seen as the beginning of the Lao state. In our model, the Lao average is 54.0% Southeast Asian Neolithic farmer, 29.1% Southern Chinese Neolithic farmer and 16.8% East Asian. Compared with the Thai average, it has more of the Southeast Asian Neolithic component and no South Asian-related share at all, which fits a history further from the Indian Ocean trade routes. The closest modern averages are Cambodian and Khmer samples (0.035 and 0.0388), then Tai speakers, Dai and Tai Lue from Yunnan, and the Htin, an Austroasiatic-speaking hill people of the Laos-Thailand border. The closest ancient group is Bronze Age Nui Nap in northern Vietnam (0.0354), followed by Tang-era people from Shenxian and Lada in Guangxi.
- Ancient components in our model: Southeast Asian Neolithic farmers 54.0%, Southern Chinese Neolithic farmers 29.1%, East Asian 16.8%
- Closest modern population in our data: Cambodian, distance 0.0350
- Closest ancient group in our data: Vietnam BA Nui Nap, distance 0.0354
Where does Lao DNA sit on the genetic map of the world? To answer, we take the averaged Global25 (G25) coordinates of the Lao individuals sampled in Laos and compare them with deep ancestral reference populations, with other modern groups and with ancient genomes. It is one of 335 populations in our atlas.
Ancient make-up of the Lao average
In a model built from deep ancestral reference populations, the largest share of the Lao average, 54.0%, goes to Southeast Asian Neolithic farmers, ahead of Southern Chinese Neolithic farmers (29.1%) and East Asian (16.8%). The Southeast Asian Neolithic farmers component reflects the Neolithic farmers of mainland Southeast Asia. The Southern Chinese Neolithic farmers share (29.1%) reflects the Neolithic rice and millet farmers of southern China, whose descendants spread into Southeast Asia.
The fit is acceptable (fit distance 0.032): treat the proportions as a good approximation rather than exact values. This population was modelled with a global set of reference populations (ancient genomes, plus modern stand-ins where no suitable ancient genome exists), because West Eurasian sources alone cannot describe it.
Closest modern populations to Lao
Among the modern populations in the G25 data, the closest to the Lao average is Cambodian, at a distance of 0.035 (close). Next come Khmer (Cambodia) at 0.039 and Dai at 0.042. By the tenth closest (Blang) the distance grows to 0.047, a common pattern for a population that shares ancestry with its neighbours while keeping a profile of its own.
| # | Population | Distance | Closeness |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cambodian | 0.0350 | Close |
| 2 | Khmer (Cambodia) | 0.0388 | Close |
| 3 | Dai | 0.0415 | Close |
| 4 | Tai (Lue) | 0.0421 | Close |
| 5 | Tai (Lue Thailand) | 0.0440 | Close |
| 6 | Htin (Mal) | 0.0446 | Close |
| 7 | Dai (Yunnan Xishuangbanna) | 0.0449 | Close |
| 8 | Zhuang (Guangxi Donglan) | 0.0462 | Close |
| 9 | Kinh | 0.0462 | Close |
| 10 | Blang | 0.0466 | Close |
Distances are Euclidean distances between averaged G25 coordinates. On our scale, below 0.025 is very close, below 0.050 close, below 0.080 moderate, and beyond that distant.
Closest ancient populations to Lao
If we search ancient DNA for the best match to Lao, Vietnam BA Nui Nap (Bronze Age) comes first, at 0.035, with China Guangxi HP Sui-Tang Dynasty Shenxian next. That is a close match: much of the modern profile was already present then, while later movements of people added further layers. A close ancient match is not proof of direct descent: it means those individuals carried a similar overall mix of ancestry.
| # | Ancient sample or group | Period | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vietnam BA Nui Nap | Bronze Age | 0.0354 |
| 2 | China Guangxi HP Sui-Tang Dynasty Shenxian | Tang dynasty, 618-907 AD | 0.0374 |
| 3 | China Lada 1300BP | c. 650 AD | 0.0380 |
| 4 | China Cenxun 1400BP | c. 550 AD | 0.0396 |
| 5 | China Yunnan HP Nanzhao-Dali Long Ma | Historical period | 0.0409 |
| 6 | China Shenxian 1300BP | c. 650 AD | 0.0416 |
| 7 | China Guangxi HP Southern Tang Dynasty Lada | Tang dynasty, 618-907 AD | 0.0420 |
| 8 | China Guangxi HP Jin-Southern Dynasties Layi | Historical period | 0.0432 |
| 9 | China Yunnan HP Yuan Dynasty Dou-Sha-Guan | Historical period | 0.0450 |
| 10 | China Yunnan HP Hanging Coffin-Nanzhao Wa Shi | Historical period | 0.0453 |
Ancient DNA from Laos
Our ancient DNA database holds 4 individuals excavated in present-day Laos, dated from about 5,922 BC to 378 BC. The most frequent Y-DNA haplogroups among them are O1b (2) and C1b (1), and the most frequent mtDNA haplogroups are N9 (2), F1 (1) and M5 (1). These are people who lived on the same land in the past, not necessarily ancestors of today's Lao population.
Browse them in our ancient DNA database: 4 from Laos.
Compare yourself with Lao
Paste your G25 coordinates (scaled, one line, with or without a name in front) and we compute your genetic distance to the Lao average and to its closest neighbours, right in your browser. Nothing is uploaded or stored.
| # | Population | Your distance | Closeness |
|---|
This list only covers Lao and its neighbours. To find out which of our reports actually fits your DNA, run the free Report Finder: it runs the same fit test that every report uses before an order.
No G25 coordinates yet? Get a free simulated G25 from your raw DNA file, or order G25 coordinates.
About these numbers
A word of caution: these figures describe the average of the Lao individuals who were sampled, not every person who identifies as Lao. Individuals vary around that average, and identity is about history, language and family, not about a genetic score. Read this page as a map of deep ancestry, not as a definition.
Method: averaged G25 coordinates, Euclidean distances to other modern and ancient averages, and a non-negative least-squares model against deep ancestral reference populations (data generated 2026-10-01). Read the full method.
Go deeper than the average
This page describes the Lao average. For your own DNA, Advanced Ancestry Report (16€) gives a full ancestry breakdown with no regional focus, in a personal PDF report.
Comprehensive DNA analysis comparing your genetics to over 2,000 modern reference populations.
More populations from Southeast Asia
Frequently asked questions
What is the ancient genetic make-up of Lao?
Modelled with deep ancestral reference populations, the Lao average is about 54.0% Southeast Asian Neolithic farmers, 29.1% Southern Chinese Neolithic farmers and 16.8% East Asian. These proportions are model estimates for a group average, not exact values for any one person.
Which populations are genetically closest to Lao?
In the G25 data, the closest modern populations to the Lao average are Cambodian, Khmer (Cambodia) and Dai. The closest ancient matches are Vietnam BA Nui Nap, China Guangxi HP Sui-Tang Dynasty Shenxian and China Lada 1300BP.
Can a DNA test tell me if I am Lao?
No DNA test can confirm an ethnicity or a nationality. What DNA can show is how similar your genome is to the sampled Lao average and to its neighbours. If you have G25 coordinates, paste them in the comparison box on this page to check that for free.
Which ExploreYourDNA report suits Lao ancestry?
None of our regional reports is built for Lao ancestry, so the full Advanced Ancestry Report (no regional focus) is the better choice. The DNA Mega-Analysis adds Neanderthal %, traits and closest ancient populations. The free Report Finder checks every report against your own DNA first.
Where does the data on this page come from?
From the averaged Global25 (G25) coordinates of the sampled individuals: genetic distances to other modern and ancient population averages, and a non-negative least-squares model against deep ancestral reference populations. The full method is described at https://www.exploreyourdna.com/populations#method.