The category ‘Laotian American' includes all ethnic groups who lived within the borders of Laos, except the Hmong community.

[4] Refugees began arriving in the U.S. after a Communist government came to power in Laos in 1975 and by 1980, the Laotian population of the U.S. reached 47,683, according to census estimates.

The states with the largest Laotian American populations (including the Hmong from Laos) are California (58,424, 0.2%), Texas (13,298, 0.1%), Minnesota (10,065, 0.2%), Washington (9,333, 0.2%), Colorado (7,434, 0.1%), Tennessee (6,336, 0.1%), Illinois (5,822, 0.1%), North Carolina (5,566, 0.1%), Georgia (5,560, 0.1%), Florida (4,896, 0.05%), and Oregon (4,692, 0.1%).

In the Southwestern and Midwestern United States, there are Laotian communities in Denver, Colorado; Storm Lake, Iowa (400; 4%), and Wichita, Kansas (1,594; 0.4%).

[14] Additional Laotian communities exist in the Los Angeles Metropolitan area and in the Inland Empire region (i.e. Banning).

[15] A Pew Research Center study published in 2019 found that the poverty rate had dropped to 13% which is equal to the national average.

Published in San Diego by a small volunteer staff, the magazine has reached widespread national circulation within the Laotian-American community.

After the publication ceased, former staff member and Yale University graduate Siamphone Louankang created the popular online magazine LaoAmericans.com,[24] which continues to share stories by and about Americans of Laotian descent.

[26] American animated sitcom, King of the Hill between 1997 and 2010, featured ten Laotian-American animated characters in various roles, to include series regulars, recurring, guest roles, or single appearances: The subject of Jamie Wyeth's painting Kalounna in Frogtown is Laotian American.

Krysada Binly Phounsiri (Lancer) & Kennedy Phounsiri (EraNetik), brothers from San Diego, California who share the same passion for breakdancing, were featured on season 6 of America's Got Talent with a dance team called the Body Poets and are now current performers in the Jabbawockeez - "MÜS.I.C" Show in Las Vegas, Nevada.

CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (season 6), in episode 2 titled “Room Service” both the murder victim and perpetrator are Laotian American.

While many of the individuals discussed in this section may not be notable among the general U.S. population, they are considered pioneers in sport within the Laotian American community and many are believed to be the first to compete at a national level or higher.

Phoothaphone “Ko” Chandetka is a nationally recognized competitive body builder of Laotian descent[29] who has competed on and off for over twenty years.

Ko won his first NPC title in 1991 at the age of nineteen and competed at the national level as recently as 2016 when he placed 7th in the Mr. Olympia contest.

[30][31][32][33] Examples of Laotian American football players competing at the NCAA Division I level include Scott Phaydavong (Drake University),[34][35] Ramaud Chiaokiao-Bowman (Northwestern),[36] Taisun Phommachanh (Clemson),[37][38] Malachi Moore,[39] Tyler Phommachanh (University of Connecticut),[40][41] and Nous Keobounnam (Oregon State).

[48] Angelina Messina, a competitive swimmer from Illinois who is of mixed Laotian and Italian heritage, competed in the 2020 United States Olympic Trials at the age of sixteen.