The Lisu people (Burmese: လီဆူလူမျိုး, [lìsʰú]; Chinese: 傈僳族, Lìsù zú; Thai: ลีสู่; Lisu: ꓡꓲ-ꓢꓴ or ꓡꓲꓢꓴ) are a Tibeto-Burman ethnic group who inhabit the mountainous regions of Burma (Myanmar), Southwest China, Thailand, and the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh.
About 730,000 live in Lijiang, Baoshan, Nujiang, Diqing and Dehong prefectures in Yunnan Province, China. The Lisu form one of the 56 ethnic groups officially recognized by the People's Republic of China. In Burma, the Lisu are known as one of the seven Kachin minority groups and an estimated population of 450,000 Lisu live in (Katha District and Khamti District) Sagaing Division, (Pyin Oo Lwin District) Mandalay Division, Kachin and Shan State in Burma. Approximately 55,000 live in Thailand, where they are one of the six main hill tribes. They mainly inhabit the remote country areas. Their culture has traits shared with the Ayi culture.
Thailand is a country with many distinct ethnic groups, just like other countries, including the majority Thai and numerous hill tribes living primarily in the mountains of the north. The Thai (or ethnic Tai) and Thai Chinese make up approximately 90% of the nation's population of approximately 67.5 million.[citation needed]