Pwo

Pwo refers to the Pwo Karen, a major sub-group of the Karen people, an ethnic group primarily located in Myanmar (Burma) and, to a lesser extent, in Thailand. The Pwo Karen are one of the two largest Karen branches, the other being the Sgaw Karen. They speak the Pwo language, a Karenic language within the Sino-Tibetan family, with several dialects that vary in mutual intelligibility. In Myanmar, Pwo communities are mainly found in eastern regions such as Kayin State and neighboring areas, with smaller populations across the border in Thailand; diaspora communities also exist due to displacement and migration.

Traditionally, Pwo society is organized around village life with kin-based clans and local leadership. The economy has been predominantly agricultural, including rice farming and shifting cultivation, with weaving and other crafts playing important cultural roles, particularly for women. Religious life among the Pwo is diverse: many practice Protestant Christianity, others follow Theravada Buddhism, and some retain traditional animist beliefs. Missionary activity in the 19th and 20th centuries contributed to the growth of Christian communities among the Pwo.

Historically, the Pwo Karen are part of the broader Karen ethnolinguistic group that settled in the Myanmar borderlands centuries ago. In recent decades, political conflict and displacement within Myanmar have affected many Pwo communities, leading to refugee movements into Thailand and resettlement in other countries.