Mulao are classified as belonging to the Gelao nationality, but Mulao do not understand other Gelao languages. There are only a few elderly speakers (possibly already dead) in Longli (龍里), Majiang (麻江), Guizhou, China.

"mostly in the ‘unclassified nationality’ group but a few classified in Mulao, the Mulam Kam-Sui nationality of northern Guangxi... Much of the group speaks only Chinese or other minority languages" (p.406)