Khaling Rai is one of the Rai languages. It belongs to the Tibeto-Burman language family. According to the census (2001), the population is around 9,288. Based on the UNESCO Language Survey Report Nepal (2002), the total population is between 15,000 and 20,000. Most of this people group is located in Solu Khumbu, Khotang, Bhojpur, Sankhuwasawa, Terhathum, Panchtar and Ilam districts.