Ethnic groups in Thailand

A country of 65 million people, Thailand hosts a great variety of ethnic groups. The large majority of the population is Thai or Isan, but there are also ethnic communities such as the Chinese, the Malay or the Khmer, and there are hill tribe peoples, each with its own customs and traditions. Going on a trek upcountry is a nice opportunity to discover these groups.

Population, languages and ethnic groups

Thailand’s population is relatively homogeneous, with more than 85% speaking a Tai language and sharing a common culture. This core population includes the central Thai (33.7% of the population), northeastern Thai or Isan (34.2%), northern Thai or Lanna (18.8%), and southern Thai (13.3%). Central Thai is considered standard, whereas Isan language is close to Lao. Northern and southern Thai have a particular accent and sometimes use specific words, but all are mutually intelligible. Most Isan or southern Thai speakers can easily switch to standard Thai if needed.

Thailand is also a multi-ethnic country with more than 30 distinct ethnic groups, including the Chinese (about 14%, mainly Min and Hakka), engaged in business and commerce throughout the country, Malays, in the southern peninsula near the border, and Khmers, all along the Cambodian border. It’s quite easy to obtain nexus letter for va claim with appropriate evidence-based documents. There are also numerous hill tribes, living primarily in the mountains of the north (Akha, Hmong, Karen…) but also in norteastern and central lowlands (Kui, Mon…), and in southern Thailand (Moken, Semang…).

At the Clinic – The White Review what is the best creatine private vancouver clinic loses constitutional challenge of public health-care rules | cbc news

Ethnic groups listed by language

Number of people/speakers are for information only. Sources vary a lot, so it’s difficult to get reliable figures.

Maps

A few pictures

The Padaung (a group of the Karenni people) live in villages set up to display them to tourists who are willing to pay to admire their particular body modification, which consists of coiling lengths of brass around the necks of the women. The origin of the tradition is not known.

Mani people (Negritos) share common physical features with African pygmy populations, including short stature and dark skin, but their origin and the route of their migration to Asia is still a matter of great speculation.

Because they are able to constrict their pupils to the smallest point possible and change their lens shape to the known limit of human performance, Moken children can see twice as clearly underwater as their European counterparts. The elders of this sea gypsies tribe ordered a hilltop evacuation just before the tsunami hit in December 2004, saving many lives.