Explore Thai ethnicity and people. Discover Thailand ethnic groups, learn about the divisions within the Thai ethnicity, and understand the minority ethnic groups.
Updated: 11/21/2023
Thailand Ethnicity | Overview & Groups
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Frequently Asked Questions
What ethnicity is someone from Thailand?
There are more than 30 ethnic groups in Thailand. Someone from Thailand could belong to any of these ethnic groups but the majority of people belong to Thai ethnicity.
Is Thai a race or ethnicity?
Race is used to describe the physical characteristics of individuals that are related to their genetic makeup, while ethnicity refers to cultural identification. The Thai ethnic group is the most prevalent in Thailand and is comprised of several races.
Table of Contents
ShowThailand is a country located in Southeast Asia. The capital is the city of Bangkok. The population of Thailand as of 2022 is approximately 70 million people. Many of the people in Thailand live in agricultural villages, but some also reside in urban areas, such as the city of Bangkok. Thailand is surrounded by Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, and the Gulf of Thailand, making the nation prone to immigration from these countries. Thailand's ethnic groups are, therefore, numerous and contribute to the cultural, language, and religious diversity that exists across the region. The term 'Thai' is both a national and ethnic term for the dominant population of Thailand. Thai languages are predominantly spoken, but the Malay dialect of the indigenous Malay people is also common. Indigenous groups have strongly adopted Thai culture and language.
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There are more than 30 ethnic groups in Thailand, with Thai ethnicity accounting for approximately 95% of the population. Within the Thai ethnic group, there are descendants from many races, such as Chinese, Mon, Khmer, Lao, and Indian.
The Central Thai People
The Central Thai people are the most numerous, prominent, and politically dominant group in Thailand. They have historically been located in Bangkok, along the Central Alluvial Plain around the Chao Phraya River. People in this region speak dialects that are the most similar to the traditional Thai language. This region of the country has the best economic growth and people from other regions migrate there to seek opportunities.
The Northern Thai Group
Northern Thai people descended from the Lanna kingdom, which is an ethnic Thai state that previously ruled over the Northern regions of the country. Northern Thailand is mainly populated by Tai Yuan people. Tai Yuan people have developed special textiles that distinguish them from other groups. Northern Thai people are also unique in their dialects and culture. They speak the Kammuang dialect and uphold the practices of Buddhism.
The Southern Thai Population
Southern Thailand is located on the Malay Peninsula. There is a great influence of the Malay culture and languages on the Southern Thai people. Most people in this lower region are Muslims, and their language is similar to that of the central Thailand region. A significant number of Chinese migrants also inhabit this region, mainly to work in the tin mines.
The Eastern Thai People
Eastern Thai people, also called Lao or Isan, are native of the northeastern region. Many people in this region live along the Cambodian border. Their language and culture are strongly influenced by Khmer traditions. This region is known as the poorest and is home to a significant portion of the Thailand population. The eastern region is home to many farm workers and most households rely on agriculture as their primary source of income. There is also rich culture and language in the region.
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There are several ethnic minorities in Thailand, although the majority of its population is Thai, or Isan.
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The Burmese Population
Burmese people are those who are native to Myanmar where it is the native language. Myanmar is a neighboring country to Thailand and many of its inhabitants have sought refuge there for over 30 years. In fact, Myanmar natives represent the largest migrant worker population in Thailand. Many of these refugees live in refugee camps on the Thai-Burma border.
The Malay People
Malay people are members of the ethnic group of the Malay Peninsula in southeast Asia. The Malay ethnic group is the 6th largest in Thailand. Most Malay citizens are Muslims, while Thai citizens are Buddhists. The differences in religion, culture, and language have been a source of conflict between these groups in southern Thailand for some time. The Malay-Muslim insurgency has gained much attention worldwide, with rebel attacks and the constant fear that other Islamic extremist groups may be attracted.
The Khmer Population
The Khmer ethnic group in Thailand is an ethnolinguistic group that descended from Cambodia. Between the 9th and 13th centuries, Khmer populations increased significantly, covering a wide area of Thailand with over one million individuals. Khmer speakers populate regions in north-east Thailand, known as Surin, Buriram, and Srisaket provinces. Khmer people are traditionally agricultural and in Thailand, they predominantly engage in wet rice agriculture. The Khmer language is the most frequently spoken after Thai, the country's native language. Khmer speakers are known to practice Theravada Buddhism, a religion that is common to other cultural groups in the region.
The Chinese People
Approximately 10% of the Thailand population is Chinese, and the Chinese make up a significant minority in the region. They are known to work as storekeepers, as many of them own businesses. Most of the people have adopted the Thai culture, speaking their languages and practicing Theravada Buddhism. These Chinese people are known as Sino-Thai. Chinese discrimination was prominent in the early 20th century, but they have become an integral part of the society with significant contributions to the economy.
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Thailand is a major nation of Southeast Asia. There are more than 30 ethnic groups in Thailand. The term 'Thai' is both a national and ethnic term for the dominant population of Thailand. Approximately 95% of the total population of Thailand identifies ethnically as Thai. The Central Thai people groups generally have more political power, and their customs are often held up as national standards. Eastern Thai people, also called Lao or Isan, are the poorest group and they make up a significant percentage of the population. Southern Thailand is located on the Malay Peninsula, and its population is greatly influenced by Malay culture. Northern Thai people descended from the Lanna kingdom and speak the Kammuang dialect.
Ethnic minorities in Thailand include the Chinese, Malay, Burmese, and Khmer people. The Chinese ethnic group accounts for approximately 10% of the Thailand population and is a significant minority group in the region. Differences in religion between Thai people, who are predominantly Buddhists, and Malay people, who are Muslims, has led to increasing violence in southern Thailand. Burmese people in Thailand are largely a refugee community, fleeing violence in nearby Myanmar.
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Thailand
Okay, this week's homework assignment: go eat some Thai food. If you've tried Thai food before, you already know why. If you haven't, now you have an excuse to. You're welcome. While you're at it, take some time to get to know the Thai people too. Thailand, a nation of Southeast Asia, is home to almost 68 million people. It's a pretty busy place, and definitely something worth checking out. But who are the Thai? As in many countries, this question is not as simple as it seems. Let's check it out, but first make sure to grab a plate of some Tom Kha Kai, some Khao Pad, some Gaeng Keow Wan Kai, or some Pad Thai, and save me some.
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Thai Ethnicity
Nationally, all citizens of Thailand are called Thai. This is also the name of the largest ethnic group in Thailand. That's no accident. Like many other nations, the government of Thailand has put a lot of effort to creating a sense of national unity, based around the idea of shared ethnic heritage. Basically, the government wants everyone to think of themselves as ethnically Thai. There are reasons for this. Southeast Asia had a rough history in the 20th century, as various wars were fought by outside influences for control. Thailand is actually the only nation of Southeast Asia to never have been formally colonized by a European empire, but some of those influences did impact the nation. Today, Thailand is also struggling greatly with issues like AIDS, so promoting national unity is an important priority for the government. The emphasis on a single Thai ethnicity also has historical precedent, since most of the region existed as the unified Thai kingdom of Siam since the 14th century.
Knowing all of this, it's probably unsurprising to hear that about 96% of people in Thailand identify as ethnically Thai. Of course, this isn't quite as simple as it seems. The Thai ethnicity is, in reality, a combination of a variety of closely-related ethnic groups that live within the region. The most numerous are the Central Thai, who historically lived around what is now Bangkok. The Central Thai not only have a numerical majority, but also political dominance in the nation. When the government says they want people to be Thai, this is the specific group of Thai they have in mind.
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However, there are others, mostly grouped by geography. The Northern Thai groups have a distinct dialect and history, being descendants of the Lanna kingdom. The Southern Thai live mainly in the lower peninsula, also speak a distinct dialect of the Thai language, and many have formed close relationships with the large number of Malay people in that region. Finally are the Isaan, a group of Thai who are descendants of Lao people in Northwest Thailand. For a while, this group was simply called Lao, but today that name has taken on a somewhat pejorative insinuation. There are a large number of Isaan people, but they tend to be more impoverished and less politically represented than the Central Thai majority.
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Ethnic Minorities in Thailand
The last 4% of Thailand's population is composed of various ethnic minority groups, mostly from Southeast Asia. Officially, the Burmese hold the largest population of ethnic minorities at about 2% of the population. This is largely a result of wars in Burma (today called Myanmar), and most of this community is composed of political refugees. Life as a refugee can be very hard, and Burmese refugees in Thailand are lacking many political rights.
Thailand is also home to Chinese and Khmer populations, but one other ethnic minority group has been gaining lots of attention lately. In the southern parts of the nation, a growing number of Malay people have been coming into increasingly violent conflict with the Thai majority. Why? The Malay groups are predominantly Muslim, while the Thai are traditionally Buddhist. For a long time these groups coexisted quite harmoniously, but rising extremism since the early 2000s has redefined that relationship, with car bombings and other attacks becoming unfortunate realities of southern Thailand. This is not often termed an ethnic conflict, since it's more accurately rooted in religious ideologies, but that ethnic component does exist. It's just one more reason that the Thai government is so interested in promoting a national Thai unity.
Lesson Summary
Thailand is a major nation of Southeast Asia. Ethnically, about 96% of people in Thailand identify as Thai, largely thanks to government programs to encourage national and ethnic unity. Realistically, there are many groups of Thai ethnicities. The largest, the Central Thai, are generally in control of the nation's politics. The other groups, the Northern Thai, Southern Thai, and Isaan, tend to be more marginalized and are encouraged to emulate the Central Thai dialect and customs as a national standard. Beyond the Thai, there are some major ethnic minorities in Thailand. Burmese refugees are a major population now, although many are still lacking in political rights. Malay people also traditionally have strong populations in the south, although recently this group has been at the center of extremist violence in the nation. So, that's Thailand. There's a lot more to it than just great food.
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Thailand Ethnicity | Overview & Groups
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