Features of the population of Thailand: size, geographical location. Economy and population of Thailand The annual population of Thailand is

For a European person, all Asians initially look the same. Having traveled around the world, he begins to distinguish between Japanese, Koreans, Chinese and Thais. Here a new problem arises: how to distinguish the peoples of Thailand from each other, if there are as many as 74 of them?

The multinationality of Thailand has developed historically and economically. Many who live in Thailand have crossed the border at one time: these are refugees, migrants, emigrant workers, and simply businessmen. To a tourist, they usually look like representatives of the same ethnic group, and this is not surprising: 80% of the population of Thailand are native Thais. Other nationalities often live in border areas (Lao and Saek near Laos, Malays near the border with Malaysia, Karen along the entire border with Burma). Many peoples of Thailand live in their own ethnic villages (Akha in the villages of Chiang Rai province, Lisa in Mae Hong Son province, Lahu in Chiang Mai). Some live in the mountains (bru, kensiu). Because the ethnic composition The Thai population is very diverse, it is customary to divide it into several groups, where the nationalities are quite close.

The first group are the peoples who lived in states on the territory of modern Thailand. The most numerous of them are the Lao (about 18% of the population). As the name suggests, the Lao migrated to Thailand from Laos. Most of them settled on the border, but many Lao are now moving to work in more prosperous areas of Thailand. The people speak a mixture of Thai and Laotian languages. Lao are slightly darker than native Thais and have smaller facial features.

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From the group of Thai peoples, it is worth highlighting the yuan. Their territory only joined Thailand in 1930, and to this day not every Yuan considers himself Thai, even those who have lived in Thailand since birth. The roots of the Yuan are in the ancient kingdom of Lanna, whose lands, after the collapse of the country, belonged either to Burma or to the king of Siam. Thanks to this, representatives of the people differ from the native Thais in their lighter skin tone and wide faces. Despite the fact that even those peoples who do not ethnically belong to the Thais speak Thai, the Yuans keep their own Yuan language, which, although similar to Thai, is rather a dialect of Siamese. Previously, all of northern Laos spoke Yuan. Now these peoples of Thailand number about 3 million representatives and live in Chiang Mai.

Another ethnic group of this group, the Lys, also speaks the Yuan language. They are easily recognized by the red turbans worn by women, as well as by the numerous tattoos that are common among both sexes. Tattoos are also popular among the Dais. They can be easily identified by their professed religion - Theravada Buddhism. If you see palm leaves painted with sutras near a house, the Dais probably live here.

Grigory Skoblo, traveler, blogger

I lived a lot in Thai minority villages and always confused them. For example, Lahu and Lisu are very similar, they live nearby, but the nationalities are different. In national costumes, I learned to distinguish them, but only the older generation wears this, and young people wear modern clothes, and you can’t tell them apart. But the Thais never took offense, they were good-natured: what can they take from a European?

Photo: Shutterstock

Another one large group, which is part of the peoples of Thailand, are Malay-Polynesian ethnic groups. First of all, these are, of course, the Malays, whose numbers are highest in the city of Pattani. They are distinguished by religion: in Thailand, 94% of the population professes Buddhism, while the Malays are Muslims. Pattani is considered an entirely Islamic city and is called "Petani" (peasant) in Malay. The small number in Thailand (4000 people) of the Cham, the Indonesian people who settled in Thailand, also belong to Muslims. In addition, there are Hindus among the Chams. A distinctive feature of the Chams is the matriarchal structure of the family: the bride chooses the groom, and the eldest woman dominates the family. But under the influence of modernity and neighboring Islamic peoples living in Thailand, the eastern Chams have adopted patriarchy and even polygamy.

Sea gypsies also belong to the Malay-Polynesian peoples (where would we be without them?). Urak Lawoi, as they are called in Thailand, often moor their boats (“kabangs”) off the coast of Phuket, Phi Phi and Krabi province. Due to their permanent residence on the water, the people were almost completely destroyed by the 2004 tsunami. Now it has only 2,000 representatives.

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The main people of the Mon-Khmer group, which is also part of the peoples of Thailand, are the Vietnamese. These are immigrants from Vietnam who have preserved their language and traditions. Actually, they can be distinguished from Thais by their national clothes and language. In addition, the Vietnamese, especially the men, are smaller than the Thais. The Khmers are descendants of Cambodians who emigrated to Thailand. Their skin is darker, and they most often settle in the mountains (then they are called “mountain Khmers”). Among the mountain Khmers, the Negritos are the easiest to identify. As the name suggests, these are black representatives of the ethnic group. Among the Negritos there is a special group: the Semangs. These are local shamans who exorcise evil spirits and perform magical rituals. In addition to their skin color, they can be recognized by their filed teeth.

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Among the Palung-wa group, it is very easy to recognize immigrants from China - the Bulans. Among this people, staining teeth black is considered a sign of beauty. The Bulans still live in tribes of three or four families. Their funeral traditions are interesting. If Bulan died a natural death, he is buried. If it is violent, they burn it. It is believed that the killing curse burns with the body. The Bulans also add their own beliefs to the traditional Buddhism in Thailand.

Ethnic Wa also follow the traditional faith - perhaps the most mystical representatives of the peoples of Thailand. Among the Wa, the worship of skulls is very widespread: until the mid-twentieth century, they hunted human heads for rituals.

Photo: Shutterstock

A significant part of the population of Thailand is a group of Tibeto-Burmese peoples. The most famous of them, the Padaungs, became famous for their tradition of stretching the necks of their women by gradually adding metal rings. A woman’s neck is stretched from infancy until marriage (in fact, it is the shoulder girdle that is lowered under a weight of 3–5 kg). The Padaung people of Thailand often explain this tradition as a desire to protect women from tiger bites. Some call rings a symbol of wealth and prosperity. In fact, it was customary for this people to trade women, and the rings helped keep the fair sex in the village, preventing women from adapting among other nationalities. Nowadays, wearing rings brings good money to the Padaungs: the most famous village of this people, Nai Soi, receives 1,500 tourists annually, and entry costs 250 baht.

Photo: Shutterstock

The Lahu people do not abuse women like the Padaung, but femininity is considered ugly and shameful among their members. The Lahu have a cult of androgyny and masculinity.

The most numerous representatives of the Tibeto-Burman group are the Burmese, immigrants from Myanmar. Despite similar religious and cultural customs, the Burmese are lighter in color than the native Thais. Their families are patriarchal, but the main breadwinner is usually the wife.

Photo: Shutterstock

The Lisu tribe are not only the most ardent representatives of the belief in spirits (animism) in the country, but also the main suppliers of drugs among those living in Thailand. It is the cultivation of opium poppy that brings the foxes their main, albeit illegal, income.

The Chinese group represents 14% of the population in Thailand. Most Chinese live in Bangkok, although there are plenty of them in any other region. The ancestors of the people moved to Thailand in search of better life, and then began to organize themselves into groups that differed from the kind and warm-hearted Thais in their considerable cruelty. Therefore, until the mid-twentieth century, strong anti-Chinese sentiments persisted in Thailand - all the peoples of Thailand did not like the Chinese. Even now, representatives of Chinese ethnicity live in separate areas, usually called “Chinatowns”. It is not difficult to distinguish a Chinese from a Thai: their faces are wider, their hair is darker, and their eyes are narrower. Many Chinese women are concerned about maintaining the whiteness of their skin, so they wear gloves and an umbrella under the hot Thai sun.

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Thailand's other non-indigenous population includes many Portuguese, Indians, Japanese and Koreans. But it is much easier to distinguish them from the Thais, so you can easily cope with this task yourself.

Anyone who has traveled to Thailand may have noticed how different one resort is from another. And these differences are not only in beaches, cuisine and prices, but also in people. The population of Thailand as of 2015-2016 is more than 53 million people. But not only Thais live in Thailand, but many other Asian nationalities who have chosen different regions of the country for themselves.

Population of Bangkok

During our life in Bangkok, we found out that the capital lives great amount Koreans and Chinese. The Chinese took a fancy to the capital of Thailand many years ago and slowly began to develop their business, open guesthouses and live wonderfully in this smiling country. Enterprising and hardworking Koreans have occupied the niche of businessmen and managers in large corporations and have also found their place in the sun in Bangkok.

Thais at the bus station in Bangkok

Who lives in Pattaya

In the most popular resort in Thailand, Pattaya, the situation is completely different. Thais predominate here. Here they live on their own, run their own guest houses and inexpensive hotels. They sell food at the market, feed the whole of Pattaya with Thai cuisine from makashniks, sell clothes and get along wonderfully with other nationalities.

Many Thai women from poorer provinces, for example from Isaan, come to Pattaya to work and become masseuses. By the way, we were in one of the cities in the poorest province of Isaan, look at our report on the conditions in which people live there:

However, a considerable number of Khmers (immigrants from Cambodia) and Laotians (visitors from Laos) live in Pattaya. These are the guys who work for little money Pattaya beaches, selling you souvenirs and glasses with umbrellas.

On the left sits a Khmer woman (Cambodia). They are easily recognized by their cap with a large visor

They also work on construction sites and build luxury condominiums, which are then occupied by wealthy Koreans, Chinese, Russians and many others. The same applies to the Laotians. They work as cleaners, gardeners, and earn money on beaches and construction sites.

Who lives in Krabi

Krabi is a completely different Thailand. The province is radically different from both Pattaya and Bangkok. And Muslims live here. Krabi's proximity to the resorts of Malaysia has an effect. When we lived in Krabi, we could not understand at all why it was not Buddhist-Thais who lived here, but Thai-Muslims. And the answer was very simple. These people come from the beautiful and beloved country of Malaysia.

• See the article about the capital of Malaysia:

Muslims in Krabi

Where can I order a transfer from the airport?

We use the service - KiwiTaxi
We ordered a taxi online and paid by card. We were met at the airport with a sign with our name on it. We were taken to the hotel in a comfortable car. You've already talked about your experience In this article

They come to Krabi and live here for years. Just like the Thais, they work in cafes, keep their own shops and live an ordinary life. They have joined the rhythm of Thai sabai and judging by their numbers, they are not going to return to any Malaysia.

In addition to Thais and Muslim Malays, Nepalese live in Krabi. The people from Nepal are smart, overly sociable and not as timid as the Malays. Walking through main street, leading to Ao Nang beach, you can feel all their importunity from your own experience.

• Read:

This is because the Nepalese have an established restaurant business in Krabi. They target customers who they feel are tired of Thai food and have always wanted to try Indian food. Walking along the main street towards the sea, they will shout Russian words at you, inviting you to their restaurant. Or even try to shake hands and then, without letting go, take you into your cafe or costume store.

Therefore, when coming to Krabi, do not be surprised that you will hardly see Thai way of life and real Thai life in Krabi. For this it is better to go to Pattaya. But it won’t hurt anyone to get to know Muslims and understand how polite, tolerant and good-natured the Malays are. And as a bonus, you will see what Nepalese people look like and how similar they are to Indians (residents of India).

Population of Phuket

Phuket is another side of Thailand. In Phuket, as well as in Krabi, Muslims (Malays) live in large numbers. This is especially true in the Kamala and Surin region. Surin is almost completely given over to Muslims. I won’t make up or come up with ratios in numbers, but sometimes it seems to me that there are fifteen percent Thais in Phuket. They are still in shops, markets and massage parlors. And 50 percent of the residents are Muslim Malays.

• Read:

Muslims of Phuket

Buddhism and Islam miraculously coexist in Phuket. Buddhist temples and mosques also exist quite peacefully side by side.

Mosque in Kamala


Mosque in Patong

Last month we flew to Laos to apply for visas. And when we flew back to Phuket, we took a transfer. The taxi driver turned out to be resourceful; on the way from the airport he told us about every town we passed, and also told us about local population. It turns out that Muslim Malays calmly marry and create families with Buddhist Thais. No one infringes on the interests and religion of the partner.

• Our experience of ordering a taxi online:

And then beautiful children are born in mixed families

Who are the other 30% of people in Phuket? I will answer you. In addition to Muslims and the Thais lost among them, Burmese live in Phuket. Not a day will go by without you meeting a Burmese (people from Burma). It so happened that in the past Phuket was captured by Burma, and now there are much fewer native Thais here, and the Burmese confidently settled on the land of the island of Phuket. So they stayed here to live, raise their children and work.

In Phuket songthaew you most often travel in company with Burmese people

How to distinguish a Burmese from a Thai? Yes, very simple. All the Burmese smear talc on their faces, and then wash it off, as if poorly, so that the talc is visible. Take a closer look at the photo above, the woman’s face in a white blouse is stained with white talcum powder.

If the cheeks are not smeared with talc, then we are most likely Thais

Some Burmese are even difficult to distinguish. They sometimes look like Indians. While buying a swimsuit for me one day, we got into a conversation with the saleswoman, whom Slava thought was from India, but it turned out that she was from Burma. I moved to Phuket 20 years ago and have stayed here.

But it is not only the imprint of history that has given rise to so many Burmese living in Phuket. Burma itself is very close to Phuket. And it’s no secret that despite the development of Asian countries in terms of tourism, Burma remains a very poor country where people have nothing to eat and nowhere to work. Therefore, Buramans go to Phuket to earn money in order to feed their children and not die of hunger themselves. They plow at construction sites, clean hotels, and work in parks and gardens. They take on any business that brings in income.

And finally, there remains another 5%, purely from my observations, which I would allocate to Indians, Nepalese and Iranians.

Nepalese and Indians here, as in Krabi, work in restaurants and run their own business suit shops called "Taylor". They are always very intrusive and try to start a conversation with the standard phrase: Hello, my friend! How are you? Where are you from? (Hello, my friend! How are you? Where are you from?) This is a typical phrase, the same for everyone. And then cunning maneuvers follow to slowly drag you with a smile into his store of men's jackets, suits and women's evening dresses.

I also began to notice that there are many Arab nationalities in Phuket - Iranians, Algerians and residents of the UAE and Saudi Arabia. I think most of them just come on vacation, like our Russians. Such a quantity is in Phuket, but in Krabi and Pattaya they were not so noticeable.

And of course, Russians and Europeans in Phuket also took root and have been living here with their families for many years. Some got a Thai wife and children. Others are looking for adventure in the company of many trannies, which are not uncommon in Phuket, as well as in Pattaya.

Shemales in a massage parlor (left and right)


Trans aged

As you can see, the population of Thailand varies greatly according to nationality. Resorts and cities in Thailand are inhabited by completely different people, with their own religions and habits. The main thing is that everyone continues to live in peace and harmony, despite completely different views on life.

It’s not for nothing that Thailand is called the “Land of Smiles”, because there live very polite and hospitable people who love to smile. Probably, Thais develop the habit of smiling from an early age under the influence of Buddhism. This is not surprising considering that there are over 18,000 Buddhist temples in Thailand. Something else is amazing in Thailand - nature, mountains, palaces, ancient monasteries and temples, pagodas, floating markets, Thai cuisine, Thai massage, coral islands, and, of course, white sandy beaches surrounded by palm and coconut groves.

Geography of Thailand

Thailand is located on the Indochina Peninsula in South-East Asia. Thailand borders Laos and Cambodia to the east, Malaysia to the south, and Myanmar and Laos to the north. In the east of the country there is the Gulf of Thailand, which belongs to the South China Sea, and the western shores are washed by waters Andaman Sea. The total area of ​​Thailand, including islands, is 514,000 square meters. km., and the total length of the state border is 4,863 km.

There are several geographical regions in Thailand. In the west, south and north are mountain systems, and in the east is the Korat plateau. The most high peak– Mount Doi Intanon, whose height reaches 2,565 m. In the central part along the Chao Phraya River is the Menam Lowland. It is the Chao Phraya that is considered the largest river in Thailand.

Capital

The capital of Thailand is Bangkok, which is now home to more than 15 million people. The history of Bangkok dates back to the 15th century.

Official language of Thailand

The official language of the population of Thailand is Thai, which belongs to the Thai-Kadai language family.

Religion

More than 94% of the population of Thailand professes Theravada Buddhism (the most conservative branch of this religion).

Government of Thailand

According to the current Constitution, Thailand is a constitutional monarchy. The head of state is the King, and the head of government is the Prime Minister.

The bicameral parliament in Thailand is called the National Assembly, it consists of the Senate (150 senators) and the House of Representatives (480 deputies).

The main political parties in Thailand are the For Thailand Party and the Democratic Party.

Climate and weather

The climate in Thailand is tropical with high rainfall. On west coast country, the monsoon brings rain from April to November, and on east coast The rainy season lasts from September to December.

At all, best time to visit Thailand - from November to February. During this cool season, the air temperature in Bangkok ranges from +18C to +32C.

The summer period (i.e. the hot, dry season) lasts from March to June. In Bangkok at this time of year average temperature air temperature is +34C, but often reaches +40C. Try not to go to Thailand in April, unless, of course, you plan to swim in the ocean all the time. The fact is that April is the hottest month in Thailand.

The monsoon season continues from July to October in Thailand. Floods often occur in the country at this time.

Sea in Thailand

In the east of Thailand there is the Gulf of Thailand, which belongs to the South China Sea, and the western shores are washed by the waters of the Andaman Sea. The total length of the coast is 3,219 km. The average annual water temperature is +26-29C.

Rivers and lakes

The largest river in Thailand is the Chao Phraya River, which flows through the Menam Lowland in the central part of the country. Another large local river is the Mun, which is a tributary of the Mekong River. The Tapi River flows through the south of Thailand, it originates in Khao Lang and flows into the Gulf of Thailand near the city of Surat Thani.

Also in the south of Thailand is the most big lake of this country is Lake Songkhla, located near the city of the same name. Its area is 1,040 km. sq.

Story

Archaeological finds indicate that people lived on the territory of modern Thailand already 10 thousand years ago, and they began to grow rice more than 5 thousand years ago. The ancient Thais were nomads, and their ancestral homeland is still not precisely known.

Buddhism began to spread in the territory of modern Thailand around the 3rd century BC. From the 9th to the 11th centuries, Thailand was part of the Khmer Kingdom.

In the XIII-XVII centuries, there were two strong Thai states - Sukhothai and Ayutthaya, which formed Thai principalities. Interestingly, the Europeans were never able to establish their protectorate over Thailand (it was called Siam in the Middle Ages and in modern times).

In 1932, after a bloodless revolution, the absolute monarchy in Thailand became a constitutional monarchy. In 1939, Siam officially became Thailand.

After World War II, Thailand experienced several military coups. Only in 1997, after the adoption of the new Constitution, the political situation in this Asian country has stabilized.

Thai culture

Thailand's culture is rooted in family and Buddhist traditions. Thai children are taught to respect parents, elderly people, teachers, and Buddhist monks. Every Thai village has a Buddhist temple, which is the center of local life. This is why Thais are so polite and friendly.

In April, Thai people celebrate the New Year (Songkran). To be more precise, Thais celebrate this holiday for three days - from April 13 to April 15. Before the New Year, Thais do a thorough cleaning of their homes to throw away all the bad luck of the past year.

Songkran begins with the distribution of food to Buddhist monks, who appear on the streets on this holiday in the morning. Then the youth pours water on everyone (including themselves), after which folk festivities, games, and dances begin.

Other popular festivals in Thailand are Visakha Puja (May), Rocket Festival, Full Moon Night (November) and Elephant Festival (November).

Kitchen

Thai cuisine is considered one of the best in all of Asia. Indian and Chinese culinary traditions had a noticeable influence on it. The staple food is rice, which is eaten at every meal. Other staple foods in Thailand are noodles, fish, and seafood. Meat is not often eaten in this country (due to its high cost).

We warn you that most Thai dishes very spicy. Therefore, if you do not like a lot of spices, in a restaurant simply tell the waiter “No spicy.”

In Thailand, we recommend that tourists try rice in oyster sauce, “khao phat” (rice with vegetables and crabs), “laap” (fish salad with spices), “mee crop” (noodles with sweet and sour sauce), “naem” ( pork sausages), “mu daeng” (marinated meat), “salaphao” (pies with various fillings).

At the bazaars in Thailand, tourists are offered a variety of Exotic fruits that are growing in this country all year round.

Fruit season in Thailand:

lychee – June
durian – May-August
mangosteen – May-September
rambutan – May-September
Longan – June-August
Long Kong – August-October
mango – March-May
sapodilla – January-May

We must also not forget that in Thailand there are also other fruits - watermelons, bananas, coconuts, pineapples and papaya.

Sights of Thailand

In Thailand, tourists will find a huge number of different historical, cultural and architectural monuments. According to official data, Thailand now has several thousand temples, palaces, pagodas and other attractions. The Top 10 most interesting attractions in Thailand, in our opinion, may include the following:

1. Temple of the Emerald Buddha in Bangkok
2. Buddha's footprint at Phra Buddha Bath
3. Royal Palace in Bangkok
4. Wat Mahathat temple in Ratchaduri
5. Hill Temple in Bangkok
6. Seated Buddha statue at Mahahtati Si Chum
7. Temple of Dawn in Bangkok
8. Wat Lok Moli Temple in Chiang Mai
9. Marble Temple in Bangkok
10. Temple of the Mountain in Bangkok

Cities and resorts

The largest Thai cities are Nonthaburi, Pakkret, Chiang Mai, Nakhon Phanom, and, of course, the capital - Bangkok.

Excellent experiences await tourists in Thailand beach resorts. The most popular of them are Cha-am, Krabi, Hua Hin, Pattaya, Samet Island, Koh Samui, Phuket Island, Phi Phi Island, Chan Island.

Many tourists believe that Thailand is home to some of the best beaches in the world. Which ones to choose? In our opinion, the top ten best beaches in Thailand include the following:

1. Patong - the largest beach on Phuket, soft White sand, warm sea, a large number of hotels, restaurants. Shopping as well as a lively nightlife.
2. Railay Beach – Accessible only by boat, this small beach near Krabi is surrounded by clear water and majestic mountains.
3. Maya Bay, Koh Lay - the beach is located in a small bay, surrounded high cliffs. This beach can only be reached by boat.
4. Hua Hin - this beach, located on the shores of the Gulf of Thailand, is considered perfect beach for families with children.
5. Kata Beach - this beach is located in the quiet southern part of Phuket, in the low season there is enough big waves, and that's why there are a lot of surfers there.
6. Lamai Beach, Koh Samui – this beach combines beautiful nature and dozens of bars.
7. Sairi Beach, Koh Tao – considered great place For beach holiday and diving.
8. White Sand Beach, Koh Chang – This beach, located on an island, is surrounded by palm and coconut groves.
9. Haad Rin, Koh Phangan – Once a month this beach hosts a fun all-night music party.
10. Ko Mun Nork – this beach is located on desert island in the Gulf of Thailand. White sand beach surrounded by palm trees. You can get there in 45 minutes by ferry.

By the way, Thailand and the Andaman Sea are in the top ten best places in the world for diving. The infrastructure on the islands is very little developed, and therefore coral reefs and undersea world remain intact. On the west coast, diving can be done almost all year round (the best time is from mid-November to the end of April).

Souvenirs/shopping

From Thailand, tourists usually bring handicrafts (including wooden carvings), ceramics, Thai silk, silk scarves, clothing, Buddha figurines, silver jewelry, items depicting elephants (elephants are the symbol of Thailand), Thai sauces and spices.

Office hours

According to confirmed data for 2015, Thailand has risen to 20th place in the world with a population of 66 million people. This number can be compared with France, Great Britain and Turkey.

Density population in Thailand more than 130 people per 1 sq. kilometer. Most of them live in cities. In 2010, the total population was more than 7 million people (approximately 10% of the country's population).

Composition of the population of Thailand

Thais occupy the majority of the total population of Thialand - 75%. These data partly include the Siamese, and to a certain extent also the Thais. You should not take the concept of “ethnic Thai” seriously, since the Thais are a huge ethno-linguistic community, which includes more than one group or subgroup.

The population is divided into several ethnic subgroups that live in different parts of Thailand. Moreover, each subgroup has its own accent and its own traditions, which differ from the other subgroup.

All Thai subgroups are dominated by the central one, which lives in the most populous valley near the Chao Phray River of Thailand. Read more about.

Ethnic Chinese in Thailand make up about 15% of the total population, Thus, they are in size in the second ethnic group.

Tourists are increasingly interested in the semi-nomadic peoples who inhabit the mountainous terrain in northern Thailand. The entire northern people are divided into several minorities, differing in clothing, customs and religion.

In the mountainous areas of Thailand, you can most often find the Karen tribes, which include the famous women with long necks, as well as the Lahu, Myen, Lisu, and Akha. All of them once migrated from China, Myanmar and Tibet.

At one time, they had no choice, either move to Thailand, or starve and literally live at war in their homeland.

Thailand's population is more than 70 million people.

The national composition of Thailand is represented by:

• Thais;
• Chinese;
• other peoples (Malays, Khmers, Laotians, Burmese, Akhas, Vietnamese).

The Chinese mainly inhabit large cities, the Malays southern regions countries, Laotians - lowland valleys of Isan, Mons and Khmers - central, eastern and northeastern regions of the country, Yao and Maeo tribes - mountainous regions of the north and northeast, Karens and Burmese - territories that stretch along the border with Myanmar, mountain tribes Akha, Lisu and Lahu - northern regions, Vietnamese - northeast of the country, wandering hunters and gatherers (Semang, Sinoi, Mauken) - inaccessible tropical forests.

There are 120 people per square kilometer, but in the main agricultural areas the population density is much higher, for example, in the Mekong Delta there are about 1000 people per square kilometer.

Official language- Thai, but Chinese and Vietnamese are widely used in everyday life, English languages.

Big cities: Bangkok, Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai, Samut Prakan, Nonthaburi, Pakkret, Pattaya, Hatyai, Surat Thani, Khon Kaen.

Residents of Thailand profess Buddhism, Islam, Confucianism, and animism.

Lifespan

On average, Thai residents live up to 70 years (the female population lives up to 75 years, and the male population - up to 71 years).

Medicine in Thailand is at high level(hospitals and clinics are equipped with the latest equipment). Behind last years The country has managed to significantly reduce child and maternal mortality, as well as mortality from infectious diseases.

Before traveling to Thailand, it is advisable to get vaccinated against hepatitis B, tetanus, diphtheria, typhus, rabies, yellow fever and Japanese encephalitis (which vaccinations will be needed depends on the intended areas of visit).

Traditions and customs of the people of Thailand

Exotic, holidays, shows - all this is created for tourists who relax in resort towns and live in modern hotels in Thailand. Unfortunately, the Thai people living in the villages live in shabby shacks and are content with the meager amenities of life.

Thais are hospitable, cheerful and friendly people: they always smile, regardless of their mood.

Thais love holidays. Thus, the Loy Krathong holiday, dedicated to the spirits of water, is celebrated in November, on the full moon - on this day, Thais put candles, incense, flowers, coins in krathong boats and release them into the river. According to legend, the boats will float to the spirits, which will wash away all the Greeks from the Thais.

If Thais invite you to visit, try not to step on the threshold when entering the house (this may be regarded as disrespect for the owners). Do you want to please your owners? Take off your shoes when entering the house. They should be greeted not with a handshake, but with palms folded at chest level, as if for prayer.