Ethnic groups in Thailand

Ethnolinguistic groups of Thailand in 1974.

Thailand is a country of some 70 ethnic groups, including 24 groups of Tai peoples. The Thai (or ethnic Tai/Dai) and Thai Chinese make up approximately 90% of the nation's population of approximately 67.5 million.

Khmer and Mon-Khmer make up approximately 6%, the Malays of southern Thailand make up around 3%. Among the groups categorized as hill tribes in the northern provinces, Hmong (Mien), Karen and other small hill tribes make up around 1%.

In official Thai documents the term "hill tribe" (chao khao) began to appear in the 1960s. This term highlights a "hill and valley" dichotomy that is based on an ancient social relationship existing in most of northern and western Thailand, as well as in Sipsongpanna and northern Vietnam. For the most part the Dai/Tai/Thai occupied the more fertile intermontane basins and valleys, while the less powerful groups lived at the less rich higher elevations. This dichotomy was often accompanied by a master/serf relationship.[1]

Alphabetical list

This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.
  1. Akha
  2. Bru
  3. Cham
  4. Chinese (primarily Teochew and Hakka)
  5. Chong
  6. Hmong
  7. Isan
  8. Karen
  9. KhmerKhmu
  10. Khun（Thai Khun）
  11. Kuy
  12. Lahu
  13. Lao
  14. Lao
  15. Lao Nyaw
  16. Lawa
  17. Lisu
  18. Lolo (Yi)
  19. Lua
  20. Lue (Thai Lü)
  21. Malay
  22. Mani (Negrito)
  23. Mlabri
  24. Moken
  25. Mon
  26. Nyahkur (Nyah Kur, Chao-bon)
  27. Palaung (De'ang)
  28. Pear
  29. Phai
  30. Phu Thai
  31. Phuan
  32. Saek
  33. Sa'och
  34. Shan（Thai Yai）
  35. So
  36. Tai Dam (Black Tai)
  37. Tai Ya
  38. Thai (central Thai; Siamese)
  39. Urak Lawoi
  40. Vietnamese
  41. Yao
  42. Yuan（Thai Yuan; Lanna）
  43. Japanese people
  44. Korean

Listed by language group

Further information: Languages of Thailand

See also

References

  1. ↑ Kusuma Snitwongse & W Scott Thompson eds. Ethnic Conflicts in Southeast Asia, Institute of Southeast Asian Studies (14 October 2005) ISBN 978-9812303370, pg. 157

External links

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