This article is about Thailand's ethnic majority. For other Tai ethnic groups see Tai peoples. This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding reliable references. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (October 2008) Thai Total population approx. 90000000 Regions with significant populations  Thailand 64200000 1  United States 350000  Laos 180000 2  Australia 150000 citation needed  China 139000  Taiwan 110000 citation needed  France 97000  Malaysia 65000 3  Singapore 56744 4  Japan 53221 citation needed  Myanmar 41000  Vietnam 40290  Cambodia 39556 5  United Kingdom 38000 citation needed  Germany 37000  Hong Kong 30000 6  Sweden 28739 7  Saudi Arabia 23000 8  South Korea 19000  New Zealand 18000  Russia 15291  Indonesia 13010  Norway 10989 9  Canada 10500  Philippines citation needed 10000+  United Arab Emirates 10000  Spain 9990  Bahrain 9670  Switzerland 8170  Qatar 7800  India 7000  Hungary 6910 Religion

Predominantly Theravada Buddhism Related ethnic groups

Lao Shan Ahom other Tai peoples

The Thai people are the main ethnic group of Thailand and are part of the larger Tai ethnolinguistic peoples found in Thailand and adjacent countries in Southeast Asia as well as southern China. Their language is the Thai language which is classified as part of the Kradai family of languages and the majority of Thai are followers of Theravada Buddhism. The term Thai people may also refer to the population of Thailand in general and not only to ethnic Thais. Contents 1 History 2 Geography and demographics 3 Culture and society 4 See also 5 References 6 External links History

There have been many theories proposing the origin of the Tai people especially the association of the Tai people with the Kingdom of Nanzhao that is proved to be invalid. Linguistic studies suggested that the origin of the Tai people lies around the Chinese Province of Guangxi where the Zhuang people are still a majority. The ancient Tai people should be the part of Chinese Nanyue or "southern barbarians". The Qin dynasty founded Guangdong in 241 BC initiating the successive waves of Chinese migrations from the north for hundred years to come.

With the political and cultural pressures from the north the Tai people migrated south where they met classical indianized civilizations of the Southeast Asia. The Tai first established themselves at Mueng Thaen (Thai: ) or modern Dien Bien Phu according to the Khun Borom Legend. The Tai later scattered all around the continental Southeast Asia threatening the classical kingdoms and then replacing them. The Tai Yuan established themselves in northern Thailand the Tai Lao people in modern Laos and the Shans in Burma.

The Tais from the north gradually settled in the Chao Phraya valley from the tenth century onwards assimilating the earlier Austroasiatic Mon and Khmer people. They came into contacts with the Khmer Empire. The Tais were engulfed into the Hindu-Khmer culture and this gave rise to the Thai culture. Early Thai chiefdoms included the Sri Saccanalai and Supanburi. The Kingdom of Lavo which was the center of Khmer culture in Chao Phraya valley was also the rallying point for the Thais. The Thai were called Siam by the Angkorians and they appeared on the bas relief at Angkor Wat as a part of the army of Lavo kingdom. Sometimes the Thai chiefdoms in the Chao Phraya valley were put under the Angkorian control under strong monarchs (including Suryavarman II and Jayavarman VII) but they were mostly independent.

A new city-state known as Ayutthaya named after the Indian city of Ayodhya was founded by Ramathibodi (a descendant of Chiang Mai) and emerged as the center of the growing Thai Empire starting in 1350. Inspired by the then Hindu-based Khmer Empire (Cambodia) the Ayutthaya Empire's continued conquests led to more Thai settlements as the Khmer Empire weakened after their defeat at Angkor in 1431. During this period the Thai developed a feudal system as various vassal states paid homage to the Thai kings. Even as Thai power expanded at the expense of the Mon and Khmer the Thai Ayutthaya faced setbacks at the hands of the Malay at Malacca and were checked by the Toungoo of Burma.

Though sporadic wars continued with the Burmese and other neighbors Chinese wars with Burma and European intervention elsewhere in Southeast Asia allowed the Thai to develop an independent course by trading with the Europeans as well as playing the major powers against each other in order to remain independent. The Chakkri dynasty under Rama I held the Burmese at bay while Rama II and Rama III helped to shape much of Thai society but also led to Thai setbacks as the Europeans moved into areas surrounding modern Thailand and curtailed any claims the Thai had over Cambodia in dispute with Burma and Vietnam. The Thai learned from European traders and diplomats while maintaining an independent course. Chinese Malay and British influences helped to further shape the Thai people who often assimilated foreign ideas but managed to preserve much of their culture and resisted the European colonization that engulfed their neighbors. Thailand is also the only country in Southeast Asia that was not colonized by European powers in modern history. Geography and demographics Thai People Abroad

The vast majority of the Thai people live in Thailand although some Thais can also be found in other parts of Southeast Asia. About 60 million live in Thailand alone 10 while thousands can also be found in the United States Laos Taiwan Malaysia Singapore Cambodia Myanmar the United Kingdom Australia Sweden Norway Libya and the United Arab Emirates. Culture and society The Thais can be broken down into various regional groups including the main Thai northeastern northern and southern Thai with their own regional dialects of their mutually intelligible Thai language. Modern Central Thai has become more dominant due to official government policy which was designed to assimilate and unify the disparate Thai in spite of ethnolinguistic and cultural ties between the northeastern Thai people and the people from Laos for example. The modern Thai are predominantly Theravada Buddhist and strongly identify their ethnic identity with their religious beliefs that include aspects of ancestor worship (see Culture of Thailand). Indigenous arts include Muay Thai (the Thai version of South East Asian kick boxing) Thai dance Makruk (Thai Chess) and Nang yai (shadow play). The Thai have a literacy rate hovering at 94% 1 (one of the highest in Southeast Asia) and a strong predilection towards education and national development. See also Thailand List of Thais Thai American Thai British Thais in Hong Kong Thai marriage List of Thai actresses List of Thai actors References http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/Thailandstatistics.html Girsling John L.S. Thailand: Society and Politics (Cornell University Press 1981). Terwiel B.J. A History of Modern Thailand (Univ. of Queensland Press 1984). Wyatt D.K. Thailand: A Short History (Yale University Press 1986). External links Wikimedia Commons has media related to: People of Thailand US Library of Congress Country Studies Thailand The Thai and Other Tai-Speaking Peoples CIA Factbook Thailand ETHNOLOGY & THAI HILL TRIBES About things Thai. v d eThai diaspora Arab world Bahrain  Libya  Qatar  Saudi Arabia  United Arab Emirates Asia Burma  Cambodia  Hong Kong  Japan  Laos  Malaysia  Philippines  Taiwan Europe Germany  Norway  Sweden  United Kingdom North America United States Oceania Australia  New Zealand v d eEthnic groups in Cambodia by language family Cambodian Central Khmer  Khmer Krom  Khmer Surin Chinese people Cantonese people  Hakka people  Han Chinese  Hokkien  Teochew people Malayo-Polynesian Cham people  Jarai  Rhade Khmer Loeu Kuy  Pnong  Tampuan  Stieng people  Kachok  Krung Tai peoples Thai  Lao  Shan  Kula Hmong-Mien Hmong   Miao   Yao Tibeto-Burman Burmese Other Indians  Vietnamese v d eEthnic groups in Thailand by language family     Tai Isan  Khorat Thai  Khn  Lanna  Lao  Lao Ga  Lao Krang  Lao Lom  Lao Loum  Lao Ngaew  Lao Song  Lao Ti  Lao Wieng  Lu  Northeastern Thai  Northern Thai  Nyaw  Nyong  Phu Thai  Phuan  Saek  Shan  Southern Thai  Tai Bueng  Tai Daeng (Red Tai)  Tai Dam (Black Tai)  Tai Gapong  Kaleun  Tai Na  Tai Wang  Tai Yuan  Thai (Central Thai)  Yoy Malayo-Polynesian Cham  Malay  Moken  Moklen  Pattani  Satun  Urak Lawoi MonKhmer Bru  Chong  Kensiu  Khmer  Kintaq  Kuy  Mani (Negrito)  Mon  Nyahkur (Nyah Kur Chao-bon)  Nyeu  Pear  Sa'och  So  Vietnamese Khmuic Khmu  Lua  Mlabri  Phai  Pray  Tin Palaungic Blang  Lamet  Lawa  Mok  Palaung (De'ang) Tibeto-Burman Akha  Bamar  Bisu  Karen  Kayah  Lahu  Lisu  Lolo (Yi)  Mpi  Pa'o  Phrae Pwo  Phunoi  Pwo  S'gaw  Ugong  Chinese Chinese (general)  Han Chinese (Cantonese  Hakka  Hokkien  Teochew) Hmong-Mien Hmong  Yao/Iu Mien Other Indian  Japanese  Korean  Farang  Portuguese  Persian v d eEthnic groups in Vietnam by language family     Vietic Cht  Mng  Th  Vit (Kinh) Kradai B Y  Giy  Lo  L  Nung  Sn Chay  Ty  Thi  C Lao  La Ch  La Ha  Pu Po HmongDao Dao  H'Mng  P Thn   MonKhmer Ba Na  Bru  Bru-Vn Kiu  Ch Ro  Co  C Ho  C Tu  Gi Tring  Hr  Khng  Khmer  Kh M  M  Mng  M'Nng  u  R Mm  T i  Xinh Mun  X ng  Xting Chinese Hoa  Ngi  Sn Du   Malayo-Polynesian (Nhm ngn ng Nam o) Chm  Chu Ru  -  Jarai  Ra Glai Tibeto-Burman (Nhm Tng) Cng  H Nh  La H  L L  Ph L  Si La