PEOPLE
Thailand's
population is relatively homogeneous. More than 85% speak a dialect
of Thai and share a common culture. This core population includes
the central Thai (33.7% of the population, including Bangkok),
Northeastern Thai (34.2%), northern Thai (18.8%), and southern
Thai (13.3%).
The language
of the central Thai population is the language taught in schools
and used in government. Several other small Thai-speaking groups
include the Shan, Lue, and Phutai.
Up to
12% of Thai are of significant Chinese heritage, but the Sino-Thai
community is the best integrated in Southeast Asia. Malay-speaking
Muslims of the south comprise another significant minority group
(2.3%). Other groups include the Khmer; the Mon, who are substantially
assimilated with the Thai; and the Vietnamese. Smaller mountain-dwelling
tribes, such as the Hmong and Mein, as well as the Karen, number
about 788,024.
The population
is mostly rural, concentrated in the rice-growing areas of the
central, northeastern, and northern regions. However, as Thailand
continues to industrialize, its urban population--31.6% of total
population, principally in the Bangkok area--is growing.
Thailand's highly successful government-sponsored family planning program has resulted in a dramatic decline in population growth from 3.1% in 1960 to less than 1% today. Life expectancy also has risen, a positive reflection of Thailand's efforts at public health education. However, the AIDS epidemic has had a major impact on the Thai population. Today, over 500,000 Thais live with HIV or AIDS--approximately 1.4% of the adult population. Each year, 25-30,000 Thais die from AIDS-related causes. Ninety percent of them are aged 20-49, the most productive sector of the workforce. The situation could have been worse; an aggressive public education campaign in the early 1990s reduced the number of new HIV infections from over 100,000 annually to around 15,000 annually now.
The constitution mandates 12 years of free education, however, this is not provided universally. Education accounts for 18.0% of total government expenditures.
Theravada
Buddhism is the official religion of Thailand and is the religion
of about 95% of its people. The government permits religious diversity,
and other major religions are represented. Spirit worship and
animism are widely practiced.
Nationality: Noun and adjective--Thai.
Population (2006): 65.28 million. (Data based on Bank of Thailand.)
Labor force (2006): 36.43 million.
Annual population growth rate (2006 est.): 0.3%.
Ethnic groups: Thai 89%, other 11%.
Religions: Buddhist 94-95%, Muslim 4-5%, Christian, Hindu, Brahmin, other.
Languages: Thai (official language); English is the second language of the elite; regional dialects.
Education: Years compulsory--12. Literacy--94.9% male, 90.5% female.
Health (2006 est.): Infant mortality rate--19.5/1,000. Life expectancy--68 years male, 75 years female.
