Origins of the Thai people
The derivation of the Thai people is rather vague, but scholars believe migrations probably occurred from the Chinese province of Szechwan around the 1st century AD. However, recent discoveries suggest that a sophisticated culture existed here that predates even the Chinese. It also appears that a mysterious kingdom of Indian origin was established around the 3rd century BC in the Nakhon Pathom area, where the country's largest and most important Buddhist monument now stands. Migrations of the Mon from Burma and the Khmer from Cambodia also contributed to the ethnic makeup of the Thai people.
Population
Currently, about 75 percent of the population is Thai and 14 percent is Chinese. The remaining population is made up of other ethnic groups, including Khmer and Vietnamese, some of whom are refugees living in border regions.
In 2000 there were about 61 million people living in Thailand. A little less than one-third of the population is under age 15, and only 4 percent is over 65, with a life expectancy of 71 years. Three-quarters of the population live in rural areas. For all that, Bangkok is one of the most populous cities in the world—an estimated 11 million people crowd Thailand's capital.
Language
Central Thai is Thailand's official language and is used in schools, although other Thai dialects are spoken in various areas. Thai is a tonal language, so that a given syllable can have different meanings depending on the inflection with which it is pronounced. Central Thai has five tones. Chinese and Malay are spoken by many people. Individuals with an advanced education often speak English. Some minority groups, such as the Mon and Hmong, have their own languages. Thailand has a very high literacy rate—95 percent of Thai citizens can read and write.
Religion
Theravada Buddhism is deeply ingrained in the Thai way of life. Buddhist wats dominate Thai communities, and saffron-robed monks are everywhere. Most of the population—95 percent—practices the religion. The remaining 5 percent is made up of Muslims (mostly in the south), Hindus, Sikhs, and Christians (mostly in Bangkok).
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