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 ไทย Total population approx. 90,000,000 Regions with significant populations  Thailand 64,200,000 [1]  United States 350,000  Laos 180,000 [2]  Australia 150,000 citation needed  China 139,000  Taiwan 110,000 citation needed  France 97,000  Malaysia 65,000 [3]  Singapore 56,744 [4]  Japan 53,221 citation needed  Myanmar 41,000  Vietnam 40,290  Cambodia 39,556 [5]  United Kingdom 38,000 citation needed  Germany 37,000  Hong Kong 30,000 [6]  Sweden 28,739 [7]  Saudi Arabia 23,000 [8]  South Korea 19,000  New Zealand 18,000  Russia 15,291  Indonesia 13,010  Norway 10,989 [9]  Canada 10,500  Philippines citation needed 10,000+  United Arab Emirates 10,000  Spain 9,990  Bahrain 9,670  Switzerland 8,170  Qatar 7,800  India 7,000 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. In this sense, they are also known as Thailanders. 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: เมืองแถน) 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 Austronesian 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/Thailand_statistics.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 Chinese (general) · 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 Thai · Lao · Shan · Kula Hmong-Mien Hmong  · Miao  · Yao Tibeto-Burman Burmese Other Vietnamese · Japanese · Koreans · American  · French  · Russians v · d · eEthnic groups in Thailand by language family    

Tai Isan · Khorat Thai · Khün · 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 Nüa · Tai Wang · Tai Yuan · Thai (Central Thai) · Yoy Malayo-Polynesian Cham · Malay · Moken · Moklen · Pattani · Satun · Urak Lawoi Mon–Khmer 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 Chứt · Mường · Thổ · Việt (Kinh) Kradai Bố Y · Giáy · Lào · Lự · Nung · Sán Chay · Tày · Thái · Cờ Lao · La Chí · La Ha · Pu Péo Hmong–Dao Dao · H'Mông · Pà Thẻn   Mon–Khmer Ba Na · Brâu · Bru-Vân Kiều · Chơ Ro · Co · Cờ Ho · Cơ Tu · Giẻ Triêng · Hrê · Kháng · Khmer · Khơ Mú · Mạ · Mảng · M'Nông · Ơ Đu · Rơ Măm · Tà Ôi · Xinh Mun · Xơ Đăng · Xtiêng Chinese Hoa · Ngái · Sán Dìu   Malayo-Polynesian (Nhóm ngôn ngữ Nam đảo) Chăm · Chu Ru · Ê-đê · Jarai · Ra Glai

Tibeto-Burman (Nhóm Tạng) Cống · Hà Nhì · La Hủ · Lô Lô · Phù Lá · Si La

Tibeto-Burman (Nhóm Tạng) Cống · Hà Nhì · La Hủ · Lô Lô · Phù Lá · Si La

Tibeto-Burman (Nhóm Tạng) Cống · Hà Nhì · La Hủ · Lô Lô · Phù Lá · Si La