The population of Thailand is approximately 61.7 millions (15
Nov.1999). The most important ethic minority is Chinese.
Theravada
Buddhism, the national religion, is the professed faith of 95 per cent
of the population. There is total religious freedom and all major religions
can be found in practice.
Background
Buddhism
and the Thai Way of Life
Religions Rights and Liberty
The
official national language, spoken by almost 100 per cent of the population,
is Thai, classified by linguists as belonging to a Chinese-Thai branch
of the Sino-Tibetan family. It is a tonal language, uninflected,
and predominantly monosyllabic. Most polysyllabic words in the vocabulary
have been borrowed, mainly from Khmer, Pali or Sanskrit. Dialects
are spoken in rural areas. Principal other languages are Chinese
and Malay. English, a mandatory subject in public schools, is widely
spoken and understood, particularly in Bangkok and other major cities.
Theravada
Buddhism, the national religion, is the professed faith of 95 per cent
of the population. There is total religious freedom and all major religions
can be found in practice.