Thailand Languages

The official language of Thailand is Thai which can also be known as Central Thai or Siamese. This language is the principal means of government and communications as well as education in the country. The Thai alphabet is an evolution of Khmer Script which is a language used in neighbouring Cambodia. The Thai language is a part of the Tai-Kada language family, found in China, Northeast Indian, and Southeast Asia. There are many regional variants of Central Thai that are mutually intelligible.

Approximately 68.9 million people live Thailand, and over 20 million of these citizens speak a variation of the Central Thai language as their native tongue. There are over 24 different dialects of the Thai language within the region, but the most widely spoken is Thai Lao, with speakers mostly located in the northeastern part of the nation. In total, approximately 60 million citizens in Thailand will know Central Thai as a first or secondary language.

Many locals in the major tourist centres will know English, however, learning a few phrases in Thai will be much appreciated. “Sa-wat-dee”, means Hello in Thai and 'khob khun”, means thank-you. “Nee tao rai?” is a way of asking how much something costs and “mai aow”, means “I do not want it”. The written language is tough to decipher for tourists and “mai kow jai”, meaning “I do not understand”, can be useful in situations that call for it.

According to many experts, there are over 70 living languages in the country as well as six variations of sign language. The most significant minority language in the country is Lao, a traditional language of the Lao Kingdom. There are also pockets of Malay speakers in the far south of the country as well as many Chinese languages spread across this diverse nation. English, Japanese, and Vietnamese are spoken by a tiny percentage of the population as a first language. Other minority languages in Thailand include dialects from the Afro-Asiatic, Austronesian, and Sino-Tibetan families of language.

This page was last modified on May 1st, 2018

More on Graphicmaps

Published on 2019-11-06


Capital	Bangkok
Languages	Thai (official) 90.7%, Burmese 1.3%, other 8%
Ethnic Groups	Thai 97.5%, Burmese 1.3%, other 1.1%, unspecified <.1% (2015 est.)
Religion	Buddhist 94.6%, Muslim 4.3%, Christian 1%, other <.1%, none <.1% (2015 est.)
Government	Constitutional monarchy; note - interim military-affiliated government since May 2014
Independance	1238 (traditional founding date; never colonized)
Area	513,120.00 km²
Water Area	2,230.00 km²
Land Area	510,890.00 km²
Population	68,200,824.00 Highest population density is found in and around Bangkok; significant population clusters found througout large parts of the country, particularly east / northeast of Bankok and in the extreme southern region of the country
Location	Southeastern Asia, bordering the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand, southeast of Burma
No. Bordering Countries	4
Bordering Countries	Burma 2,416 km, Cambodia 817 km, Laos 1,845 km, Malaysia 595 km
GDP(PPP)	$1,160,000,000,000.00 (USD)
GDP (Per Capita)	$16,800.00 (USD)
Export Partners	Its major export partners are the United States, China, and Japan.
Export Commodities	Its main exports are automobiles and parts, computers and parts, jewelry and precious stones, and polymers.
Import Partners	Its major import partners are China, Japan, and the United States.
Import Commodities	Its major imports include machinery, crude oil, and chemicals.
Climate	Tropical; hot, humid; distinct rainy and dry seasons
Terrain	Central plain; Khorat Plateau in the east; mountains elsewhere
Learn More	Thailand

Thailand Languages

More on Graphicmaps

What is a Trade Embargo?

Which Two Countries Used to Have the Same Flag?

What Is the Only Two-Sided State Flag?

Which Country Flag Looks Like the Texas Flag?

Flags That Resemble the US Flag

What is Demography?