Thailand people are the true example of the rich cultural diversity of the country. The Thailand population is a blend of persons tracing their ancestry from different parts of Asia.
Thailand has absorbed immigrants from all over Asia. A majority of the Thailand people is of Thai ethnicity. Persons of Chinese descent make up a significant minority of the population. About 15% of the people of Thailand are believed to be descended from Chinese settlers in the country. The first Chinese arrived in Thailand in the early 19th century. They married local Thais in order to integrate into Thai society. The Chinese immigrants also accepted Buddhism as their faith of choice. They also learnt the Thai language.
The Thai Malays form the majority of the local people in Thailand in the country's southern regions. The Thai Malays follow the Muslim religion and speak the Malay language. The north-eastern region of Thailand is populated by the people of Laos descent. The Laotians constitute one-third of the total Thai population. They are known as 'Isan' among the Thai population. A small Indian minority is also present in Thailand. The diversity of the population has resulted in variety of Thai physiques. A majority of the population follow an agrarian way of life.
