Located in the heart of South-East Asia, the Kingdom of Thailand is bordered by Lao PDR,
the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, Cambodia and Malaysia. Culture and traditions in
Thailand are influenced by its neighbouring countries as well as India and China. Buddhism
is closely connected to people’s daily lives, beliefs and identity with over 35,000 monasteries
and 258,000 monks in the country (National Statistical Office of Thailand, 2009.) Monks are
highly respected. Families encourage their sons to study Buddhism as a monk at least once.
The official calendar in Thailand is based on the Buddhist Era, which begins 543 years ahead
of the western calendar.
Thailand is the fourth most-populous country in South-East Asia with a population of 67.4
million. Although it is increasing, the rate of growth has been on the decline. From 1995 to
2000, Thailand’s annual rate of population growth remained below 1 percent. In the early
2000s, the growth rate bounced back slightly and peaked at 1.23 percent in 2003. However, it
has once again declined and in 2008 stood at 0.61 percent.
Thailand saw the biggest drop in fertility rates in the 1970s and 1980s. In 1970, the average
number of births per woman was 5.43, which was more than double the number of births
per woman in 1990 (Hirschman and Young, 2000). Since 2002, Thailand’s fertility rate has
remained constant at 1.71 (World Bank, 2009c). Although the majority of people in Thailand
are ethnically Thai, there are significant minority groups including those of Chinese decent,
Malay Muslims in the South and various hill tribes, each with their distinct language and
culture, in the northern mountainous area of Thailand.
Located in the heart of South-East Asia, the Kingdom of Thailand is bordered by Lao PDR,the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, Cambodia and Malaysia. Culture and traditions inThailand are influenced by its neighbouring countries as well as India and China. Buddhismis closely connected to people’s daily lives, beliefs and identity with over 35,000 monasteriesand 258,000 monks in the country (National Statistical Office of Thailand, 2009.) Monks arehighly respected. Families encourage their sons to study Buddhism as a monk at least once.The official calendar in Thailand is based on the Buddhist Era, which begins 543 years aheadof the western calendar.Thailand is the fourth most-populous country in South-East Asia with a population of 67.4million. Although it is increasing, the rate of growth has been on the decline. From 1995 to2000, Thailand’s annual rate of population growth remained below 1 percent. In the early2000s, the growth rate bounced back slightly and peaked at 1.23 percent in 2003. However, ithas once again declined and in 2008 stood at 0.61 percent.Thailand saw the biggest drop in fertility rates in the 1970s and 1980s. In 1970, the averagenumber of births per woman was 5.43, which was more than double the number of birthsper woman in 1990 (Hirschman and Young, 2000). Since 2002, Thailand’s fertility rate hasremained constant at 1.71 (World Bank, 2009c). Although the majority of people in Thailandare ethnically Thai, there are significant minority groups including those of Chinese decent,Malay Muslims in the South and various hill tribes, each with their distinct language andculture, in the northern mountainous area of Thailand.
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