People, Education & Language

The official population of Bangkok as of December 31, 1999 stood at 5,662,499, just under 10% of the national total, with a density of 3,608 persons / sq km, easily the highest in the country. The actual population may be much higher, as a result of seasonal migrations from rural areas.

The majority of people in Bangkok are ethnic Thais, which speak 'standard Thai', the dialect of the central region. As with the other plains provinces, Bangkok has a large minority of Chinese and Thai-Chinese. Many Chinese immigrated to Thailand under re-population programs, working as laborers and merchants. These days the Chinese minority controls much of the economic power of the country. Most younger generation Chinese have fully assimilated Thai culture, language and traditions, but Chinese language, especially taechew, is still spoken among many elders.

Indians constitute the second largest minority group, traditionally concentrated in the Pahurat area of Bangkok and involved in the textile and garment industries. Most Indian immigrants came to Thailand after the partition of British India in 1947.

Bangkok is also home to large numbers of immigrants, particularly laborers from Myanmar and Bangladesh, and expatriates from the western countries hired as specialist employees.

Bangkok is the center for higher education in Thailand with most of the country's universities concentrated in or close to the capital. Chulalongkorn, Thammasat, Mahidol, Kasetsart and Silpakorn Universities are considered the leading institutes of higher learning in Thailand and Southeast Asia.

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