People, Education & Language

Although Khon Kaen is ranked the fifteenth largest in terms of physical area, it is in fact the fourth largest province in population size. Statistics in 1998 estimated the total population to be 1,738,532 and it is noted to be growing annually.

The majority of the populace live within eight major urban centers, including the provincial capital, Khon Kaen city - which is home to some 140,000 people. The remainder are located within twelve rural centers and within the 1,732 small villages and settlements scattered throughout the province’s twenty districts and five sub districts.

The majority of the population of Khon Kaen province belong to the Phaw Thai (Isaan Thai) ethnic group and the Laos-Wieng sub-group, who migrated from Laos.

The major occupation is farming and agricultural based professions. In the capital, people of Chinese-Thai origin dominate commerce and industry. In recent years, a large number of people from other provinces have been attracted to work in the public service sector and at the large Khon Kaen University. Khon Kaen province now has the highest population growth in the whole northeastern region of Thailand.

Throughout the province is a well-developed network of schools and higher educational institutions. In 1996, it was reported that there were 1,260 schools with 12,713 classrooms and some 15,693 teachers for 319,302 students. Although slightly below the national average, the literacy rate in the province is relatively high and it is estimated that more than 87% of all students now complete compulsory primary education.

The official language in Khon Kaen province is standard Thai - as it is throughout the rest of the country.

Even though standard Thai is widely understood, many people living in Khon Kaen will in fact speak their own version of the Thai language simply known as Isaan, which is very similar to Laotian. In fact many people from this northeastern province will proudly stick to their Isaan dialect, even if they come to live in Bangkok.

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