About 80% of the country's 60 millon inhabitants are Thai made up of 4 regional groupings. The Central and North - Eastern groups each account for around  one third shile the Northern and Southern groups together amount to some 16%.The remainder of the population comprises other ethnic groups the principal one of which is Chinese.

    The hospitable and friendly nature of the local people has, of course, led to Thailand being dubbed the "Land of Smiles"

    The majority of the 22% of the population deemed to be "urban" live in the capital city of Bangkok where the average annual per capita income  is 2 1/2 times the national average of 1700 US.Dollars.