Who are the people?
Known as “the land of smiles,” the country of Thailand is renowned for the warmth of its people and the sophistication of its culture. The traditional greeting is the “wai,” a gesture in which hands are brought together in front of the face as if praying. Children greet their elders this way and receive a smile in return.
In Thailand, much value is placed on the family. Children who will eventually care for their aging parents do not consider this the least bit inconvenient. On the contrary, elderly people are honored in the house-hold for their acquired wisdom. Their counsel is actively sought in the raising of grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
In rural villages, the home is usually a simple wooden house raised on posts. Domestic animals like water buffalo, pigs, and chickens are kept below the house, while the family lives above in a single room. Each child is assigned certain duties according to age and ability, such as leading the buffalo to graze or caring for younger siblings while parents work the fields.
The Thai people are proud that their country never came under European colonial rule. Thailand literally means “land of the free.” Formerly called Siam, its history dates back 1,000 years and the people hold their royal family in great esteem.What is it like to live there?
Thailand boasts a diverse landscape with rolling hills, mountains, and miles of rice fields. Rice is considered the country’s lifeblood, and many families earn their living harvesting the crop in the country’s central basin, the largest and richest region for growing rice. Thailand is also one of the world’s largest producers of rubber, which is grown in the southern peninsula.
Country Statistics
Population
64.2 million
Life Expectancy
72 years
Infant Mortality Rate
18 / 1,000
Literacy Rate
93%
School Enrollment
N/A
Access to Safe Water
99%
Average Annual Income (GNI per capita)
US$2,750
Rural poverty has prompted many families to move to urban centers in search of employment and a better quality of life for their children. However, poverty in the city is often more desperate. Child labor, prostitution, HIV infection, and drug addiction are serious problems among children.
Thailand’s economy has expanded rapidly in recent years, but with some negative side effects. Industrial sites have caused tremendous pollution and reduced the supply of clean water. Economic changes have also created a wider gap between the rich and poor.
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