MigrantoImmigrants in Thailand
2.9M foreigners live in Thailand — 4% of the country's population
Immigrants in Thailand by country
The 3 largest groups make up 82% of all immigrants
| Country | Immigrants |
|---|---|
| Myanmar | 1708695 |
| Cambodia | 375635 |
| Laos | 285819 |
| United Kingdom | 116582 |
| Japan | 104515 |
| China | 85764 |
| India | 56847 |
| USA | 52400 |
| Germany | 31844 |
| France | 30148 |
| Philippines | 23402 |
| Vietnam | 17986 |
| South Korea | 16518 |
By region of origin
92% of immigrants come from Asia
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Key facts
Immigrants in Thailand in numbers
Burmese are the largest group by a wide margin
59% of all immigrants were born in Myanmar, while the next group accounts for just 13%.
48% of all emigrants from Cambodia live in Thailand
No other country has more people born in Cambodia.
Immigrants come from a wider range of countries than in 1990
The largest group's share fell from 91% to 59%.
Immigration drives population growth
16% of the population growth of Thailand since 1990 came from immigrants.
Immigrant population in Thailand over time
Foreigners living in Thailand, by year
| Year | Immigrants |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 275137 |
| 1995 | 257195 |
| 2000 | 389114 |
| 2005 | 1308284 |
| 2010 | 2227453 |
| 2015 | 2489778 |
| 2020 | 2705663 |
| 2024 | 2906155 |
Largest groups over time
The 5 largest groups in Thailand, by year
| Year | Burmese | Cambodians | Laotians | British | Japanese |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 1106 | 0 | 163 | 5236 | 2419 |
| 1995 | 1104 | 0 | 162 | 5287 | 4772 |
| 2000 | 136674 | 24956 | 33729 | 5180 | 11657 |
| 2005 | 696293 | 149042 | 125074 | 44226 | 45200 |
| 2010 | 1255912 | 273128 | 216419 | 83272 | 78742 |
| 2015 | 1429751 | 312427 | 243185 | 96015 | 88674 |
| 2020 | 1576317 | 345733 | 265386 | 106898 | 96936 |
| 2024 | 1708695 | 375635 | 285819 | 116582 | 104515 |
Fastest-changing groups
How each group's numbers have changed since the selected year
Share of each diaspora living in Thailand
Of each group's emigrants worldwide, the share who live in Thailand
Data source: International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division)
Frequently asked questions
How many foreigners live in Thailand?
Around 2.9M immigrants live in Thailand — the world's #23 largest immigrant population.
What percentage of the population of Thailand are immigrants?
Immigrants make up around 4% of the population of Thailand — that's 2.9M out of a total population of 71.7M.
Where do most immigrants in Thailand come from?
Most immigrants in Thailand come from Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos — these three countries account for about 82% of all immigrants.
How many Burmese live in Thailand?
Around 1.7M Burmese live in Thailand — about 59% of all immigrants, the largest group.
Is the immigrant population in Thailand growing?
Yes — over the past decade, the number of immigrants in Thailand has grown from 2.5M to 2.9M, about 17%.
Where does the data on immigrants in Thailand come from?
The source is International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division). It counts people born abroad who now live in Thailand. Their children born in Thailand are not included.
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Living in Thailand
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