Buddhism is the predominantreligion inThailand. It is practised by more than 90% of the total population and is deeply influenced byHinduism, with mostSiamese Thai people revering majorHindu deities in their day to day religious practices.[2][3] TheThai Constitutiondoes not indicate any state religion, butpromotes Buddhism, while guaranteeingreligious freedom for all Thai citizens.Ramakien (the Thai version ofRamayana) is recognised as the country'snational epic.[4]
Many other people, especially among theIsan ethnic group, practiseTai folk religions. A significant minorityMuslim population, mostly constituted byThai Malays, is present especially in thesouthern regions. According to anIpsos survey, Christians might be a similarly significantreligious minority population (4%).[2] It's also reported that 1% prefer not to say and another 1% hasno religion.Thai law officially recognizes five religions:Buddhism,Islam,Christianity,Hinduism, andSikhism.[5]
According to official census data from 2018, approximately 94% of Thais follow Buddhism. On the other hand, non-census data from 2023 has put the figure at 90% of Thais being Buddhist. The religious life of the country is more complex than how it is portrayed by such statistics. Of the largeThai Chinese population, the vast majority of those who follow Buddhism have been shifted into the dominantTheravada tradition, with only a small minority having retainedChinese Buddhism. Otherwise, a large part of the Thai Chinese have retained the practice of ethnicChinese religion, includingTaoism,Confucianism andChinese salvationist religions (such asYiguandao and theChurch of Virtue). Despite being practised freely, these religions have no official recognition, and their followers are counted as Theravada Buddhists in statistical studies.[6] Also, manyThai andIsan practise their ethnicTai folk religion.
Muslims are the second largest religious group in Thailand at 4% to 5% of the population. Thailand's southernmost provinces -Pattani,Yala,Narathiwat,Satun,Trang, and part ofSongkhla - have large Muslim populations, consisting of both ethnic Thai and Malay.
Christians, mainlyCatholics, represent about 4% of the population as of 2023.
A small but influential community ofSikhs and someHindus, mostly live in the country's cities and are engaged in retail commerce.
There is also a smallJewish community in Thailand, dating back to the 17th century.
According to the 2015Gallup International survey, Thailand was the most religious country of the 65 countries polled, with 94% of Thais identifying as religious.[7]
| Religion | Census 2010[8] | Pilot Census 2015[9] | Pilot Census 2018[3] | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population | % | Population | % | Population | % | |
| Buddhism | 61,746,429 | 93.58% | 63,620,298 | 94.50% | 63,299,192 | 93.46% |
| Islam | 3,259,340 | 4.94% | 2,892,311 | 4.29% | 3,639,233 | 5.37% |
| Christianity | 789,376 | 1.20% | 787,589 | 1.17% | 767,624 | 1.13% |
| Hinduism | 41,808 | 0.06% | 22,110 | 0.03% | 12,195 | 0.018% |
| Sikhism | 11,124 | 0.02% | 716 | 0.001% | ||
| Confucianism | 16,718 | 0.02% | 1,030 | 0.001% | 2,009 | 0.002% |
| Other religions | 70,742 | 0.11% | 1,583 | 0.002% | ||
| Not religious | 46,122 | 0.07% | 2,925 | 0.005% | 2,082 | 0.003% |
| Unknown | 3,820 | 0.005% | 4,085 | 0.006% | ||
| Total | 65,981,660 | 100% | 67,228,562 | 100% | 67,726,419 | 100% |
According to the 2015 pilot census,[9] 67,328,562 Thailand residents in the different regions of the country belonged to the following religious groups:
| Religion | Bangkok | Central Region | Northern Region | Northeastern Region | Southern Region | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | % | # | % | # | % | # | % | # | % | |
| Buddhism | 8,197,188 | 93.95% | 18,771,520 | 97.57% | 11,044,018 | 96.23% | 18,698,599 | 99.83% | 6,908,973 | 75.45% |
| Islam | 364,855 | 4.18% | 247,430 | 1.29% | 35,561 | 0.31% | 16,851 | 0.09% | 2,227,613 | 24.33% |
| Christianity | 146,592 | 1.68% | 214,444 | 1.11% | 393,969 | 3.43% | 13,825 | 0.07% | 18,759 | 0.21% |
| Hinduism | 16,306 | 0.19% | 5,280 | 0.03% | 207 | 0.002% | 318 | 0.001% | ||
| Sikhism | 378 | 0.003% | 491 | 0.005% | ||||||
| Other religions | 294 | 0.00% | 1,808 | 0.16% | 359 | 0.004% | ||||
| Not religious | 289 | 0.00% | 473 | 0.002% | 1,001 | 0.01% | 436 | 0.002% | 72 | 0.008% |
According to the 2010 census, Thailand residents in the different provinces of the country belonged to the following religious groups:
| Religion | Buddhism | Islam | Christianity | Hinduism | Confucianism | Sikhism | Other religions | Not religious | Unknown | Total | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | % | # | % | # | % | # | % | # | % | # | % | # | % | # | % | # | % | ||
| Bangkok[10] | 7,686,022 | 92.54% | 382,385 | 4.60% | 157,534 | 1.89% | 22,820 | 0.27% | 6,800 | 0.08% | 7,183 | 0.08% | 24,330 | 0.29% | 17,091 | 0.20% | 1,053 | 0.01% | 8,305,218 |
| Amnat Charoen[11] | 281,675 | 99.28% | 267 | 0.09% | 1,649 | 0.58% | 59 | 0.02% | 13 | 0.01% | 13 | 0.01% | 53 | 0.02% | – | – | – | – | 283,729 |
| Ang Thong[12] | 249,847 | 98.25% | 3,994 | 1.57% | 213 | 0.08% | 172 | 0.07% | 7 | 0.01% | 7 | 0.01% | 42 | 0.01% | 9 | 0.01% | – | – | 254,292 |
| Bueng Kan[13] | 360,468 | 99.37% | 242 | 0.07% | 1,913 | 0.53% | 96 | 0.03% | 21 | 0.01% | 12 | 0.01% | – | – | 3 | 0.01% | – | – | 362,754 |
| Buriram[14] | 1,261,658 | 98.96% | 1,911 | 0.15% | 7,508 | 0.59% | 745 | 0.06% | 278 | 0.02% | 131 | 0.01% | 1,746 | 0.14% | 911 | 0.07% | 25 | 0.01% | 1,274,912 |
| Chachoengsao[15] | 663,790 | 92.76% | 46,041 | 6.43% | 4,457 | 0.62% | 231 | 0.03% | 43 | 0.01% | 55 | 0.01% | 626 | 0.09% | 360 | 0.05% | – | – | 715,603 |
| Chai Nat[16] | 304,407 | 99.61% | 592 | 0.19% | 424 | 0.14% | 35 | 0.01% | 23 | 0.01% | 18 | 0.01% | 47 | 0.02% | 41 | 0.01% | – | – | 305,587 |
| Chaiyaphum[17] | 961,401 | 99.74% | 944 | 0.10% | 1,185 | 0.12% | 227 | 0.02% | 59 | 0.01% | 57 | 0.01% | 9 | 0.01% | 16 | 0.01% | 9 | 0.01% | 963,907 |
| Chanthaburi[18] | 475,653 | 97.95% | 1,937 | 0.40% | 5,922 | 1.22% | 129 | 0.03% | 65 | 0.01% | 40 | 0.01% | 1,016 | 0.21% | 849 | 0.17% | – | – | 485,611 |
| Chiang Mai[19] | 1,592,164 | 91.66% | 6,789 | 0.39% | 133,761 | 7.70% | 790 | 0.05% | 365 | 0.02% | 189 | 0.01% | 546 | 0.03% | 2,420 | 0.14% | 17 | 0.01% | 1,737,041 |
| Chiang Rai[20] | 1,065,169 | 90.81% | 3,167 | 0.27% | 103,450 | 8.82% | 478 | 0.04% | 212 | 0.02% | 52 | 0.01% | 139 | 0.01% | 245 | 0.02% | 15 | 0.01% | 1,172,928 |
| Chonburi[21] | 1,463,280 | 94.08% | 23,269 | 1.50% | 56,878 | 3.66% | 1,155 | 0.07% | 610 | 0.04% | 426 | 0.03% | 6,139 | 0.39% | 3,601 | 0.23% | – | – | 1,555,358 |
| Chumphon[22] | 462,822 | 98.94% | 3,545 | 0.76% | 1,040 | 0.22% | 115 | 0.02% | 88 | 0.02% | 11 | 0.01% | 79 | 0.01% | 101 | 0.02% | – | – | 467,801 |
| Kalasin[23] | 821,714 | 99.66% | 1,058 | 0.13% | 1,348 | 0.16% | 72 | 0.01% | 30 | 0.01% | 33 | 0.01% | 203 | 0.02% | 76 | 0.01% | – | – | 824,534 |
| Kamphaeng Phet[24] | 790,017 | 99.08% | 1,571 | 0.20% | 3,775 | 0.47% | 226 | 0.03% | 124 | 0.01% | 94 | 0.01% | 746 | 0.09% | 838 | 0.11% | – | – | 797,391 |
| Kanchanaburi[25] | 789,692 | 98.52% | 2,849 | 0.35% | 7,833 | 0.97% | 203 | 0.02% | 204 | 0.02% | 20 | 0.01% | 145 | 0.01% | 573 | 0.07% | – | – | 801,519 |
| Khon Kaen[26] | 1,731,964 | 99.43% | 2,593 | 0.15% | 6,251 | 0.36% | 517 | 0.03% | 232 | 0.01% | 370 | 0.02% | 39 | 0.01% | 2 | 0.01% | 2 | 0.01% | 1,741,969 |
| Krabi[27] | 235,594 | 65.04% | 125,476 | 34.64% | 517 | 0.14% | 120 | 0.03% | 59 | 0.01% | 34 | 0.01% | 305 | 0.08% | 93 | 0.02% | 5 | 0.01% | 362,203 |
| Lampang[28] | 729,866 | 98.21% | 1,422 | 0.19% | 10,730 | 1.44% | 68 | 0.01% | 108 | 0.01% | 37 | 0.01% | 665 | 0.08% | 243 | 0.03% | 3 | 0.01% | 743,143 |
| Lamphun[29] | 410,259 | 99.40% | 631 | 0.15% | 1,698 | 0.41% | 30 | 0.01% | 12 | 0.01% | 16 | 0.01% | 96 | 0.02% | – | – | – | – | 412,741 |
| Loei[30] | 543,592 | 99.55% | 544 | 0.10% | 1,778 | 0.33% | – | – | 12 | 0.01% | 17 | 0.01% | 73 | 0.01% | 16 | 0.01% | – | – | 546,031 |
| Lopburi[31] | 765,821 | 99.47% | 1,525 | 0.20% | 1,304 | 0.17% | 141 | 0.02% | 55 | 0.01% | 51 | 0.01% | 294 | 0.04% | 733 | 0.10% | – | – | 769,925 |
| Mae Hong Son[32] | |||||||||||||||||||
| Maha Sarakham[33] | |||||||||||||||||||
| Mukdahan[34] | |||||||||||||||||||
| Nakhon Nayok[35] | |||||||||||||||||||
| Nakhon Pathom[36] | 928,954 | 98.42% | 2,162 | 0.23% | 9,803 | 1.04% | 444 | 0.05% | 108 | 0.01% | 38 | 0.01% | 1,574 | 0.17% | 810 | 0.09% | – | – | 943,892 |
| Nakhon Phanom[37] | |||||||||||||||||||
| Nakhon Ratchasima[38] | |||||||||||||||||||
| Nakhon Sawan[39] | |||||||||||||||||||
| Nakhon Si Thammarat[40] | 1,353,244 | 93.30% | 94,914 | 6.54% | 1,323 | 0.09% | 250 | 0.02% | 167 | 0.01% | 29 | 0.01% | 538 | 0.03% | – | – | – | – | 1,450,466 |
| Nan[41] | 444,201 | 98.10% | 329 | 0.07% | 8,071 | 1.78% | 27 | 0.01% | 10 | 0.01% | 19 | 0.01% | 156 | 0.03% | – | – | – | – | 452,814 |
| Narathiwat[42] | 93,968 | 14.02% | 575,585 | 85.90% | 212 | 0.03% | 44 | 0.01% | 161 | 0.02% | 30 | 0.01% | 2 | 0.01% | – | – | – | – | 670,002 |
| Nong Bua Lamphu[43] | 484,770 | 99.75% | 448 | 0.09% | 650 | 0.13% | 57 | 0.01% | 13 | 0.01% | 19 | 0.01% | – | – | 17 | 0.01% | – | – | 485,974 |
| Nong Khai[44] | 817,218 | 99.48% | 575 | 0.07% | 3,416 | 0.42% | 214 | 0.03% | 61 | 0.01% | 32 | 0.01% | – | – | 10 | 0.01% | – | – | 821,526 |
| Nonthaburi[45] | 1,282,703 | 96.14% | 41,816 | 3.13% | 7,760 | 0.59% | 656 | 0.05% | 373 | 0.01% | 89 | 0.01% | 172 | 0.01% | 473 | 0.03% | 40 | 0.01% | 1,334,083 |
| Pathum Thani[46] | 1,271,785 | 95.83% | 35,867 | 2.70% | 9,807 | 0.74% | 1,367 | 0.10% | 706 | 0.05% | 99 | 0.01% | 6,592 | 0.50% | 845 | 0.06% | 78 | 0.01% | 1,327,147 |
| Pattani[47] | 94,507 | 15.52% | 513,841 | 84.37% | 221 | 0.04% | 77 | 0.01% | 58 | 0.01% | 49 | 0.01% | 237 | 0.39% | 23 | 0.01% | 3 | 0.01% | 609,015 |
| Phang Nga[48] | 200,324 | 77.48% | 57,081 | 22.08% | 786 | 0.30% | 98 | 0.04% | 23 | 0.01% | 46 | 0.01% | 2 | 0.01% | 174 | 0.07% | – | – | 258,534 |
| Phatthalung[49] | 423,199 | 87.99% | 56,282 | 11.70% | 973 | 0.20% | 79 | 0.02% | 109 | 0.02% | 24 | 0.01% | 248 | 0.05% | 58 | 0.01% | 3 | 0.01% | 480,976 |
| Phayao[50] | 412,121 | 98.74% | 487 | 0.12% | 4,275 | 1.02% | 35 | 0.01% | 19 | 0.01% | 14 | 0.01% | 103 | 0.02% | 321 | 0.07% | 4 | 0.01% | 417,380 |
| Phetchabun[51] | 929,722 | 98.90% | 2,774 | 0.30% | 5,818 | 0.62% | 392 | 0.04% | 499 | 0.05% | 57 | 0.01% | 407 | 0.04% | 400 | 0.04% | 7 | 0.01% | 940,076 |
| Phetchaburi[52] | 460,327 | 97.41% | 10,398 | 2.20% | 1,411 | 0.30% | 61 | 0.01% | 52 | 0.01% | 5 | 0.01% | 128 | 0.03% | 206 | 0.04% | – | – | 472,589 |
| Phichit[53] | |||||||||||||||||||
| Phitsanulok[54] | |||||||||||||||||||
| Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya[55] | 827,251 | 95.01% | 37,056 | 4.26% | 3,024 | 0.35% | 330 | 0.04% | 78 | 0.01% | 44 | 0.01% | 458 | 0.05% | 57 | 0.01% | 2,373 | 0.27% | 870,671 |
| Phrae[56] | 423,310 | 99.04% | 551 | 0.13% | 3,118 | 0.73% | 45 | 0.01% | 52 | 0.01% | 35 | 0.01% | 184 | 0.04% | 101 | 0.02% | 2 | 0.01% | 427,398 |
| Phuket[57] | 418,025 | 79.52% | 83,969 | 15.97% | 19,058 | 3.63% | 1,011 | 0.19% | 67 | 0.01% | 104 | 0.02% | 930 | 0.18% | 2,453 | 0.47% | 91 | 0.02% | 525,709 |
| Prachinburi[58] | |||||||||||||||||||
| Prachuap Khiri Khan[59] | |||||||||||||||||||
| Ranong[60] | |||||||||||||||||||
| Ratchaburi[61] | 781,901 | 98.14% | 2,802 | 0.35% | 10,108 | 1.27% | 411 | 0.05% | 205 | 0.03% | 90 | 0.01% | 474 | 0.06% | 757 | 0.10% | – | – | 796,748 |
| Rayong[62] | |||||||||||||||||||
| Roi Et[63] | |||||||||||||||||||
| Sa Kaeo[64] | 553,526 | 99.56% | 721 | 0.13% | 1,393 | 0.25% | 90 | 0.01% | 31 | 0.01% | 14 | 0.01% | 54 | 0.01% | 132 | 0.02% | – | – | 555,961 |
| Sakon Nakhon[65] | |||||||||||||||||||
| Samut Prakan[66] | |||||||||||||||||||
| Samut Prakan[67] | |||||||||||||||||||
| Samut Songkhram[68] | |||||||||||||||||||
| Saraburi[69] | |||||||||||||||||||
| Satun[70] | 89,715 | 32.64% | 184,552 | 67.14% | 403 | 0.15% | 17 | 0.01% | 152 | 0.06% | 16 | 0.01% | – | – | 8 | 0.01% | – | – | 274,863 |
| Sing Buri[71] | 197,857 | 98.94% | 891 | 0.45% | 1,149 | 0.57% | 50 | 0.03% | 3 | 0.01% | 7 | 0.01% | – | – | 23 | 0.01% | 2 | 0.01% | 199,982 |
| Sisaket[72] | 1,047,650 | 99.21% | 1,677 | 0.16% | 5,818 | 0.55% | 196 | 0.02% | 30 | 0.01% | 41 | 0.01% | 312 | 0.03% | 255 | 0.02% | – | – | 1,055,979 |
| Songkhla[73] | 1,102,830 | 74.46% | 374,728 | 25.30% | 2,635 | 0.18% | 218 | 0.01% | 214 | 0.01% | 37 | 0.01% | 271 | 0.01% | 88 | 0.01% | – | – | 1,481,021 |
| Sukhothai[74] | |||||||||||||||||||
| Suphan Buri[75] | |||||||||||||||||||
| Surat Thani[76] | 978,368 | 96.93% | 22,521 | 2.23% | 2,313 | 0.23% | 460 | 0.05% | 238 | 0.02% | 42 | 0.01% | 2,469 | 0.24% | 2,940 | 0.29% | – | – | 1,009,351 |
| Surin[77] | |||||||||||||||||||
| Tak[78] | |||||||||||||||||||
| Trang[79] | 511,698 | 85.44% | 85,609 | 14.29% | 1,216 | 0.20% | 74 | 0.01% | 13 | 0.01% | 26 | 0.01% | 200 | 0.03% | 40 | 0.01% | – | – | 598,877 |
| Trat[80] | |||||||||||||||||||
| Ubon Ratchathani[81] | |||||||||||||||||||
| Udon Thani[82] | |||||||||||||||||||
| Uthai Thani[83] | |||||||||||||||||||
| Uttaradit[84] | |||||||||||||||||||
| Yala[85] | 100,778 | 23.27% | 331,747 | 76.59% | 453 | 0.10% | 69 | 0.02% | 61 | 0.01% | 40 | 0.01% | – | – | 16 | 0.01% | 3 | 0.01% | 433,167 |
| Yasothon[86] | 482,651 | 98.91% | 453 | 0.09% | 4,689 | 0.96% | 140 | 0.03% | 28 | 0.01% | 15 | 0.01% | – | – | – | – | – | – | 487,976 |
| Total | 61,746,429 | 100% | 3,259,340 | 100% | 789,376 | 100% | 41,808 | 100% | 16,718 | 100% | 11,124 | 100% | 66,922 | 100% | 46,122 | 100% | 3,820 | 100% | 65,981,660 |
Buddhism in Thailand is largely of theTheravada school. Over 90% of Thailand's population adheres to this school.
Thai Buddhism is practised alongside various indigenous religions, such as Chinese indigenous religion by the manyThais of Chinese origin, Hinduism amongThai of Indian origin andSiamese Thai people,[87] Thai folk religion amongNortheastern Thai,Northern Thai andNorthern Khmer people, and Peranakan folk religion for Peranakans.
Buddhist temples in Thailand are characterised by tall goldenstupas, and theBuddhist architecture of Thailand is similar to that in other Southeast Asian countries, especiallyCambodia andLaos, which share a cultural and historical heritage with Thailand.
Several thousand Hindus of Indian origin live in Thailand, mainly in the larger cities. Besides this group of "traditional Hindus", Thailand in its earliest days was under the rule of theKhmer Empire, which had strong Hindu roots, and the influence among Thais remains even today. There are also some ethnic Cham Hindus living in Thailand.[88] The popularRamakien epic based on Buddhist Dasaratha Jataka is very similar to the HinduRamayana. The former capital ofAyutthaya was named forAyodhya, the Indian birthplace of theRama, the protagonist of the story.There is a class ofbrahmins who perform rituals for Hindu gods.[87] Brahmin rituals are still common. Hindu-Buddhist deities are worshipped by many Thais and statues and shrines ofBrahma,Ganesh,Indra,Shiva,Vishnu,Lakshmi and other Hindu-Buddhist gods are a common sight (for example theErawan Shrine area). Another relic of Hinduism isGaruda, now a symbol of the monarchy.
The firstSikh known to have come to Thailand was Ladha Singh, who arrived in 1890. Other Sikhs joined him in the early 1900s, and by 1911 more than a hundred Sikh families had settled in Thailand, mainly inThonburi Region. There were at that time nogurdwaras (Sikh temples), and religious prayers were held in private homes every Sunday and ongurpurab days. The Sikh community continued to grow, and in 1912 it was decided to build a gurdwara. It stands today in Bangkok'sPahurat area and imitates the Golden Temple inAmritsarPunjab, India. A tiny but influential community of Sikhs live in the country's cities, most engaged in retail commerce.
Many within the largeThai Chinese population (excluding the Peranakans) practise variousChinese religions, including the worship of local gods,Chinese ancestral worship,Taoism,Confucianism andChinese salvationist religions.[6] One of the latter,Yiguandao (Thai:Anuttharatham), spread to Thailand since the 1970s, and it has grown so popular to come into conflict with Buddhism; in 2009 there were more than 7,000 Yiguandao churches in the country and approximately 200.000 people convert each year into the religion.[89] Despite the large number of followers and temples these religions have no state recognition, their temples are not counted as places of worship, and their followers are counted as "Theravada Buddhists" in officially released religious figures.[6] Chinese temples are calledsanchao inThai language.[6]
The Chinese folk religion of Thailand has developed local features, including the worship of local gods.[6] Major Chinese festivals such asNian,Zhongqiu, andQingming, are widely celebrated, especially inBangkok,Chonburi, and other parts of Thailand where there are large Chinese populations.[90] Thai of Teochew and Hoklo origin generally worshipGuanyin andMazu, while Cantonese origin worshipGuan Yu.
ThePeranakans in the city ofPhuket practise a nine-day vegetarian festival between September and October. During the festive season, devotees will abstain from meat andmortification of the flesh by Chinese mediums is also commonly seen. The rites and rituals are devoted to the veneration ofTua Pek Kong. Such traditions were developed during the 19th century in Phuket by the local Chinese with influences from Malay and Southern Thai culture.[91]
Most ofNortheastern Thai (as well asNorthern Thai,Northern Khmer and someSiamese Thai) practise distinctiveindigenous religions characterised by worship oflocal gods andancestors. They are very similar to the Chinese folk religion.
According to the 2015 census, Thailand has 2,892,311 Muslims, or 4.29% of the total population. 2,227,613 of these Muslims are concentrated in the southern region of the country, where they represent up to 24.33% of the population.[9]
Christianity was introduced by European missionaries as early as the 1550s, when Portuguese mercenaries and their chaplain arrived in Ayutthaya. Historically, it has played a significant role in the modernisation of Thailand, notably in social and educational institutions.[92] As of 2015 just over one percent of the population of Thailand are Christians.[9] Of that group, 400,000 are estimated to be Catholics.[93]
Thailand's Department of Religion, currently under the Ministry of Culture, has formally recognised five major Christian churches/denominations: theCatholic Church, theSouthern Baptists, theSeventh-day Adventists, theChurch of Christ in Thailand, and theEvangelical Fellowship of Thailand. Although not officially recognised,missionaries ofthe Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) have been active in Thailand for decades, though their converts are comparatively few. Also present are Jehovah's Witnesses, with over 5,200 members and 140 congregations.
Judaism inThailand dates back to the 17th century, with the arrival of a fewBaghdadi Jewish families. The present community consists of bothAshkenazi (for instance the expatriate community plus some descendants of refugees fromimperial Russia and later theSoviet Union), andSephardi Jews, who were born in such places as Afghanistan, Iran and Syria, and wealthy gem traders. Most of the Jewish community in Thailand, consisting of an estimated 2,000 residents, reside in Bangkok,[94] although there are at any given time thousands of tourists (some long-term) coming primarily from Israel. There are Jewish synagogues inPhuket,Chiang Mai, andKo Samui, but no community there.
The constitution “prohibits discrimination based on religious belief," and allows all persons to practise any religion of their choice. Religious groups can operate freely with or without government registration.
The government has a quota for the number of foreign missionaries working in the country: 1,357 Christian, six Muslim, 20 Hindu, and 41 Sikh. Benefits include longer visa stays.
In 2022, violence against religious groups was reported in the Deep South; however it is difficult to separate this from ethnic violence.[5] Due to this violence, in 2023,Freedom House scored the country 3 out of 4 for religious freedom.[95]
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