Highland Population in Thailand

According to the development and welfare policy for highland peoples of the Department of Public Welfare (Cabinet's resolution on the 6th July 1976), "Chao Khao" is the definition given to members of ethnic groups with different races, traditions, customs, cultures and beliefs from majority of the ethnical Thai peoples. They include only 9 main ethnic groups or tribes, i.e. Hmong (or: Meo), Mien (or: Yao), Lahu (or: Musur), Lisu (or: Lisaw), Akha (or: Ikaw), Karen (or: Kariang), Lua (or: Lawa), H'Tin and Khamu. There are also other ethnic groups. The latest data on highland population of Thailand, taken from "Directory of Highland Communities in 20 Provinces in Thailand in the Year of 1997", investigated by the Hill tribe Welfare Division of the Department of Public Welfare, shows that there are altogether 774,316 Chao Thai Phukhao or Chao Khao, and 139,797 households in 3,746 villages / groups of houses.