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Reference.org
Tai peoples
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<p>Tai peoples are the populations who speak (or formerly spoke) the <a href="/facts/Tai_languages/A8LAhjnd">Tai languages</a>. There are a total of about 93 million people of Tai ancestry worldwide, with the largest <a href="/facts/Ethnic_group/XSp5l24t">ethnic groups</a> being <a href="/facts/Dai_people/3vC2rCkw">Dai</a>, <a href="/facts/Thai_people/JxGwqgQP">Thai</a>, <a href="/facts/Isan_people/9ackRsYc">Isan</a>, <a href="/facts/Tai_Yai_people/7kH27UpE">Tai Yai</a> (Shan), <a href="/facts/Lao_people/Stshtq3J">Lao</a>, <a href="/facts/Ahom_people/oPhjzdg1">Tai Ahom</a>, Tai Kassay and <a href="/facts/Northern_Thai_people/RnaIugGr">some Northern Thai peoples</a>. </p><p>The Tai are scattered through much of <a href="/facts/South_China/f6KLGwCP">South China</a> and <a href="/facts/Mainland_Southeast_Asia/5pknI7yy">Mainland Southeast Asia</a>, with some (<i>e.g.</i> <a href="/facts/Ahom_people/oPhjzdg1">Tai Ahom</a>, Tai Kassay, <a href="/facts/Khamyang_people/Bn3Aqmm6"> Tai Khamyang</a>, <a href="/facts/Khamti_people/FSdLHY6f">Tai Khamti</a>, <a href="/facts/Tai_Phake_people/XgR3Vq60">Tai Phake</a>, Tai Aiton) inhabiting parts of <a href="/facts/Northeast_India/JtFJkH2A">Northeast India</a>. Tai peoples are both culturally and genetically very similar and therefore primarily identified through their language. </p>