Isan

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Northeastern Region ภาคอีสาน
Region
From upper-left to lower-right: Thai–Lao Friendship Bridge, Phu Kradueng, Khao Yai, Phanom Rung Historical Park and Candle Festival
Northeastern Region in Thailand
Largest city	Nakhon Ratchasima
Provinces	20 provinces Kalasin province Khon Kaen province Chaiyaphum province Nakhon Phanom province Nakhon Ratchasima province Bueng Kan province Buriram province Maha Sarakham province Mukdahan province Roi Et province Yasothon province Loei province Sisaket province Sakon Nakhon province Surin province Nong Khai province Nongbua Lamphu province Amnat Charoen province Udon Thani province Ubon Ratchathani province
Area [1]
• Total	167,718 km2 (64,756 sq mi)
Population  (2019)[2]
• Total	22,017,248
• Density	130/km2 (340/sq mi)
Demonym	Khon Isan
GDP [3]
• Total	US$51.5 billion (2019)
Time zone	UTC+7 (ICT)
Language	Isan • others

Northeast Thailand or Isan (Isan/Thai: อีสาน, pronounced [ʔīː.sǎːn] ^ⓘ; Lao: ອີສານ, romanized: Īsān; also written as Isaan, Isarn, Issarn, Issan, Esan, or Esarn; from Pāli 𑀇𑀲𑀸𑀦 isāna or Sanskrit ईशान्य īśānya "northeast")^[4] consists of 20 provinces in northeastern Thailand. Isan is Thailand's largest region, on the Khorat Plateau, bordered by the Mekong River (along the Laos–Thailand border) to the north and east, by Cambodia to the southeast and the Sankamphaeng Range south of Nakhon Ratchasima. To the west it is separated from northern and central Thailand by the Phetchabun Mountains. Isan covers 167,718 km² (64,756 sq mi), making it about half the size of Germany and roughly the size of England and Wales. The total forest area is 25,203 km² (9,731 sq mi) or 15 percent of Isan's area.^[1]

Since the beginning of the 20th century, northeastern Thailand has been generally known as Isan, while in official contexts the term phak tawan-ok-chiang-nuea (ภาคตะวันออกเฉียงเหนือ; "northeastern region") may be used. The majority population of the Isan region is ethnically Lao, but distinguish themselves not only from the Lao of Laos but also from the Central Thai by calling themselves khon Isan or Thai Isan in general. But some refer to themselves as simply Lao, and academics have recently been referring to them as Lao Isan^[5] or as Thai Lao, with the main issue with self-identification as Lao being stigma associated with the Lao identity in Thai society.^[6]

The Lao Isan people are aware of their Lao ethnic origin, but Isan has been incorporated as a territory into the modern Thai state through over 100 years of administrative and bureaucratic reforms, educational policy, and government media. Despite this, since the election of Thaksin Shinawatra as prime minister in the 2001 Thai general election, the Lao Isan identity has reemerged, and the Lao Isan are now the main ethnolinguistic group involved in the pro-Thaksin "Red Shirt movement" of the United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship.^[7] Several Thai prime ministers have come from the region.