Karen people originally came from Tibet before moving into China, Burma and Thailand. Burma, which has a distinct Karen state, is home to the majority of Karen. Of the estimated 5 - 7 million Karen still living in Burma, the majority are Buddhist and animist. 

Some Karen, mainly the Sgaw and Pho, have lived in Thailand for nearly 300 years, drifting in from the West over time. Others have arrived more recently as refugees. 

One major source of refugees is the fighting between the Burmese military junta and a separate, armed Karen group. This civil war is relatively unknown in the world at large but has had devastating consequences for the Karen. Karen people who are found by the Burmese military have no choice but to flee, or work in forced labor camps. Those who flee are considered enemies of the state and are subject to persecution if caught. 

The Karen formed border patrols in response to this regime, and these have now evolved into a guerilla army that aims to protect the Karen people from the Burmese army. However, many Karen have still opted to flee to Thailand.

Christian and Buddhist Karen in Burma have also had skirmishes, sending many Christian Karen out of the country and into Thailand. Consequently, many of the Karen currently living in Thailand are Christian. 

The Thai government has provided assistance to the refugees, and now approximately 400,000 Karen live in Thailand. This number may be even higher, because Karen people can easily pass as Thai. 

There are five different Karen groups: 

Karen Sgaw, the most numerous group in Thailand. The Karen Sgaw live mainly in Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai, Mae Hong Son, and some parts of Kanchanaburi.

Karen Pho are the other main group of Karen living in Thailand. They are concentrated in Chiang Mai, Mae Hong San, Prae Kanchanaburi, Lampang and Tak.

Karen Kayah and Karen Bwe are more numerous in Burma, but there is a small population living in Thailand in Mae Hong Son. Kayah and Bwe are actually the same group but have two different names. In Burma, Kayah are known as “Red Burmese.”

Karen Tongsue live mostly in Mae Hong Son.

Mae Hong Son, on the border with Burma, is the point at which many refugees from Burma cross over into Thailand. Consequently there is a large population of Karen now living there.

The so-called “Long Neck Karen” a Thai tourist attraction, are just one of the many subgroups.  They are called “Kayan” or in Burmese, “Padong”.