In marriage, the choice of a mate is left to the young people and opportunities for courtship are common. Contemporary marriages are monogamous, but polygyny was common among the nobility in the past. Village endogamy is preferred. Divorce or separation is by mutual agreement. Property is divided equally, and the children may accompany either parent.
Social stratification is based on age, occupation, wealth, and residence.
On the social scale, the rural farmers rank below the artisans, merchants, and government officials, but there is social mobility in Thai society. The priesthood is considered to be apart from the rest of society. In rural areas, provinces are subdivided into districts, communes, and villages. There are also administrative units, with headmen who are elected from hamlets and communes. The duties of these headmen are to communicate with the people of the district and to recruit labor for special tasks.