Located
in the middle of the Northeast region, Maha Sarakham is 475 kilometers
from Bangkok.
Wat Mahachai located in Maha Sarakham municipality, this temple is the
center where the northeastern literature and object'd arts are collected.
The Kaeng Loeng Chan Reservoir about four kilometers from town center,
is a popular holiday spot, with peaceful and beautiful atmosphere.
Made of red sandstone, the Phra Buddha Ming Muang (or Phra Buddha Rup
Suwanmali) is enshrined at Wat Suwanmali in Amphoe Kantharawichai. It
is of the style of the Dharavati Period. The Mongkon Standing Buddha is
the principal Buddha image of Maha Sarakham, also of the Dharavati Period.
Made of red sandstone, and also located in Amphoe Kantharawichai, it is
believed to have been cast at the same time as the Phra Buddha Ming Muang.
Legend has it that ever since the two images have been in existence, rainfall
has been plentiful and regular.
|
General
Information |
Area
sq km |
5,292
|
|
|
Anual
rainfall mm (2002) |
1,416
|
Forest
Land (1999) |
32
|
0.6 %
|
Days
of rain (2002) |
123
|
Farm
Land (1999) |
4,396
|
83.1 %
|
Mean
Temperature High/Low (2002) |
34.0
/
22.5
|
Unclassified
Land (1999) |
864
|
16.3 %
|
BOI
Zone |
3
|
Population
/ sq. km (2003) |
178
|
|
Gross
provincial product rank (2001) |
45
|
|
|
Population |
2003 |
2002 |
2001 |
2000 |
1999 |
1998 |
1997 |
1996 |
Male |
49.8 %
|
49.8 %
|
49.8 %
|
49.7 %
|
49.7 %
|
49.8 %
|
49.8 %
|
49.8 %
|
Female |
50.2 %
|
50.2 %
|
50.2 %
|
50.3 %
|
50.3 %
|
50.2 %
|
50.2 %
|
50.2 %
|
Total |
944,385
|
942,909
|
939,920
|
937,860
|
940,402
|
936,490
|
927,753
|
919,615
|
|
|
Household
income (baht) |
2002 |
2000 |
1998 |
1996 |
1994 |
Average
monthly income |
9,642
|
8,746
|
8,444
|
5,171
|
4,494
|
Average
monthly expenditures |
7,977
|
7,803
|
7,151
|
5,098
|
4,665
|
Voluntary
reserves |
17.3 %
|
10.8 %
|
15.3 %
|
1.4 %
|
-
|
Monthly
income / Person |
2,472
|
2,133
|
2,111
|
1,360
|
1,096
|
Average
household size |
3.9
|
4.1
|
4.0
|
3.8
|
4.1
|
|
|
Gross
provincial product |
2001 |
2000 |
1999 |
1998 |
1997 |
1996 |
1995 |
1994 |
Agriculture |
23.2 %
|
20.3 %
|
22.3 %
|
26.2 %
|
25.1 %
|
24.1 %
|
23.3 %
|
21.1 %
|
Manufacturing |
5.0 %
|
5.0 %
|
4.3 %
|
4.3 %
|
3.9 %
|
3.9 %
|
4.8 %
|
4.6 %
|
Construction |
3.2 %
|
5.5 %
|
8.5 %
|
8.1 %
|
8.9 %
|
11.1 %
|
10.0 %
|
10.8 %
|
Transport
& communication |
5.3 %
|
4.6 %
|
4.3 %
|
3.7 %
|
4.0 %
|
4.2 %
|
4.1 %
|
4.1 %
|
Wholesale
& retail trade |
21.3 %
|
23.1 %
|
21.6 %
|
20.7 %
|
23.3 %
|
22.3 %
|
23.3 %
|
24.3 %
|
Services |
21.4 %
|
20.5 %
|
19.0 %
|
17.5 %
|
16.5 %
|
15.6 %
|
15.7 %
|
16.0 %
|
Others |
20.6 %
|
21.0 %
|
20.0 %
|
19.5 %
|
18.3 %
|
18.8 %
|
18.8 %
|
19.1 %
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
(million baht) |
21,446
|
21,030
|
212,288
|
21,353
|
20,522
|
19,842
|
18,172
|
15,401
|
GPP
per capita (baht) |
22,816
|
22,423
|
225,741
|
22,801
|
22,120
|
21,576
|
19,771
|
16,839
|
|
|
Commercial
bank |
2003 |
2002 |
2001 |
2000 |
1999 |
1998 |
1997 |
1996 |
No.
of offices |
15
|
14
|
14
|
16
|
16
|
16
|
16
|
15
|
Deposits
(million baht) |
7,491
|
7,231
|
7,164
|
5,888
|
6,119
|
6,119
|
6,046
|
5,722
|
Loans
(million baht) |
6,231
|
5,995
|
5,450
|
7,026
|
7,462
|
7,462
|
8,509
|
8,466
|
Deposits
/ capita (baht) |
7,987
|
7,689
|
7,649
|
6,346
|
6,653
|
6,657
|
6,610
|
6,443
|
Loans/deposits
ratio |
83.2 %
|
82.9 %
|
76.1 %
|
119.3 %
|
121.9 %
|
121.9 %
|
140.7 %
|
148.0 %
|
|
|
Public
health |
2001 |
2000 |
1999 |
1998 |
1997 |
1996 |
1995 |
1994 |
1993 |
No.
of hospitals |
12
|
12
|
12
|
12
|
11
|
11
|
12
|
12
|
11
|
No.
of hospital beds |
1,049
|
996
|
877
|
877
|
827
|
773
|
720
|
610
|
550
|
Avg.
Beds / Hospital |
87
|
83
|
73
|
73
|
75
|
70
|
60
|
50
|
50
|
Capita
/ Hospital bed |
896
|
941
|
1,072
|
1,067
|
1,121
|
1,189
|
1,276
|
1,499
|
1,614
|
No.
of physicians |
93
|
85
|
89
|
86
|
53
|
48
|
43
|
51
|
54
|
Capita
/ Physician |
10,106
|
11,033
|
10,566
|
10,889
|
17,504
|
19,158
|
21,374
|
17,932
|
16,445
|
No. of dentists |
21
|
21
|
26
|
17
|
16
|
15
|
14
|
12
|
14
|
Capita / Dentist |
44,758
|
44,660
|
36,169
|
55,087
|
57,984
|
61,307
|
65,650
|
76,213
|
63,433
|
No.
of nurses |
543
|
511
|
512
|
466
|
361
|
364
|
368
|
345
|
312
|
|
|
Education |
2002 |
2000 |
1998 |
1996 |
1994 |
1993 |
No.
of teachers |
-
|
9,460
|
9,400
|
8,974
|
9,162
|
9,046
|
No.
of students |
-
|
176,013
|
176,616
|
169,484
|
164,530
|
150,095
|
No.
of schools |
-
|
662
|
667
|
657
|
646
|
644
|
No.
of classrooms |
-
|
6,946
|
6,842
|
6,727
|
6,697
|
6,263
|
Ratio
: students / teacher |
-
|
18.6
|
18.8
|
18.9
|
18.0
|
16.6
|
Ratio
: students / classroom |
-
|
25.3
|
25.8
|
25.2
|
24.6
|
24.0
|
|
|
|
|