Thai is the main language of the area but many, particularly older residents, speak Khmer, Lao, and Suway.
Surin has a big population of westerners. It is estimated that population of foreigners of 6,000 people living in Surin or surrounding villages. Most of them are men married to local Thai women.
Surin City is the capital of the province. Surin is about 450 kilometres from Bangkok, total area is 8,124 square kilometres and it can be divided into 17 Amphoes namely Mueang Surin, Chumphon Buri, Tha Tum, Chom Phra, Prasat, Kap Choeng, Rattanaburi, Phanom, Si Khoraphum, Sangkha, Samrong Thap, Buachet, Lamduan, Si Narong, Phanom Dong Rak, Khwao Sinarin, and Non Narai.
Surin is a typical Thai country town. However in November every year The Elephant Festival is everywhere in the town and the night on 40 year-old annual show has its centerpiece right downtown at the Lak Muang Stadium, where over 200 elephants perform their skills, hunting techniques and the more fun like football.