DEBATE often surrounds the number of overseas residents who live on Phuket. The official figures, obtained by Phuketwan from Phuket Immigration, provide the most accurate guide.

They show that a total of 18,475 visas were extended in 2008, 9159 short-term (tourist, 60 days, 30 days, 15 days, seven days) and 9316 long-term (non-Immigrant B or O or student-teacher, plus others).

These represent visitors from more than 120 different countries.

The top 10 nations: 1. Britain, 2722 (1125 short, 1597 long); 2. Sweden 1404 (988 short, 416 long); 3. France 1321 (716 short, 608 long); 4. Italy 1278 (892 short, 386 long): 5. Germany 1261 (456 short, 805 long); 6. US 1143 (503 short, 640 long); 7. Philippines 875 (367 short, 508 long); 8. Australia 870 (396 short, 474 long); 9. Switzerland 762 (328 short, 434 long); 10. Canada 585 (340 short, 245 long).

Full story: Phuket Expat Residents by Nation

If national characteristics can be extrapolated from the figures, then Italians and Swedes seem to prefer long-term visas while Italians prefer the short-term ones.

Those Italians, they do everything.

is the most accurate guide available but as pwan says 'The figures include all those who sought to extend visas at Phuket Immigration'