Thailand

GEOGRAPHY

Southeastern Asia, bordering the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand, southeast of Burma

Area total 513,120 sq. km (land 510,890 sq km; water 2,230 sq km)

Land boundaries 5,673 km ( Burma 2416 km, Cambodia 817 km, Laos 1845 km, Malaysia 595 km)

Coastline 3,219 km

Capital City: Bangkok

etymology: The city has had many names in its history going back to AD 1010 when it first became the capital of Imperial Vietnam. In 1831 it received its current name, Ha Noi ,meaning "between the rivers", referring to its geographic location.

Climate: tropical; rainy, warm, cloudy southwest monsoon (mid-May to September); dry, cool northeast monsoon (November to mid-March); southern isthmus always hot and humid

Terrain: central plain; Khorat Plateau in the east; mountains elsewhere

Elevationn: Highest point Doi Inthanon 2,565 m; lowest Gulf of Thailand 0 m

PEOPLE AND SOCIETY

Population: 69,480,520 (July 2021 est.)

Nationality: Thai

Languages: Thai (official) only 90.7%, Thai and other languages 6.4%, only other languages 2.9% (includes Malay, Burmese); note - data represent population by language(s) spoken at home; English is a secondary language of the elite (2010 est.)

Ethnic Groups: Thai 97.5%, Burmese 1.3%, other 1.1%, unspecified <.1% (2015 est.) (data represent population by nationality)

Religions: Buddhist 94.6%, Muslim 4.3%, Christian 1%, other <0.1%, none <0.1% (2015 est.)

DEMOGRAPHIC PROFILE

0-24 years:  29%
25-54 years: 47%
55+ years: 24%

Median age:  39 years

Population Distribution: Highest population density is found in and around Bangkok; significant population clusters found througout large parts of the country, particularly north and northeast of Bangkok and in the extreme southern region of the country

Urbanization - 52% of total population (2021).  

NATIONAL IDENTITY

COUNTRY NAMES

conventional long form: Kingdom of Thailand
conventional short form: Thailand
local long form: Ratcha Anachak Thai
local short form: Prathet Thai

Independence: Thailand has never been colonised

National holiday: Birthday of King WACHIRALONGKON, 28 July (1952)

Government Type: Constitutional monarchy

Administrative Divisions
76 provinces (changwat, singular and plural) and 1 municipality* (maha nakhon); Amnat Charoen, Ang Thong, Bueng Kan, Buri Ram, Chachoengsao, Chai Nat, Chaiyaphum, Chanthaburi, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Chon Buri, Chumphon, Kalasin, Kamphaeng Phet, Kanchanaburi, Khon Kaen, Krabi, Krung Thep* (Bangkok), Lampang, Lamphun, Loei, Lop Buri, Mae Hong Son, Maha Sarakham, Mukdahan, Nakhon Nayok, Nakhon Pathom, Nakhon Phanom, Nakhon Ratchasima, Nakhon Sawan, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Nan, Narathiwat, Nong Bua Lamphu, Nong Khai, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, Pattani, Phangnga, Phatthalung, Phayao, Phetchabun, Phetchaburi, Phichit, Phitsanulok, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Phrae, Phuket, Prachin Buri, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Ranong, Ratchaburi, Rayong, Roi Et, Sa Kaeo, Sakon Nakhon, Samut Prakan, Samut Sakhon, Samut Songkhram, Saraburi, Satun, Sing Buri, Si Sa Ket, Songkhla, Sukhothai, Suphan Buri, Surat Thani, Surin, Tak, Trang, Trat, Ubon Ratchathani, Udon Thani, Uthai Thani, Uttaradit, Yala, Yasothon

Flag Description

five horizontal bands of red (top), white, blue (double width), white, and red; the red color symbolizes the nation and the blood of life, white represents religion and the purity of Buddhism, and blue stands for the monarchy

National anthem

name: "Phleng Chat Thai" (National Anthem of Thailand)
lyrics/music: Luang SARANUPRAPAN/Phra JENDURIYANG


National symbol(s): elephant; national colors: red, white, blue

ECONOMY

Industries: tourism, textiles and garments, agricultural processing, beverages, tobacco, cement, light manufacturing such as jewelry and electric appliances, computers and parts, integrated circuits, furniture, plastics, automobiles and automotive parts, agricultural machinery, air conditioning and refrigeration, ceramics, aluminum, chemical, environmental management, glass, granite and marble, leather, machinery and metal work, petrochemical, petroleum refining, pharmaceuticals, printing, pulp and paper, rubber, sugar, rice, fishing, cassava, world's second-largest tungsten producer and third-largest tin producer

Exchange rate:  1 USD = 32.70 Thai Baht, 2021 est.

COMM

International: country code - 66

Internet country code - .th

Mobile cellular subscriptions: 129.614 million (188 per 100 inhabitants, 2019 est.)
Internet users total: 38,987,531 (57% of population, 2018 est.)

SOURCE: CIA World Factbook