Thailand

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Thailand's Information


Capital	Bangkok
Languages	Thai (official) 90.7%, Burmese 1.3%, other 8%
Ethnic Groups	Thai 97.5%, Burmese 1.3%, other 1.1%, unspecified <.1% (2015 est.)
Religion	Buddhist 94.6%, Muslim 4.3%, Christian 1%, other <.1%, none <.1% (2015 est.)
Government	Constitutional monarchy; note - interim military-affiliated government since May 2014
Independance	1238 (traditional founding date; never colonized)
Area	513,120.00 km²
Water Area	2,230.00 km²
Land Area	510,890.00 km²
Population	68,200,824.00 Highest population density is found in and around Bangkok; significant population clusters found througout large parts of the country, particularly east / northeast of Bankok and in the extreme southern region of the country
Location	Southeastern Asia, bordering the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand, southeast of Burma
No. Bordering Countries	4
Bordering Countries	Burma 2,416 km, Cambodia 817 km, Laos 1,845 km, Malaysia 595 km
GDP(PPP)	$1,160,000,000,000.00 (USD)
GDP (Per Capita)	$16,800.00 (USD)
Export Partners	Its major export partners are the United States, China, and Japan.
Export Commodities	Its main exports are automobiles and parts, computers and parts, jewelry and precious stones, and polymers.
Import Partners	Its major import partners are China, Japan, and the United States.
Import Commodities	Its major imports include machinery, crude oil, and chemicals.
Climate	Tropical; hot, humid; distinct rainy and dry seasons
Terrain	Central plain; Khorat Plateau in the east; mountains elsewhere

Where is Thailand?

Located in Southeastern Asia, Thailand has a 5,673.00 km border with Burma (2,416 km), Cambodia (817 km), Laos (1,845 km) and Malaysia (595 km). It has a 3,219.00 km coastline. Separatist violence in Thailand's predominantly Malay-Muslim southern provinces prompt border closures and controls with Malaysia.

The capital of Thailand is Bangkok, which is located in the southern part of the country on the banks of the Chao Phraya river. The city occupies an area of 1,568.7 square kilometres (605.7 square miles) and has approximately 9 million inhabitants. The surrounding areas, known as the Bangkok Metropolitan Region, are home to an additional 14 million inhabitants. The climate of Bangkok is a tropical savanna climate heavily influenced by the South Asian monsoons. There are three seasons in Bangkok, hot, rainy, and cool, although the temperatures remain somewhat hot year-round. The city contains over 12 percent of the population of the entire country, and the surrounding area contains 22 percent of the population of Thailand. Bangkok is always ranked among the top tourist destinations in the world and for a good reason, the traditional cultural attractions are complemented by modern shopping and tourist attractions.

Geography

Thailand has a mean elevation of 287 m above sea level.

It has a tropical climate with distinct rainy and dry seasons. The terrain consists of a central plain, with some mountain coverage.

Population

Thailand has a population of 68,200,824 making it the 20th largest in the world. The highest population density can be found in and around Bangkok.

Thai is the official language. The major ethnicity is Thai. The majority of the country identifies as Buddhist.

The official language of Thailand is Thai which can also be known as Central Thai or Siamese. This language is the principal means of government and communications as well as education in the country. 68.9 million people are living in Thailand, and over 20 million of these citizens speak a variation of the Central Thai language as their native tongue. In total, approximately 60 million citizens in Thailand will know Central Thai as a first or secondary language. According to many experts, there are over 70 living languages in the country as well as six variations of sign language. The most abundant minority language in the country is Lao, a traditional language of the Lao Kingdom. The Thai language is a part of the Tai-Kada language family, found in China, Northeast Indian, and Southeast Asia. There are many regional variants of Central Thai that are mutually intelligible.

Government

Thailand is an independent country. Its traditional founding date is in 1238. Its constitution was last ratified in 2017.

Since the military coup of May 2014, the Constitution of Thailand has been revoked, and the country is effectively under martial law. The previous political framework of Thailand was considered a constitutional monarchy in which the monarchy was the head of state, and the Prime Minister was the head of government. Since grabbing power in Thailand during 2014, the National Council for Peace and Order has curbed most, if not all, political opposition by detaining individuals deemed dangerous to the regime as well as academics, prominent politicians, political bloggers, and journalists. The parliament of Thailand is located in the Dusit District of Bangkok, near the Dusit Zoo and the Open Air Museum.

Economy

Factoring in Purchasing Power Parity, Thailand's GDP is $1,160,000,000,000.00 (USD) with $16,800.00 (USD) per capita. This makes it the 20th largest economy and its citizens the 96th richest in the world. The currency of Thailand is the Baht (THB).

Its major export partners are the United States, China, and Japan. Its main exports are automobiles and parts, computers and parts, jewelry and precious stones, and polymers. Its major import partners are China, Japan, and the United States. Its major imports include machinery, crude oil, and chemicals.

Flag

The flag of Thailand consists of five horizontal stripes of red, white, blue, white and red. The central blue stripe is twice as wide as each of the other four stripes on the flag. This design was officially adopted on 28 September 2017, and there is a national holiday on this date every year in Thailand. The earliest known flag of Thailand was a simple red rectangular field which was in use during the Ayutthaya and Thonburi periods of rule. The colours in the flag of Thailand represent the nation, Buddhism and other religions, and the King of Thailand. Red is symbolic of the land and the people of Thailand, white is the symbol of religious harmony, and blue is the symbol of the monarchy.