Thailand (/ˈtaɪlænd/ TY-land or /ˈtaɪlənd/ TY-lənd;[9] Thai: ประเทศไทย, RTGS: Prathet Thai), officially the Kingdom of Thailand (Thai: ราชอาณาจักรไทย, RTGS: Ratcha Anachak Thai; IPA: [râːt.tɕʰā ʔāːnāːtɕàk tʰāj] (
listen)), is a country in Southeast Asia. Its neighbours are Laos, Cambodia, Malaysia, and Myanmar. Its name was Siam until June 1939[10] and between 1945 and May 11 1949. The word Thai (ไทย) comes from the ethnic group in the center of Thailand.
 | This article may have too many red links. (September 2011) |
Kingdom of Thailand | |
|---|---|
.svg) Emblem
| |
| Anthem: Phleng Chat Thai (English: "Thai National Anthem") | |
![Location of Thailand (green)in ASEAN (dark grey) — [Legend]](#/media/File:Location_Thailand_ASEAN.svg) | |
| Capital and largest city | Bangkok (Thai: Krung Thep)1 13°45′N 100°29′E |
| Official languages | Thai[1] |
Spoken languages | Central Thai, Isan, Lanna (Northern Thai), Dambro (Southern Thai), Karen, Pattani Malay, Bangkok Malay, Teochew, Hokkien |
| Official scripts | Thai alphabet |
| Ethnic groups | Thai (75%) • Northeastern Thai (Isan) (34.2%) |
| Demonym(s) | Thai |
| Government | Unitary parliamentary democracy and constitutional monarchy |
• Monarch | Maha Vajiralongkorn |
| Paetongtarn Shinawatra[3] | |
| Legislature | National Assembly |
| Senate | |
| House of Representatives | |
| Formation | |
• Sukhothai Kingdom | 1238–1448 |
| 1351–1767 | |
• Thonburi Kingdom | 1768–1782 |
• Rattanakosin Kingdom | 6 April 1782 |
| 24 June 1932 | |
• 2007 Constitution | 24 August 2007 |
| Area | |
• Total | 513,120 km2 (198,120 sq mi) (51st) |
• Water (%) | 0.4 (2,230 km2) |
| Population | |
• 2011 estimate | 66,720,1532[4] (20th) |
• 2010 census | 65,479,453[5] |
• Density | 132.1/km2 (342.1/sq mi) (88th) |
| GDP (PPP) | 2011 estimate |
• Total | $616.783 billion[6] (24th) |
• Per capita | $9,598[6] (84th) |
| GDP (nominal) | 2011 estimate |
• Total | $332.47 billion[6] (30th) |
• Per capita | $5,174[6] (89th) |
| Gini (2009) | 42.5[7] medium |
| HDI (2011) |  0.682[8]medium · 103rd |
| Currency | Baht (฿) (THB) |
| Time zone | UTC+7 |
| Driving side | left |
| Calling code | +66 |
| ISO 3166 code | TH |
| Internet TLD | .th, .ไทย |
| |
.svg)
Thailand is a constitutional monarchy. It has a King as a head of state, who is Vajiralongkorn at the moment.
Most people here (95 percent) follow the philosophy called Buddhism. Smaller number of people (4.4%), mostly to the south, follow Islam. Other religions in Thailand are Christianity, Hinduism, and Sikhism.
Population: the total fertility rate was 1.3 (in 2019).[11]
Geography: The highest mountain is at 2,565 m (8,415 ft), Doi Inthanon (picture.)
The prime minister is Paetongtarn Shinawatra (since August 2024).[3]
History
A Buddhist kingdom named Sukhothai was founded here in 1238.
A century later, a bigger kingdom named Ayuthaya appeared south of Sukhothai. Later Sukhothai became a part of Ayuthaya. Ayuthaya existed for more than 400 years before its fall by the attack of a Burmese kingdom.
A soldier of Chinese origin then founded a new capital city at Thonburi, and became King Tāksin.
The current era, Rattanakosin, started on founding Bangkok as the capital city by King Rama I of Chakri Dynasty.
Before 1932, Thailand was an absolute monarchy. On June 24, 1932, a group of people did a coup and changed Thailand to a constitutional monarchy. It was not until 1973 that Thai people voted for a Prime Minister in an election. There were coups both before and after this year.
In 1951, there was a failed coup - the Manhattan Rebellion.[12] On September 19, 2006, the army did a coup d'état and took control from Thaksin Shinawatra's government.
In May 2014, a new military coup d'état removed another government.
In October 2016, Rama X become the new king.
Between 1932 and 2014, Thailand had 12 coup d'etats.
Provinces
Thailand is made up of 76 provinces (จังหวัด, changwat), put into 5 groups. There are 2 specially governed districts: the capital Bangkok and Pattaya. The 76 provinces including Bangkok are as follows:
Central
- Ang Thong
- Bangkok (Krung Thep Maha Nakhon), Special Governed District of
- Chai Nat
- Kanchanaburi
- Lopburi
- Nakhon Nayok
- Nakhon Pathom
- Nonthaburi
- Pathum Thani
- Phetchaburi
- Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya
- Prachuap Khiri Khan
- Ratchaburi
- Samut Prakan
- Samut Sakhon
- Samut Songkhram
- Saraburi
- Sing Buri
- Suphan Buri
East
- Chachoengsao
- Chanthaburi
- Chonburi
- Prachinburi
- Rayong
- Sa Kaeo
- Trat
North
- Chiang Mai
- Chiang Rai
- Kamphaeng Phet
- Lampang
- Lamphun
- Mae Hong Son
- Nakhon Sawan
- Nan
- Phayao
- Phetchabun
- Phichit
- Phitsanulok
- Phrae
- Sukhothai
- Tak
- Uthai Thani
- Uttaradit
Northeast (Isan)
- Amnat Charoen
- Bueng Kan
- Buri Ram
- Chaiyaphum
- Kalasin
- Khon Kaen
- Loei
- Maha Sarakham
- Mukdahan
- Nakhon Phanom
- Nakhon Ratchasima
- Nong Bua Lamphu
- Nong Khai
- Roi Et
- Sakon Nakhon
- Si Sa Ket
- Surin
- Ubon Ratchathani
- Udon Thani
- Yasothon
South
- Chumphon
- Krabi
- Nakhon Si Thammarat
- Narathiwat
- Pattani
- Phang Nga
- Phatthalung
- Phuket
- Ranong
- Satun
- Songkhla
- Surat Thani
- Trang
- Yala
NOTE: In italics [1], that province is about the Greater Bangkok sub-region; in italics [2], that province is about the West sub-region.
Economy
The economy of Thailand "is based on trade and investment in the agricultural and tourism sectors, according to media.[13] In 2022, the country with investors that invested the most in Thailand, was Japan; Chinese investors had the second place.[13]
Industry had a contribution to the GDP, of 43.9 percent (in 2007), and 14 percent of the workforce are in that sector (of the economy). Within that sector, manufacturing was the biggest part, and it had a contribution (to the GDP), with 34.5 (in 2004).
In 2014, Credit Suisse reported that Thailand was the world's third most unequal country, behind Russia and India.[14] The top 10% richest held 79% of the country's assets.[14] The top 1% held 58% of the assets.[14]
Government
New members of the Cabinet of Thailand got approval from the king (September 2024).[15]
The Cabinet of Thailand includes
- foreign minister or minister of foreign affairs[16]
Armed conflict in the provinces Narathiwat, Pattani, and Yala
The South Thailand armed rebellion has its origins from 1948;[19] It started as an ethnic and religious separatist armed rebellion in Patani (historical region); Many Malay people live there; That region is made up of the three southernmost provinces of Thailand and parts of a fourth province (Songkhla); The conflict has become more complex and more violent since the early 2000s; Drug cartels,[20][21] oil smuggling networks,[22][23] and some pirate raids have much to do with the violence.[24][25]
57 people died (year 2023), in the conflict.[26]
Other information
About the law becoming more strict about drug use: In October 2024, the government said that it will make a [law or] "regulation to tighten control of the production, import, export, sale and possession of cannabis and hemp extracts".[27] Earlier (September 2024), media said that the country's lawmakers were going to vote about a new law about use of cannabis; The law proposal says that "anyone who [... uses] cannabis or its extracts for uses not specified in the bill will face a fine of up to 60,000 baht"; Furthermore, the law proposal is also about putting limits on " marijuana uses to primarily health and medical purposes".[28][29][30]
References
Other websites
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