Dialing code +66
ISO 2 code TH
ISO 3 code THA
Capital Bangkok
Main Language Thai
Currency Baht (THB)
GDP $553.4 billion 23rd
Population 67,089,500 20th

Geography

Continent Asia
Location Southeastern Asia bordering the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand southeast of Burma
Land 514,000 km2 51st
Terrain Central plain; Khorat Plateau in the east; mountains elsewhere
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
Natural Hazards Central plain; Khorat Plateau in the east; mountains elsewhere
Note: Controls only land route from Asia to Malaysia and Singapore

Neighbouring Countries

Cambodia Laos Malaysia Myanmar

History

A unified Thai kingdom was established in the mid-14th century. Known as Siam until 1939 Thailand is the only Southeast Asian country never to have been taken over by a European power. A bloodless revolution in 1932 led to a constitutional monarchy. In alliance with Japan during World War II Thailand became a US treaty ally following the conflict. A military coup in September 2006 ousted then Prime Minister THAKSIN Chinnawat. The interim government held elections in December 2007 that saw the former pro-THAKSIN People's Power Party (PPP) emerge at the head of a coalition government. The anti-THAKSIN People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) in May 2008 began street demonstrations against the new government eventually occupying the prime minister's office in August. Clashes in October 2008 between PAD protesters blocking parliament and police resulted in the death of at least two people. The PAD occupied Bangkok's international airports briefly ending their protests in early December 2008 following a court ruling that dissolved the ruling PPP and two other coalition parties for election violations. The Democrat Party then formed a new coalition government with the support of some of THAKSIN's former political allies and ABHISIT Wetchachiwa became prime minister. Since January 2004 thousands have been killed as separatists in Thailand's southern ethnic Malay-Muslim provinces increased the violence associated with their cause.
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Demographics

Life Expectancy 73.1 years 98th
Median Age 33.3 years 66th
Birth Rate 13.4 births/1,000 population 145th
Death Rate 7.25 births/1,000 population 117th
Sex Ratio 0.83 male(s)/female 73rd
Literacy 92.6% 100th
Population

67.1 million

Transportation

Roadways 180053 km 27th
Railways 4071 km 40th
Airports 104 56th
Waterways 4000 km 26th
Heliports 3 42nd
Airports paved 6 17th

Economy

Currency Baht (THB)
GDP $553.4 billion 23rd
GDP per capita (PPP) $8500 104th