World Atlas: Thailand

Information about Thailand

Here you can find online selected information about the geography, inhabitants, government, economy and history of Thailand. Included are selected statistics, an overview map and the detailed map of Thailand. But let's start with the flag of Thailand here:

Thailand - Overview:

What you should know about Thailand? Let's start with this: 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 colonized by a European power. A bloodless revolution in 1932 led to the establishment of a constitutional monarchy. In alliance with Japan during World War II, Thailand became a US treaty ally in 1954 after sending troops to Korea and later fighting alongside the US in Vietnam. Thailand since 2005 has experienced several rounds of political turmoil including a military coup in 2006 that ousted then Prime Minister Thaksin Chinnawat, followed by large-scale street protests by competing political factions in 2008, 2009, and 2010. Thaksin's youngest sister, Yinglak Chinnawat, in 2011 led the Puea Thai Party to an electoral win and assumed control of the government. A blanket amnesty bill for individuals involved in street protests, altered at the last minute to include all political crimes - including all convictions against Thaksin - triggered months of large-scale anti-government protests in Bangkok beginning in November 2013. In early May 2014, Yinglak was removed from office by the Constitutional Court and in late May 2014 the Royal Thai Army, led by Royal Thai Army Gen. Prayut Chan-ocha, staged a coup against the caretaker government. Prayut was appointed prime minister in August 2014. The interim military government created several interim institutions to promote reform and draft a new constitution, which was passed in a national referendum in August 2016. Elections are tentatively set for late-2018. King Phumiphon Adunyadet passed away in October 2016 after 70 years on the throne; his only son, Wachiralongkon Bodinthrathepphayawarangkun, ascended the throne in December 2016. He signed the new constitution in April 2017. Thailand has also experienced violence associated with the ethno-nationalist insurgency in its southern Malay-Muslim majority provinces. Since January 2004, thousands have been killed and wounded in the insurgency.

Geography of Thailand

Where on the globe is Thailand? The location of this country is Southeastern Asia, bordering the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand, southeast of Burma. Total area of Thailand is 513,120 sq km, of which 510,890 sq km is land. So this is quite a large country. How could we describe the terrain of the country? This way: central plain; Khorat Plateau in the east; mountains elsewhere. The lowest point of Thailand is Gulf of Thailand 0 m, the highest point Doi Inthanon 2,565 m. And the climate is tropical; rainy, warm, cloudy southwest monsoon (mid-May to September); dry, cool northeast monsoon (November to mid-March); southern isthmus always hot and humid.

Inhabitants of Thailand

Let's take a look how many people live in Thailand. The number is: 68,414,135. So quite a lot people live here. Who lives here? Thai 97.5%, Burmese 1.3%, other 1.1%, unspecified . What are the languages in Thailand? Thai (official) 90.7%, Burmese 1.3%, other 8%. And the religions: Buddhist 94.6%, Muslim 4.3%, Christian 1%, other . How old are the people in average? 37.7 years. We have to add that this number is the median - so one half of the people is older than this, one half is younger. And what is their life expectancy (at birth)? This: 74.9 years. Where the people live in Thailand? Here: 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. The major urban areas of Thailand are: Bangkok (capital) 9.27 million; Samut Prakan 1.814 million (2015).

Government and Economy of Thailand

The capital of Thailand is Bangkok and the government type constitutional monarchy; note - interim military-affiliated government since May 2014. Let's take a look at the 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. Regarding the economy of Thailand, important industrial products are 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 produce. Important agricultural products are rice, cassava (manioc, tapioca), rubber, corn, sugarcane, coconuts, palm oil, pineapple, livestock, fish products. The most important export commodities are automobiles and parts, computer and parts, jewelry and precious stones, polymers of ethylene in primary forms, refine fuels, electronic integrated circuits, chemical products, rice, fish products, rubber products, sugar, cassava, poultry, machinery and parts, iron and steel and their products and the most important export partners are US 11.4%, China 11.1%, Japan 9.6%, Hong Kong 5.3%, Australia 4.8%, Malaysia 4.5%, Vietnam 4.4% (2016). The most important import commodities are machinery and parts, crude oil, electrical machinery and parts, chemicals, iron & steel and product, electronic integrated circuit, automobile’s parts, jewelry including silver bars and gold, computers and parts, electrical household appliances, soybean, soybean meal, wheat, cotton, dairy products and the most important import partners are China 21.6%, Japan 15.8%, US 6.2%, Malaysia 5.6% (2016). How rich is Thailand and how rich are people in this country? The most important number here is GDP per capita (PPP): $17,800 (2017 est.). This is quite good. Let's add that this means Gross Domestic Product per person, which is recalculated with respect to the relative cost of local goods and services. And one more important number - population below poverty line: 7.2% (2015 est.).

Map of Thailand