Thailand spreading 51,120 sq km across land and water, is located in south-eastern Asia. The country borders the Andaman Sea and the gulf of Thailand with a 3,219 km coastline. Thailand shares a border with the countries Burma, Cambodia, Laos and Malaysia.
Thailand consist of 76 provinces but it's capital is Bangkok, which is the most populated city in Thailand.
The terrain in Thailand consists of plain, flat earth in central places and mountains in the east. 38% of land can be and is used for crops.
Rice production in China represents a significant portion of the Thai economy as well as providing a large amount of jobs for workers. Thailand has a strong tradition for rice production and is the fifth-largest amount of land under rice cultivation in the world and is also the world's second largest exporter of rice. 9.2 million hectares are used to grow rice in Thailand and this amount of area is expected to grow.
Thailand's climate is tropical, with rainy, warm, cloudy south-west monsoons from mid-May to September and dry, cool north-east monsoons from November to mid-March. Though it is always hot and humid by the coast.
There are 67,741,401 people in Thailand. People who are from Thailand are called 'Thai' and there most common language is "Thai'. The main religion is Buddhism but there are a few Christians and Muslims as well. The life expectancy for a male in Thailand is 71 years and for a female 77 years.
The capital of Thailand, Bangkok dominates all the other cities in the country in every way. With 6 million people it is 15 times more populated the second biggest city, Samut Prakan. Not only is Bangkok the capital and main port, it is also the centre of medical services, higher education, banking, business and religion along with the headquarters for many Asian operations of the United Nations.
Along with the positives there are the negatives. Bangkok has become extremely overcrowded and is choked with air pollution and traffic jams.
Many of Thailand's cities have rich cultural heritage sites and history. Located 49 kilometres west of the capital, Nakhon Pathom is one of the countries oldest cities. Amongst its historic treasures is the Phra Pathom Chedi which is the tallest Buddhist monument in the world, standing at 116 metres tall. Located north, The City of Chiang Mai holds the remains of a medieval city which still has an intact moat that was the access way to the city.
Thailand's economy was once overwhelmingly agricultural with manufacturing growing considerably in the second half of the 20th century. Farming has always been part of a Thai's livelihood but farming has decreased in economic importance of late. Rice has always been the stable crop and continues to be exported to many other countries along with crops such as sugarcane, cassava, corn, pineapples, coconuts and soybeans. Thailand is one of the worlds leading exports of fishery products and fish. Overfishing in the last few years has been a problem in the gulf of Thailand.
After 1970, large investments from private firms especially from Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and Singapore helped to improve and grow Thailand's manufacturing industry. The major manufacturing exports are computers, electrical circuits, and other electronics; clothing, chemicals, jewellery, processed foods and cement. More than 15 percent of the work force are in the manufacturing trade. Manufacturing is concentrated in and near the Bangkok metropolitan area.
Thailand pumps natural gas ashore from the gulf of Thailand but the country lacks in iron and quality coal. Thailand is one of the worlds leading producers of gypsum and feldspar along with tin, tungsten, zinc, dolomite, gold and gemstones which are also mined.
Generating several billion dollars a year is tourism, the leading service industry. People from all around the globe come to Thailand for the cultural experience or a relaxing getaway.
Thailand has railways and highways which all link to the centre of the capital. The country also has several international airports but the busiest of course is in Bangkok. A network of rivers and canals of the Chao Phraya have been used to transport goods and people for hundreds of years.
Thailand's flag consists of five bands of red, white and blue. Red symbolizing the nation and the blood of life, white representing the religion and the purity of Buddhism and blue standing for the monarchy.
The government is a constitutional monarchy with a civil law system. The current prime minister is NIWATTAMRONG Boonsongpaisan. A prime minister is elected from members of the House of Representatives. The prime minister is restricted to two four year terms.
Scroll down for maps and photos of Thailand.
Thailand consist of 76 provinces but it's capital is Bangkok, which is the most populated city in Thailand.
The terrain in Thailand consists of plain, flat earth in central places and mountains in the east. 38% of land can be and is used for crops.
Rice production in China represents a significant portion of the Thai economy as well as providing a large amount of jobs for workers. Thailand has a strong tradition for rice production and is the fifth-largest amount of land under rice cultivation in the world and is also the world's second largest exporter of rice. 9.2 million hectares are used to grow rice in Thailand and this amount of area is expected to grow.
Thailand's climate is tropical, with rainy, warm, cloudy south-west monsoons from mid-May to September and dry, cool north-east monsoons from November to mid-March. Though it is always hot and humid by the coast.
There are 67,741,401 people in Thailand. People who are from Thailand are called 'Thai' and there most common language is "Thai'. The main religion is Buddhism but there are a few Christians and Muslims as well. The life expectancy for a male in Thailand is 71 years and for a female 77 years.
The capital of Thailand, Bangkok dominates all the other cities in the country in every way. With 6 million people it is 15 times more populated the second biggest city, Samut Prakan. Not only is Bangkok the capital and main port, it is also the centre of medical services, higher education, banking, business and religion along with the headquarters for many Asian operations of the United Nations.
Along with the positives there are the negatives. Bangkok has become extremely overcrowded and is choked with air pollution and traffic jams.
Many of Thailand's cities have rich cultural heritage sites and history. Located 49 kilometres west of the capital, Nakhon Pathom is one of the countries oldest cities. Amongst its historic treasures is the Phra Pathom Chedi which is the tallest Buddhist monument in the world, standing at 116 metres tall. Located north, The City of Chiang Mai holds the remains of a medieval city which still has an intact moat that was the access way to the city.
Thailand's economy was once overwhelmingly agricultural with manufacturing growing considerably in the second half of the 20th century. Farming has always been part of a Thai's livelihood but farming has decreased in economic importance of late. Rice has always been the stable crop and continues to be exported to many other countries along with crops such as sugarcane, cassava, corn, pineapples, coconuts and soybeans. Thailand is one of the worlds leading exports of fishery products and fish. Overfishing in the last few years has been a problem in the gulf of Thailand.
After 1970, large investments from private firms especially from Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and Singapore helped to improve and grow Thailand's manufacturing industry. The major manufacturing exports are computers, electrical circuits, and other electronics; clothing, chemicals, jewellery, processed foods and cement. More than 15 percent of the work force are in the manufacturing trade. Manufacturing is concentrated in and near the Bangkok metropolitan area.
Thailand pumps natural gas ashore from the gulf of Thailand but the country lacks in iron and quality coal. Thailand is one of the worlds leading producers of gypsum and feldspar along with tin, tungsten, zinc, dolomite, gold and gemstones which are also mined.
Generating several billion dollars a year is tourism, the leading service industry. People from all around the globe come to Thailand for the cultural experience or a relaxing getaway.
Thailand has railways and highways which all link to the centre of the capital. The country also has several international airports but the busiest of course is in Bangkok. A network of rivers and canals of the Chao Phraya have been used to transport goods and people for hundreds of years.
Thailand's flag consists of five bands of red, white and blue. Red symbolizing the nation and the blood of life, white representing the religion and the purity of Buddhism and blue standing for the monarchy.
The government is a constitutional monarchy with a civil law system. The current prime minister is NIWATTAMRONG Boonsongpaisan. A prime minister is elected from members of the House of Representatives. The prime minister is restricted to two four year terms.
Scroll down for maps and photos of Thailand.