Thailand - Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia

Thailand - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thailand
Thailand
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Thailand (/talnd/ -land or /talnd/ -lnd;[12] Thai:

,
: Prathet Thai), officially the Kingdom of
Thailand (Thai: ,
: Ratcha Anachak
Thai; IPA: [rt.t ntk tj]), formerly known as Siam
(Thai: ;
: Sayam), is a country at the centre of the
Indochina peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the
north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia,
to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the
west by the Andaman Sea and the southern extremity of
Burma. Its maritime boundaries include Vietnam in the Gulf
of Thailand to the southeast, and Indonesia and India on the
Andaman Sea to the southwest.
Kingdom of Thailand

Ratcha Anachak Thai
Flag
Emblem
Motto:
(Thai)
Thailand is governed by a military junta that took power in
the May 2014 coup d'tat.[13] Its monarchy is headed by
King Bhumibol Adulyadej, Rama IX, who is the ninth of the
House of Chakri, and has reigned since 1946 as the world's
longest-serving current head of state and the country's
longest-reigning monarch.[14]
km2
With a total area of approximately 513,000

(198,000 sq mi), Thailand is the world's 51st-largest country.
It is the 20th-most-populous country in the world, with
around 66 million people. The capital and largest city is
Bangkok, which is Thailand's political, commercial,
industrial, and cultural hub. About 7595% of the population
is ethnically Tai, which includes four major regional groups:
central Thai, northeastern Thai (Khon [Lao] Isan),[2]
northern Thai (Khon Mueang); and southern Thai. Thai
Chinese, those of significant Chinese heritage, are 14% of
the population,[5] while Thais with partial Chinese ancestry
comprise up to 40% of the population.[15] Thai Malays
represent 3% of the population, with the remainder
consisting of Mons, Khmers and various "hill tribes". The
country's official language is Thai and the primary religion is
Buddhism, which is practised by around 95% of the
population.
Chat, Satsana, Phra Maha Kasat

"Nation, Religions, King"
Anthem: Phleng Chat Thai

(English: "Thai National Anthem")
0:00
MENU
Royal anthem: Sansoen Phra Barami

(English: "Thai Royal Anthem")
0:00
MENU
Location of Thailand (green)

in ASEAN (dark grey) [Legend]
Thailand experienced rapid economic growth between 1985

and 1996, becoming a newly industrialised country and a
major exporter. Manufacturing, agriculture, and tourism are
leading sectors of the economy.[16][17] Among the ten
ASEAN countries, Thailand ranks third in quality of life.[11]
and the country's HDI is rated as "high". Its large population
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and growing economic influence have made it a middle

power in the region and around the world.[18]
Contents
1 Etymology
1.1 Etymology of "Siam"
1.2 Etymology of "Thailand"
2 History
2.1 20th century
2.2 World War II
3 Politics and government
3.1 Constitutional history
3.2 28 June 1932
3.3 1932 to 1972
3.4 1973 to 1997
3.5 1997 to 2001
3.6 2001 to 2008
3.6.1 2006 coup d'tat
3.7 20082010 political crisis
3.8 20132014 political crisis
3.9 2014 coup d'tat
4 Administrative divisions
4.1 Southern region
5 Foreign relations
6 Armed forces
7 Geography
7.1 Climate
7.2 Wildlife
8 Education
9 Science and technology
9.1 Internet
10 Economy
10.1 Recent economic history
10.2 Exports and manufacturing
10.3 Tourism
10.4 Agriculture
10.5 Energy
11 Demographics
11.1 Ethnic groups
11.2 Population centres
11.3 Language
11.4 Religion
12 Culture
12.1 Cuisine
12.2 Media
Bangkok
Capital
and largest city
1345N 10029E
Official languages
Thai[1]
Ethnic groups (2009[5])
7585% Thai
(incl. Central Thai,
Northeastern
Thai[2] Northern
Thai and Southern
Thai)[3][4]
14% Thai
Chinese
12% Others
(incl. Malay, Mon,
Khmer, "Hill
tribes")
Religion
Buddhism
Demonym
Thai
Siamese (archaic)
Government
Constitutional
monarchy under
military junta
- Monarch
- Prime Minister
Bhumibol Adulyadej
Prayut Chan-o-cha
Legislature
National Assembly
(currently dissolved)
Formation
- Sukhothai Kingdom
- Ayutthaya Kingdom
- Thonburi Kingdom
- Rattanakosin Kingdom
- Constitutional monarchy
- Current constitution
12381448
13511767
17681782
6 April 1782
24 June 1932
22 July 2014[6]
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12.3 Units of measurement

12.4 Sports
12.4.1 Sporting venues
13 International rankings
14 See also
15 References
16 External links
Etymology
Etymology of "Siam"
The country has always been called Mueang Thai by its
citizens. By others, it is known by the exonym Siam (Thai:
: Sayam, pronounced [sjm], also spelled Siem,

Sym, or Syma). The word Siam has been identified with the
Sanskrit yma ( , meaning "dark" or "brown"). The
names Shan and A-hom seem to be variants of the same
word. The word yma is possibly not its origin, but a
learned and artificial distortion.[19]
The signature of King Mongkut (r. 1851 1868) reads SPPM
(Somdet Phra Poramenthra Maha) Mongkut King of Siam,
giving it official status until 23 June 1939 when it was
changed to Thailand.[20] Thailand was renamed Siam from
1945 to 11 May 1949, after which it again reverted to
Thailand.
Etymology of "Thailand"
Area
- Total
513,120 km2 (51st)

198,115 sq mi
- Water (%)
0.4 (2,230 km2)
Population
- 2014[7] estimate
67,091,120[7]
(20th[7])
- 2010 census
64,785,909[8]
- Density
132.1/km2 (88th)
342/sq mi
GDP (PPP)
- Total
2015 estimate
- Per capita
US$15,319[9]
GDP (nominal)
- Total
2015 estimate
- Per capita
US$5,771[9]
Gini (2010)
39.4[10]
medium
HDI (2013)
0.722[11]
high 89th
Currency
Baht () (THB)
Time zone
ICT (UTC+7)
Drives on the
left
Calling code
+66
ISO 3166 code
TH
US$1.0550 trillion[9]
(22nd)
US$397.475 billion[9]
Internet TLD
.th
According to George Coedes, the word Thai () means
.
"free man" in Siamese, "differentiating the Thai from the
[21]:197
natives encompassed in Thai society as serfs.".
A
famous Thai scholar argued that Thai () simply means "people" or
"human being" since his investigation shows that in some rural areas the
word "Thai" was used instead of the usual Thai word "khon" () for
SPPM Mongkut Rex Siamensium,
people.[22]
King Mongkut's signature
The Thai refer to Thailand as "land of the freedom". This is because

Thailand is the only country in Southeast Asia never colonised by a
European power.
While Thai people will often refer to their country using the polite form prathet Thai (Thai: ), they
most commonly use the more colloquial word mueang Thai (Thai: ) or simply Thai (Thai: ), the
word mueang (Thai: ) meaning "nation" but most commonly used to refer to a city or town. Ratcha
Anachak Thai (Thai: ) means "kingdom of Thailand" or "kingdom of Thai". Etymologically,
its components are: -Ratcha- (from Sanskrit raja, meaning "king, royal, realm") ; -ana- (from Pli ,
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"authority, command, power", itself from Sanskrit j, same meaning) -chak (from Sanskrit cakra or cakra
meaning "wheel", a symbol of power and rule). The Thai National Anthem (Thai: ), written by Luang
Saranupraphan during the extremely patriotic 1930s, refers to the Thai nation as: prathet Thai (Thai:
). The first line of the national anthem is: prathet thai ruam lueat nuea chat chuea thai (Thai:
),
"Thailand is the unity of Thai flesh and blood."
History
There is evidence of human habitation in Thailand that has been dated at 40,000 years before the present, with
stone artefacts dated to this period at Tham Lod Rockshelter in Mae Hong Son. Similar to other regions in
Southeast Asia, Thailand was heavily influenced by the culture and religions of India, starting with the
Kingdom of Funan around the 1st century CE to the Khmer Empire.[23]
Ayutthaya was burned and sacked in 1767 by a Burmese army
under King Hsinbyushin. Indian influence on Siamese culture was
partly the result of direct contact with Indian settlers, but mainly it
was brought about indirectly via the Indianized kingdoms of
Dvaravati, Srivijaya, and Cambodia.[24] E:A Voretzsch believes that
Buddhism must have been flowing into Siam from India in the time
of the Indian Emperor Ashoka of the Maurya Empire and far on into
the first millennium after Christ.[24] Later Thailand was influenced
by the south Indian Pallava Dynasty and north Indian Gupta
Empire.[24]
The ruins of Wat Chaiwatthanaram at
Ayutthaya.
According to George Coedes, "The Thai first enter history of

Farther India in the eleventh century with the mention of Syam
slaves or prisoners of war in" Champa epigraphy, and "in the twelfth century, the bas-reliefs of Angkor Wat"
where "a group of warriors" are described as Syam. Additionally, "the Mongols, after the seizure of Ta-li on
January 7, 1253 and the pacification of Yunnan in 1257, did not look with disfavor on the cration of a series of
Thai principalities at the expense of the old Indianized kingdoms." The Menam Basin was orignially popultaed
by the Mons, and the location of the Dvaravati Kingdom in the seventh century, followed by the Khmer Empire
in the eleventh. The History of the Yuan mentions an embassy from the kingdom of Sukhothai in 1282. In 1287,
three Thai chiefs, Mangrai, Ngam Muang, and Ram Khamhaeng formed a "strong pact of friendship".
[21]:190-191,194-195
After the fall of the Khmer Empire in the 13th century, various states thrived there, such as the various Tai,
Mon, Khmer, and Malay Kingdoms, as seen through the numerous archaeological sites and artefacts that are
scattered throughout the Siamese landscape. Prior to the 12th century however, the first Thai or Siamese state is
traditionally considered to be the Buddhist kingdom of Sukhothai, which was founded in 1238.
Following the decline and fall of the Khmer empire in the 13th15th century, the Buddhist Tai kingdoms of
Sukhothai, Lanna, and Lan Xang (now Laos) were on the rise. However, a century later, the power of Sukhothai
was overshadowed by the new Kingdom of Ayutthaya, established in the mid-14th century in the lower Chao
Phraya River or Menam area.
Ayutthaya's expansion centred along the Menam while in the northern valleys the Lanna Kingdom and other
small Tai city-states ruled the area. In 1431, the Khmer abandoned Angkor after Ayutthaya forces invaded the
city.[25] Thailand retained a tradition of trade with its neighbouring states, from China to India, Persia, and Arab
lands. Ayutthaya became one of the most vibrant trading centres in Asia. European traders arrived in the 16th
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century, beginning with the Portuguese, followed by the French,

Dutch, and English.
After the fall of Ayutthaya in 1767 to the Burmese, King Taksin the
Great moved the capital of Thailand to Thonburi for approximately
15 years. The current Rattanakosin era of Thai history began in
1782, following the establishment of Bangkok as capital of the
Chakri dynasty under King Rama I the Great. According to the
Encyclopdia Britannica, "A quarter to a third of the population of
some areas of Thailand and Burma were slaves in the 17th through
the 19th centuries."[26][27]
Stupas, Ayutthaya Historical Park.
Despite European pressure, Thailand is the only Southeast Asian nation to never have been colonised.[28] This
has been ascribed to the long succession of able rulers in the past four centuries who exploited the rivalry and
tension between French Indochina and the British Empire. As a result, the country remained a buffer state
between parts of Southeast Asia that were colonised by the two colonial powers, Great Britain and France.
Western influence nevertheless led to many reforms in the 19th century and major concessions, most notably the
loss of a large territory on the east side of the Mekong to the French and the step-by-step absorption by Britain
of the Shan and Karen people areas and Malay Peninsula.
20th century
The losses initially included Penang and eventually culminated in the loss of four predominantly ethnic-Malay
southern provinces, which later became Malaysia's four northern states, under the Anglo-Siamese Treaty of
1909.
In 1932, a bloodless revolution carried out by the Khana Ratsadon group of military and civilian officials
resulted in a transition of power, when King Prajadhipok was forced to grant the people of Siam their first
constitution, thereby ending centuries of absolute monarchy.
In 1939, the name of the kingdom, "Siam", was changed to "Thailand".
World War II
During World War II, the Empire of Japan demanded the right to move troops across Thailand to the Malayan
frontier. Japan invaded Thailand on 8 December 1941, in co-ordination with attacks throughout Asia, and
engaged the Thai Army for six to eight hours before Plaek Pibulsonggram ordered an armistice. Shortly
thereafter, Japan was granted free passage, and on 21 December 1941, Thailand and Japan signed a military
alliance with a secret protocol, wherein Tokyo agreed to help Thailand regain territories lost to the British and
French.[29]
Subsequently, Thailand declared war on the United States and the United Kingdom on 25 January 1942, and
undertook to "assist" Japan in its war against the Allies, while at the same time maintaining an active
anti-Japanese resistance movement known as the Seri Thai. Approximately 200,000 Asian labourers (mainly
romusha) and 60,000 Allied prisoners of war (POWs) worked on the ThailandBurma Death Railway.[29]
After the war, Thailand emerged as an ally of the United States. As with many of the developing nations during
the Cold War, Thailand then went through decades of political instability characterised by a number of coups
d'tat, as one military regime replaced another, but eventually progressed towards a stable, prosperous
democracy in the 1980s.
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Pottery discovered near

Ban Chiang in Udon
Thani Province, the
earliest dating to 2100
BCE.
Phimai, Prasat Phimai

is the largest temple in
the country from the
Khmer Empire.
Painting of Ayutthaya,
ordered by the Dutch
East India Company,
1665.
Kosa Pan present King

Narai's letter to Louis
XIV at Versailles, 1
September 1686.
The immense 19 metre

high gilded statue of a
seated Buddha in Wat
Phanan Choeng, the
latter from 1324,
pre-dates the founding
of the city of Ayutthaya
15 metre high Buddha

image in Sukhothai,
Phra Achana , built in
the 13th century
Politics and government

The politics of Thailand is currently conducted within the framework of a constitutional monarchy, whereby the
Prime Minister is the head of government and a hereditary monarch is head of state. The judiciary is supposed
to be independent of the executive and the legislative branches, although judicial rulings are suspected of being
based on political considerations rather than on existing law.[30]
Constitutional history
Since the political reform of the absolute monarchy in 1932, Thailand has had 19 constitutions and charters.
[31][32] Throughout this time, the form of government has ranged from military dictatorship to electoral
democracy, but all governments have acknowledged a hereditary monarch as the head of state.[33][34]
28 June 1932
Prior to 1932, the Kingdom of Siam did not possess a legislature, as all legislative powers were vested in the
person of the monarch. This had been the case since the foundation of the Sukhothai Kingdom in the 12th
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century as the king was seen as a "Dharmaraja" or "king who rules in

accordance with Dharma", (the Buddhist law of righteousness).
However, on 24 June 1932 a group of civilians and military officers,
calling themselves the Khana Ratsadon (or People's Party) carried out a
bloodless revolution, in which the 150 years of absolute rule of the
House of Chakri was ended. In its stead the group advocated a
constitutional form of monarchy with an elected legislature.
The "Draft Constitution" of 1932 signed by King Prajadhipok created
Bangkok's Democracy Monument: a
Thailand's first legislature, a People's Assembly with 70 appointed
representation of the 1932
members. The assembly met for the first time on 28 June 1932, in the
Constitution sits on top of two golden
Ananda Samakhom Throne Hall. The Khana Ratsadon decided that the
offering bowls above a turret.
people were not yet ready for an elected assembly. They later changed
their minds. By the time the "permanent" constitution came into force in
December of that year, elections were scheduled for 15 November 1933. The new constitution changed the
composition of the assembly to 78 directly elected and 78 appointed (by the Khana Ratsadon), together totalling
156 members.
1932 to 1972
The history of Thailand from 1932 to 1973 was dominated by military dictatorships which were in power for
much of the period. The main personalities of the period were the dictator Luang Phibunsongkhram (better
known as Phibun), who allied the country with Japan during the Second World War, and the civilian politician
Pridi Phanomyong, who founded Thammasat University and was briefly the prime minister after the war. The
Japanese invasion of Thailand occurred on 8 December 1941.
A succession of military dictators followed Pridi's ousting Phibun again, Sarit Dhanarajata and Thanom
Kittikachorn under whom traditional, authoritarian rule was combined with increasing modernisation and
westernisation under the influence of the US. The end of the period was marked by Thanom's resignation,
following a massacre of pro-democracy protesters led by Thammasat students. Thanom misread the situation as
a coup d'tat, and fled, leaving the country leaderless. HM appointed Thammasat University chancellor Sanya
Dharmasakti PM by royal command. For events subsequent to the abdication of the king, including the name
change of 1939, up to the coup d'tat of 1957, see Plaek Pibulsonggram.
Thailand helped the USA and South Vietnam in the Vietnam War between 19651971. The USAF based F-4
Phantom fighters at Udon and Ubon Air Base, and stationed B-52s at U-Tapao. Thai forces also saw heavy
action in the covert war in Laos that occurred from 1964 to 1972.
1973 to 1997
1997 to 2001
The 1997 Constitution was the first constitution to be drafted by popularly elected Constitutional Drafting
Assembly, and was popularly called the "people's constitution".[35] The 1997 Constitution created a bicameral
legislature consisting of a 500-seat House of Representatives ( , sapha phu thaen ratsadon) and
a 200-seat Senate (
, wutthisapha). For the first time in Thai history, both houses were directly elected.
Many human rights were explicitly acknowledged, and measures were established to increase the stability of
elected governments. The House was elected by the first past the post system, where only one candidate with a
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simple majority could be elected in one constituency. The Senate was

elected based on the provincial system, where one province could return
more than one senator depending on its population size.
The two houses of the National Assembly have two different terms. In
accordance with the constitution the Senate is elected to a six-year term,
while the House is elected to a four-year term. Overall the term of the
National Assembly is based on that of the House. The National
Assembly each year will sit in two sessions: an "ordinary session" and a
"legislative session". The first session of the National Assembly must
take place within thirty days after the general election of the House of
Representatives. The first session must be opened by the king in person
by reading a Speech from the Throne; this ceremony is held in the
Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall. He may also appoint the crown prince
or a representative to carry out this duty. It is also the duty of the king to
prorogue sessions through a royal decree when the House term expires.
The king also has the prerogative to call extraordinary sessions and
prolong sessions upon advice of the House of Representatives.
The National Assembly may host a "joint-sitting" of both Houses under
several circumstances. These include: The appointment of a regent, any
alteration to the 1924 Palace Law of Succession, the opening of the first
session, the announcement of policies by the Cabinet of Thailand, the
approval of the declaration of war, the hearing of explanations and
approval of a treaty and the amendment of the Constitution.
Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall, the

old meeting place of the National
Assembly; now only the State
Opening is held there.
Parliament House, the meeting place

of the two chambers of the National
Assembly of Thailand
Members of the House of Representatives served four-year terms, while senators served six-year terms. The
1997 People's Constitution also promoted human rights more than any other constitution. The court system
(, san) included a constitutional court with jurisdiction over the constitutionality of parliamentary acts, royal
decrees, and political matters.
2001 to 2008
The January 2001 general election, the first election under the 1997 Constitution, was called the most open,
corruption-free election in Thai history.[36] Thai Rak Thai Party, led by Thaksin Shinawatra won the election.
The Thaksin government was the first in Thai history to complete a four-year term. The 2005 election had the
highest voter turnout in Thai history,[37][38] and Thai Rak Thai Party won an absolute majority. However,
despite efforts to clean up the system, vote buying and electoral violence remained electoral problems in
2005.[39]
The PollWatch Foundation, Thailand's most prominent election watchdog, declared that vote buying in this
election, specifically in the north and the northeast, was more serious than in the 2001 election. The
organisation also accused the government of violating the election law by abusing state power in presenting new
projects in a bid to seek votes.
2006 coup d'tat
Without meeting much resistance, a military junta overthrew the interim government of Thaksin Shinawatra on
19 September 2006. The junta abrogated the constitution, dissolved Parliament and the Constitutional Court,
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detained and later removed several members of the government, declared martial law, and appointed one of the
king's Privy Counselors, General Surayud Chulanont, as the Prime Minister. The junta later wrote a highly
abbreviated interim constitution and appointed a panel to draft a new permanent constitution. The junta also
appointed a 250-member legislature, called by some critics a "chamber of generals" while others claimed that it
lacks representatives from the poor majority.[40][41]
In this interim constitution draft, the head of the junta was allowed to remove the prime minister at any time.
The legislature was not allowed to hold a vote of confidence against the cabinet and the public was not allowed
to file comments on bills.[42] This interim constitution was later surpassed by the permanent constitution on 24
August 2007. Martial law was partially revoked in January 2007. The ban on political activities was lifted in
July 2007,[43] following the 30 May dissolution of the Thai Rak Thai party. The new constitution was approved
by referendum on 19 August, which led to a return to a democratic general election on 23 December 2007.
20082010 political crisis

The People's Power Party (Thailand), led by Samak Sundaravej formed a
government with five smaller parties. Following several court rulings
against him in a variety of scandals, and surviving a vote of no
confidence, and protesters blockading government buildings and
airports, in September 2008, Sundaravej was found guilty of conflict of
interest by the Constitutional Court of Thailand (due to being a host in a
TV cooking program),[44] and thus, ended his term in office.
He was replaced by PPP member Somchai Wongsawat. As of October
2008, Wongsawat was unable to gain access to his offices, which were
occupied by protesters from the People's Alliance for Democracy. On 2
December 2008, Thailand's Constitutional Court in a highly
controversial ruling found the Peoples Power Party[45] guilty of electoral
fraud, which led to the dissolution of the party according to the law. It
was later alleged in media reports that at least one member of the
judiciary had a telephone conversation with officials working for the
Office of the Privy Council and one other. The phone call was taped and
has since circulated on the Internet. In it, the callers discuss finding a
way to ensure the ruling PPP party would be disbanded. Accusations of
judicial interference were levelled in the media but the recorded call was
dismissed as a hoax. However, in June 2010, supporters of the
eventually disbanded PPP were charged with tapping a judge's phone.
People's Alliance for Democracy,

Yellow shirts, rally on Sukhumvit
Road in 2008.
United Front for Democracy Against

Dictatorship, Red Shirts, protest on
Ratchaprasong intersection in 2010.
Immediately following what many media described as a "judicial coup",

a senior member of the Armed Forces met with factions of the governing
coalition to get their members to join the opposition and the Democrat Party was able to form a government, a
first for the party since 2001. The leader of the Democrat party, and former leader of the opposition, Abhisit
Vejjajiva was appointed and sworn-in as the 27th Prime Minister, together with the new cabinet on 17
December 2008.
In April 2009, protests by the National United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD, or "Red
Shirts") forced the cancellation of the Fourth East Asia Summit after protesters stormed the Royal Cliff hotel
venue in Pattaya, smashing the glass doors of the venue to gain entry, and a blockade prevented the Chinese
premier at the time, Wen Jiabao, from attending. The summit was eventually held in Thailand in October
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2009.[46][47]
About a year later, a set of new "Red Shirts" protests resulted in 87 deaths (mostly civilian and some military)
and 1,378 injured.[48] When the army tried to disperse the protesters on 10 April 2010, the army was met with
automatic gunfire, grenades, and fire bombs from the opposition faction in the army, known as the
"watermelon". This resulted in the army returning fire with rubber bullets and some live ammunition. During
the time of the "red shirt" protests against the government, there have been numerous grenade and bomb attacks
against government offices and the homes of government officials. Gas grenades were fired at "yellow-shirt"
protesters, that were protesting against the "red-shirts" and in favour of the government, by unknown gunmen
killing one pro-government protester, the government stated that the Red Shirts were firing the weapons at
civilians.[49][50][51][52] Red-shirts continued to hold a position in the business district of Bangkok and it was
shut down for several weeks.[53]
On 3 July 2011, the oppositional Pheu Thai Party, led by Yingluck Shinawatra (the youngest sister of Thaksin
Shinawatra), won the general election by a landslide (265 seats in the House of Representatives, out of 500).
She had never previously been involved in politics, Pheu Thai campaigning for her with the slogan 'Thaksin
thinks, Pheu Thai acts'. Yingluck is the nation's first female prime minister and her role was officially endorsed
in a ceremony presided over by King Bhumibol Adulyadej. The Pheu Thai Party is a continuation of Thaksin's
Thai Rak Thai party.[54]
20132014 political crisis

Protests recommenced in late 2013, as a broad alliance of protestors, led by former opposition deputy leader
Suthep Thaugsuban, demanded an end to the so-called Thaksin regime. A blanket amnesty for people involved
in the 2010 protests, altered at the last minute to include all political crimes including all convictions against
Thaksin triggered a mass show of discontent, with numbers variously estimated between 98,500 (the police)
and 400,000 (an aerial photo survey done by the Bangkok Post), taking to the streets. The Senate was urged to
reject the bill to quell the reaction, but the measure failed. A newly named group, the People's Democratic
Reform Committee (PDRC) along with allied groups, escalated the pressure, with the opposition Democrat
party resigning en masse to create a parliamentary vacuum. Protesters demands variously evolved as the
movement's numbers grew, extending a number of deadlines and demands that became increasingly
unreasonable or unrealistic, yet attracting a groundswell of support. They called for the establishment of an
indirectly elected peoples councilin place of Yingluck's governmentthat will cleanse Thai politics and
eradicate the Thaksin regime.[55]
In response to the intensive protests, Yingluck dissolved parliament on 9 December 2013 and proposed a new
election for 2 February 2014, a date that was later approved by the election commission.[56] The PDRC insisted
that the prime minister stand down within 24 hours, regardless of her actions, with 160,000 protesters in
attendance at Government House on 9 December. Yingluck insisted that she would continue her duties until the
scheduled election in February 2014, urging the protesters to accept her proposal: "Now that the government
has dissolved parliament, I ask that you stop protesting and that all sides work towards elections. I have backed
down to the point where I don't know how to back down any further."[57]
In response to the Electoral Commission (EC)'s registration process for party-list candidatesfor the scheduled
election in February 2014anti-government protesters marched to the Thai-Japanese sports stadium, the venue
of the registration process, on 22 December 2013. Suthep and the PDRC led the protest, of which security
forces claimed that approximately 270,000 protesters joined. Yingluck and the Pheu Thai Party reiterated their
election plan and anticipate presenting a list of 125 party-list candidates to the EC.[58]
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On 7 May 2014, the Constitutional Court ruled that Yingluck would have to step down as the Prime Minister as
she was deemed to have abused her power in transferring a high-level government official.[59] On 21 August
2014 she was replaced by army chief General Prayut Chan-o-cha.[60]
2014 coup d'tat

On 20 May 2014 the Thai army declared martial law and began to deploy troops in the capital. They denied that
it was a coup attempt.[61] On 22 May, the army announced that it was a coup and that it was taking control of
the country and suspending the country's constitution.[62][63] On the same day, the military imposed a curfew
between the hours of 22:0005:00, ordering citizens and visitors to remain indoors during this period.[64][65]
[66][67][68] On 21 August 2014 the National Assembly of Thailand elected the army chief, General Prayut
Chan-o-cha, as prime minister. Martial law was declared formally ended on 1 April 2015.
Administrative divisions
Thailand is divided into 76 provinces (, changwat), which are gathered into 5 groups of provinces by
location. There are also 2 specially-governed districts: the capital Bangkok (Krung Thep Maha Nakhon) and
Pattaya. Bangkok is at provincial level and thus often counted as a province.
Each province is divided into districts and the districts are further divided into sub-districts (tambons). As of
2006 there were 877 districts (, amphoe) and the 50 districts of Bangkok (, khet). Some parts of the
provinces bordering Bangkok are also referred to as Greater Bangkok (, pari monthon). These
provinces include Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, Samut Prakan, Nakhon Pathom and Samut Sakhon. The name of
each province's capital city (, mueang) is the same as that of the province. For example, the capital of
Chiang Mai Province (Changwat Chiang Mai) is Mueang Chiang Mai or Chiang Mai.
A clickable map of Thailand exhibiting its provinces.
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Southern region
Thailand controlled the Malay Peninsula as far south as Malacca in the
1400s and held much of the peninsula, including Temasek (Singapore),
some of the Andaman Islands, and a colony on Java, but eventually
contracted when the British used force to guarantee their suzerainty over
the sultanate.
Mostly the northern states of the Malay Sultanate presented annual gifts
to the Thai king in the form of a golden flowera gesture of tribute and
an acknowledgement of vassalage. The British intervened in the Malay
State and with the Anglo-Siamese Treaty tried to build a railway from
the south to Bangkok. Thailand relinquished sovereignty over what are
now the northern Malay provinces of Kedah, Perlis, Kelantan, and
Terengganu to the British. Satun and Pattani Provinces were given to
Thailand.
Southern provinces of Thailand

showing the Malay-Muslim majority
areas.
The Malay peninsular provinces were occupied by the Japanese during World War II, and infiltrated by the
Malayan Communist Party (CPM) from 1942 to 2008, when they sued for peace with the Malaysian and Thai
governments after the CPM lost its support from Vietnam and China subsequent to the Cultural Revolution.
Recent insurgent uprisings may be a continuation of separatist fighting which started after World War II with
Sukarno's support for the PULO. Most victims since the uprisings have been Buddhist and Muslim bystanders.
Foreign relations
The foreign relations of Thailand are handled by the Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Thailand participates fully in international and regional organisations. It is a major non-NATO ally and Priority
Watch List Special 301 Report of the United States. The country remains an active member of ASEAN
(Association of South East Asian Nations). Thailand has developed increasingly close ties with other ASEAN
members: Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Brunei, Laos, Cambodia, Burma, and Vietnam,
whose foreign and economic ministers hold annual meetings. Regional co-operation is progressing in economic,
trade, banking, political, and cultural matters. In 2003, Thailand served as APEC (Asia Pacific Economic
Cooperation) host. Dr. Supachai Panitchpakdi, the former Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand, currently serves
as Secretary-General of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). In 2005
Thailand attended the inaugural East Asia Summit.
In recent years, Thailand has taken an increasingly active role on the international stage. When East Timor
gained independence from Indonesia, Thailand, for the first time in its history, contributed troops to the
international peacekeeping effort. Its troops remain there today as part of a UN peacekeeping force. As part of
its effort to increase international ties, Thailand has reached out to such regional organisations as the
Organization of American States (OAS) and the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).
Thailand has contributed troops to reconstruction efforts in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Thaksin initiated negotiations for several free trade agreements with China, Australia, Bahrain, India, and the
US. The latter especially was criticised, with claims that uncompetitive Thai industries could be wiped out.[69]
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Thaksin also announced that Thailand would forsake foreign aid, and work with donor countries to assist in the
development of neighbours in the Greater Mekong Sub-region.[70] Thaksin sought to position Thailand as a
regional leader, initiating various development projects in poorer neighbouring countries like Laos. More
controversially, he established close, friendly ties with the Burmese dictatorship.[71]
Thailand joined the US-led invasion of Iraq, sending a 423-strong humanitarian contingent.[72] It withdrew its
troops on 10 September 2004. Two Thai soldiers died in Iraq in an insurgent attack.
Abhisit appointed Peoples Alliance for Democracy leader Kasit Piromya as foreign minister. In April 2009,
fighting broke out between Thai and Cambodian troops on territory immediately adjacent to the 900-year-old
ruins of Cambodia's Preah Vihear Hindu temple near the border. The Cambodian government claimed its army
had killed at least four Thais and captured 10 more, although the Thai government denied that any Thai soldiers
were killed or injured. Two Cambodian and three Thai soldiers were killed. Both armies blamed the other for
firing first and denied entering the other's territory.[73][74]
Armed forces
The Royal Thai Armed Forces (Thai: , Kong Thap Thai)
constitute the military of the Kingdom of Thailand. It consists of the
Royal Thai Army (), the Royal Thai Navy (
), and the Royal Thai Air Force (). It also
incorporates various paramilitary forces.
The Thai Armed Forces have a combined manpower of 306,000 active
duty personnel and another 245,000 active reserve personnel.[75] The
head of the Thai Armed Forces (, Chom Thap Thai) is King
The HTMS Chakri Naruebet, an
Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX),[76] although this position is only
aircraft carrier of the Royal Thai
nominal. The armed forces are managed by the Ministry of Defence of
Navy.
Thailand, which is headed by the Minister of Defence (a member of the
cabinet of Thailand) and commanded by the Royal Thai Armed Forces
Headquarters, which in turn is headed by the Chief of Defence Forces of Thailand.[77] In 2011, Thailand's
known military expenditure totalled approximately US$5.1 billion.[78]
According to the constitution, serving in the armed forces is a duty of all Thai citizens.[79] However, only males
over the age of 21, who have not gone through reserve training of the Army Reserve Force Students, are given
the option of volunteering for the armed forces, or participating in the random draft. The candidates are
subjected to varying lengths of training, from six months to two years of full-time service, depending on their
education, whether they have partially completed the reserve training course, and whether they volunteered
prior to the draft date (usually 1 April every year).
Candidates with a recognised bachelor's degree serve one year of full-time service if they are conscripted, or six
, satsadi). Likewise, the training length is also reduced for
months if they volunteer at their district office (
those who have partially completed the three-year reserve training course (.., ro do). A person who completed
one year out of three will only have to serve full-time for one year. Those who completed two years of reserve
training will only have to do six months of full-time training, while those who complete three years or more of
reserve training will be exempted entirely.
Royal Thai Armed Forces Day is celebrated on 18 January, commemorating the victory of King Naresuan the
Great in battle against the Crown Prince of Burma in 1593.
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Geography
Totalling 513,120 square kilometres (198,120 sq mi),[1] Thailand is the
world's 51st-largest country by total area. It is slightly smaller than
Yemen and slightly larger than Spain.
Thailand comprises several
distinct geographic regions,
partly corresponding to the
provincial groups. The north of
the country is the mountainous
View of the Luang Prabang Range,
area of the Thai highlands, with
which straddles the Thai/Lao border,
the highest point being Doi
in Nan Province, Northern Thailand
Inthanon in the Thanon Thong
Chai Range at 2,565 metres
(8,415 ft) above sea level. The northeast, Isan, consists of the Khorat
Plateau, bordered to the east by the Mekong River. The centre of the
country is dominated by the predominantly flat Chao Phraya river valley,
which runs into the Gulf of Thailand.
Southern Thailand consists of the narrow Kra Isthmus that widens into
the Malay Peninsula. Politically, there are six geographical regions
which differ from the others in population, basic resources, natural
features, and level of social and economic development. The diversity of
the regions is the most pronounced attribute of Thailand's physical
setting.
The Chao Phraya and the Mekong River are the indispensable water
courses of rural Thailand. Industrial scale production of crops use both
Satellite image of flooding in
rivers and their tributaries. The Gulf of Thailand covers 320,000 square
Thailand, Oct 2011.
kilometres (124,000 sq mi) and is fed by the Chao Phraya, Mae Klong,
Bang Pakong, and Tapi Rivers. It contributes to the tourism sector owing
to its clear shallow waters along the coasts in the southern region and the Kra Isthmus. The eastern shore of the
Gulf of Thailand is an industrial centre of Thailand with the kingdom's premier deepwater port in Sattahip and
its busiest commercial port, Laem Chabang.
The Andaman Sea is a precious natural resource as it hosts the most popular and luxurious resorts in Asia.
Phuket, Krabi, Ranong, Phang Nga, and Trang and their islands all lay along the coasts of the Andaman Sea and
despite the 2004 tsunami, they are a tourist magnet for visitors from around the world.
Plans have resurfaced for a canal which would connect the Andaman Sea to the Gulf of Thailand, analogous to
the Suez and the Panama Canals. The idea has been greeted positively by Thai politicians as it would cut fees
charged by the Ports of Singapore, improve ties with China and India, lower shipping times, and eliminate
pirate attacks in the Strait of Malacca, and support the Thai government's policy of being the logistical hub for
Southeast Asia. The canal, it is claimed, would improve economic conditions in the south of Thailand, which
relies heavily on tourism income, and it would also change the structure of the Thai economy by making it an
Asia logistical hub. The canal would be a major engineering project and has an expected cost of US$2030
billion.
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Climate
Most of Thailand has a "tropical wet and dry or savanna climate" type (Kppen's Tropical savanna climate).[80]
The south and the eastern tip of the east have a tropical monsoon climate.
Countrywide, temperatures normally range from an average annual high of 38 C (100.4 F) to a low of 19 C
(66.2 F). During the dry season, the temperature rises dramatically in the second half of March, spiking to well
over 40 C (104 F) in some areas by mid-April when the sun passes its zenith.
Southwest monsoons that arrive between May and July (except in the south) signal the advent of the rainy
season (ruedu fon). This lasts into October and the cloud covering reduces the temperature again, with the high
humidity experienced as 'hot and sticky'. November and December mark the onset of the dry season and night
temperatures on high ground can occasionally drop to a light frost. Temperatures begin to climb again in
January.
Wildlife
The elephant is Thailand's national symbol. Although there were
100,000 domesticated elephants in Thailand in 1850, the population
of elephants has dropped to an estimated 2,000.[81] Poachers have
long hunted elephants for ivory, meat, and hides. Young elephants
are often captured for use in tourist attractions or as work animals,
although their use has declined since the government banned
logging in 1989. There are now more elephants in captivity than in
the wild, and environmental activists claim that elephants in
captivity are often mistreated.[82]
Poaching of protected species remains a major problem. Hunters
have decimated the populations of tigers, leopards, and other large
The population of Asian elephants in
cats for their valuable pelts. Many animals (including tigers, bears,
Thailand's wild has dropped to an
crocodiles, and king cobras) are farmed or hunted for their meat,
estimated 2,0003,000.[81]
which is considered a delicacy, and for their supposed medicinal
properties. Although such trade is illegal, the famous Bangkok
market Chatuchak is still known for the sale of endangered species.[83]
The practice of keeping wild animals as pets threatens several species. Baby animals are typically captured and
sold, which often requires killing the mother. Once in captivity and out of their natural habitat, many pets die or
fail to reproduce. Affected populations include the Asiatic black bear, Malayan sun bear, white-handed lar,
pileated gibbon and binturong.[84]
Education
In 2014 the literacy rate was 93.5%.[85] Education is provided by a well-organized school system of
kindergartens, primary, lower secondary and upper secondary schools, numerous vocational colleges, and
universities. The private sector of education is well developed and significantly contributes to the overall
provision of education which the government would not be able to meet with public establishments. Education
is compulsory up to and including age 14, with the government providing free education through to age 17.
Teaching relies heavily on rote learning rather than on student-centred methodology. The establishment of
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reliable and coherent curricula for its

primary and secondary schools is subject
to such rapid changes that schools and
their teachers are not always sure what
they are supposed to be teaching, and
authors and publishers of textbooks are
unable to write and print new editions
quickly enough to keep up with the
Chulalongkorn University,
volatility. Issues concerning university
established in 1917, is the
entrance has been in constant upheaval
Primary school students in Thailand
oldest university in Thailand.
for a number of years. Nevertheless, Thai
education has seen its greatest progress
in the years since 2001. Most of the present generation of students are computer literate. Thailand was ranked
54th out of 56 countries globally for English proficiency, the second-lowest in Asia.[86]
Students in ethnic minority areas score consistently lower in standardised national and international tests.[87]
[88] [89] This is likely due to unequal allocation of educational resources, weak teacher training, poverty, and low
Thai language skill, the language of the tests.[87] [90] [91]
Extensive nationwide IQ tests were administered to 72,780 Thai students from December 2010 to January 2011.
The average IQ was found to be 98.59, which is higher than previous studies have found. IQ levels were found
to be inconsistent throughout the country, with the lowest average of 88.07 found in the southern region of
Narathiwat Province and the highest average of 108.91 reported in Nonthaburi Province. The Ministry of Public
Health blames the discrepancies on iodine deficiency and steps are being taken to require that iodine be added
to table salt, a practice common in many Western countries.[92]
In 2013, the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology announced that 27,231 schools would
receive classroom-level access to high-speed internet.[93]
Science and technology

The National Science and Technology Development Agency is an agency of the government of Thailand which
supports research in science and technology and its application in the Thai economy.
The Synchrotron Light Research Institute (SLRI) is a Thai synchrotron light source for physics, chemistry,
material science, and life sciences. It is at the Suranaree University of Technology (SUT), in Nakhon
Ratchasima, about 300 km northeast of Bangkok. The institute, financed by the Ministry of Science and
Technology (MOST), houses the only large scale synchrotron in Southeast Asia. It was originally built as the
SORTEC synchrotron in Japan and later moved to Thailand and modified for 1.2 GeV operation. It provides
users with regularly scheduled light.
Internet
In Bangkok, there are 23,000 free public Wi-Fi Internet hotspots.[94] The Internet in Thailand includes 10Gbit/s
high speed fibre-optic lines that can be leased and ISPs such as KIRZ that provide residential Internet services.
The Internet is censored by the Thai government, making some sites unreachable..[95] The organisations
responsible are the Royal Thai Police, the Communications Authority of Thailand, and the Ministry of
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Information and Communication Technology (MICT).
Economy
Thailand is an emerging economy and is considered
a newly industrialised country. Thailand had a 2013
GDP of US$673 billion (on a purchasing power
parity [PPP] basis).[96] Thailand is the 2nd largest
economy in Southeast Asia after Indonesia.
Thailand ranks midway in the wealth spread in
Southeast Asia as it is the 4th richest nation
according to GDP per capita, after Singapore,
Brunei, and Malaysia.
Thailand functions as an anchor economy for the
neighbouring developing economies of Laos,
Burma, and Cambodia. In the third quarter of 2014,
the unemployment rate in Thailand stood at 0.84%
according to Thailand's National Economic and
Social Development Board (NESDB).[97]
Bangkok, the largest city, business and industrial centre of

Thailand.
Recent economic history

Thailand experienced the world's highest economic
growth rate from 1985 to 1996 averaging 12.4%
annually. In 1997 increased pressure on the baht, a
year in which the economy contracted by 1.9%, led
to a crisis that uncovered financial sector
weaknesses and forced the Chavalit Yongchaiyudh
administration to float the currency. Prime Minister
Chavalit Yongchaiyudh was forced to resign after
his cabinet came under fire for its slow response to
the economic crisis. The baht was pegged at 25 to
the US dollar from 1978 to 1997. The baht reached
its lowest point of 56 to the US dollar in January
1998 and the economy contracted by 10.8% that
year, triggering the Asian financial crisis.
Automotive production in Thailand, 20042013.
Thailand's economy started to recover in 1999, expanding 4.24.4% in 2000, thanks largely to strong exports.
Growth (2.2%) was dampened by the softening of the global economy in 2001, but picked up in the subsequent
years owing to strong growth in Asia, a relatively weak baht encouraging exports, and increased domestic
spending as a result of several mega projects and incentives of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, known as
Thaksinomics. Growth in 2002, 2003, and 2004 was 57% annually.
Growth in 2005, 2006, and 2007 hovered around 45%. Due both to the weakening of the US dollar and an
increasingly strong Thai currency, by March 2008 the dollar was hovering around the 33 baht mark. While
Thaksinomics has received criticism, official economic data reveals that between 2001 and 2011, Isan's GDP
per capita more than doubled to US$1,475, while, over the same period, GDP in the Bangkok area increased
from US$7,900 to nearly US$13,000.[98]
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With the instability surrounding major 2010 protests, the GDP growth of Thailand settled at around 45%, from
highs of 57% under the previous civilian administration. Political uncertainty was identified as the primary
cause of a decline in investor and consumer confidence. The IMF predicted that the Thai economy would
rebound strongly from the low 0.1% GDP growth in 2011, to 5.5% in 2012 and then 7.5% in 2013, due to the
monetary policy of the Bank of Thailand, as well as a package of fiscal stimulus measures introduced by the
incumbent Yingluck Shinawatra government.[99]
Following the Thai military coup of 22 May 2014, the AFP global news agency published an article that
claimed that the nation was on the verge of recession. The article focused on the departure of nearly 180,000
Cambodians from Thailand due to fears of an immigration clampdown, but concluded with information on the
Thai economy's contraction of 2.1% quarter-on-quarter, from January to the end of March 2014.[100]
Exports and manufacturing

The economy of Thailand is heavily
export-dependent, with exports
accounting for more than two-thirds
of gross domestic product (GDP).
Thailand exports over US$105
billion worth of goods and services
annually.[1] Major exports include
rice, textiles and footwear, fishery
products, rubber, jewellery, cars,
computers, and electrical
appliances.[1]
Substantial industries include
electric appliances, components,
computer components, and vehicles.
Thailand's recovery from the
19971998 Asian financial crisis
depended mainly on exports, among
various other factors. As of 2012, the
A proportional representation of Thailand's exports.
Thai automotive industry was the
largest in Southeast Asia and the 9th
largest in the world.[101][102][103]
The Thailand industry has an annual output of near 1.5 million vehicles, mostly commercial vehicles.[103]
Most of the vehicles built in Thailand are developed and licensed by foreign producers, mainly Japanese and
South Korean. The Thai car industry takes advantage of the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) to find a market
for many of its products. Eight manufacturers, five Japanese, two US, and Tata of India, produce pick-up trucks
in Thailand.[104] Thailand is the second largest consumer of pick-up trucks in the world, after the US. In 2014,
pick-ups accounted for 42% of all new vehicle sales in Thailand.[104]
Tourism
Tourism in Thailand makes up about 6% of the economy. Thailand was the most visited country in Southeast
Asia in 2013, according to the World Tourism Organisation. Prostitution in Thailand and sex tourism also form
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a de facto part of the economy. Cultural milieu combined with poverty and the lure of money have caused
prostitution and sex tourism in particular to flourish in Thailand. One estimate published in 2003 placed the
trade at US$4.3 billion per year or about 3% of the Thai economy.[105] According to research by Chulalongkorn
University on the Thai illegal economy, prostitution in Thailand in the period between 1993 and 1995, made up
around 2.7% of the GDP.[106] It is believed that at least 10% of tourist dollars are spent on the sex trade.[107]
Agriculture
Forty-nine per cent of Thailand's labour force is employed
in agriculture.[108] This is down from 70% in 1980.[108]
Rice is the most important crop in the country and Thailand
had long been the world's leading exporter of rice, until
recently falling behind both India and Vietnam.[109]
Thailand has the highest percentage of arable land, 27.25%,
of any nation in the Greater Mekong Subregion.[110] About
55% of the arable land area is used for rice production.[111]
Thailand had long been the largest rice exporter in
Agriculture has been experiencing a transition from labourthe world. Forty-nine percent of Thailand's labour
intensive and transitional methods to a more industrialised
force is employed in agriculture.[108]
and competitive sector.[108] Between 1962 and 1983, the
agricultural sector grew by 4.1% per year on average and
continued to grow at 2.2% between 1983 and 2007.[108] The relative contribution of agriculture to GDP has
declined while exports of goods and services have increased.
Energy
75% of Thailand's electrical generation is powered by natural gas in 2014.[112] Coal-fired power plants produce
an additional 20% of electricity, with the remainder coming from biomass, hydro, and biogas.[112]
Thailand produces roughly one-third of the oil it consumes. It is the second largest importer of oil in SE Asia.
Thailand is a large producer of natural gas, with reserves of at least 10 trillion cubic feet. After Indonesia, it is
the largest coal producer in SE Asia, but must import additional coal to meet domestic demand.
Demographics
Thailand had a population of 66,720,153[113] as of 2013. Thailand's population is largely rural, concentrated in
the rice-growing areas of the central, northeastern, and northern regions. Thailand had an urban population of
45.7% as of 2010, concentrated mostly in and around the Bangkok Metropolitan Area.
Thailand's government-sponsored family planning program resulted in a dramatic decline in population growth
from 3.1% in 1960 to around 0.4% today. In 1970, an average of 5.7 people lived in a Thai household. At the
time of the 2010 census, the average Thai household size was 3.2 people.
Ethnic groups
Ethnic Thais make up the majority of Thailand's population, 95.9% in 2010. This number includes Thai
Chinese, a historically and economically important minority. The remaining 4.1% of the population are
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Burmese (2.0%), others 1.3%, and unspecified 0.9%.[1]

Thailand is home to a large expatriate community of around 200,000 foreigners. Some 41,000 Britons alone live
in Thailand.[114] Increasing numbers of migrants from neighbouring Burma, Laos, and Cambodia, as well as
from Nepal and India, have pushed the total number of non-national residents to around 3.5 million as of 2009,
up from an estimated 2 million in 2008, and about 1.3 million in the year 2000.[115]
Population centres
Language
The official language of Thailand is Thai, a TaiKadai language closely
related to Lao, Shan in Burma, and numerous smaller languages spoken
in an arc from Hainan and Yunnan south to the Chinese border. It is the
principal language of education and government and spoken throughout
the country. The standard is based on the dialect of the central Thai
people, and it is written in the Thai alphabet, an abugida script that
evolved from the Khmer script. Several other dialects exist, and
coincide with the regional designations. Southern Thai is spoken in the
southern provinces, and Northern Thai is spoken in the provinces that
were formerly part of the independent kingdom of Lannathai.
Thailand is also host to several other minority languages, the largest of
which is the Lao dialect of Isan spoken in the northeastern provinces.
Although sometimes considered a Thai dialect, it is a Lao dialect, and
the region in where it is traditionally spoken was historically part of the
Lao kingdom of Lan Xang. In the far south, Yawi, a dialect of Malay, is
the primary language of the Malay Muslims. Varieties of Chinese are
also spoken by the large Chinese population, with Teochew being best
represented.
Population, Thailand
Year
Pop.
1910
1919
1929
1937
1947
1960
1970
1980
1990
2000
2010
8,131,247
9,207,355
11,506,207
14,464,105
17,442,689
26,257,916
34,397,371
44,824,540
54,548,530
60,916,441
65,926,261
+13.2%
+25.0%
+25.7%
+20.6%
+50.5%
+31.0%
+30.3%
+21.7%
+11.7%
+8.2%
Source: [1] (http://popcensus.nso.go.th

/table_stat.php?t=t1&yr=2543) National
Statistical Office of Thailand
(http://web.nso.go.th/eng/en/stat/poph
/popt1.htm)
Numerous tribal languages are also spoken, including those belonging

to the MonKhmer family, such as Mon, Khmer, Viet, Mlabri and
Orang Asli; Austronesian family, such as Cham and Moken; Sino-Tibetan family such as Lawa, Akhan, and
Karen; and other Tai languages such as Nyaw, Phu Thai, and Saek. Hmong is a member of the HmongMien
languages, which is now regarded as a language family of its own.
English is a mandatory school subject, but the number of fluent speakers remains low, especially outside cities.
Religion
Thailand's prevalent religion is Theravada Buddhism, which is an integral part of Thai identity and culture.
Active participation in Buddhism is among the highest in the world. According to the 2000 census, 94.6% of the
country's population self-identified as Buddhists of the Theravada tradition. Muslims constitute the second
largest religious group in Thailand, comprising 4.6% of the population.[1][125]
Islam is concentrated mostly in the country's southernmost provinces: Pattani, Yala, Satun, Narathiwat, and part
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of Songkhla Chumphon, which are predominantly Malay, most of whom are Sunni Muslims. Christians
represent 0.7% of the population, with the remaining population consisting of Sikhs and Hindus, who live
mostly in the country's cities. There is also a small but historically significant Jewish community in Thailand
dating back to the 17th century.
Culture
Thai culture has been shaped by many influences, including Indian, Lao,
Burmese, Cambodian, and Chinese.
Its traditions incorporate a great deal of influence from India, China,
Cambodia, and the rest of Southeast Asia. Thailand's national religion,
Theravada Buddhism, is central to modern Thai identity. Thai Buddhism
has evolved over time to include many regional beliefs originating from
Hinduism, animism, as well as ancestor worship. The official calendar in
Thailand is based on the Eastern version of the Buddhist Era (BE),
which is 543 years ahead of the Gregorian (Western) calendar. Thus the
year 2015 is 2558 BE in Thailand.
Theravada Buddhism, highly

practised in Thailand.
Several different ethnic groups, many of which are marginalised,

populate Thailand. Some of these groups spill over into Burma, Laos, Cambodia, and Malaysia and have
mediated change between their traditional local culture, national Thai, and global cultural influences. Overseas
Chinese also form a significant part of Thai society, particularly in and around Bangkok. Their successful
integration into Thai society has allowed for this group to hold positions of economic and political power. Thai
Chinese businesses prosper as part of the larger bamboo network, a network of overseas Chinese businesses
operating in the markets of Southeast Asia that share common family and cultural ties.[126]
The traditional Thai greeting, the wai, is generally offered first by the
younger of the two people meeting, with their hands pressed together,
fingertips pointing upwards as the head is bowed to touch face to
fingertips, usually coinciding with the spoken words "sawatdi khrap" for
male speakers, and "sawatdi kha" for females. The elder may then
respond in the same way. Social status and position, such as in
government, will also have an influence on who performs the wai first.
For example, although one may be considerably older than a provincial
governor, when meeting it is usually the visitor who pays respect first.
When children leave to go to school, they are taught to wai their parents
to indicate their respect. The wai is a sign of respect and reverence for
another, similar to the namaste greeting of India and Nepal.
Khon Show is the most stylised form

of Thai performance.
As with other Asian cultures, respect towards ancestors is an essential part of Thai spiritual practice. Thais have
a strong sense of hospitality and generosity, but also a strong sense of social hierarchy. Seniority is paramount in
Thai culture. Elders have by tradition ruled in family decisions or ceremonies. Older siblings have duties to
younger ones.
Taboos in Thailand include touching someone's head or pointing with the feet, as the head is considered the
most sacred and the foot the lowest part of the body.
Cuisine
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Thai cuisine blends five fundamental tastes: sweet, spicy, sour, bitter, and salty. Some common ingredients used
in Thai cuisine include garlic, chillies, lime juice, lemon grass, coriander, galangal, palm sugar, and fish sauce
(nam pla). The staple food in Thailand is rice, particularly jasmine variety rice (also known as "hom Mali" rice)
which is included at almost every meal. Thailand was long the world's largest exporter of rice, and Thais
domestically consume over 100 kg of milled rice per person per year.[111] Over 5,000 varieties of rice from
Thailand are preserved in the rice gene bank of the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), based in the
Philippines. The king of Thailand is the official patron of IRRI.[127]
Media
Thai society has been influenced in recent years by its widely available multi-language press and media. There
are some English and numerous Thai and Chinese newspapers in circulation. Most Thai popular magazines use
English headlines as a chic glamour factor. Many large businesses in Bangkok operate in English as well as
other languages.
Thailand is the largest newspaper market in Southeast Asia with an estimated circulation of over 13 million
copies daily in 2003. Even upcountry, out of Bangkok, the media flourish. For example, according to Thailand's
Public Relations Department Media Directory 20032004, the nineteen provinces of Isan, Thailand's
northeastern region, hosted 116 newspapers along with radio, TV, and cable. Since then, another province,
Bueng Kan, was incorporated, totaling twenty provinces. In addition, a military coup on 22 May 2014 led to
severe state restrictions on all media and forms of expression.
Units of measurement
Thailand generally uses the metric system, but traditional units of measurement for land area are used, and
imperial units of measurement are occasionally used for building materials, such as wood and plumbing
fixtures. Years are numbered as B.E. (Buddhist Era) in educational settings, the civil service, government, and
on contracts and newspaper datelines. In banking, and increasingly in industry and commerce, standard Western
year (Christian or Common Era) counting is the standard practice.[128]
Sports
Muay Thai (Thai: , RTGS: Muai Thai, [muj tj], lit. "Thai
boxing") is a native form of kickboxing and Thailand's signature sport. It
incorporates kicks, punches, knees and elbow strikes in a ring with
gloves similar to those used in Western boxing and this has led to
Thailand gaining medals at the Olympic Games in boxing.
Football has possibly overtaken muay Thai as the most widely followed
sport in contemporary Thai society. Thailand national football team has
played the AFC Asian Cup six times and reached the semifinals in 1972.
Muay Thai, Thailand's signature sport
The country has hosted the Asian Cup twice, in 1972 and in 2007. The
2007 edition was co-hosted together with Indonesia, Malaysia and
Vietnam. It is not uncommon to see Thais cheering their favourite English Premier League teams on television
and walking around in replica kit. Another widely enjoyed pastime, and once a competitive sport, is kite flying.
Takraw (Thai: ) is a sport native to Thailand, in which the players hit a rattan ball and are only allowed to
use their feet, knees, chest, and head to touch the ball. Sepak takraw is a form of this sport which is similar to
volleyball. The players must volley a ball over a net and force it to hit the ground on the opponent's side. It is
8/4/2015 9:03 PM
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also a popular sport in other countries in Southeast Asia. A rather similar

game but played only with the feet is Buka ball.
Snooker has enjoyed increasing popularity in Thailand in recent years,
with interest in the game being stimulated by the success of Thai
snooker player James Wattana in the 1990s.[129] Other notable players
produced by the country include Ratchayothin Yotharuck, Noppon
Saengkham and Dechawat Poomjaeng.[130]
Rugby is also a growing sport in Thailand with the Thailand national
Rajamangala National Stadium
rugby union team rising to be ranked 61st in the world.[131] Thailand
became the first country in the world to host an international 80 kg
welterweight rugby tournament in 2005.[132] The national domestic Thailand Rugby Union (TRU) competition
includes several universities and services teams such as Chulalongkorn University, Mahasarakham University,
Kasetsart University, Prince of Songkla University, Thammasat University, Rangsit University, the Thai Police,
the Thai Army, the Thai Navy and the Royal Thai Air Force. Local sports clubs which also compete in the TRU
include the British Club of Bangkok, the Southerners Sports Club (Bangkok) and the Royal Bangkok Sports
Club.
Thailand has been called the golf capital of Asia[133] as it is a popular destination for golf. The country attracts a
large number of golfers from Japan, Korea, Singapore, South Africa, and Western countries who come to play
golf in Thailand every year.[134] The growing popularity of golf, especially among the middle classes and
expats, is evident as there are more than 200 world-class golf courses nationwide,[135] and some of them are
chosen to host PGA and LPGA tournaments, such as Amata Spring Country Club, Alpine Golf and Sports Club,
Thai Country Club, and Black Mountain Golf Club.
Basketball is a growing sport in Thailand, especially on the professional sports club level. The Chang Thailand
Slammers won the 2011 ASEAN Basketball League Championship.[136] The Thailand national basketball team
had its most successful year at the 1966 Asian Games where it won the silver medal.[137]
Other sports in Thailand are slowly growing as the country develops its sporting infrastructure. The success in
sports like weightlifting and taekwondo at the last two summer Olympic Games has demonstrated that boxing is
no longer the only medal option for Thailand.
Sporting venues
Thammasat Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in Bangkok. It is currently used mostly for football matches.
The stadium holds 25,000. It is on Thammasat University's Rangsit campus. It was built for the 1998 Asian
Games by construction firm Christiani and Nielsen, the same company that constructed the Democracy
Monument in Bangkok.
Rajamangala National Stadium is the biggest sporting arena in Thailand. It currently has a capacity of 65,000. It
is in Bang Kapi, Bangkok. The stadium was built in 1998 for the 1998 Asian Games and is the home stadium of
the Thailand national football team.
The well-known Lumpini Boxing Stadium will host its final Muay Thai boxing matches on 7 February 2014
after the venue first opened in December 1956. Managed by the Royal Thai Army, the stadium was officially
selected for the purpose of muay Thai bouts following a competition that was staged on on 15 March 1956.
From 11 February 2014, the stadium will relocate to Ram Intra Road, due to the new venue's capacity to
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accommodate audiences of up to 3,500. Foreigners typically pay between 1,0002,000 baht to view a match,
with prices depending on the location of the seating.[138]
International rankings
Organisation
Survey
Ranking
Heritage Foundation
Indices of Economic Freedom
60 of 179
A.T. Kearney/Foreign
Policy Magazine
Global Services Location Index 2011 (http://www.atkearney.com

/research-studies/global-services-location-index#)
7 of 50
Reporters Without Borders
Worldwide Press Freedom Index, 2014
130 of 180
Transparency International
Corruption Perceptions Index
80 of 179
United Nations
Development Programme
Human Development Index
89 of 187
World Economic Forum
Global Competitiveness Report (2008)
34 of
134[139]
World Gold Council
Gold reserve (2010)
24 of 111
HSBC International
Expat Explorer Survey (2012)
2 of 30[140]
See also
Outline of Thailand
Index of Thailand-related articles
Royal Thai Police
Law of Thailand
Telecommunications in Thailand
Thai ceramics
Thai temple art and architecture
Transport in Thailand
Corruption in Thailand
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External links
Government
Thaigov.go.th (http://www.thaigov.go.th/) Government of Thailand
Chief of State and Cabinet Members (https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/world-leaders-1/worldleaders-t/thailand.html)
Mfa.go.th (http://www.mfa.go.th/) Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Thailand Internet Information (http://internet.nectec.or.th/webstats
/internetmap.current.iir?Sec=internetmap_current) National Electronics and Computer Technology Center
Ministry of Culture (http://www.m-culture.go.th/english/)
General information
Thailand (https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/th.html) entry at The World
Factbook
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Thailand (http://countrystudies.us/thailand/) entry in Library of Congress Country Studies. 1987

Thailand Corruption Profile (http://www.business-anti-corruption.com/country-profiles/east-asia-thepacific/thailand/show-all.aspx) from the Business Anti-Corruption Portal
Thailand (http://ucblibraries.colorado.edu/govpubs/for/thailand.htm) from UCB Libraries GovPubs
Thailand (https://www.dmoz.org/Regional/Asia/Thailand) at DMOZ
Thailand (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-15581957) from the BBC News
Thailand (http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/589625/Thailand) Encyclopdia Britannica entry
Wikimedia Atlas of Thailand
Longdo Map (http://map.longdo.com/en) On-line Thailand maps in English and Thai
Thailand Laws (http://www.thailaws.com/) Thailand acts and legal information, both in English and
Thai language.
Key Development Forecasts for Thailand (http://www.ifs.du.edu
/ifs/frm_CountryProfile.aspx?Country=TH) from International Futures
2010 Thailand population census by Economic and Social statistics Bureau (http://popcensus.nso.go.th
/file/popcensus-20-12-54.pdf)
Travel
Thailand travel guide from Wikivoyage
Tourism Authority of Thailand (http://www.tourismthailand.org/) Official tourism website
Other
Thailand Country Fact Sheet (http://www.commonlanguageproject.net/?page_id=41#Thailand) from the
Common Language Project
Southeast Asia Visions. "Browse the Southeast Asia Visions Collection" (http://dlxs.library.cornell.edu
/s/sea/browse_image/date/1900.php). Cornell University Library. Retrieved 2 October 2011. "Browse by
image date"
"Flickr: Photos tagged with "Thailand" (http://www.flickr.com/photos/tags/Thailand/)"
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Thailand&oldid=673400074"
Categories: Thailand Constitutional monarchies
Member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Member states of the United Nations
Southeast Asian countries
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Thailand - Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia

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Thailand - Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia

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Thailand - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Thailand (/talnd/ -land or /talnd/ -lnd;[12] Thai:

With a total area of approximately 513,000

Chat, Satsana, Phra Maha Kasat

Anthem: Phleng Chat Thai

Royal anthem: Sansoen Phra Barami

Location of Thailand (green)

Thailand experienced rapid economic growth between 1985