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ThailandThailandThe '''Kingdom of Thailand''' is a country in Southeast Asia, bordering Laos and Cambodia to the east, the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia to the south, and the Andaman Sea and Myanmar to the west. Thailand is also known as '''Siam''', which was the country's official name until May 11, 1949. The word ''Thai'' (ไทย) means "free" in the Thai language. It is also the name of the Thai ethnic groups|Thai people - leading some inhabitants, particularly the sizeable Chinese minority, to continue to use the name ''Siam''.<!-- START INFOBOX --> {{Infobox_Country| native_name = ราชอาณาจักรไทย<br>Raja-anachakra Thai| common_name = Thailand | image_flag = Thailand flag large.png | image_coat = Thailand_coa.png | image_map = LocationThailand.png | national_motto = none | national_anthem = Phleng Chat | official_languages = Thai language|Thai | capital = Bangkok | latd=13|latm=44|latNS=N|longd=100|longm=30|longEW=E| largest_city = Bangkok | government_type = Constitutional monarchy | leader_titles = King <br> Prime Minister | leader_names = Bhumibol Adulyadej <br> Thaksin Shinawatra | area_rank = 49th | area_magnitude = | area = 514,000 | percent_water = 0.4% | population_estimate = 62,354,402 | population_estimate_year = 2002 | population_estimate_rank = 19th | population_census = 60,916,441| population_census_year = 2000| population_density = 121 | population_density_rank = n/a| GDP_PPP_year = 2002 | GDP_PPP = $388.7 billion | GDP_PPP_rank = 21st | GDP_PPP_per_capita = $6,400 | GDP_PPP_per_capita_rank = 63rd | sovereignty_type = Independence | established_events = - Declared<br> - Recognised | established_dates = | currency = ៛ Baht | currency_code = THB | time_zone = | utc_offset = +7 | time_zone_DST = | utc_offset_DST = +7 | cctld = .th | calling_code = 66 | footnotes= }}<!-- END INFOBOX --> ==History== ''Main article: History of Thailand'' Thailand's origin is traditionally tied to the short-lived kingdom of Sukhothai kingdom|Sukhothai founded in 1238, after which the larger kingdom of Ayutthaya kingdom|Ayutthaya was established in the mid-14th century. Thai culture was greatly influenced by both China and India. Contact with various European powers began in the 16th century but, despite continued pressure, Thailand is the only Southeast Asian country never to have been taken over by a European power, though Western influence, including the threat of force, led to many reforms in the 19th century and major concessions to British mercantile interests (as such many historians include Thailand in the "informal British Empire"). A mostly bloodless revolution in 1932 led to a constitutional monarchy. Known previously as ''Siam'', the country first changed its name to Thailand in 1939, and definitively in 1949 after reverting to the old name post-World War II. During that conflict Thailand was in a loose alliance with Japan; following its conclusion Thailand became an ally of the United States. Thailand then saw a series of military coup d'état|coups d'état, but progressed towards democracy from the 1980s onward. The Thai solar calendar|official calendar in Thailand is based on the Calendar era|Buddhist Era, which is 543 years ahead of the western calendar. For example, the year AD 2000 is equal to the year 2543 BE. On 26 December 2004 the west coast of Thailand was devastated by a 10 metre high tsunami following the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake, claiming more than 5,000 casualties in Thailand, half of them tourists. ==Politics== ''Main article: Politics of Thailand'' The king has little direct power under the constitution but is the anointed protector of Thai Buddhism and a symbol of national identity and unity. The present monarch enjoys a great deal of popular respect and moral authority, which has on occasion been used to resolve political crises. The head of government is the List of Prime Ministers of Thailand|Prime Minister, who is appointed by the king from among the members of the lower house of parliament, usually the leader of the party that can organise a majority coalition government. The bicameral Thai parliament is the National Assembly or ''Rathasapha'' - รัฐสภา, which consists of a House of Representatives (the ''Sapha Phuthaen Ratsadon'' - สภาผู้แทนราษฎร) of 500 seats and a Senate (the ''Wuthisapha'' - วุฒิสภา) of 200 seats. Members of both houses are elected by popular vote. Members of House of Representatives serve four-year terms, while Senators serve six-year terms. The highest judiciary|judicial body is the Supreme Court or ''Sandika'' - ศาลฎีกา, whose judges are appointed by the monarch. Thailand is an active member of the regional Association of Southeast Asian Nations. ==Provinces== ''Main article: Provinces of Thailand'' Image:Thailand map CIA.png|right|280px|Map of Thailand Thailand is divided into 76 provinces (''changwat'', singular and plural), which are grouped into 5 groups of provinces. Each province is divided into smaller Amphoe|districts - as of 2000 there are 795 districts (''Amphoe''), 81 sub-districts (''King Amphoe'') and 50 districts of Bangkok (''khet''). However, some parts of the provinces bordering Bangkok are referred to as Bangkok Metropolitan Area|Greater Bangkok (''Prari Monthon''). These Provinces include Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, Samut Prakan, Nakhon Pathom, Samut Sakhon. The name of each capital city (''mueang'') is the same as that of the province: for example, the capital of Chiang Mai province (''changwat Chiang Mai'') is ''amphoe mueang Chiang Mai''. ===Northern Thailand|North=== :Chiang Mai Province|Chiang Mai Chiang Rai Province|Chiang Rai Kamphaeng Phet Province|Kamphaeng Phet Lampang Province|Lampang Lamphun Province|Lamphun Mae Hong Son Province|Mae Hong Son Nakhon Sawan Province|Nakhon Sawan Nan Province|Nan Phayao Province|Phayao Phetchabun Province|Phetchabun Phichit Province|Phichit Phitsanulok Province|Phitsanulok Phrae Province|Phrae Sukhothai Province|Sukhothai Tak Province|Tak Uthai Thani Province|Uthai Thani Uttaradit Province|Uttaradit ===Eastern Thailand|East=== :Chanthaburi Province|Chanthaburi Chonburi Province|Chonburi Rayong Province|Rayong Trat Province|Trat ===Southern Thailand|South=== :Chumphon Province|Chumphon Krabi Province|Krabi Nakhon Si Thammarat Province|Nakhon Si Thammarat Narathiwat Province|Narathiwat Pattani Province|Pattani Phang Nga Province|Phang Nga Phattalung Province|Phattalung Phuket Province|Phuket Ranong Province|Ranong Satun Province|Satun Songkhla Province|Songkhla Surat Thani Province|Surat Thani Trang Province|Trang Yala Province|Yala ===Northeast Thailand|Northeast=== :Amnat Charoen Province|Amnat Charoen Buriram Province|Buriram Chaiyaphum Province|Chaiyaphum Kalasin Province|Kalasin Khon Kaen Province|Khon Kaen Loei Province|Loei Maha Sarakham Province|Maha Sarakham Mukdahan Province|Mukdahan Nakhon Phanom Province|Nakhon Phanom Nakhon Ratchasima Province|Nakhon Ratchasima Nongbua Lamphu Province|Nongbua Lamphu Nong Khai Province|Nong Khai Roi Et Province|Roi Et Sakon Nakhon Province|Sakon Nakhon Sisaket Province|Sisaket Surin Province|Surin Ubon Ratchathani Province|Ubon Ratchathani Udon Thani Province|Udon Thani Yasothon Province|Yasothon ===Central Thailand|Central=== :Ang Thong Province|Ang Thong Ayutthaya Province|Ayutthaya Bangkok Chachoengsao Province|Chachoengsao Chainat Province|Chainat Kanchanaburi Province|Kanchanaburi Lopburi Province|Lopburi Nakhon Nayok Province|Nakhon Nayok Nakhon Pathom Province|Nakhon Pathom Nonthaburi Province|Nonthaburi Pathum Thani Province|Pathum Thani Phetchaburi Province|Phetchaburi Prachinburi Province|Prachinburi Prachuap Khiri Khan Province|Prachuap Khiri Khan Ratchaburi Province|Ratchaburi Sa Kaeo Province|Sa Kaeo Samut Prakan Province|Samut Prakan Samut Sakhon Province|Samut Sakhon Samut Songkhram Province|Samut Songkhram Saraburi Province|Saraburi Sing Buri Province|Sing Buri Suphanburi Province|Suphanburi ''See also:'' List of cities in Thailand ==Geography== ''Main article: Geography of Thailand'' Thailand is home to several distinct geographic regions, partly corresponding to the provincial groups. The north of the country is mountainous, with the highest point being the Doi Inthanon at 2,576 m. The northeast 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. The south consists of the narrow Kra Isthmus that widens into the Malay Peninsula. The local climate is tropical and characterised by monsoons. There is a rainy, warm, and cloudy southwest monsoon from mid-May to September, as well as a dry, cool northeast monsoon from November to mid-March. The southern isthmus is always hot and humid. Major cities beside the capital Bangkok include Nakhon Ratchasima, Nakhon Sawan, Chiang Mai, and Songkhla. See also: List of islands of Thailand ==Economy== ''Main article: Economy of Thailand'' After enjoying the world's highest growth rate from 1985 to 1995 - averaging almost 9% annually - increased speculative pressure on Thailand's currency, the baht, in 1997 led to a crisis that uncovered financial sector weaknesses and forced the government to float the currency. Long pegged at 25 to the US dollar, the baht reached its lowest point of 56 to the US dollar in January 1998 and the economy contracted by 10.2% that same year. The crisis spread to the Asian financial crisis. Thailand entered a recovery stage in 1999, expanding 4.2% and grew 4.4% in 2000, largely due to strong exports - which increased about 20% in 2000. Growth was damped by softening of global economy in 2001, but picking up in the subsequent years due to strong growth in China and various domestic stimulation programs along the Dual-Track Policies promoted by List of Prime Ministers of Thailand|Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. Growth in 2003 is estimated to be around 6.3%, and projected at 8% and 10% in 2004 and 2005. Tourism contributes significantly to the Thai economy, and the industry has benefited from the Thai baht's depreciation and Thailand's stability. Tourist arrivals in 2002 (10.9 million) reflected a 7.3% increase from the previous year (10.1 million). Thailand is also a major destination for [http://www.tourismthailand.org fascinating tourist visiting places in the South-east Asia], for instance, the beautiful Southern and Eastern seasides and islands, the Northern waterfalls and botanic gardens, as well as, Sukhothai: the UNESCO world heritage site in 1961. ==Demographics== ''Main article: Demographics of Thailand'' Thailand's population is dominated by ethnic Thai and Lao, the latter concentrated in the northeastern Isan region and making up around one third of the population. There is also a large community of Thai Chinese, who have historically played a disproportionately significant role in the economy. Other ethnic groups include Malay people|Malays in the south, Mon, Khmer and various indigenous hill tribes. Around 95% of Thais are Buddhism|Buddhists of the Theravada tradition, but in the south of the country there are some Islam|Muslim areas, and small minorities of Christianity|Christians and Hinduism|Hindus also exist. The Thai language is Thailand's national language, written in its own Thai alphabet|alphabet, but many ethnic and regional dialects exist as well as areas where people speak predominantly Lao or Khmer. Although English language|English is widely taught in schools, proficiency is low. ==Culture== ''Main article: Culture of Thailand'' Muay Thai, or Thai boxing, is the national sport in Thailand and its native martial art. It reached popularity all over the world in the 1990s. Similar martial art styles exist in other southeast Asian countries. The standard greeting in Thailand is a prayer-like gesture called the ''wai''. Taboos include touching someone's head or pointing with the feet, as the head is considered the highest and the foot the lowest part of the body. Cuisine of Thailand|Thai cuisine blends four fundamental tastes: sweet, spicy, sour and salty. ==Miscellaneous topics== * List of Thailand-related topics * Communications in Thailand * Transportation in Thailand * National parks (Thailand) * Historical parks of Thailand * Music of Thailand * Thai immigration to the United States * Foreign relations of Thailand * Military of Thailand * Education in Thailand * Prostitution in Thailand * Public holidays in Thailand ==External links== ===Official=== * [http://www.thaigov.go.th Thaigov.go.th] Royal Government of Thailand * [http://www.parliament.go.th/files/mainpage.htm Thai National Assembly] Official parliamentary website * [http://www.tourismthailand.org Tourism Authority of Thailand] Official tourism website ===Other=== * [http://wikitravel.org/en/article/Thailand Wikitravel: Thailand] Wikitravel article on Thailand * [http://thailand.united.co.uk/ List of organizations providing assistance and help to the victims of Thailand Tsunamis] * [http://www.asinah.org/travel-guides/thailand.html Thailand Tourism Guide] * [http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/th.html CIA - The World Factbook - Thailand] * [http://www.backpackthailand.com Backpack Thailand | Independent Travel Guide] * [http://www.stingray-divers.com Scuba Diving in Thailand] {{Southeast_Asia}} Category:Monarchies Category:Southeast Asian countries Category:Thailand Category:ASEAN member states af:Thailand bg:Тайланд ca:Tailàndia cs:Thajsko da:Thailand de:Thailand et:Tai es:Tailandia eo:Tajlando fr:Thaïlande gu:થાઇલેન્ડ ko:타이 hi:थाईलैंड id:Thailand it:Tailandia he:תאילנד la:Thailandia li:Thailand lt:Tailandas ms:Thailand zh-min-nan:Thài-kok nl:Thailand nds:Thailand ja:タイ王国 no:Thailand nb:Thailand nn:Thailand pl:Tajlandia pt:Tailândia ro:Thailanda ru:Таиланд sa:थाइलैंड sk:Thajsko sl:Tajska fi:Thaimaa sv:Thailand th:ประเทศไทย vi:Thái Lan uk:Тайланд zh:泰国 First page | Prev | Next | Last page | This article on Thailand is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. 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