Thailand (GPS: 15 00 N, 100 00 E) is located in Southeastern Asia, bordering the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand, southeast of Burma. The country’s area measurements are total: 513,120 sq km; land: 510,890 sq km, water: 2,230 sq km. This sovereign state is about three times the size of Florida, slightly more than twice the size of Wyoming. The total irrigated land is 64,150 sq km (2012).
One of the crucial features of Thailand: Controls only land route from Asia to Malaysia and Singapore. Ideas for constructing a canal across the Kra Isthmus that would create a bypass to the Strait of Malacca and shorten shipping times around Asia continue discussed.
It’s significant, and at the same time, the principal city, Bangkok’s GPS coordinates are 13 45 N 100 31 E. Bangkok’s local time is 12 hours ahead of Washington DC during Standard Time. The capital’s time difference: UTC+7.
A unified Thai kingdom was established in the mid-14th century. Known as Siam until 1939, Thailand is the only Southeast Asian country never to colonize by a European power. A bloodless revolution in 1932 led to the establishment of a constitutional monarchy. After the Japanese invaded Thailand in 1941, the government split into a pro-Japan faction and a pro-Ally faction backed by the King. Following the war, Thailand became a US treaty ally in 1954 after sending troops to Korea and later fighting alongside the US in Vietnam. Thailand, since 2005, has experienced several rounds of political turmoil, including a military coup in 2006 that ousted then Prime Minister THAKSIN Chinnawat, followed by large-scale street protests by competing for political factions in 2008, 2009, and 2010.
THAKSIN’s youngest sister, YINGLAK Chinnawat, in 2011, led the Puea Thai Party to an electoral win and assumed control of the government. In early May 2014, after months of large-scale anti-government protests in Bangkok beginning in November 2013, YINGLAK was removed from office by the Constitutional Court. In late May 2014, the Royal Thai Army, led by Royal Thai Army Gen. PRAYUT Chan-Ocha, staged a coup against the caretaker government. PRAYUT was appointed prime minister in August 2014. PRAYUT also serves as the head of the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), a military-affiliated body that oversees the interim government. This body created several provisional institutions to promote reform and draft a new constitution passed in a national referendum in August 2016. In late 2017, PRAYUT announced elections would be held by November 2018; he suggested they occurred in February 2019.
As of mid-December 2018, a previously held ban on campaigning and political activity has lifted, and per parliamentary laws, an election must be held within 150 days. King PHUMIPHON Adunyadet passed away in October 2016 after 70 years on the throne; His only son, WACHIRALONGKON Bodinthrathepphayawarangkun, ascended the throne in December 2016. He signed the new constitution in April 2017. Thailand has also experienced violence associated with the ethnic-nationalist insurgency in its southern Malay-Muslim majority provinces. Since January 2004, thousands have been killed and wounded in the revolution.
Thailand’s names conventional long form: the Kingdom of Thailand, traditional short form: Thailand, local long way: Ratcha Anachak Thai, local transient state: Prathet Thai, former: Siam, etymology: “Land of the Tai [People]”; the meaning of “Tai” is uncertain, but may originally have meant “human beings” or “people.” Land of the Tai [People]”; The meaning of “Tai” is uncertain but may originally have meant “human beings,” “people,” or “free people.
Thailand’s terrain is typically central plain; Khorat Plateau in the east; mountains elsewhere. The country’s mean elevation: 287 m, elevation extremes; lowest point: Gulf of Thailand 0 m, highest point: Doi Inthanon 2,576 m.
The general climate in the country; tropical: rainy, warm, cloudy southwest monsoon (mid-May to September): dry, cold northeast monsoon (November to mid-March): southern isthmus always hot and humid.
The total number of border countries is 4, Burma 2,416 km, Cambodia 817 km, Laos 1,845 km, Malaysia 595 km are the neighboring nations with the indicated border lengths. Thailand’s coastline is 3,219 km, while its marital claims are: territorial sea: 12 nautical miles, exclusive economic zone: 200 nautical miles, continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation. Waterways: 4,000 km (3,701 km navigable by boats with drafts up to 0.9 m) (2011). Land use: agricultural land: 41.2%; arable land 30.8%; permanent crops 8.8%; permanent pasture 1.6%; forest: 37.2%; other: 21.6% (2011 estimate).
The population in Thailand 68,615,858 (July 2018 estimate), urban population: 50.4% of total population (2015), major urban area’s population: BANGKOK (capital) 9.27 million; Samut Prakan 1.814 million (2015), while Thailand has N/A. Their spoken languages are Thai (official language) 90.7%, Burmese 1.3%, other 8%. Note: English is a secondary language of the elite (2010 estimate). Main religions in Thailand are Buddhist (official) 93.6%, Muslim 4.9%, Christian 1.2%, other 0.2%, none 0.1% (2010 estimate). The nation uses civil law system with common law influences. It is a(n) constitutional monarchy; note – interim military-affiliated government since May 2014, National holiday(s) Birthday of King PHUMIPHON (BHUMIBOL), 5 December (1927).
Economic overview for the country: With a relatively well-developed infrastructure, a free-enterprise economy, and generally pro-investment policies, Thailand is highly dependent on international trade, with exports accounting for about two-thirds of GDP. Thailand’s exports include electronics, agricultural commodities, automobiles and parts, and processed foods. The industry and service sectors produce about 90% of GDP.
The agricultural sector, comprised mostly of small-scale farms, contributes only 10% of GDP but employs about one-third of the labor force. Thailand has attracted an estimated 3.0-4.5 million migrant workers, mostly from neighboring countries. Over the last few decades, Thailand has reduced poverty substantially. In 2013, the Thai Government implemented a nationwide 300 baht (roughly $10) per day minimum wage policy and deployed new tax reforms designed to lower rates on middle-income earners. Thailand’s economy is recovering from slow growth during the years since the 2014 coup.
Thailand’s economic fundamentals are sound, with low inflation, low unemployment, and reasonable public and external debt levels. Tourism and government spending – mostly on infrastructure and short-term stimulus measures – Have helped to boost the economy, and The Bank of Thailand has been supportive, with several interest rate reductions. Over the longer-term, household debt levels, political uncertainty, and an aging population pose risks to growth.
Main export partners for Thailand, Southeast Asia are the US 11.2%, China 11.1%, Japan 9.4%, Hong Kong 5.5%, Malaysia 4.8%, Australia 4.6%, Vietnam 4.2%, Singapore 4.1% (2015) for automobiles and parts, computer and parts, jewelry and precious stones, polymers of ethylene in primary forms, refine fuels, electronic integrated circuits, chemical products, rice, fish products, rubber products, sugar, cassava, poultry, machinery, and pa, while the main import partners for the country are: China 20.3%, Japan 15.4%, US 6.9%, Malaysia 5.9%, UAE 4% (2015) for machinery and parts, crude oil, electrical machinery and parts, chemicals, iron & steel, and product, electronic integrated circuit, automobile’s parts, jewelry including silver bars and gold, computers, and parts, electrical household appliances, soybean,
When you visit this country in Southeast Asia, consider the natural hazards in Thailand: Land subsidence in Bangkok area resulting from the depletion of the water table, droughts, while infectious diseases are the degree of risk: very high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea vectorborne diseases: dengue fever, Japanese encephalitis, and malaria (2016).
Also, note that Thailand faces the following environmental issues: Air pollution from vehicle emissions, water pollution from organic and factory wastes, water scarcity, Deforestation, Soil erosion, wildlife populations threatened by illegal hunting, Hazardous waste disposal.
You may also be interested in the countries next to Thailand around its total: 5,673 km border, like Burma, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia.
