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Thailand

Thailand (/ˈtaɪlænd/ TY-land or /ˈtaɪlənd/ TY-lənd;[9] Thai: ประเทศไทย, RTGS: Prathet Thai), officially the Kingdom of Thailand (Thai: ราชอาณาจักรไทย, RTGS: Ratcha Anachak Thai; IPA: [râːt.tɕʰā ʔāːnāːtɕàk tʰāj] ( listen)), is a country in Southeast Asia. Its neighbours are Laos, Cambodia, Malaysia, and Myanmar. Its name was Siam until June 1939[10] and between 1945 and May 11 1949. The word Thai (ไทย) comes from the ethnic group in the center of Thailand.

Kingdom of Thailand
  • ราชอาณาจักรไทย (Thai)
  • Ratcha-anachak Thai
  • ประเทศไทย (Thai)
  • Prathet Thai
Flag of Thailand
Anthem: 
Royal anthem: Sansoen Phra Barami
(English: "Glorify His prestige")
Location of  Thailand  (green) in ASEAN  (dark grey)  —  [Legend]
Location of  Thailand  (green)

in ASEAN  (dark grey)  —  [Legend]

Capital
and largest city
Bangkok (Thai: Krung Thep)1
13°45′N 100°29′E / 13.750°N 100.483°E / 13.750; 100.483
Official languagesThai[1]
Central Thai, Isan, Lanna (Northern Thai), Dambro (Southern Thai), Karen, Pattani Malay, Bangkok Malay, Teochew, Hokkien
Thai alphabet
Ethnic groups
(2009[1][2])
Thai (75%)

 • Northeastern Thai (Isan) (34.2%)
 • Central Thai (33.7%)
 • Southern Thai (13.3%)
Chinese (14%)
Khmer (4%)
Malay (4%)
Tamil (3%)

Other (1%)
Demonym(s)Thai
GovernmentUnitary parliamentary democracy and constitutional monarchy
• Monarch
Maha Vajiralongkorn
Paetongtarn Shinawatra[3]
LegislatureNational Assembly
• Upper house
Senate
• Lower house
House of Representatives
Formation
1238–1448
1351–1767
1768–1782
6 April 1782
24 June 1932
24 August 2007
Area
• Total
Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1850: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). (51st)
• Water (%)
0.4 (2,230 km2)
Population
• 2011 estimate
66,720,1532[4] (20th)
• 2010 census
65,479,453[5]
• Density
Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1850: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). (88th)
GDP (PPP)2011 estimate
• Total
$616.783 billion[6] (24th)
• Per capita
$9,598[6] (84th)
GDP (nominal)2011 estimate
• Total
$332.47 billion[6] (30th)
• Per capita
$5,174[6] (89th)
Gini (2009)42.5[7]
medium
HDI (2011)Increase 0.682[8]
medium · 103rd
CurrencyBaht (฿) (THB)
Time zoneUTC+7
Driving sideleft
Calling code+66
ISO 3166 codeTH
Internet TLD.th, .ไทย
  1. ^ Thai name: กรุงเทพมหานคร Krung Thep Maha Nakhon or Krung Thep. The full name is กรุงเทพมหานคร อมรรัตนโกสินทร์ มหินทรายุทธยา มหาดิลกภพ นพรัตนราชธานีบุรีรมย์ อุดมราชนิเวศน์มหาสถาน อมรพิมานอวตารสถิต สักกะทัตติยะวิษณุกรรมประสิทธิ์ Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahinthara Yuthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom Udomratchaniwet Mahasathan Amon Phiman Awatan Sathit Sakkathattiya Witsanukam Prasit.
  2. ^ According to the Department of Provincial Administration's official register, not taking into account unregistered citizens and immigrants.

Thailand is a constitutional monarchy. It has a King as a head of state, who is Vajiralongkorn at the moment.

Most people here (95 percent) follow the philosophy called Buddhism. Smaller number of people (4.4%), mostly to the south, follow Islam. Other religions in Thailand are Christianity, Hinduism, and Sikhism.

Population: the total fertility rate was 1.3 (in 2019).[11]

The prime minister is Paetongtarn Shinawatra (since August 2024).[3]

History

A Buddhist kingdom named Sukhothai was founded here in 1238.

A century later, a bigger kingdom named Ayuthaya appeared south of Sukhothai. Later Sukhothai became a part of Ayuthaya. Ayuthaya existed for more than 400 years before its fall by the attack of a Burmese kingdom.

A soldier of Chinese origin then founded a new capital city at Thonburi, and became King Tāksin.

The current era, Rattanakosin, started on founding Bangkok as the capital city by King Rama I of Chakri Dynasty.

Before 1932, Thailand was an absolute monarchy. On June 24, 1932, a group of people did a coup and changed Thailand to a constitutional monarchy. It was not until 1973 that Thai people voted for a Prime Minister in an election. There were coups both before and after this year.

In 1951, there was a failed coup - the Manhattan Rebellion.[12] On September 19, 2006, the army did a coup d'état and took control from Thaksin Shinawatra's government.

In May 2014, a new military coup d'état removed another government.

In October 2016, Rama X become the new king.

Between 1932 and 2014, Thailand had 12 coup d'etats.

Provinces

Thailand is made up of 76 provinces (จังหวัด, changwat), put into 5 groups. There are 2 specially governed districts: the capital Bangkok and Pattaya. The 76 provinces including Bangkok are as follows:

 
Thailand provinces
 
Map of Thailand

Central

  1. Ang Thong
  2. Bangkok (Krung Thep Maha Nakhon), Special Governed District of
  3. Chai Nat
  4. Kanchanaburi
  5. Lopburi
  6. Nakhon Nayok
  7. Nakhon Pathom
  8. Nonthaburi
  9. Pathum Thani
  10. Phetchaburi
  11. Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya
  12. Prachuap Khiri Khan
  13. Ratchaburi
  14. Samut Prakan
  15. Samut Sakhon
  16. Samut Songkhram
  17. Saraburi
  18. Sing Buri
  19. Suphan Buri

East

  1. Chachoengsao
  2. Chanthaburi
  3. Chonburi
  4. Prachinburi
  5. Rayong
  6. Sa Kaeo
  7. Trat

North

  1. Chiang Mai
  2. Chiang Rai
  3. Kamphaeng Phet
  4. Lampang
  5. Lamphun
  6. Mae Hong Son
  7. Nakhon Sawan
  8. Nan
  9. Phayao
  10. Phetchabun
  11. Phichit
  12. Phitsanulok
  13. Phrae
  14. Sukhothai
  15. Tak
  16. Uthai Thani
  17. Uttaradit
 
Wat Phra Sing, Chiang Mai Province

Northeast (Isan)

  1. Amnat Charoen
  2. Bueng Kan
  3. Buri Ram
  4. Chaiyaphum
  5. Kalasin
  6. Khon Kaen
  7. Loei
  8. Maha Sarakham
  9. Mukdahan
  10. Nakhon Phanom
  11. Nakhon Ratchasima
  12. Nong Bua Lamphu
  13. Nong Khai
  14. Roi Et
  15. Sakon Nakhon
  16. Si Sa Ket
  17. Surin
  18. Ubon Ratchathani
  19. Udon Thani
  20. Yasothon

South

  1. Chumphon
  2. Krabi
  3. Nakhon Si Thammarat
  4. Narathiwat
  5. Pattani
  6. Phang Nga
  7. Phatthalung
  8. Phuket
  9. Ranong
  10. Satun
  11. Songkhla
  12. Surat Thani
  13. Trang
  14. Yala

NOTE: In italics [1], that province is about the Greater Bangkok sub-region; in italics [2], that province is about the West sub-region.

Economy

The economy of Thailand "is based on trade and investment in the agricultural and tourism sectors, according to media.[13] In 2022, the country with investors that invested the most in Thailand, was Japan; Chinese investors had the second place.[13]

Industry had a contribution to the GDP, of 43.9 percent (in 2007), and 14 percent of the workforce are in that sector (of the economy). Within that sector, manufacturing was the biggest part, and it had a contribution (to the GDP), with 34.5 (in 2004).

In 2014, Credit Suisse reported that Thailand was the world's third most unequal country, behind Russia and India.[14] The top 10% richest held 79% of the country's assets.[14] The top 1% held 58% of the assets.[14]

Government

New members of the Cabinet of Thailand got approval from the king (September 2024).[15]

The Cabinet of Thailand includes

Armed conflict in the provinces Narathiwat, Pattani, and Yala

The South Thailand armed rebellion has its origins from 1948;[19] It started as an ethnic and religious separatist armed rebellion in Patani (historical region); Many Malay people live there; That region is made up of the three southernmost provinces of Thailand and parts of a fourth province (Songkhla); The conflict has become more complex and more violent since the early 2000s; Drug cartels,[20][21] oil smuggling networks,[22][23] and some pirate raids have much to do with the violence.[24][25]

57 people died (year 2023), in the conflict.[26]

Other information

About the law becoming more strict about drug use: In October 2024, the government said that it will make a [law or] "regulation to tighten control of the production, import, export, sale and possession of cannabis and hemp extracts".[27] Earlier (September 2024), media said that the country's lawmakers were going to vote about a new law about use of cannabis; The law proposal says that "anyone who [... uses] cannabis or its extracts for uses not specified in the bill will face a fine of up to 60,000 baht"; Furthermore, the law proposal is also about putting limits on " marijuana uses to primarily health and medical purposes".[28][29][30]

ThailandHistory Media

  • The national anthem of Thailand performed by the United States Navy Band.*

  • Orthographic map of Thailand.

  • SPPM Mongkut Rex Siamensium, King Mongkut's signature

  • Map showing geographic distribution of Kra–Dai linguistic family. Arrows represent general pattern of the migration of Tai-speaking tribes along the rivers and over the lower passes.:27

  • Lan Na kingdom during the reign of Tilokaraj (r. 1441–1487)

  • Mon political entities around the 6th-7th centuries

  • Spread of Dvaravati culture in early Thailand, own creation based on "BlankMap_Thailand.png".

  • Taksin the Great enthroned himself as a Thai king in 1767.

References

Footnotes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Thailand" Archived 10 June 2021 at the Wayback Machine, The World Factbook.
  2. ↑ West, Barbara A. (2009), Encyclopedia of the Peoples of Asia and Oceania, Facts on File, p. 794
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/politics/2848292/paetongtarn-shinawatra-elected-thailands-31st-prime-minister. Retrieved 2024-08-16
  4. ↑ (PDF). 16 July 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110716001724/http://203.113.86.149/stat/pk/pk53/pk_53.pdf. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-16. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  5. ↑ National Statistics Office. "100th anniversary of population censuses in Thailand: Population and housing census 2010: 11th census of Thailand" (in Thai), online accessible at: [1] Archived 2012-07-12 at the Wayback Machine, retrieved on 30 January 2012.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 "Report for Thailand". World Economic Outlook Database. International Monetary Fund. Retrieved 25 July 2011.
  7. ↑ "Human Development Report". UNDP. 2009. Archived from the original on 16 January 2013. Retrieved 27 October 2011.
  8. ↑ "Human Development Report 2011 – Human development statistical annex" (PDF). HDRO (Human Development Report Office) United Nations Development Programme. pp. 127–130. Retrieved 2 November 2011.
  9. ↑ "Merriam-Webster Online". Merriam-webster.com. 25 April 2007. Retrieved 25 April 2010.
  10. ↑ Thailand (Siam) History, CSMngt-Thai.
  11. ↑ https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2264075/low-birth-rate-worries-experts. Retrieved 15 Februar 2022
  12. ↑ Limited, Bangkok Post Public Company. Shifting Thai alliances in the 21st century. https://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/opinion/1290939/shifting-thai-alliances-in-the-21st-century. 
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/2599545/horns-of-a-dilemma. Bangkok Post. Retrieved 2023-06-26
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 พงศ์พิพัฒน์ บัญชานนท์ (18 June 2017). (in th)BBC Thailand. http://www.bbc.com/thai/thailand-40317663. Retrieved 25 April 2018. 
  15. ↑ https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/politics/2859376/king-endorses-new-cabinet. Retrieved 2024-09-04
  16. ↑ https://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/opinion/2872893/thai-foreign-policy-needs-new-rudder?tbref=hp. Retrieved 2024-09-27
  17. ↑ https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/politics/2859701/minister-faces-probe-regarding-state-land. Retrieved 2024-09-05
  18. ↑ https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/politics/2862031/thamanat-chaperones-new-minister-on-flood-inspection. Retrieved 2024-09-09
  19. ↑ "Thailand/Malay Muslims (1948–present)". University of Central Arkansas. Archived from the original on 30 September 2015. Retrieved 30 August 2015.
  20. ↑ "ยาเสพติด : ปัญหาภัยแทรกซ้อนในจังหวัดชายแดนภาคใต้" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 December 2020. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
  21. ↑ "ยิ่งจับยิ่งเยอะ รวบแก๊งค้ายาบ้าจังหวัดชายแดนใต้ พร้อมของกลางกว่า 7 แสนเม็ด". 29 November 2018.
  22. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named น้ำมันเถื่อน.
  23. ↑ "ผ่าเครือข่ายน้ำมันเถื่อนใต้ ผลประโยชน์หมื่นล้าน". bangkokbiznews.com/. 8 August 2014.
  24. ↑ "แกะรอยเส้นทาง'เสี่ยโจ้'คนโตชายแดนใต้?". bangkokbiznews.com/. 20 June 2014.
  25. ↑ "จับ8โจรสลัดปล้นเรืออินโดฯรุกน่านน้ำไทย". posttoday.com. Archived from the original on 28 June 2021. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
  26. ↑ "Conflict Index 2024". Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED). Archived from the original on 29 November 2020. Retrieved 1 March 2020.
  27. ↑ https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2880868/cannabis-controls-to-be-tightened. Retrieved 2024-10-10
  28. ↑ https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2869153/thailand-unveils-new-bill-to-regulate-cannabis-while-keeping-it-legal. Retrieved 2024-09-20
  29. ↑ https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2823881/cannabis-set-to-return-to-illegal-drugs-list-after-vote. Bangkok Post. Retrieved 2024-07-06
  30. ↑ https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2834332/thailand-signals-another-u-turn-on-cannabis. Retrieved 2024-07-23

Further reading

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