Thailand – country information

Country name	Thailand
Official name	Kingdom of Thailand
Capital	Bangkok (Krung Thep)
Continent	Asia
Area	513,115 km2
Population	65,926,261 (2010)
Foundation of a state	1/1/1238
The highest mountains	Doi Inthanon 2595 m
Longest rivers	Chao Phraya (Menam) 865 km, Mekong 4500 km (inland 900 km)
State system	pluralistic constitutional monarchy with a bicameral parliament
The biggest cities	Krung Thep/Bangkok (capital) 6,250,000 (agglomeration 9 million), Nakhon Ratchasima 310,000, Nothaburi 290,000
Official language	Thai
Ethnicity/National Composition	Thai (Siamese) 54%, Lao 27%, Chinese 12%, Malay 3.5%, Khmer 2.5%, others 1%
Religious affiliation	Buddhist 94.5%, Muslim 4%, Christian 0.5%, other 1%
Currency	1 bath = 100 stang
gross domestic product (GDP)	US$9,503 (2012)
Average life expectancy of the population	72.25 years (2006)
Structure of GDP	agriculture, forestry and fishing 11.5%, mining 3.5%, industry 29%, construction 7%, services 49%

Thailand – neighboring countries

State	Capital	Area	Population
Burma (Myanmar)	Naypyidaw	676,578 km2	53,259,000
Cambodia	Phnom Penh	181,035 km2	15,135,000
Laos	Vientiane	236,800 km2	6,580,800
Malaysia	Kuala Lumpur	329,847 km2	30,041,000

Country overview

According to Abbreviationfinder, Thailand, known as Siam until 1939, lies in the heart of the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. Thailand, an independent kingdom for many centuries, maintains strong ties with the West and with neighboring countries.

Country data

Location: Southeast Asia

Time zone: CET + 6 (during summer time: CET + 5)

Total area: 513,120 km²

Land area: 510,890 km²

Water area: 2,230 km²

Length of the state border: 4,863 km

including:
Cambodia: 803 km
Laos: 1,754 km
Malaysia: 506 km
Myanmar: 1,800 km

Coastline: 3,219 km

Capital: Bangkok

Provinces: 77
Amnat Charoen, Ang Thong, Bueng Kan, Buriram, Chachoengsao, Chai Nat, Chaiyaphum, Chanthaburi, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Chon Buri, Chumphon, Kalasin, Kamphaeng Phet, Kanchanaburi, Khon Kaen, Krabi, Krung Thep Mahanakhon (Bangkok), Lampang, Lamphun, Loei, Lop Buri, Mae Hong Son, Maha Sarakham, Mukdahan, Nakhon Nayok, Nakhon Pathom, Nakhon Phanom, Nakhon Ratchasima, Nakhon Sawan, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Nan, Narathiwat, Nong Bua Lamphu, Nong Khai, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, Pattani, Phangnga, Phatthalung, Phayao, Phetchabun, Phetchaburi, Phichit, Phitsanulok, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Phrae, Phuket, Prachin Buri, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Ranong, Ratchaburi, Rayong, Roi Et, Sa Kaeo, Sakon Nakhon, Samut Prakan, Samut Sakhon, Samut Songkhram, Sara Buri, Satun, Sing Buri, Sisaket, Songkhla, Sukhothai, Suphan Buri, Surat Thani, Surin, Tak, Trang, Trat,Ubon Ratchathani, Udon Thani, Uthai Thani, Uttaradit, Yala, Yasothon

Electric current: 220 V / 50 Hz

Telephone code: 00 66 (Source: Allcitycodes)

Highest point: Doi Inthanon 2,576 m

Population

Population: approx. 67.7 million residents (Countryaah, 2021)

Population growth: 0.3% per year

Population density (residents per km²): 132

Life expectancy: 71 (male), 78 (female)

Official language: Thai

Religions:

• 93% Buddhists
• 4% Muslim
• 3% other

Climate

March May:

• very hot during the day (over 35 ° C)
• medium humidity
• hardly any rainfall

May-July:

• Day temperature over 30 ° C
• very high humidity
• almost daily rains

The rest of the year it is a little cooler. The daytime temperatures are around 25 ° C. Rain rarely falls and the humidity drops to a tolerable level.

Currency / finance

Currency unit: Thai Baht (THB)

Classification: 1 Baht = 100 Satang

ATMs: Available everywhere in the larger cities and especially in the tourist centers.

International credit cards: These are accepted by a large number of hotels and shops.

Regulations: National and foreign currencies can be imported and exported in unlimited amounts.

The declaration limit for the local currency is 50,000 baht and for foreign currencies the equivalent of 20,000 US dollars.

Customs regulations

The following may be carried duty-free:

• 200 cigarettes or 250 g of other tobacco products
• 1 liter of alcoholic beverages
• small amounts of perfume

(Information applies to people aged 18 and over)

Tourists and people in transit can bring items of personal use with them duty-free.

Arms and monution may not be imported.

The trafficking and possession of all kinds of drugs is strictly punished. Long prison sentences and the death penalty are also normal for foreigners.

The export of antiques, including Buddha figures or images, is only permitted with the permission of the Fine Arts Department.

Travel advice

Travel to the southern provinces on the border with Malaysia and travel to Preah Vihear (border region Cambodia) and the temple complexes in this area is not recommended.

The situation has normalized again since the 2014 military coup. However, it is recommended to avoid demonstrations and large crowds.

Behavioral advice

When using boats you should pay attention to their safety, as the standards are far below those in Europe.

Economy

The industry has developed very rapidly in recent years. The manufacturing sector in particular exports goods all over the world.

As a tungsten producer, Thailand ranks second in the world and other raw materials are also abundant.

Industries: building materials, computer technology, electronics, agriculture, food production, tobacco growing, textiles, tourism

Natural resources: lead, lignite, natural gas, fish, gypsum, rubber, wood, agricultural land, tantalum, tungsten, tin

Land use:

• Usable land: 34%
• Grain cultivation: 6%
• Pasture area: 2%
• Forests: 26%
• other: 32%

Plants

About a quarter of the country is forested. There are still many valuable tropical woods here. These mainly include ebony, rosewood and teak.

Animals

Most of Thailand’s animals live in the forest areas. Monkeys, elephants, crocodiles, rhinos, water buffalo and some snake species also appear quite frequently.