OFFICIAL NAME: CAPITAL: GOVERNMENT: SURFACE AREA: POPULATION:

Kingdom of Thailand Bangkok Constitutional monarchy 513,115 sq km (similar to that of France) 62,860,300 (in 2000)

INTRODUCTION
Thailand, between modernism and tradition, has got a very ancient culture of multiple facets. A friendly and hospitable population, magnificent landscapes, from rice fields to the green high mountains of the North, endless dream beaches, in brief, a very appreciated destination which will know how to enchant you.

Known under the name of "Siam" until 1939, and again between 1945 and 1949, on May 11th, 1949, it was established by official proclamation that the country would be called from now on "Thailand". Word "Thai" means "Free" and consequently "Thailand" means "Land of the Free People".

We present you below, in a few lines, the various aspects of this amazing country.


GEOGRAPHY
Situated in the heart of the continental zone of Southeast Asia, Thailand is surrounded by Laos, Cambodia and Gulf of Thailand (South China Sea) on its east side, Myanmar and Andaman Sea (Indian Ocean) on the West and Malaysia in the South.
Thailand stretches itself out over 2500 kilometres from the most of the North to the South and 1250 kilometres from East to West and includes a coast about 1840 kilometres along the Gulf of Thailand and 865 kilometres along Andaman Sea.

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TOPOGRAPHY
Thailand comprises four natural regions:

• The North, mountainous region of natural forests, crests and deep, narrow and alluvial valleys. The main city of the region is Chiang Mai.
  
  
• The central plain, the basin of the river Chao Phraya, is a luxuriant and fertile valley. It is the richest area and that where the rice is produced in the most extensive way in all the country and which was often called the "Rice Bowl of Asia". The capital of the country (Bangkok) is situated in this region.
  
  
• The Northeast or Khorat's plateau, is dry, distinguished by a hilly landscape and wave-like hills. This region undergoes often rough climatic conditions, by the frequency of floods and aridities.
  
  
• The South or the Southern peninsula, goes from rough terrain to mountain and comprises thick primeval forests and rich of minerals and ores layers. This region is the production centre of the rubber and the other tropical species culture.
  
  

CLIMATE
Thailand is a tropical warm and relatively humid country. The climate includes a monsoon and is characterized by heavy rainy season, nearly from May till September, then by a relatively dry season the rest of the year.
Temperature is the warmest in March and in April and the lowest in December and in January. Average temperature is of 28 degrees °C.

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GOVERNMENT
Thailand is governed by a constitutional monarchy of a parliamentary type government. The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, BMA, is administered by an elected governor and is divided into 38 districts. The country is divided into 76 provinces, each administered by an appointed governor. Provinces are divided into districts, into sub-districts, in "tambols" (groups of villages) and in villages.


DEMOGRAPHY
The Thai population amounted to 62,860,300 of inhabitants in the year 2000, about 30 % of which of less than 15 years of age. The growth rate is approximately of 1,2 to 1,4 % a year. The population might reach 70 million inhabitants in year 2010. The working population is of 32 million people, the majority of which are less than 30 years old. Minimum wage in Thailand is at present 162 baht a day (3,70 US$) in Bangkok and between 130 and 140 baht in the provinces.

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RELIGION
Theravada Buddhism is the national religion practised by 95 % of the population. The rest of the population practises Islam, Christianity, Hinduism or other faiths. There is an absolute freedom of worship.


FLAG
The Thai national flag, hoisted with ceremony every morning at 8 am and lowered at 6 pm in every city and village, consists of five red, white and blue horizontal stripes. The red stripes, outside, represent the nation, the white stripes evoke religion. The blue stripe, which occupies the central third of the total surface, symbolizes monarchy.
The harmony of the design expresses the complementary nature of these three pillars of the Thai nation. The tricolour flag was introduced by King Vajiravudh (Rama VI) in 1917, replacing a previous design representing a white elephant on a red background.

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Source "Board of Investment, Thailand" about figures.


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