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Coordinates: 15.4N 101.3E
Kingdom of Thailand
??????????????
Ratcha-anachak Thai
Flag
Emblem
Anthem: Phleng Chat Thai
(English: "Thai National Anthem")
Royal anthem: Sansoen Phra Barami
(English: "Glorify His prestige")
Location of Thailand (green)in ASEAN (dark grey)
Location of Thailand (green)

[Legend]

in ASEAN (dark grey)

[Legend]
Capital
and largest city
Bangkok
1345?N 10029?E
Official languages
Thai[1]
Ethnic groups (2009;[6] 2011[3]:95-99)
34.1% Central Thai, 24.9% Thai Lao,[2] 9.9% Khon Muang or 'Northern Thai', a
nd 7.5% Southern Thai[3]:95-99 [4][5]
14% Thai Chinese
12% Others (incl. Malay, Mon, Khmer, "Hill tribes")
Demonym
Thai
Siamese (archaic)
Government
Unitary parliamentary constitutional monarchy (de jure)
Military junta (de facto)
Monarch
Maha Vajiralongkorn
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha
Legislature
National Legislative Assembly
Formation
Sukhothai Kingdom
1238 1448
Ayutthaya Kingdom
1351 1767
Thonburi Kingdom
1768 1782
Rattanakosin Kingdom
6 April 1782
Constitutional monarchy
24 June 1932
Current constitution
22 May 2014[7]
Area
Total 513,120 km2 (51st)
198,115 sq mi
Water (%)
0.4 (2,230 km2)
Population
2015 estimate 67,959,000[8] (20th)
2010 census
64,785,909[9]

Density
132.1/km2 (88th)
342/sq mi
GDP (PPP)
2016 estimate
Total US$1.152 trillion[10]
Per capita
US$16,706[10]
GDP (nominal) 2016 estimate
Total US$409.724 billion[10]
Per capita
US$5,938[10]
Gini (2010)
39.4[11]
medium
HDI (2014)
Increase 0.726[12]
high 93rd
Currency
Baht (?) (THB)
Time zone
ICT (UTC+7)
Drives on the left
Calling code
+66
ISO 3166 code TH
Internet TLD
.th
.???
You may need rendering support to display the Thai text in this article
correctly.
Thailand (/?ta?lnd/ TY-land or /?ta?l?nd/ TY-l?nd;[13] Thai: ?????????, rtgs: Pra
thet Thai, pronounced [pra.t??t t?aj] ( listen)), officially the Kingdom of Thail
and (Thai: ??????????????, rtgs: Ratcha-anachak Thai [r?t.t???a.?a?.na?.t??k t?aj
] ( listen)), formerly known as Siam (Thai: ????, rtgs: Sayam [sa.j??m]), is a
country at the centre of the Indochinese peninsula in Southeast Asia. With a tot
al area of approximately 513,000 km2 (198,000 sq mi), Thailand is the world's 51
st-largest country. It is the 20th-most-populous country in the world, with arou
nd 66 million people. The capital and largest city is Bangkok.
Thailand is a constitutional monarchy and has switched between parliamentary dem
ocracy and military junta for decades, the latest coup being in May 2014 by the
National Council for Peace and Order. Its capital and most populous city is Bang
kok. It is bordered to the north by Myanmar and Laos, to the east by Laos and Ca
mbodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the west by th
e Andaman Sea and the southern extremity of Myanmar. Its maritime boundaries inc
lude Vietnam in the Gulf of Thailand to the southeast, and Indonesia and India o
n the Andaman Sea to the southwest.
The Thai economy is the world's 20th largest by nominal GDP and the 27th largest
by GDP at PPP. It became a newly industrialised country and a major exporter in
the 1990s. Manufacturing, agriculture, and tourism are leading sectors of the e
conomy.[14][15] It is considered a middle power in the region and around the wor
ld.[16]
Contents
1 Etymology
1.1 Etymology of "Siam"
1.2 Etymology of "Thailand"
2 History
2.1 20th century
2.2 World War II
3 Politics and government
3.1 Constitutional history
3.2 28 June 1932

3.3
3.4
3.5
3.6

1932 to 1973
1973 to 1997
1997 to 2001
2001 to 2008
3.6.1 2006 coup d'tat
3.7 2008 2010 political crisis
3.8 2013 2014 political crisis
3.9 2014 coup d'tat
3.10 2014 to present
4 Administrative divisions
4.1 Southern region
5 Foreign relations
6 Armed forces
7 Geography
7.1 Climate
7.2 Wildlife
8 Education
9 Science and technology
9.1 Internet
10 Economy
10.1 Recent economic history
10.2 Exports and manufacturing
10.3 Tourism
10.4 Agriculture
10.5 Energy
10.6 Transportation
11 Demographics
11.1 Ethnic groups
11.2 Population centres
11.3 Language
11.4 Religion
12 Culture
12.1 Cuisine
12.2 Media
12.3 Units of measurement
13 Sports
13.1 Sporting venues
14 Sport events
14.1 Multi-sport event
14.2 International sports federations events
15 Beauty pageants
15.1 Women's pageants
16 International rankings
17 See also
18 References
18.1 Bibliography
19 External links
Etymology
Etymology of "Siam"
The country has always been called Mueang Thai by its citizens.[citation needed]
By others[who?], it is known by the exonym Siam (Thai: ???? rtgs: Sayam, pronou
nced [sj??m], also spelled Siem, Sym, or Syma).[citation needed] The word Siam has
been identified[by whom?] with the Sanskrit ?y?ma (?????, meaning "dark" or "bro
wn"). The names Shan and A-hom seem to be variants of the same word. The word ?ym
a is possibly not its origin, but a learned and artificial distortion[clarificat
ion needed].[17]
SPPM Mongkut Rex Siamensium, King Mongkut's signature

The signature of King Mongkut (r. 1851

1868) reads SPPM (Somdet Phra Poramenthra
Maha) Mongkut King of the Siamese, giving the name "Siam" official status until
24 June 1939 when it was changed to Thailand.[18] Thailand was renamed Siam fro
m 1945 to 11 May 1949, after which it again reverted to Thailand.
Etymology of "Thailand"
According to George C ds, the word Thai (???) means "free man" in the Thai language
, "differentiating the Thai from the natives encompassed in Thai society as serf
s."[19] A famous Thai scholar argued that Thai (??) simply means "people" or "hu
man being", since his investigation shows that in some rural areas the word "Tha
i" was used instead of the usual Thai word "khon" (??) for people.[20]
While Thai people will often refer to their country using the polite form prathe
t Thai (Thai: ?????????), they most commonly use the more colloquial term mueang
Thai (Thai: ????????) or simply Thai, the word mueang, archaically a city-state
, commonly used to refer to a city or town as the centre of a region. Ratcha Ana
chak Thai (Thai: ??????????????) means "kingdom of Thailand" or "kingdom of Thai
". Etymologically, its components are: ratcha (Sanskrit raja "king, royal, realm
") ; -ana- (Pali ??? "authority, command, power", itself from an Old Indo-Aryan
form ?j? of the same meaning) -chak (from Sanskrit ???? cakra- "wheel", a symbol
of power and rule). The Thai National Anthem (Thai: ????????), written by Luang
Saranupraphan during the extremely patriotic 1930s, refers to the Thai nation as
: prathet Thai (Thai: ?????????). The first line of the national anthem is: prat
het thai ruam lueat nuea chat chuea thai (Thai: ????????????????????????????????
??), "Thailand is the unity of Thai flesh and blood."
History
Main article: History of Thailand
There is evidence of human habitation in Thailand that has been dated at 40,000
years before the present, with stone artifacts dated to this period at Tham Lod
Rockshelter in Mae Hong Son. Similar to other regions in Southeast Asia, Thailan
d was heavily influenced by the culture and religions of India, starting with th
e Kingdom of Funan around the 1st century CE to the Khmer Empire.[21] Thailand i
n its earliest days was under the rule of the Khmer Empire, which had strong Hin
du roots, and the influence among Thais remains even today.
The ruins of Wat Chaiwatthanaram at Ayutthaya.
Indian influence on Thai culture was partly the result of direct contact with In
dian settlers, but mainly it was brought about indirectly via the Indianized kin
gdoms of Dvaravati, Srivijaya, and Cambodia.[22] E.A. Voretzsch believes that Bu
ddhism must have been flowing into Siam from India in the time of the Indian Emp
eror Ashoka of the Maurya Empire and far on into the first millennium after Chri
st.[22] Later Thailand was influenced by the south Indian Pallava dynasty and no
rth Indian Gupta Empire.[22]
According to George C ds, "The Thai first enter history of Farther India in the ele
venth century with the mention of Syam slaves or prisoners of war in" Champa epi
graphy, and "in the twelfth century, the bas-reliefs of Angkor Wat" where "a gro
up of warriors" are described as Syam. Additionally, "the Mongols, after the sei
zure of Ta-li on January 7, 1253 and the pacification of Yunnan in 1257, did not
look with disfavor on the creation of a series of Thai principalities at the ex
pense of the old Indianized kingdoms." The Menam Basin was originally populated
by the Mons, and the location of Dvaravati in the 7th century, followed by the K
hmer Empire in the 11th. The History of the Yuan mentions an embassy from the ki
ngdom of Sukhothai in 1282. In 1287, three Thai chiefs, Mangrai, Ngam Muang, and
Ram Khamhaeng formed a "strong pact of friendship".[23]
After the fall of the Khmer Empire in the 13th century, various states thrived t
here, established by the various Tai peoples, Mons, Khmers, Chams and Ethnic Mal
ays, as seen through the numerous archaeological sites and artefacts that are sc

attered throughout the Siamese landscape. Prior to the 12th century however, the
first Thai or Siamese state is traditionally considered to be the Buddhist Sukh
othai Kingdom, which was founded in 1238.
Following the decline and fall of the Khmer empire in the 13th 15th century, the B
uddhist Tai kingdoms of Sukhothai, Lanna, and Lan Xang (now Laos) were on the ri
se. However, a century later, the power of Sukhothai was overshadowed by the new
Kingdom of Ayutthaya, established in the mid-14th-century in the lower Chao Phr
aya River or Menam area.
Stupas, Ayutthaya Historical Park.
Ayutthaya's expansion centred along the Menam while in the northern valleys the
Lanna Kingdom and other small Tai city-states ruled the area. In 1431, the Khmer
abandoned Angkor after Ayutthaya forces invaded the city.[24] Thailand retained
a tradition of trade with its neighbouring states, from China to India, Persia,
and Arab lands. Ayutthaya became one of the most vibrant trading centres in Asi
a. European traders arrived in the early 16th century, beginning with the envoy
of Portuguese duke Afonso de Albuquerque in 1511, followed by the French, Dutch,
and English. The Burmese Siamese War (1765 1767) left Ayutthaya burned and sacked b
y King Hsinbyushin Konbaung.
After the fall of Ayutthaya in 1767 to the Burmese, Taksin moved the capital to
Thonburi for approximately 15 years. The current Rattanakosin era of Thai histor
y began in 1782 following the establishment of Bangkok as capital of the Chakri
dynasty under King Rama I the Great. According to the Encyclopdia Britannica, "A
quarter to a third of the population of some areas of Thailand and Burma were sl
aves in the 17th through the 19th centuries."[25][26]
Despite European pressure, Thailand is the only Southeast Asian nation to never
have been colonised.[27] This has been ascribed to the long succession of able r
ulers in the past four centuries who exploited the rivalry and tension between F
rench Indochina and the British Empire. As a result, the country remained a buff
er state between parts of Southeast Asia that were colonised by the two colonial
powers, Great Britain and France. Western influence nevertheless led to many re
forms in the 19th century and major concessions, most notably the loss of a larg
e territory on the east side of the Mekong to the French and the step-by-step ab
sorption by Britain of the Shan and Karen people areas and Malay Peninsula.
20th century
Territorial losses to western powers by year
As part of the concessions which the Chakri dynasty offered to the British Empir
e in return for their support, Siam ceded four predominantly ethnic-Malay southe
rn provinces to the British Empire in the Anglo-Siamese Treaty of 1909. These fo
ur provinces (Kelantan,Tringganu, Kedah, Perlis) would later became Malaysia's f
our northern states.
In 1917, Siam joined the Allies of World War I and is counted as one of the vict
ors of World War I.
In 1932, a bloodless revolution carried out by the Khana Ratsadon group of milit
ary and civilian officials resulted in a transition of power, when King Prajadhi
pok was forced to grant the people of Siam their first constitution, thereby end
ing centuries of absolute monarchy.
In 1939, the name of the kingdom, "Siam", was changed to "Thailand".
World War II
Main article: Thailand in World War II
During World War II, the Empire of Japan demanded the right to move troops acros
s Thailand to the Malayan frontier. The Japanese invasion of Thailand on 8 Decem

ber 1941 occurred in co-ordination with attacks throughout Asia and engaged the
Royal Thai Army for six to eight hours before Plaek Phibunsongkhram ordered an a
rmistice. Shortly thereafter, Japan was granted free passage, and on 21 December
1941, Thailand and Japan signed a military alliance with a secret protocol, whe
rein Tokyo agreed to help Thailand regain territories lost to the British and Fr
ench.[28]
Subsequently, Thailand declared war on the United States and the United Kingdom
on 25 January 1942, and undertook to "assist" Japan in its war against the Allie
s, while at the same time maintaining an active anti-Japanese Free Thai Movement
. Approximately 200,000 Asian labourers (mainly romusha) and 60,000 Allied priso
ners of war (POWs) worked on the Burma Railway, which is commonly known as the "
Death Railway".[28]
After the war, Thailand emerged as an ally of the United States. As with many of
the developing nations during the Cold War, Thailand then went through decades
of political instability characterised by a number of coups d'tat, as one militar
y regime replaced another, but eventually progressed towards a stable, prosperou
s democracy in the 1980s.[citation needed]
Pottery discovered near Ban Chiang in Udon Thani Province, the earliest dati
ng to 2100 BCE.
Phimai, Prasat Phimai is the largest temple in the country from the Khmer Em
pire.
The immense 19-metre-high (62-foot) gilded statue of a seated Buddha in Wat
Phanan Choeng, the latter from 1324, pre-dates the founding of the city of Ayutt
haya
A 15 metres (49 feet) Buddha image in Sukhothai, Phra Achana, built in the 1
3th century
Painting of Ayutthaya, ordered by the Dutch East India Company, 1665.
Kosa Pan present King Narai's letter to Louis XIV at Versailles, 1 September
1686.
Politics and government
Main articles: Politics of Thailand, Constitutions of Thailand, Law of Thailand,
and Government of Thailand
The politics of Thailand is currently conducted within the framework of a consti
tutional monarchy, whereby the Prime Minister is the head of government and a he
reditary monarch is head of state. The judiciary is supposed to be independent o
f the executive and the legislative branches, although judicial rulings are susp
ected of being based on political considerations rather than on existing law.[29
]
Constitutional history
Bangkok's Democracy Monument: a representation of the 1932 Constitution sits on
top of two golden offering bowls above a turret.
Since the political reform of the absolute monarchy in 1932, Thailand has had 19
constitutions and charters.[30][31] Throughout this time, the form of governmen
t has ranged from military dictatorship to electoral democracy, but all governme
nts have acknowledged a hereditary monarch as the head of state.[32][33]
28 June 1932
Prior to 1932, the Kingdom of Siam did not possess a legislature, as all legisla
tive powers were vested in the person of the monarch. This had been the case sin

ce the foundation of the Sukhothai Kingdom in the 12th century as the king was s
een as a "Dharmaraja" or "king who rules in accordance with Dharma", (the Buddhi
st law of righteousness). However, on 24 June 1932 a group of civilians and mili
tary officers, calling themselves the Khana Ratsadon (or People's Party) carried
out a bloodless revolution in which the 150 years of absolute rule of the Chakr
i Dynasty ended. In its stead the group advocated a constitutional form of monar
chy with an elected legislature.
The "Draft Constitution" of 1932 signed by King Prajadhipok created Thailand's f
irst legislature, a People's Assembly with 70 appointed members. The assembly me
t for the first time on 28 June 1932, in the Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall. The Kh
ana Ratsadon decided that the people were not yet ready for an elected assembly.
They later changed their minds. By the time the "permanent" constitution came i
nto force in December of that year, elections were scheduled for 15 November 193
3. The new constitution changed the composition of the assembly to 78 directly e
lected and 78 appointed (by the Khana Ratsadon), together totalling 156 members.
1932 to 1973
[icon] This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (November 20
13)
See also: History of Thailand (1932 1973) and History of Thailand since 1973
The history of Thailand from 1932 to 1973 was dominated by military dictatorship
s which were in power for much of the period. The main personalities of the peri
od were the dictator Luang Phibunsongkhram (better known as Phibun), who allied
the country with Japan during the Second World War, and the civilian politician
Pridi Phanomyong, who founded Thammasat University and was briefly the prime min
ister after the war.
Japan invaded Thailand on 8 December 1941. For events subsequent to the abdicati
on of the king, including the name change of 1939, up to the coup d'tat of 1957,
see Plaek Pibulsonggram.
A succession of military dictators followed Pridi's ousting
Phibun again, Sarit
Dhanarajata and Thanom Kittikachorn under whom traditional, authoritarian rule w
as combined with increasing modernisation and westernisation under the influence
of the US. The end of the period was marked by Thanom's resignation, following
a massacre of pro-democracy protesters led by Thammasat students. Thanom misread
the situation as a coup d'tat, and fled, leaving the country leaderless. HM appo
inted Thammasat University chancellor Sanya Dharmasakti PM by royal command.
Thailand helped the USA and South Vietnam in the Vietnam War
e USAF based F-4 Phantom fighters at Udon and Ubon Air Base,
at U-Tapao. Thai forces also saw heavy action in the covert
curred from 1964 to 1972.
1973 to 1997
[icon] This section needs expansion. You can help by adding
13)
See also: History of Thailand since 1973

between 1965 1971. Th

and stationed B-52s
war in Laos that oc
to it. (November 20

In 1973, there was a popular uprising which resulted in the end of the ruling mi
litary dictatorship of anti-communist Thanom Kittikachorn and altered the Thai p
olitical system. Notably, it highlighted the growing influence of Thai universit
y students in politics.
The National Student Center of Thailand (NSCT) led by Thirayuth Boonmee had begu
n a campaign to boycott Japanese goods in 1972. When this succeeded, the NSCT or
ganised an all-night sit-in at Thammasat University and a march from there to Ch
ulalongkorn University, in December 1972, to protest against the government's Na
tional Executive Council Decree No. 299. A protest rally was also held at Chiang
Mai University. Finally, in June 1973, several university students from Ramkham

haeng University were expelled for publishing a satire on the ruling government.
The NSCT reacted by organising rallies to call for the reinstatement of the stu
dents. Subsequently, the government decided to close the universities which caus
ed the rallies to grow in size, reaching 50,000. Eventually, the government rele
nted and reinstated the students, and the rector of the university was forced to
resign.
Then, in October 1973, Thirayuth Boonmee and ten other political activists were
arrested for distributing leaflets in crowded places in Bangkok and one other pe
rson accused of being a member of a group advocating early promulgation of the p
ermanent constitution was arrested. More than 2,000 students from Thammasat Univ
ersity demonstrated at an anti-government rally. Violence broke out and continue
d on 15 October around the police headquarters, with students demanding that Tha
nom be removed as head of the armed forces. Only when it was announced that Than
om, Praphas, and Thanom's son, Colonel Narong Kittikachorn, who was married to P
raphas' daughter, had fled the country did calm return to Bangkok. The end had c
ome as quickly and unexpectedly as the violence had begun.
The leaders of the junta were forced to step down; they took refuge in the Unite
d States or Taiwan. However, the January 1975 elections failed to produce a stab
le party majority, and fresh elections in April 1976 produced the same result.
By late 1976 moderate middle class opinion had turned away from the activism of
the students, who had moved increasingly to the left. The army and the right-win
g parties began a propaganda war against student liberalism by accusing student
activists of being 'communists' and through formal paramilitary organizations su
ch the Village Scouts and the Red Gaurs many of those students were killed. Matt
ers came to a head in October when Thanom returned to Thailand to enter a royal
monastery, Wat Bovorn.
In 1976, students protesters occupied the Thammasat University campus and held p
rotests over the violent deaths of the workers and staged a mock hanging of the
victims, one of whom allegedly bore a resemblance to the Crown Prince. Some news
papers the following day, including the Bangkok Post, published an altered versi
on of a photo of the event, which suggested the protestors had committed lese ma
jeste. Rightist and ultra-conservative icons such as Samak Sundaravej blasted th
e protestors, instigating violent means to suppress them, culminating in the 6 O
ctober 1976 Massacre. The army unleashed the paramilitaries and mob violence fol
lowed, in which many were killed.
1997 to 2001
See also: 1997 Constitution of Thailand
Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall, the old meeting place of the National Assembly; now
only the State Opening is held there.
Parliament House, the meeting place of the two chambers of the National Assembly
of Thailand
The 1997 Constitution was the first constitution to be drafted by popularly elec
ted Constitutional Drafting Assembly, and was popularly called the "people's con
stitution".[34] The 1997 Constitution created a bicameral legislature consisting
of a 500-seat House of Representatives (??????????????, sapha phu thaen ratsado
n) and a 200-seat Senate (???????, wutthisapha). For the first time in Thai hist
ory, both houses were directly elected.
Many human rights were explicitly acknowledged, and measures were established to
increase the stability of elected governments. The House was elected by the fir
st past the post system, where only one candidate with a simple majority could b
e elected in one constituency. The Senate was elected based on the provincial sy
stem, where one province could return more than one senator depending on its pop
ulation size.

The two houses of the National Assembly have two different terms. In accordance
with the constitution the Senate is elected to a six-year term, while the House
is elected to a four-year term. Overall the term of the National Assembly is bas
ed on that of the House. The National Assembly each year will sit in two session
s: an "ordinary session" and a "legislative session". The first session of the N
ational Assembly must take place within thirty days after the general election o
f the House of Representatives. The first session must be opened by the king in
person by reading a Speech from the Throne; this ceremony is held in the Ananta
Samakhom Throne Hall. He may also appoint the crown prince or a representative t
o carry out this duty. It is also the duty of the king to prorogue sessions thro
ugh a royal decree when the House term expires. The king also has the prerogativ
e to call extraordinary sessions and prolong sessions upon advice of the House o
f Representatives.
The National Assembly may host a "joint-sitting" of both Houses under several ci
rcumstances. These include: The appointment of a regent, any alteration to the 1
924 Palace Law of Succession, the opening of the first session, the announcement
of policies by the Cabinet of Thailand, the approval of the declaration of war,
the hearing of explanations and approval of a treaty and the amendment of the C
onstitution.
Members of the House of Representatives served four-year terms, while senators s
erved six-year terms. The 1997 People's Constitution also promoted human rights
more than any other constitution. The court system (???, san) included a constit
utional court with jurisdiction over the constitutionality of parliamentary acts
, royal decrees, and political matters.
2001 to 2008
The January 2001 general election, the first election under the 1997 Constitutio
n, was called the most open, corruption-free election in Thai history.[35] Thai
Rak Thai Party, led by Thaksin Shinawatra won the election. The Thaksin governme
nt was the first in Thai history to complete a four-year term. The 2005 election
had the highest voter turnout in Thai history,[36][37] and Thai Rak Thai Party
won an absolute majority. However, despite efforts to clean up the system, vote
buying and electoral violence remained electoral problems in 2005.[38]
The PollWatch Foundation, Thailand's most prominent election watchdog, declared
that vote buying in this election, specifically in the north and the northeast,
was more serious than in the 2001 election. The organisation also accused the go
vernment of violating the election law by abusing state power in presenting new
projects in a bid to seek votes.
2006 coup d'tat
See also: 2006 Thai coup d'tat
Without meeting much resistance, a military junta overthrew the interim governme
nt of Thaksin Shinawatra on 19 September 2006. The junta abrogated the constitut
ion, dissolved Parliament and the Constitutional Court, detained and later remov
ed several members of the government, declared martial law, and appointed one of
the king's Privy Counselors, General Surayud Chulanont, as the Prime Minister.
The junta later wrote a highly abbreviated interim constitution and appointed a
panel to draft a new permanent constitution. The junta also appointed a 250-memb
er legislature, called by some critics a "chamber of generals" while others clai
med that it lacks representatives from the poor majority.[39][40]
In this interim constitution draft, the head of the junta was allowed to remove
the prime minister at any time. The legislature was not allowed to hold a vote o
f confidence against the cabinet and the public was not allowed to file comments
on bills.[41] This interim constitution was later surpassed by the permanent co
nstitution on 24 August 2007. Martial law was partially revoked in January 2007.
The ban on political activities was lifted in July 2007,[42] following the 30 M

ay dissolution of the Thai Rak Thai party. The new constitution was approved by
referendum on 19 August, which led to a return to a democratic general election
on 23 December 2007.
2008 2010 political crisis
See also: 2008 2010 Thai political crisis
People's Alliance for Democracy, Yellow shirts, rally on Sukhumvit Road in 2008.
United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship, Red Shirts, protest on Ratchapr
asong intersection in 2010.
The People's Power Party (Thailand), led by Samak Sundaravej, formed a governmen
t with five smaller parties. Following several court rulings against him in a va
riety of scandals, and surviving a vote of no confidence, and protesters blockad
ing government buildings and airports, in September 2008, Sundaravej was found g
uilty of conflict of interest by the Constitutional Court of Thailand (due to be
ing a host in a TV cooking program),[43] and thus, ended his term in office.
He was replaced by PPP member Somchai Wongsawat. As of October 2008, Wongsawat w
as unable to gain access to his offices, which were occupied by protesters from
the People's Alliance for Democracy. On 2 December 2008, Thailand's Constitution
al Court in a highly controversial ruling found the Peoples Power Party[44] guil
ty of electoral fraud, which led to the dissolution of the party according to th
e law. It was later alleged in media reports that at least one member of the jud
iciary had a telephone conversation with officials working for the Office of the
Privy Council and one other. The phone call was taped and has since circulated
on the Internet. In it, the callers discuss finding a way to ensure the ruling P
PP party would be disbanded. Accusations of judicial interference were levelled
in the media but the recorded call was dismissed as a hoax. However, in June 201
0, supporters of the eventually disbanded PPP were charged with tapping a judge'
s phone.
Immediately following what many media described as a "judicial coup", a senior m
ember of the Armed Forces met with factions of the governing coalition to get th
eir members to join the opposition and the Democrat Party was able to form a gov
ernment, a first for the party since 2001. The leader of the Democrat party, and
former leader of the opposition, Abhisit Vejjajiva, was appointed and sworn in
as the 27th Prime Minister, together with the new cabinet on 17 December 2008.
In April 2009, protests by the National United Front of Democracy Against Dictat
orship (UDD, or "Red Shirts") forced the cancellation of the Fourth East Asia Su
mmit after protesters stormed the Royal Cliff hotel venue in Pattaya, smashing t
he glass doors of the venue to gain entry, and a blockade prevented the Chinese
premier at the time, Wen Jiabao, from attending. The summit was eventually held
in Thailand in October 2009.[45][46]
About a year later, a set of new "Red Shirts" protests resulted in 87 deaths (mo
stly civilian and some military) and 1,378 injured.[47] When the army tried to d
isperse the protesters on 10 April 2010, it was met with automatic gunfire, gren
ades, and fire bombs from the opposition faction in the army, known as the "wate
rmelon". This resulted in the army returning fire with rubber bullets and some l
ive ammunition. During the time of the "red shirt" protests against the governme
nt, there have been numerous grenade and bomb attacks against government offices
and the homes of government officials. Gas grenades were fired at "yellow-shirt
" protesters, who were protesting against the "red shirts" and in favor of the g
overnment, by unknown gunmen killing one pro-government protester; the governmen
t stated that the Red Shirts were firing the weapons at civilians.[48][49][50][5
1] Red shirts continued to hold a position in the business district of Bangkok a
nd it was shut down for several weeks.[52]
On 3 July 2011, the oppositional Pheu Thai Party, led by Yingluck Shinawatra (th
e youngest sister of Thaksin Shinawatra), won the general election by a landslid

e (265 seats in the House of Representatives, out of 500). She had never previou
sly been involved in politics, Pheu Thai campaigning for her with the slogan 'Th
aksin thinks, Pheu Thai acts'. Yingluck is the nation's first female prime minis
ter and her role was officially endorsed in a ceremony presided over by King Bhu
mibol Adulyadej. The Pheu Thai Party is a continuation of Thaksin's Thai Rak Tha
i party.[53]
2013 2014 political crisis
Main article: 2013 14 Thai political crisis
Protests recommenced in late 2013, as a broad alliance of protestors, led by for
mer opposition deputy leader Suthep Thaugsuban, demanded an end to the so-called
Thaksin regime. A blanket amnesty for people involved in the 2010 protests, alt
ered at the last minute to include all political crimes
including all conviction
s against Thaksin triggered a mass show of discontent, with numbers variously es
timated between 98,500 (the police) and 400,000 (an aerial photo survey done by
the Bangkok Post), taking to the streets. The Senate was urged to reject the bil
l to quell the reaction, but the measure failed. A newly named group, the People
's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) along with allied groups, escalated the pr
essure, with the opposition Democrat party resigning en masse to create a parlia
mentary vacuum. Protesters demands variously evolved as the movement's numbers g
rew, extending a number of deadlines and demands that became increasingly unreas
onable or unrealistic, yet attracting a groundswell of support. They called for
the establishment of an indirectly elected people s council in place of Yingluck's gov
ernment that will cleanse Thai politics and eradicate the Thaksin regime.[54]
In response to the intensive protests, Yingluck dissolved parliament on 9 Decemb
er 2013 and proposed a new election for 2 February 2014, a date that was later a
pproved by the election commission.[55] The PDRC insisted that the prime ministe
r stand down within 24 hours, regardless of her actions, with 160,000 protesters
in attendance at Government House on 9 December. Yingluck insisted that she wou
ld continue her duties until the scheduled election in February 2014, urging the
protesters to accept her proposal: "Now that the government has dissolved parli
ament, I ask that you stop protesting and that all sides work towards elections.
I have backed down to the point where I don't know how to back down any further
."[56]
In response to the Electoral Commission (EC)'s registration process for party-li
st candidates for the scheduled election in February 2014 anti-government protesters
marched to the Thai-Japanese sports stadium, the venue of the registration proc
ess, on 22 December 2013. Suthep and the PDRC led the protest, of which security
forces claimed that approximately 270,000 protesters joined. Yingluck and the P
heu Thai Party reiterated their election plan and anticipate presenting a list o
f 125 party-list candidates to the EC.[57]
On 7 May 2014, the Constitutional Court ruled that Yingluck would have to step d
own as the Prime Minister as she was deemed to have abused her power in transfer
ring a high-level government official.[58] On 21 August 2014 she was replaced by
army chief General Prayut Chan-o-cha.[59]
2014 coup d'tat
Main article: 2014 Thai coup d'tat
On 20 May 2014 the Thai army declared martial law and began to deploy troops in
the capital, denying that it was a coup attempt.[60] On 22 May, the army admitte
d that it was a coup and that it was taking control of the country and suspendin
g the country's constitution.[61][62] On the same day, the military imposed a cu
rfew between the hours of 22:00 05:00, ordering citizens and visitors to remain in
doors during this period.[63][64][65][66][67] On 21 August 2014 the National Ass
embly of Thailand elected the army chief, General Prayut Chan-o-cha, as prime mi
nister. Martial law was declared formally ended on 1 April 2015.[68] "Uniformed
or ex-military men have led Thailand for 55 of the 83 years since absolute monar

chy was overthrown in 1932,..." observed one journalist in 2015.[69]

2014 to present
The ruling junta led by Prayuth Chan-o-cha promised to hold new elections, but w
ants to enact a new constitution before the elections are held. An initial draft
constitution was rejected by government officials in 2015. A national referendu
m, the first since the 2014 coup, on a newly drafted constitution is scheduled f
or early August 2016.[70] The new draft constitution would grant the constitutio
nal court final authority in times of crisis, a power previously held by the Kin
g. The draft would also allow a person other than a member of parliament to be t
he prime minister, which would open the prime minister post to a military offici
al. However, there remain deep disagreements regarding how much power should res
t with the democratically elected government.[71] There are indications that pub
lic debate in the run up to the referendum will be severely curtailed by the mil
itary government.[70] The head of the Thai army, Gen. Theerachai Nakvanich, has
announced the setting up of re-education camps for critics of the regime, "aimed
at people who are still unable to understand the workings of the government and
the National Council for Peace and Order".[72]
Administrative divisions
Thailand is divided into 76 provinces (???????, changwat), which are gathered in
to five groups of provinces by location. There are also two specially-governed d
istricts: the capital Bangkok (Krung Thep Maha Nakhon) and Pattaya. Bangkok is a
t provincial level and thus often counted as a province.
Each province is divided into districts and the districts are further divided in
to sub-districts (tambons). As of 2006 there were 877 districts (?????, amphoe)
and the 50 districts of Bangkok (???, khet). Some parts of the provinces borderi
ng Bangkok are also referred to as Greater Bangkok (???????, pari monthon). Thes
e provinces include Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, Samut Prakan, Nakhon Pathom and Sa
mut Sakhon. The name of each province's capital city (?????, mueang) is the same
as that of the province. For example, the capital of Chiang Mai Province (Chang
wat Chiang Mai) is Mueang Chiang Mai or Chiang Mai.
A clickable map of Thailand exhibiting its provinces.
A clickable map of Thailand exhibiting its provinces.
About this image
Southern region
See also: South Thailand insurgency
Southern provinces of Thailand showing the Malay-Muslim majority areas.
Thailand controlled the Malay Peninsula as far south as Malacca in the 15th cent
ury and held much of the peninsula, including Temasek (Singapore), some of the A
ndaman Islands, and a colony on Java, but eventually contracted when the British
used force to guarantee their suzerainty over the sultanate.
Mostly the northern states of the Malay Sultanate presented annual gifts to the
Thai king in the form of a golden flower a gesture of tribute and an acknowledgeme
nt of vassalage. The British intervened in the Malay State and with the Anglo-Si
amese Treaty tried to build a railway from the south to Bangkok. Thailand relinq
uished sovereignty over what are now the northern Malay provinces of Kedah, Perl
is, Kelantan, and Terengganu to the British. Satun and Pattani Provinces were gi
ven to Thailand.
The Malay peninsular provinces were occupied by the Japanese during World War II
, and infiltrated by the Malayan Communist Party (CPM) from 1942 to 2008, when t
hey sued for peace with the Malaysian and Thai governments after the CPM lost it
s support from Vietnam and China subsequent to the Cultural Revolution. Recent i
nsurgent uprisings may be a continuation of separatist fighting which started af

ter World War II with Sukarno's support for the PULO. Most victims since the upr
isings have been Buddhist and Muslim bystanders.
Foreign relations
Main article: Foreign relations of Thailand
The foreign relations of Thailand are handled by the Minister of Foreign Affairs
.
Thailand participates fully in international and regional organisations. It is a
major non-NATO ally and Priority Watch List Special 301 Report of the United St
ates. The country remains an active member of ASEAN Association of Southeast Asi
an Nations. Thailand has developed increasingly close ties with other ASEAN memb
ers: Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Brunei, Laos, Cambodia, My
anmar, and Vietnam, whose foreign and economic ministers hold annual meetings. R
egional co-operation is progressing in economic, trade, banking, political, and
cultural matters. In 2003, Thailand served as APEC (Asia Pacific Economic Cooper
ation) host. Dr. Supachai Panitchpakdi, the former Deputy Prime Minister of Thai
land, currently serves as Secretary-General of the United Nations Conference on
Trade and Development (UNCTAD). In 2005 Thailand attended the inaugural East Asi
a Summit.
In recent years, Thailand has taken an increasingly active role on the internati
onal stage. When East Timor gained independence from Indonesia, Thailand, for th
e first time in its history, contributed troops to the international peacekeepin
g effort. Its troops remain there today as part of a UN peacekeeping force. As p
art of its effort to increase international ties, Thailand has reached out to su
ch regional organisations as the Organization of American States (OAS) and the O
rganisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). Thailand has contribu
ted troops to reconstruction efforts in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Thaksin initiated negotiations for several free trade agreements with China, Aus
tralia, Bahrain, India, and the US. The latter especially was criticised, with c
laims that uncompetitive Thai industries could be wiped out.[73]
Thaksin also announced that Thailand would forsake foreign aid, and work with do
nor countries to assist in the development of neighbours in the Greater Mekong S
ub-region.[74] Thaksin sought to position Thailand as a regional leader, initiat
ing various development projects in poorer neighbouring countries like Laos. Mor
e controversially, he established close, friendly ties with the Burmese dictator
ship.[75]
Thailand joined the US-led invasion of Iraq, sending a 423-strong humanitarian c
ontingent.[76] It withdrew its troops on 10 September 2004. Two Thai soldiers di
ed in Iraq in an insurgent attack.
Abhisit appointed Peoples Alliance for Democracy leader Kasit Piromya as foreign
minister. In April 2009, fighting broke out between Thai and Cambodian troops o
n territory immediately adjacent to the 900-year-old ruins of Cambodia's Preah V
ihear Hindu temple near the border. The Cambodian government claimed its army ha
d killed at least four Thais and captured 10 more, although the Thai government
denied that any Thai soldiers were killed or injured. Two Cambodian and three Th
ai soldiers were killed. Both armies blamed the other for firing first and denie
d entering the other's territory.[77][78]
Armed forces
Main article: Royal Thai Armed Forces
The HTMS Chakri Naruebet, an aircraft carrier of the Royal Thai Navy.
The Royal Thai Armed Forces (Thai: ?????????, Kong Thap Thai) constitute the mil
itary of the Kingdom of Thailand. It consists of the Royal Thai Army (??????????
?), the Royal Thai Navy (?????????????), and the Royal Thai Air Force (?????????

?????). It also incorporates various paramilitary forces.

The Thai Armed Forces have a combined manpower of 306,000 active duty personnel
and another 245,000 active reserve personnel.[79] The head of the Thai Armed For
ces (?????????, Chom Thap Thai) is the king,[80] although this position is only
nominal. The armed forces are managed by the Ministry of Defence of Thailand, wh
ich is headed by the Minister of Defence (a member of the cabinet of Thailand) a
nd commanded by the Royal Thai Armed Forces Headquarters, which in turn is heade
d by the Chief of Defence Forces of Thailand.[81] In 2011, Thailand's known mili
tary expenditure totalled approximately US$5.1 billion.[82]
According to the constitution, serving in the armed forces is a duty of all Thai
citizens.[83] However, only males over the age of 21, who have not gone through
reserve training of the Army Reserve Force Students, are given the option of vo
lunteering for the armed forces, or participating in the random draft. The candi
dates are subjected to varying lengths of training, from six months to two years
of full-time service, depending on their education, whether they have partially
completed the reserve training course, and whether they volunteered prior to th
e draft date (usually 1 April every year).
Candidates with a recognised bachelor's degree serve one year of full-time servi
ce if they are conscripted, or six months if they volunteer at their district of
fice (?????, satsadi). Likewise, the training length is also reduced for those w
ho have partially completed the three-year reserve training course (?.?., ro do)
. A person who completed one year out of three will only have to serve full-time
for one year. Those who completed two years of reserve training will only have
to do six months of full-time training, while those who complete three years or
more of reserve training will be exempted entirely.
Royal Thai Armed Forces Day is celebrated on 18 January, commemorating the victo
ry of Naresuan of the Ayutthaya Kingdom in battle against the crown prince of th
e Taungoo Dynasty in 1593.[citation needed]
Geography
Main article: Geography of Thailand
Thailand map of Kppen climate classification.
View of the Luang Prabang Range, which straddles the Thai-Lao border, in Nan Pro
vince, Northern Thailand
Totalling 513,120 square kilometres (198,120 sq mi),[1] Thailand is the world's
51st-largest country by total area. It is slightly smaller than Yemen and slight
ly larger than Spain.
Satellite image of flooding in Thailand, Oct 2011.
Thailand comprises several distinct geographic regions, partly corresponding to
the provincial groups. The north of the country is the mountainous area of the T
hai highlands, with the highest point being Doi Inthanon in the Thanon Thong Cha
i Range at 2,565 metres (8,415 ft) above sea level. The northeast, Isan, consist
s 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, wh
ich runs into the Gulf of Thailand.
Southern Thailand consists of the narrow Kra Isthmus that widens into the Malay
Peninsula. Politically, there are six geographical regions which differ from the
others in population, basic resources, natural features, and level of social an
d economic development. The diversity of the regions is the most pronounced attr
ibute of Thailand's physical setting.
The Chao Phraya and the Mekong River are the indispensable water courses of rura
l Thailand. Industrial scale production of crops use both rivers and their tribu
taries. The Gulf of Thailand covers 320,000 square kilometres (124,000 sq mi) an

d is fed by the Chao Phraya, Mae Klong, Bang Pakong, and Tapi Rivers. It contrib
utes to the tourism sector owing to its clear shallow waters along the coasts in
the southern region and the Kra Isthmus. The eastern shore of the Gulf of Thail
and is an industrial centre of Thailand with the kingdom's premier deepwater por
t in Sattahip and its busiest commercial port, Laem Chabang.
The Andaman Sea is a precious natural resource as it hosts the most popular and
luxurious resorts in Asia. Phuket, Krabi, Ranong, Phang Nga and Trang, and their
islands, all lay along the coasts of the Andaman Sea and, despite the 2004 tsun
ami, they are a tourist magnet for visitors from around the world.
Plans have resurfaced for a canal which would connect the Andaman Sea to the Gul
f of Thailand, analogous to the Suez and the Panama Canals. The idea has been gr
eeted positively by Thai politicians as it would cut fees charged by the Ports o
f Singapore, improve ties with China and India, lower shipping times, and elimin
ate pirate attacks in the Strait of Malacca, and support the Thai government's p
olicy of being the logistical hub for Southeast Asia. The canal, it is claimed,
would improve economic conditions in the south of Thailand, which relies heavily
on tourism income, and it would also change the structure of the Thai economy b
y making it an Asia logistical hub. The canal would be a major engineering proje
ct and has an expected cost of US$20 30 billion.
Climate
Thailand's climate is influenced by monsoon winds that have a seasonal character
(the southwest and northeast monsoon).[84]:2 The southwest monsoon, which start
s from May until October is characterized by movement of warm, moist air from th
e Indian Ocean to Thailand, causing abundant rain over most of the country.[84]:
2 The northeast monsoon, starting from October until February brings cold and dr
y air from China over most of Thailand.[84]:2 In southern Thailand, the northeas
t monsoon brings mild weather and abundant rainfall on the eastern coast of that
region.[84]:2 Most of Thailand has a "tropical wet and dry or savanna climate"
type (Kppen's Tropical savanna climate).[85] The south and the eastern tip of the
east have a tropical monsoon climate.
Thailand is divided into three seasons.[84]:2 The first is the rainy or southwes
t monsoon season (mid May to mid October) which prevails over most of the country.[8
4]:2 This season is characterized by abundant rain with August and September bei
ng the wettest period of the year.[84]:2 This can occasionally lead to floods.[8
4]:4 In addition to rainfall caused by the southwest monsoon, the Intertropical
Convergence Zone (ITCZ) and tropical cyclones also contribute to producing heavy
rainfall during the rainy season.[84]:2 Nonetheless, dry spells commonly occur
for 1 to 2 weeks from June to early July.[84]:4 This is due to the northward mov
ement of the Intertropical Convergence Zone to southern China.[84]:4 Winter or t
he northeast monsoon starts from mid October until mid February.[84]:2 Most of Thail
and experiences dry weather during this season with mild temperatures.[84]:2:4 T
he exception is the southern parts of Thailand where it receives abundant rainfa
ll, particularly during October to November.[84]:2 Summer or the pre monsoon seaso
n runs from mid February until mid May and is characterized by warmer weather.[84]:3
Due to its inland nature and latitude, the north, northeast, central and eastern
parts of Thailand experience a long period of warm weather.[84]:3 During the ho
ttest time of the year (March to May), temperatures usually reach up to 40 C (104
F) or more with the exception of coastal areas where sea breezes moderate aftern
oon temperatures.[84]:3 In contrast, outbreaks of cold air from China can bring
colder temperatures; in some cases (particularly the north and northeast) close
to or below 0 C (32 F).[84]:3 Southern Thailand is characterized by mild weather y
ear-round with less diurnal and seasonal variations in temperatures due to marit
ime influences.[84]:3
Most of the country receives a mean annual rainfall of 1,200 to 1,600 mm (47 to

63 in).[84]:4 However, certain areas on the windward sides of mountains such as

Ranong province in the west coast of southern Thailand and eastern parts of Trat
Province receive more than 4,500 mm (180 in) of rainfall per year.[84]:4 The dr
iest areas are on the leeward side in the central valleys and northernmost porti
on of south Thailand where mean annual rainfall is less than 1,200 mm (47 in).[8
4]:4 Most of Thailand (north, northeast, central and east) is characterized by d
ry weather during the northeast monsoon and abundant rainfall during the southwe
st monsoon.[84]:4 In the southern parts of Thailand, abundant rainfall occurs in
both the northeast and southwest monsoon seasons with a peak in September for t
he western coast and a peak in November January on the eastern coast.[84]:4
Wildlife
Main article: List of species native to Thailand
The population of Asian elephants in Thailand's wild has dropped to an estimated
2,000 3,000.[86]
The elephant is Thailand's national symbol. Although there were 100,000 domestic
ated elephants in Thailand in 1850, the population of elephants has dropped to a
n estimated 2,000.[86] Poachers have long hunted elephants for ivory, meat[citat
ion needed], and hides. Young elephants are often captured for use in tourist at
tractions or as work animals, although their use has declined since the governme
nt banned logging in 1989. There are now more elephants in captivity than in the
wild, and environmental activists claim that elephants in captivity are often m
istreated.[87]
Poaching of protected species remains a major problem. Hunters have decimated th
e populations of tigers, leopards, and other large cats for their valuable pelts
. Many animals (including tigers, bears, crocodiles, and king cobras) are farmed
or hunted for their meat, which is considered a delicacy, and for their suppose
d medicinal properties. Although such trade is illegal, the famous Bangkok marke
t Chatuchak is still known for the sale of endangered species.[88]
The practice of keeping wild animals as pets threatens several species. Baby ani
mals are typically captured and sold, which often requires killing the mother. O
nce in captivity and out of their natural habitat, many pets die or fail to repr
oduce. Affected populations include the Asiatic black bear, Malayan sun bear, wh
ite-handed lar, pileated gibbon and binturong.[89]
Education
Main article: Education in Thailand
Primary school students in Thailand
In 2014 the literacy rate was 93.5%.[90] Education is provided by a well-organiz
ed school system of kindergartens, primary, lower secondary and upper secondary
schools, numerous vocational colleges, and universities. The private sector of e
ducation is well developed and significantly contributes to the overall provisio
n of education which the government would not be able to meet with public establ
ishments. Education is compulsory up to and including age 14, with the governmen
t providing free education through to age 17.[citation needed]
Chulalongkorn University, established in 1917, is the oldest university in Thail
and.
Teaching relies heavily on rote learning rather than on student-centred methodol
ogy. The establishment of reliable and coherent curricula for its primary and se
condary schools is subject to such rapid changes that schools and their teachers
are not always sure what they are supposed to be teaching, and authors and publ
ishers of textbooks are unable to write and print new editions quickly enough to
keep up with the volatility. Issues concerning university entrance has been in
constant upheaval for a number of years. Nevertheless, Thai education has seen i
ts greatest progress in the years since 2001. Most of the present generation of
students are computer literate. Thailand was ranked 54th out of 56 countries glo
bally for English proficiency, the second-lowest in Asia.[91]

Students in ethnic minority areas score consistently lower in standardised natio

nal and international tests.[92] [93] [94] This is likely due to unequal allocat
ion of educational resources, weak teacher training, poverty, and low Thai langu
age skill, the language of the tests.[92] [95] [96]
Extensive nationwide IQ tests were administered to 72,780 Thai students from Dec
ember 2010 to January 2011. The average IQ was found to be 98.59, which is highe
r than previous studies have found. IQ levels were found to be inconsistent thro
ughout the country, with the lowest average of 88.07 found in the southern regio
n of Narathiwat Province and the highest average of 108.91 reported in Nonthabur
i Province. The Ministry of Public Health blames the discrepancies on iodine def
iciency and steps are being taken to require that iodine be added to table salt,
a practice common in many Western countries.[97]
In 2013, the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology announced that
27,231 schools would receive classroom-level access to high-speed internet.[dea
d link][98]
Science and technology
Main article: List of Thai inventions and discoveries
The National Science and Technology Development Agency is an agency of the gover
nment of Thailand which supports research in science and technology and its appl
ication in the Thai economy.[citation needed]
The Synchrotron Light Research Institute (SLRI) is a Thai synchrotron light sour
ce for physics, chemistry, material science, and life sciences. It is at the Sur
anaree University of Technology (SUT), in Nakhon Ratchasima, about 300 kilometre
s (190 miles) northeast of Bangkok. The institute, financed by the Ministry of S
cience and Technology (MOST), houses the only large scale synchrotron in Southea
st Asia. It was originally built as the SORTEC synchrotron in Japan and later mo
ved to Thailand and modified for 1.2 GeV operation. It provides users with regul
arly scheduled light.[citation needed]
Internet
In Bangkok, there are 23,000 free public Wi-Fi Internet hotspots.[99] The Intern
et in Thailand includes 10Gbit/s high speed fibre-optic lines that can be leased
and ISPs such as KIRZ that provide residential Internet services.[citation need
ed]
The Internet is censored by the Thai government, making some sites unreachable.[
100] The organisations responsible are the Royal Thai Police, the Communications
Authority of Thailand, and the Ministry of Information and Communication Techno
logy (MICT).[citation needed]
Economy
Main article: Economy of Thailand
The BTS Skytrain passes through Sathon, the business district of Bangkok, the ca
pital of Thailand and the country's largest commercial and financial centre.
Thailand is an emerging economy and is considered a newly industrialised country
. Thailand had a 2013 GDP of US$673 billion (on a purchasing power parity [PPP]
basis).[101] Thailand is the 2nd largest economy in Southeast Asia after Indones
ia. Thailand ranks midway in the wealth spread in Southeast Asia as it is the 4t
h richest nation according to GDP per capita, after Singapore, Brunei, and Malay
sia.
Thailand functions as an anchor economy for the neighbouring developing economie
s of Laos, Myanmar, and Cambodia. In the third quarter of 2014, the unemployment
rate in Thailand stood at 0.84% according to Thailand's National Economic and S
ocial Development Board (NESDB).[102]

Automotive production in Thailand, 2004 2013.

Recent economic history
Thailand experienced the world's highest economic growth rate from 1985 to 1996
averaging 12.4% annually. In 1997 increased pressure on the baht, a year in whic
h the economy contracted by 1.9%, led to a crisis that uncovered financial secto
r weaknesses and forced the Chavalit Yongchaiyudh administration to float the cu
rrency. Prime Minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh was forced to resign after his cabi
net came under fire for its slow response to the economic crisis. The baht was p
egged at 25 to the US dollar from 1978 to 1997. The baht reached its lowest poin
t of 56 to the US dollar in January 1998 and the economy contracted by 10.8% tha
t year, triggering the Asian financial crisis.
Thailand's economy started to recover in 1999, expanding 4.2 4.4% in 2000, thanks
largely to strong exports. Growth (2.2%) was dampened by the softening of the gl
obal economy in 2001, but picked up in the subsequent years owing to strong grow
th in Asia, a relatively weak baht encouraging exports, and increased domestic s
pending as a result of several mega projects and incentives of Prime Minister Th
aksin Shinawatra, known as Thaksinomics. Growth in 2002, 2003, and 2004 was 5 7% a
nnually.
Growth in 2005, 2006, and 2007 hovered around 4 5%. Due both to the weakening of t
he US dollar and an increasingly strong Thai currency, by March 2008 the dollar
was hovering around the 33 baht mark. While Thaksinomics has received criticism,
official economic data reveals that between 2001 and 2011, Isan's GDP per capit
a more than doubled to US$1,475, while, over the same period, GDP in the Bangkok
area increased from US$7,900 to nearly US$13,000.[103]
With the instability surrounding major 2010 protests, the GDP growth of Thailand
settled at around 4 5%, from highs of 5 7% under the previous civilian administrati
on. Political uncertainty was identified as the primary cause of a decline in in
vestor and consumer confidence. The IMF predicted that the Thai economy would re
bound strongly from the low 0.1% GDP growth in 2011, to 5.5% in 2012 and then 7.
5% in 2013, due to the monetary policy of the Bank of Thailand, as well as a pac
kage of fiscal stimulus measures introduced by the former Yingluck Shinawatra go
vernment.[104]
Following the Thai military coup of 22 May 2014, the AFP global news agency publ
ished an article that claimed that the nation was on the verge of recession. The
article focused on the departure of nearly 180,000 Cambodians from Thailand due
to fears of an immigration clampdown, but concluded with information on the Tha
i economy's contraction of 2.1% quarter-on-quarter, from January to the end of M
arch 2014.[105]
Exports and manufacturing
A proportional representation of Thailand's exports.
The economy of Thailand is heavily export-dependent, with exports accounting for
more than two-thirds of gross domestic product (GDP). Thailand exports over US$
105 billion worth of goods and services annually.[1] Major exports include rice,
textiles and footwear, fishery products, rubber, jewellery, cars, computers, an
d electrical appliances.[1]
Substantial industries include electric appliances, components, computer compone
nts, and vehicles. Thailand's recovery from the 1997 1998 Asian financial crisis d
epended mainly on exports, among various other factors. As of 2012, the Thai aut
omotive industry was the largest in Southeast Asia and the 9th largest in the wo
rld.[106][107][108] The Thailand industry has an annual output of near 1.5 milli
on vehicles, mostly commercial vehicles.[108]
Most of the vehicles built in Thailand are developed and licensed by foreign pro

ducers, mainly Japanese and South Korean. The Thai car industry takes advantage
of the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) to find a market for many of its products. E
ight manufacturers, five Japanese, two US, and Tata of India, produce pick-up tr
ucks in Thailand.[109] Thailand is the second largest consumer of pick-up trucks
in the world, after the US.[citation needed] In 2014, pick-ups accounted for 42
% of all new vehicle sales in Thailand.[109]
Tourism
Statue of a mythical Kinnon, Wat Phra Kaew, Bangkok
Further information: Tourism in Thailand
Tourism makes up about 6% of the economy. Thailand was the most visited country
in Southeast Asia in 2013, according to the World Tourism Organisation. Estimate
s of tourism receipts directly contributing to the Thai GDP of 12 trillion baht
range from 9 percent (1 trillion baht) (2013) to 16 percent.[110] When including
the indirect effects of tourism, it is said to account for 20.2 percent (2.4 tr
illion baht) of Thailand's GDP.[111]:1
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) uses the slogan "Amazing Thailand" to pr
omote Thailand internationally. In 2015, this was supplemented by a "Discover Th
ainess" campaign.[112]
Asian tourists primarily visit Thailand for Bangkok and the historical, natural,
and cultural sights in its vicinity. Western tourists not only visit Bangkok an
d surroundings, but in addition many travel to the southern beaches and islands.
The north is the chief destination for trekking and adventure travel with its d
iverse ethnic minority groups and forested mountains. The region hosting the few
est tourists is Isan in the northeast. To accommodate foreign visitors, the Thai
government established a separate tourism police with offices in the major tour
ist areas and its own central emergency telephone number.[113]
Thailand Tourism booth at a Travel and Tour Expo
"Amazing Thailand"
Thailand's attractions include diving sites, sandy beaches, hundreds of tropical
islands, nightlife, archaeological sites, museums, hill tribes, flora and bird
life, palaces, Buddhist temples and several World Heritage sites. Many tourists
follow courses during their stay in Thailand. Popular are classes in Thai cookin
g, Buddhism and traditional Thai massage. Thai national festivals range from Tha
i New Year Songkran to Loy Krathong. Many localities in Thailand also have their
own festivals. Among the best-known are the "Elephant Round-up" in Surin, the "
Rocket Festival" in Yasothon and the "Phi Ta Khon" festival in Dan Sai. Thai cui
sine has become famous worldwide with its enthusiastic use of fresh herbs and sp
ices.
Bangkok shopping malls offer a variety of international and local brands. Toward
s the north of the city, and easily reached by skytrain or underground, is the "
Chatuchak Weekend Market". It is possibly the largest market in the world, selli
ng everything from household items to live, and sometimes endangered,[114] anima
ls. The "Pratunam Market" specialises in fabrics and clothing. The night markets
in the Silom area and on Khaosan Road are mainly tourist-oriented, selling item
s such as T-shirts, handicrafts, counterfeit watches and sunglasses. In the vici
nity of Bangkok one can find several floating markets such as the one in Damnoen
Saduak. The "Sunday Evening Walking Street Market", held on Rachadamnoen Road i
nside the old city, is a shopping highlight of a visit to Chiang Mai up in north
ern Thailand. It attracts many locals as well as foreigners. The "Night Bazaar"
is Chiang Mai's more tourist-oriented market, sprawling over several city blocks
just east of the old city walls towards the river.
Prostitution in Thailand and sex tourism
y. Cultural milieu combined with poverty
itution and sex tourism in particular to
ished in 2003 placed the trade at US$4.3

also form a de facto part of the econom

and the lure of money have caused prost
flourish in Thailand. One estimate publ
billion per year or about 3% of the Tha

i economy.[115] According to research by Chulalongkorn University on the Thai il

legal economy, prostitution in Thailand in the period between 1993 and 1995, mad
e up around 2.7% of the GDP.[116] It is believed that at least 10% of tourist do
llars are spent on the sex trade.[117]
Agriculture
Further information: Agriculture in Thailand
Thailand had long been the largest rice exporter in the world. Forty-nine percen
t of Thailand's labour force is employed in agriculture.[118]
Forty-nine per cent of Thailand's labour force is employed in agriculture.[118]
This is down from 70% in 1980.[118] Rice is the most important crop in the count
ry and Thailand had long been the world's leading exporter of rice, until recent
ly falling behind both India and Vietnam.[119] Thailand has the highest percenta
ge of arable land, 27.25%, of any nation in the Greater Mekong Subregion.[120] A
bout 55% of the arable land area is used for rice production.[121]
Agriculture has been experiencing a transition from labour-intensive and transit
ional methods to a more industrialised and competitive sector.[118] Between 1962
and 1983, the agricultural sector grew by 4.1% per year on average and continue
d to grow at 2.2% between 1983 and 2007.[118] The relative contribution of agric
ulture to GDP has declined while exports of goods and services have increased.
Energy
Further information: Energy in Thailand
75% of Thailand's electrical generation is powered by natural gas in 2014.[122]
Coal-fired power plants produce an additional 20% of electricity, with the remai
nder coming from biomass, hydro, and biogas.[122]
Thailand produces roughly one-third of the oil it consumes. It is the second lar
gest importer of oil in SE Asia. Thailand is a large producer of natural gas, wi
th reserves of at least 10 trillion cubic feet. After Indonesia, it is the large
st coal producer in SE Asia, but must import additional coal to meet domestic de
mand.
Transportation
Main articles: Transport in Thailand and List of airports in Thailand
Demographics
Main article: Demographics of Thailand
Thailand had a population of 66,720,153[123] as of 2013. Thailand's population i
s largely rural, concentrated in the rice-growing areas of the central, northeas
tern, and northern regions. Thailand had an urban population of 45.7% as of 2010
, concentrated mostly in and around the Bangkok Metropolitan Area.
Thailand's government-sponsored family planning program resulted in a dramatic d
ecline in population growth from 3.1% in 1960 to around 0.4% today. In 1970, an
average of 5.7 people lived in a Thai household. At the time of the 2010 census,
the average Thai household size was 3.2 people.
Ethnic groups
Further information: Ethnic groups in Thailand
Thai nationals make up the majority of Thailand's population, 95.9% in 2010. The
remaining 4.1% of the population are Burmese (2.0%), others 1.3%, and unspecifi
ed 0.9%.[1]
According to the Royal Thai Government's 2011 Country Report to the UN Committee
responsible for the International Convention for the Elimination of All Forms o
f Racial Discrimination, available from the Department of Rights and Liberties P
romotion of the Thai Ministry of Justice,[3]:3 62 ethnic communities are officia
lly recognised in Thailand. Twenty million Central Thai (together with approxima
tely 650,000 Khorat Thai) make up approximately 20,650,000 million (34.1 percent

) of the nation's population of 60,544,937[124] at the time of completion of the

Mahidol University Ethnolinguistic Maps of Thailand data (1997).[125]
The 2011 Thailand Country Report provides population numbers for mountain people
s ('hill tribes') and ethnic communities in the Northeast and is explicit about
its main reliance on the Mahidol University Ethnolinguistic Maps of Thailand dat
a.[125] Thus, though over 3.288 million people in the Northeast alone could not
be categorised, the population and percentages of other ethnic communities circa
1997 are known for all of Thailand and constitute minimum populations. In desce
nding order, the largest (equal to or greater than 400,000) are a) 15,080,000 La
o (24.9 percent) consisting of the Thai Lao[2] (14 million) and other smaller La
o groups, namely the Thai Loei (400-500,000), Lao Lom (350,000), Lao Wiang/Klang
(200,000), Lao Khrang (90,000), Lao Ngaew (30,000), and Lao Ti (10,000; b) six
million Khon Muang (9.9 percent, also called Northern Thais); c) 4.5 million Pak
Tai (7.5 percent, also called Southern Thais); d) 1.4 million Khmer Leu (2.3 pe
rcent, also called Northern Khmer); e) 900,000 Malay (1.5%); f) 500,000 Ngaw (0.
8 percent); g) 470,000 Phu Thai (0.8 percent); h) 400,000 Kuy/Kuay (also known a
s Suay) (0.7 percent), and i) 350,000 Karen (0.6 percent).[3]:7-13 Thai Chinese,
those of significant Chinese heritage, are 14% of the population,[6] while Thai
s with partial Chinese ancestry comprise up to 40% of the population.[126] Thai
Malays represent 3% of the population, with the remainder consisting of Mons, Kh
mers and various "hill tribes". The country's official language is Thai and the
primary religion is Theravada Buddhism, which is practised by around 95% of the
population.
Increasing numbers of migrants from neighbouring Myanmar, Laos, and Cambodia, as
well as from Nepal and India, have pushed the total number of non-national resi
dents to around 3.5 million as of 2009, up from an estimated 2 million in 2008,
and about 1.3 million in the year 2000.[127] Some 41,000 Britons live in Thailan
d.[128]
Population centres
Further information: List of cities in Thailand

v t e
Largest Municipalities in Thailand
See template
Rank
Name
Province
Pop.
Rank
Name
Province
Pop.
Bangkok
Bangkok
Nonthaburi
Nonthaburi
1
Bangkok
Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 5,658,953
(2005)[129]
11
Pattaya
Chonburi
104,318
(2007)[130]
Pak Kret
Pak Kret
Hat Yai
Hat Yai
2
Nonthaburi
Nonthaburi
260,555
(2011)[131]
12
Nakhon Sawan
Nakhon Sawan
90,412
3
Pak Kret
Nonthaburi
168,763
(2008)[132]
13
Ubon Ratchathani
Ubon Ratchathani
84,509
4
Hat Yai
Songkhla
157,682
(2008)[133]
14
Nakhon Pathom Nakhon Pathom 83,007
5
Nakhon Ratchasima
Nakhon Ratchasima
135,357
(2013)[134]
15
Phitsanulok
Phitsanulok
79,535
6
Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai
141,361

(2011)[135]
16
Phuket Phuket 74,218
7
Udon Thani
Udon Thani
141,953
(2010)[136]
17
Songkhla
Songkhla
8
Surat Thani
Surat Thani
127,496
(2008)[137]
18
Chiang Rai
Chiang Rai
9
Khon Kaen
Khon Kaen
113,754
Chonburi
64,607
10
Nakhon Si Thammarat
Nakhon Si Thammarat
Yala
Yala
62,896
Language
Main article: Languages of Thailand
Population, Thailand
Year
Pop.
%
1910
8,131,247
1919
9,207,355
+13.2%
1929
11,506,207
+25.0%
1937
14,464,105
+25.7%
1947
17,442,689
+20.6%
1960
26,257,916
+50.5%
1970
34,397,371
+31.0%
1980
44,824,540
+30.3%
1990
54,548,530
+21.7%
2000
60,916,441
+11.7%
2010
65,926,261
+8.2%
Source: [1] National Statistical Office of Thailand

73,170
67,176
19
Laem Chabang
109,353

20

The official language of Thailand is Thai, a Tai Kadai language closely related to
Lao, Shan in Myanmar, and numerous smaller languages spoken in an arc from Hain
an and Yunnan south to the Chinese border. It is the principal language of educa
tion and government and spoken throughout the country. The standard is based on
the dialect of the central Thai people, and it is written in the Thai alphabet,
an abugida script that evolved from the Khmer alphabet. Sixty-two languages were
recognised by the Royal Thai Government in the 2011 Country Report to the UN Co
mmittee responsible for the International Convention for the Elimination of All
Forms of Racial Discrimination, which employed an ethnolinguistic approach and i
s available from the Department of Rights and Liberties Promotion of the Thai Mi
nistry of Justice.[3]:3 Southern Thai is spoken in the southern provinces, and N
orthern Thai is spoken in the provinces that were formerly part of the independe
nt kingdom of Lan Na. For the purposes of the national census, which does not re
cognise all 62 languages recognised by the Royal Thai Government in the 2011 Cou
ntry Report, four dialects of Thai exist; these partly coincide with regional de
signations.
The largest of Thailand's minority languages is the Lao dialect of Isan spoken i
n the northeastern provinces. Although sometimes considered a Thai dialect, it i
s a Lao dialect, and the region in where it is traditionally spoken was historic
ally part of the Lao kingdom of Lan Xang. In the far south, Kelantan-Pattani Mal
ay is the primary language of Malay Muslims. Varieties of Chinese are also spoke
n by the large Thai Chinese population, with the Teochew dialect best-represente
d.
Numerous tribal languages are also spoken, including many Austroasiatic language
s such as Mon, Khmer, Viet, Mlabri and Orang Asli; Austronesian languages such a
s Cham and Moken; Sino-Tibetan languages like Lawa, Akha, and Karen; and other T
ai languages such as Tai Yo, Phu Thai, and Saek. Hmong is a member of the Hmong Mi
en languages, which is now regarded as a language family of its own.
English is a mandatory school subject, but the number of fluent speakers remains
low, especially outside cities.
Religion

Main article: Religion in Thailand

Religion in Thailand, 2010[138][139]
Religion
Percent
Buddhism
?
93.2%
Islam
?
5.5%
Christianity
?
0.9%
Hinduism
?
0.1%
Unaffiliated
?
0.3%
Thailand's prevalent religion is Theravada Buddhism, which is an integral part o
f Thai identity and culture. Active participation in Buddhism is among the highe
st in the world. According to the 2000 census, 94.6% of the country's population
self-identified as Buddhists of the Theravada tradition. Muslims constitute the
second largest religious group in Thailand, comprising 4.6% of the population.[
1][140]
Islam is concentrated mostly in the country's southernmost provinces: Pattani, Y
ala, Satun, Narathiwat, and part of Songkhla Chumphon, which are predominantly M
alay, most of whom are Sunni Muslims. Christians represent 0.9% of the populatio
n, with the remaining population consisting of Sikhs and Hindus, who live mostly
in the country's cities. There is also a small but historically significant Jew
ish community in Thailand dating back to the 17th century.
Culture
Main article: Culture of Thailand
See also: Music of Thailand, Isan, and Cinema of Thailand
Theravada Buddhism, highly practised in Thailand.
Thai culture has been shaped by many influences, including Indian, Lao, Burmese,
Cambodian, and Chinese.
Its traditions incorporate a great deal of influence from India, China, Cambodia
, and the rest of Southeast Asia. Thailand's national religion, Theravada Buddhi
sm, is central to modern Thai identity. Thai Buddhism has evolved over time to i
nclude many regional beliefs originating from Hinduism, animism, as well as ance
stor worship. The official calendar in Thailand is based on the Eastern version
of the Buddhist Era (BE), which is 543 years ahead of the Gregorian (Western) ca
lendar. Thus the year 2015 is 2558 BE in Thailand.
Several different ethnic groups, many of which are marginalised, populate Thaila
nd. Some of these groups spill over into Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia and Malaysia an
d have mediated change between their traditional local culture, national Thai, a
nd global cultural influences. Overseas Chinese also form a significant part of
Thai society, particularly in and around Bangkok. Their successful integration i
nto Thai society has allowed for this group to hold positions of economic and po
litical power. Thai Chinese businesses prosper as part of the larger bamboo netw
ork, a network of overseas Chinese businesses operating in the markets of Southe
ast Asia that share common family and cultural ties.[141]
Khon Show is the most stylised form of Thai performance.
The traditional Thai greeting, the wai, is generally offered first by the younge

r of the two people meeting, with their hands pressed together, fingertips point
ing upwards as the head is bowed to touch face to fingertips, usually coinciding
with the spoken words "sawatdi khrap" for male speakers, and "sawatdi kha" for
females. The elder may then respond in the same way. Social status and position,
such as in government, will also have an influence on who performs the wai firs
t. For example, although one may be considerably older than a provincial governo
r, when meeting it is usually the visitor who pays respect first. When children
leave to go to school, they are taught to wai their parents to indicate their re
spect. The wai is a sign of respect and reverence for another, similar to the na
maste greeting of India and Nepal.
As with other Asian cultures, respect towards ancestors is an essential part of
Thai spiritual practice. Thais have a strong sense of hospitality and generosity
, but also a strong sense of social hierarchy. Seniority is paramount in Thai cu
lture. Elders have by tradition ruled in family decisions or ceremonies. Older s
iblings have duties to younger ones.
Taboos in Thailand include touching someone's head or pointing with the feet, as
the head is considered the most sacred and the foot the lowest part of the body
.
Cuisine
Further information: Cuisine of Thailand
Thai cuisine blends five fundamental tastes: sweet, spicy, sour, bitter, and sal
ty. Common ingredients used in Thai cuisine include garlic, chillies, lime juice
, lemon grass, coriander, galangal, palm sugar, and fish sauce (nam pla). The st
aple food in Thailand is rice, particularly jasmine variety rice (also known as
"hom Mali" rice) which forms a part of almost every meal. Thailand was long[when
?] the world's largest exporter of rice, and Thais domestically consume over 100
of milled rice per person per year.[121] Over 5,000 varieties of rice from Thai
land are preserved in the rice gene bank of the International Rice Research Inst
itute (IRRI), based in the Philippines. The king of Thailand is the official pat
ron of IRRI.[142]
Media
Further information: Media of Thailand
Thai society has been influenced in recent years by its widely available multi-l
anguage press and media. There are some English and numerous Thai and Chinese ne
wspapers in circulation. Most Thai popular magazines use English headlines as a
chic glamour factor. Many large businesses in Bangkok operate in English as well
as other languages.
Thailand is the largest newspaper market in Southeast Asia with an estimated cir
culation of over 13 million copies daily in 2003. Even upcountry, out of Bangkok
, the media flourish. For example, according to Thailand's Public Relations Depa
rtment Media Directory 2003 2004, the nineteen provinces of Isan, Thailand's north
eastern region, hosted 116 newspapers along with radio, TV, and cable. Since the
n, another province, Bueng Kan, was incorporated, totalling twenty provinces. In
addition, a military coup on 22 May 2014 led to severe state restrictions on al
l media and forms of expression.
Units of measurement
Further information: Thai units of measurement
Thailand generally uses the metric system, but traditional units of measurement
for land area are used, and imperial units of measurement are occasionally used
for building materials, such as wood and plumbing fixtures. Years are numbered a
s B.E. (Buddhist Era) in educational settings, the civil service, government, an
d on contracts and newspaper datelines. In banking, and increasingly in industry
and commerce, standard Western year (Christian or Common Era) counting is the s
tandard practice.[143]

Sports
See also: Thailand at the Olympics, Rugby union in Thailand, Golf in Thailand, a
nd Football in Thailand
Muay Thai, Thailand's signature sport
Muay Thai (Thai: ??????, RTGS: Muai Thai, [muaj t?aj], lit. "Thai boxing") is a
native form of kickboxing and Thailand's signature sport. It incorporates kicks
, punches, knees and elbow strikes in a ring with gloves similar to those used i
n Western boxing and this has led to Thailand gaining medals at the Olympic Game
s in boxing.
Association football has overtaken muay Thai as the most widely followed sport i
n contemporary Thai society. Thailand national football team has played the AFC
Asian Cup six times and reached the semifinals in 1972. The country has hosted t
he Asian Cup twice, in 1972 and in 2007. The 2007 edition was co-hosted together
with Indonesia, Malaysia and Vietnam. It is not uncommon to see Thais cheering
their favourite English Premier League teams on television and walking around in
replica kit. Another widely enjoyed pastime, and once a competitive sport, is k
ite flying.
Rajamangala National Stadium
Volleyball is rapidly growing as one of the most popular
as often participated World Championship, World Cup, and
Championship. They also won Asian Championship twice and
success of the women team, the men team has been growing

sport. The Women team h

World Grand Prix Asian
Asian Cup once. By the
as well.

Takraw (Thai: ??????) is a sport native to Thailand, in which the players hit a
rattan ball and are only allowed to use their feet, knees, chest, and head to to
uch the ball. Sepak takraw is a form of this sport which is similar to volleybal
l. The players must volley a ball over a net and force it to hit the ground on t
he opponent's side. It is also a popular sport in other countries in Southeast A
sia. A rather similar game but played only with the feet is Buka ball.
Snooker has enjoyed increasing popularity in Thailand in recent years, with inte
rest in the game being stimulated by the success of Thai snooker player James Wa
ttana in the 1990s.[144] Other notable players produced by the country include R
atchayothin Yotharuck, Noppon Saengkham and Dechawat Poomjaeng.[145]
Rugby is also a growing sport in Thailand with the Thailand national rugby union
team rising to be ranked 61st in the world.[146] Thailand became the first coun
try in the world to host an international 80 welterweight rugby tournament in 20
05.[147] The national domestic Thailand Rugby Union (TRU) competition includes s
everal universities and services teams such as Chulalongkorn University, Mahasar
akham University, Kasetsart University, Prince of Songkla University, Thammasat
University, Rangsit University, the Thai Police, the Thai Army, the Thai Navy an
d the Royal Thai Air Force. Local sports clubs which also compete in the TRU inc
lude the British Club of Bangkok, the Southerners Sports Club (Bangkok) and the
Royal Bangkok Sports Club.
Thailand has been called the golf capital of Asia[148] as it is a popular destin
ation for golf. The country attracts a large number of golfers from Japan, Korea
, Singapore, South Africa, and Western countries who come to play golf in Thaila
nd every year.[149] The growing popularity of golf, especially among the middle
classes and immigrants, is evident as there are more than 200 world-class golf c
ourses nationwide,[150] and some of them are chosen to host PGA and LPGA tournam
ents, such as Amata Spring Country Club, Alpine Golf and Sports Club, Thai Count
ry Club, and Black Mountain Golf Club.
Basketball is a growing sport in Thailand, especially on the professional sports
club level. The Chang Thailand Slammers won the 2011 ASEAN Basketball League Ch

ampionship.[151] The Thailand national basketball team had its most successful y
ear at the 1966 Asian Games where it won the silver medal.[152]
Other sports in Thailand are slowly growing as the country develops its sporting
infrastructure. The success in sports like weightlifting and taekwondo at the l
ast two summer Olympic Games has demonstrated that boxing is no longer the only
medal option for Thailand.
Sporting venues
Thammasat Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in Bangkok. It is currently used mo
stly for football matches. The stadium holds 25,000. It is on Thammasat Universi
ty's Rangsit campus. It was built for the 1998 Asian Games by construction firm
Christiani and Nielsen, the same company that constructed the Democracy Monument
in Bangkok.
Rajamangala National Stadium is the biggest sporting arena in Thailand. It curre
ntly has a capacity of 65,000. It is in Bang Kapi, Bangkok. The stadium was buil
t in 1998 for the 1998 Asian Games and is the home stadium of the Thailand natio
nal football team.
The well-known Lumpini Boxing Stadium will host its final Muay Thai boxing match
es on 7 February 2014 after the venue first opened in December 1956. Managed by
the Royal Thai Army, the stadium was officially selected for the purpose of muay
Thai bouts following a competition that was staged on 15 March 1956. From 11 Fe
bruary 2014, the stadium will relocate to Ram Intra Road, due to the new venue's
capacity to accommodate audiences of up to 3,500. Foreigners typically pay betw
een 1,000 2,000 baht to view a match, with prices depending on the location of the
seating.[153]
Sport events
Multi-sport event
Games Events Venues
Universiade (FISU)
2007 Summer Universiade
Bangkok
Asian Games (OCA)
1966 Asian Games
Bangkok
1970 Asian Games
Bangkok
1978 Asian Games
Bangkok
1998 Asian Games
Bangkok
Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games (OCA)
2005 Asian Indoor Games
Bangkok
2009 Asian Martial Arts Games Bangkok
Asian Beach Games (OCA)
2014 Asian Beach Games Phuket
Southeast Asian Games (SEAGF) 1959 Southeast Asian Peninsular Games Bangkok
1967 Southeast Asian Peninsular Games Bangkok
1975 Southeast Asian Peninsular Games Bangkok
1985 Southeast Asian Games
Bangkok
1995 Southeast Asian Games
Chiang Mai
2007 Southeast Asian Games
Nakhon Ratchasima
ASEAN Para Games (APSF)
2008 ASEAN Para Games Nakhon Ratchasima
ASEAN University Games (AUSC) 1981 ASEAN University Games
Chiang Mai
1988 ASEAN University Games
Chonburi
1999 ASEAN University Games
Bangkok
2010 ASEAN University Games
Chiang Mai
ASEAN School Games (ASSC)
2009 ASEAN School Games
Suphan Buri
2016 ASEAN School Games
Chiang Mai
International sports federations events
Summer Olympics Federations
Sports Events Years
Archery (WA)
WA World Para-archery Championships
WA World University Archery Championships
2002

2013

Badminton (BWF)
BWF World Men's Team Championships
1976
BWF World Junior Championships 2013
BWF World Badminton Grand Prix Finals 1994
BWF Badminton World Cup
1988
Basketball (FIBA)
FIBA Under-19 World Championship for Women
2009
Boxing (AIBA) AIBA World Boxing Championships
2003
Football (FIFA)
FIFA U-19 Women's World Championship
2004
FIFA Futsal World Cup 2012
Table tennis (ITTF)
ITTF World Tour Grand Finals
2014
Taekwondo (WTF)
WTF World Cup Taekwondo Team Championships
2006
Volleyball (FIVB)
FIVB Volleyball World Grand Prix
2016
FIVB Volleyball Men's U21 World Championship
1999
FIVB Volleyball Women's U20 World Championship 1995, 2003, 2007
FIVB Volleyball Boys' U19 World Championship
2003
FIVB Volleyball Girls' U18 World Championship 1997, 2009, 2013
FIVB Beach Volleyball U19 World Championships 2003
Weightlifting (IWF)
IWF World Weightlifting Championships 1997, 2007
IWF World University Weightlifting Championships
2014
IWF World Youth Weightlifting Championships
2009
Wrestling (UWW)
UWW World Beach Wrestling Championships
2012
Beauty pageants
Women's pageants
Events Years Contestant
Awards
Miss Universe 1965
Apasra Hongsakula
Winner
1966
Cheranand Savetanand
2nd Runner-up
1988
Porntip Nakhirunkanok Winner
Miss World
1989
Prathumrat Woramali
3rd Runner-up
1997
Tanya Suesuntisook
4rd Runner-up
Miss International
1968
Rungtip Pinyo 4th Runner-up
1969
Usanee Phenphimol
4th Runner-up
1971
Supuk Likitkul 1st Runner-up
2010
Piyaporn Deejing
1st Runner-up
2014
Punika Kulsoontornrut 2nd Runner-up
Miss Earth
2010
Watsaporn Wattanakoon 2nd Runner-up
2013
Punika Kulsoontornrut 2nd Runner-up
International rankings
Main article: International rankings of Thailand
Organisation
Survey Ranking
Heritage Foundation
Indices of Economic Freedom
60 of 179
A.T. Kearney/Foreign Policy Magazine
Global Services Location Index 2011
7 of 50
Reporters Without Borders
Worldwide Press Freedom Index, 2014
130 of 1
80
Transparency International
Corruption Perceptions Index
80 of 179
United Nations Development Programme
Human Development Index
89 of 18
7
World Economic Forum
Global Competitiveness Report (2008)
34 of 134[154]
World Gold Council
Gold reserve (2010)
24 of 111
HSBC International
Expat Explorer Survey (2012)
2 of 30[155]
See also
Thailand portal iconAsia portal iconGeography portal Southeast Asia portal
Book icon
Book: Thailand
Outline of Thailand
Index of Thailand-related articles
Royal Thai Police

Law of Thailand
Telecommunications in Thailand
Thai ceramics
Thai temple art and architecture
Transport in Thailand
Corruption in Thailand
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