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| Social &
Culture |
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| Historical
Background |
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| Thailand has a wide variety of fauna
and flora and boasts wide ethnic diversity
as well. Thanks to its abundant resources and fertile
land, it has attracted peoples of many lands, who
have settled and thrived here.
The origin of the Thais
is not agreed on among academics. Three decades ago
it could be said with presumed certainty that the Thais
originated in northwestern Szechuan in China about
4,500 years ago and later migrated south to their present
homeland. However, this theory has been altered by
the discovery of remarkable prehistoric artifacts in
the village of Ban Chiang in the Nong Han District
of Udon Thani Province in the Northeast of Thailand.
These include evidence of bronze metallurgy dating
back 3,500 years, as well as other indications of a
culture far more sophisticated than previously believed
by archaeologists. It now appears that Thais might
have originated here in Thailand and later scattered
to various parts of Asia, including some parts of China.
"Siam" is the name by which the country was known to
the world until 1939 and again between 1945 and 1949.
On May 11, 1949, an official proclamation declared that
the country would henceforth be known as "Thailand."
The word "Thai" means "Free," and therefore "Thailand"
means "Land of the Free."
Source: Thailand into the 2000's
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| Geography
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Situated in the heart of the Southeast
Asian mainland and covering an area of 513,115 sq. km.,
from North 5 o30" to 21o and from East 97 o30" to 105o
30", Thailand borders the Lao People's Democratic Republic,
Cambodia and the Gulf of Thailand to the east, Myanmar
and the Indian Ocean to the west, and Malaysia to the
south. Thailand has maximum dimensions of about 2,500
kilometers north to south and 1,250 kilometers east
to west, with a coastline of approximately 1,840 kilometers
on the Gulf of Thailand and 865 kilometers along the
Indian Ocean.
Thailand is the world's 51st-largest country in terms
of land area, making it about the size of Spain. It
has a surface area of approximately 513,000 km2 (198,000
sq mi).It is the 20th most populous country.
Land Use
arable land: 27.54%
permanent crops: 6.93%
other: 65.53% (2005)
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| Topography |
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 Thailand
is divided into four natural regions:
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The North |
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The Central Plain, or Chao Phraya River Basin |
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The Northeast, or the Korat Plateau |
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The South, or Southern Peninsula. |
The North is a mountainous region comprising natural
forests, ridges and deep, narrow, alluvial valleys. The
major city in the region is Chiang Mai.
Central
Thailand , the basin of the Chao Phraya River, is
a lush, fertile valley. It is the richest and most extensive
rice-producing area in the country and has often been
called the "Rice Bowl of Asia." Bangkok, the capital
of Thailand, is located in this region. It is also
the country's largest city
The Northeast
region is arid, characterized by rolling surfaces
and undulating hills. Harsh climatic conditions often
result in this region being subjected to floods and droughts.
The Southern region ranges from hilly to mountainous,
with thick virgin forests and rich deposits of minerals
and ores. The region is the center for production of rubber
and cultivation of other tropical crops.
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| Climate |
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Thailand is a warm and rather humid tropical country.
The climate is monsoonal, marked by a pronounced rainy
season lasting from about May to September and a relatively
dry season for the remainder of the year. Temperatures
are highest in March and April and lowest in December
and January. The average temperature is 28.1 o C.
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| Population |
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| The population of Thailand, estimated at 64.86 million
in 2006, includes ethnic Chinese, Malays, Cambodians,
Vietnamese, Indians, and others. Immigration is controlled
by a quota system. |
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| Religion |
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| Buddhism, the national religion, is the professed
faith of 95 percent of the population. Islam (3.8%),
Christianity (0.5%), Hinduism (0.1%), others (0.6%) are
embraced by the rest of the population. There is absolute
religious freedom. The King of Thailand, under the constitution
and in practice, is patron of all major religions. |
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| Language |
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| The official national language is Thai. It is tonal,
uninflected, and predominantly uses monosyllabic words.
Most polysyllabic words in the vocabulary have been borrowed,
mainly from Khmer, Pali and Sanskrit. Dialects are spoken
in rural areas. Other languages are Chinese and Malay.
English, a compulsory subject in public schools, is widely
spoken and understood, particularly in Bangkok and other
major cities. |
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| The Monarchy |
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The words of the Thai Royal Anthem, performed at most
official ceremonies and before the start of every movie,
may strike a Western ear as somewhat archaic.
After all, the system of absolute monarchy ended in 1932,
following a revolution staged by a small group of disaffected
civil servants and military men. Since then, Thai kings
have ruled under a constitution; their powers theoretically
no greater than those of European monarchs. Yet, since
he was officially crowned in 1946, His Majesty King Bhumibol
Adulyadej has assumed the role of constitutional monarch
and has worked tirelessly on behalf of his people, gaining
a measure of personal devotion that is probably more intense
than that felt for any of his all-powerful ancestors.
It has been said that Their Majesties King Bhumibol and
Queen Sirikit are the hardest working royal couple in
the world with a work load once estimated to be equal
to at least one function every day of the year. Of the
several institutions that form the foundation of modern
Thai life, the one His Majesty represents is not only
the most visible but also the most revered.
His Majesty has devoted himself to public service and
made enduring contributions to Thailand's development,
initiating vital "royally-suggested" projects such as
crop rotation, fish breeding, irrigation, natural watershed
programs, dairy farming, reforestation, road building,
and the establishment of self-help villages.
His Majesty has traveled countrywide by helicopter, jeep,
train, boat and on foot, often to the remotest corners
of his Kingdom, in pursuit of his projects. He is held
in high esteem nationwide for his profound interest in
his people's welfare.
Her Majesty Queen Sirikit frequently accompanies His Majesty
and shares a close interest in the welfare of rural Thais.
Her Majesty has wholeheartedly helped establish foundations
such as SUPPORT which assists Thailand's rural population
to produce and sell traditional craft products for supplementary
income.
The Thai monarchy is revered and regarded as the central,
unifying element in the pillars of the nation. King Bhumibol
was born on December 5, 1927, ascended the throne on June
9, 1946, and married Her Majesty Queen Sirikit on April
28, 1950.
Their Majesties have four children; Their Royal Highnesses
Princess Ubol Ratana, Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn,
Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, and Princess Chulabhorn.
The Royal Couple are conscientiously assisted by their
children, who frequently accompany them and represent
Their Majesties at official functions and ceremonies. |
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| Flag |
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| Thailand's national flag, ceremoniously raised each
morning at 08.00 hrs and lowered at 18.00 hrs in every
town and village, is composed of five horizontal bands
of red, white, and blue. Outer bands of red representing
the nation enclose equal inner bands of white evoking
religion. The blue band, occupying the central one-third
of the total area, symbolizes the monarchy. The harmony
of design expresses the complementary nature of these
three pillars of the Thai nation. The tri-colored flag,
first introduced by King Vajiravudh (Rama VI) in 1917,
replaced an earlier design which featured a white elephant
on a red background. |
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| Basics |
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Time Zone: GMT + 7
(12 hours ahead of East Coast USA during Standard Time)
Currency: Baht
Nationality: Thai
Climate: Tropical
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| Public Holidays |
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| Most national holidays and festivals are of a religious
nature and serve to evoke a sense of devotion to the
monarchy, the religion, and the nation. Some are celebrated
by the lunar calendar and thus vary in date from year
to year, while others are celebrated according to
the solar calendar. Bank Holidays for 2009 are:
1. Thursday 1 January New Year's Day
2. Monday 9 February Makha Bucha Day
3. Monday 6 April Chakri Day
4. Monday 13 April Songkran Festival
5. Tuesday 14 April Songkran Festival
6. Wednesday 15 April Songkran Festival
7. Friday 1 May National Labour Day
8. Tuesday 5 May Coronation Day
9. Friday 8 May Wisakha Bucha Day
10. Wednesday 1 July Mid Year Closing Day
11. Tuesday 7 July Asarnha Bucha Day
12. Wednesday 12 August H.M. the Queen's Birthday
13. Friday 23 October Chulalongkorn Day
14. Monday 5 December H.M. the King's Birthday (substitution day)
15. Thursday 10 December Constitution Day
16. Thursday 31 December New Year 's Eve
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| Government |
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In Thailand, the King is head of state, while the leader
of the government is the Prime Minister. Other chief executives
also include cabinet members and ministers, together with
high-ranking government officials in ministries, bureaus
and agencies. As head of state, the King has the authority
to exercise sovereign power through the National Assembly,
the Council of Ministers, and the Courts. The Prime Minister
functions in the name of the King, and is responsible
for all royal commands regarding the affairs of the State.
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| Thailand
is divided into 76 provinces (changwat), which
are grouped into 5 groups of provinces by location.
There are also 2 special governed districts
which are the capital - Bangkok (Krung Thep
Maha Nakhon in Thai ) and Pattaya. However Pattaya
is still part of Chonburi Province, while Bangkok
is at provicinial level itself. Each province
is divided into smaller districts - as of 2000
there are 795 districts (amphoe), 81 sub-districts
(king amphoe) and 50 districts of Bangkok (khet).
However, some parts of the provinces bordering
Bangkok are referred to as Greater Bangkok (pari
monthon). These Provinces include Nonthaburi,
Pathum Thani, Samut Prakan, Nakhon Pathom, Samut
Sakhon. |
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Sources include: The Public Relations Department, Thailand
Outlook, Bank of Thailand and Thailand into the 2000's
Updated10 September 2009 |
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