Introduction Of Thailand

cctv.com 10-17-2003 14:28

Brief history: A unified Thai kingdom was established in the mid-14th century. Known as Siam until 1939, Thailand is the only Southeast Asian country never to have been taken over by a European power. A bloodless revolution in 1932 led to a constitutional monarchy. In alliance with Japan during World War II, Thailand became a US ally following the conflict.

Location: Southeastern Asia, bordering the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand, southeast of Burma

Area: total: 514,000 sq km

Land boundaries: total: 4,863 km

Border countries: Burma 1,800 km, Cambodia 803 km, Laos 1,754 km, Malaysia 506 km

Population: 64,265,276 (July 2003 est.)

Population growth rate: 0.95% (2003 est.)

Nationality: noun: Thai (singular and plural) adjective: Thai

Ethnic groups: Thai 75%, Chinese 14%, other 11%

Religions: Buddhism 95%, Muslim 3.8%, Christianity 0.5%, Hinduism 0.1%, other 0.6% (1991)

Languages: Thai, English (secondary language of the elite), ethnic and regional dialects

Country name: conventional long form: Kingdom of Thailand

conventional short form: Thailand

former: Siam

Capital: Bangkok

Currency: baht (THB)

Currency code: THB

Exchange rates: baht per US dollar - 42.9601 (2002), 44.4319 (2001), 40.1118 (2000), 37.8137 (1999), 41.3594 (1998)

Editor:Xiao  Source: