Country Facts

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Size:
• Total area: 513,115km2
• Land: 511 770 km²
• Water: 2,230 km2 (.4%)

Population:
• 2009 estimate: 63,389,730
• 2000 census: 60,606,94
• Density: 132.1/ km2

Neighboring country:
The immediate neighboring countries: Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia

Currency:
• Currency of Thailand: Bath
• Code: THB
• Subunit: Satang
• 1 bath = 100 satang
• Banknotes:
Freq. used: ฿20, ฿50, ฿100, ฿500, ฿1000;
Rarely used: ฿10.
• Central Bank: Bank of Thailand
• Mint: The Royal Thai Mint

Politics:
The politics of Thailand are currently conducted within the framework of a constitutional democratic monarchy, whereby the Prime Minister is the head of the government and a hereditary monarch is head of the state. The judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislative branches.

Thailand had been a kingdom under absolute monarchy for over seven centuries before 1932. Thailand since 1932 has been a constitutional monarchy under a parliamentary democratic system. The country emerged as a modern nation state after the foundation of the Chakri Dynasty and the city of Bangkok in 1782. Thailand had been a kingdom under absolute monarchy for over seven centuries before 1932, which weakened the democratic system and the country was ruled by the military leaders, the most recent in 2006. Under the 2007 Constitution (drafted by a military appointed council, but approved by a referendum), the present structure of the Government of Thailand was established. All branches of the government are located within Bangkok, the capital city of Thailand.
• Main political parties: Democratic Party, Proud Thais Party, Thai Nation Development Party, For the Motherland Party, Thais United National Development Party, Social Action Party, For Thais Party, Royalist People’s Party etc.
• Political parties in Thailand:
In Governing Coalition: Democratic Party, Thai Nation Development Party, For the Motherland Party, Thais United National Development Party.
In Opposition: Pheu Thai Party, Royalist People’s Party.
New formed parties: New Political Party
Historic parties: Khana Ratsadon-Communist Party of Thailand- National Development Party-Thai United- New Aspiration Party-Social Action Party-Great People’s Party.
Banned parties: Thai Rak Thai-People’s Power Party-Thai Nation Party-Natural Democratic Party.
• The present Cabinet has been active since the 17 December 2008, when the King officially swore in its members. The Cabinet is made up of five parties that form the current governing coalition: Democrat, Chart Thai Pattena, Bhumjaithai, For the Motherland Party and the Thais United National Development Party and the Friends of Newin Group. The Cabinet comprises 21 Ministers of State, 3 Deputy Prime Ministers and 11 Deputy Ministers. (Abhisit Vejjajiva, Prime Minister since December 2008.)

Language:
Official language: Thailand
Written script: Thai Script

Religion:
• Buddhism (the first largest religious group according to the last cencsus, 2000)
• Islam (the second largest religious group according to the last cencsus, 2000)
• Hinduism
• Judaism
• Sikhism
• Christianity

Culture:
The Thai culture is heavily influenced by its religions and Chinese and Indian culture as well which is reflected in its arts, literature, drama, music, cuisine, social customs and traditional rituals. Thai cinemas reflect deferent aspects of life through movies of action, comedies, crime, gay films, historical epics, horror, musicals, romance, short films etc.under the security of the Censorship Board. The Thai film industry organizes film festivals to honor legend creations. Thailand has a well-developed media sector, especially Southeast Asian standards. Compared to other countries in the region, the Thai media is considered relatively free, although the government continues to exercise considerable control, especially over broadcast media through TV, radio, newspapers, internet etc.

Sports: The most popular team sport in Thailand is football (also know as association of football or soccer). There are several versions of the game with differing rules.

Imp cities:
• Bangkok (Capital)
• Chiang Mail
• Chiang Rai
• Phuket
• Pattaya
• Nonthaburi
• Lampang
• Nakhon Pathom
• Surat Thani etc.