Thailand, officially known as the Kingdom of Thailand, is a country located in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by Myanmar to the north and west, Laos to the northeast, Cambodia to the southeast, and Malaysia to the south. The country has a population of around 69 million people and its capital and largest city is Bangkok.

Thailand is known for its tropical beaches, ancient temples, and vibrant culture. The country has a rich history, dating back to the 13th century when it was known as the Kingdom of Sukhothai. It was later ruled by several kingdoms, including the Kingdom of Ayutthaya and the Kingdom of Siam, before becoming a constitutional monarchy in 1932.

Thailand has a diverse economy, with tourism, agriculture, and manufacturing being its main industries. It is one of the world's top tourist destinations, attracting millions of visitors each year with its stunning beaches, ancient temples, and vibrant nightlife.

The official language of Thailand is Thai, and the majority of the population practices Buddhism. The country has a constitutional monarchy system of government, with the king as the head of state and a prime minister as the head of government. The current king is King Maha Vajiralongkorn, who ascended to the throne in 2016.

Thailand is known for its delicious cuisine, which features a mix of sweet, sour, and spicy flavors. Popular dishes include Pad Thai, Tom Yum soup, and Green Curry. Thai people are also known for their friendly and welcoming nature, which has earned the country the nickname "Land of Smiles".

However, Thailand faces several challenges, including political instability, poverty, and corruption. The country has also been affected by natural disasters such as floods and earthquakes. Despite these challenges, Thailand remains a popular destination for tourists and a vibrant hub for business and trade in Southeast Asia.

Telephone Code
66

Local Emergency Phone
Ambulance: 191; Fire: 199; Police: 191

Vaccinations
An International Certificate of Vaccination for yellow fever is required for travelers arriving from countries with a risk of yellow fever transmission and for travelers having transited through the airport of a country with risk of yellow fever transmission. See WHO recommendations.

Climate
Tropical; rainy, warm, cloudy southwest monsoon (mid-May to September); dry, cool northeast monsoon (November to mid-March); southern isthmus always hot and humid

Currency (Code)
Baht (THB)

Electricity/Voltage/Plug Type(s)
230 V / 50 Hz / plug types(s): A, B, C, O

Major Languages
Thai, Malay, Burmese

Major Religions
Buddhist 94.6%, Muslim 4.3%, Christian 1%

Potable Water
Opt for bottled water

International Driving Permit
Suggested

Road Driving Side
Left

Tourist Destinations
Bangkok (includes Grand Palace, Wat Phra Kaew & Wat Pho, Prasart Museum); Railay Beach; Koh Phi Phi; Sunday Walking Street; Khao Yai National Park; Ban Chiang; Chang Mai

Major Sports
Muay thai (Thai boxing), soccer, badminton, golf, tennis

Cultural Practices
Marigolds and carnations are associated with funerals and thus make poor gifts.

Tipping Guidelines
A 10% tip is adequate in restaurants, but check to see if a service charge has been added; if so, leave behind some loose change. It is common to round up the fare to the nearest bill in taxi cabs. Most hotels include a 10% service charge in the bill, but you can tip bellhops $1-2 (USD) for carrying bags to a room. Leave housekeeping 20 baht under your pillow.

Souvenirs
Buddha statues, silk harem pants and other fabric items, Hill Tribe bags, spices and sauces

Traditional Cuisine
Pad Thai — stir-fried rice noodles with scrambled eggs, fish sauce, dried shrimp, tamarind pulp, bean sprouts, roasted crushed peanuts, and tofu; if meat is added it is typically chicken or pork

Geography
Area
total: 513,120 sq km
land: 510,890 sq km
water: 2,230 sq km

Climate
tropical; rainy, warm, cloudy southwest monsoon (mid-May to September); dry, cool northeast monsoon (November to mid-March); southern isthmus always hot and humid

Natural resources
tin, rubber, natural gas, tungsten, tantalum, timber, lead, fish, gypsum, lignite, fluorite, arable land

People and Society
Population
69,794,997 (2023 est.)

Ethnic groups
Thai 97.5%, Burmese 1.3%, other 1.1%, unspecified <0.1% (2015 est.)

Languages
Thai (official) only 90.7%, Thai and other languages 6.4%, only other languages 2.9% (includes Malay, Burmese); note - data represent population by language(s) spoken at home; English is a secondary language of the elite (2010 est.)

Religions
Buddhist 94.6%, Muslim 4.3%, Christian 1%, other <0.1%, none <0.1% (2015 est.)

Population growth rate
0.2% (2023 est.)

Government
Government type
constitutional monarchy

Capital
name: Bangkok

Economy
Economic overview
upper middle-income Southeast Asian economy; substantial infrastructure; major electronics, food, and automobile parts exporter; globally used currency; extremely low unemployment, even amid COVID-19; ongoing Thailand 4.0 economic development

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$1.223 trillion (2021 est.)

Real GDP per capita
$17,100 (2021 est.)

Agricultural products
sugar cane, cassava, rice, oil palm fruit, rubber, maize, tropical fruit, poultry, pineapples, mangoes/guavas

Industries
tourism, textiles and garments, agricultural processing, beverages, tobacco, cement, light manufacturing such as jewelry and electric appliances, computers and parts, integrated circuits, furniture, plastics, automobiles and automotive parts, agricultural machinery, air conditioning and refrigeration, ceramics, aluminum, chemical, environmental management, glass, granite and marble, leather, machinery and metal work, petrochemical, petroleum refining, pharmaceuticals, printing, pulp and paper, rubber, sugar, rice, fishing, cassava, world's second-largest tungsten producer and third-largest tin producer

Exports
$296.002 billion (2021 est.)

Exports - partners
United States 13%, China 12%, Japan 10%, Vietnam 5% (2019)

Exports - commodities
office machinery/parts, cars and vehicle parts, integrated circuits, delivery trucks, gold (2019)

Imports
$295.78 billion (2021 est.)

Imports - partners
China 22%, Japan 14%, United States 7%, Malaysia 6% (2019)

Imports - commodities
crude petroleum, integrated circuits, natural gas, vehicle parts, gold (2019)