Thailand is a country in Southeast Asia. It has an area of approximately 200,000 square miles, which is about the size of Texas. Thailand's capital and largest city is Bangkok. Nearly 10 million people live there. Bangkok is a huge city, but most of the country is rural. Thailand has beautiful mountains, plains and beaches with a warm, tropical climate year around.
Thailand is considered a constitutional monarchy. Thailand's king, King Bhumibol Adulyadej, is also known as Rama IX. He has reigned for 52 years as of 2008. His position has little political power, but he is worshiped and has great influence with the people.
About 65 million people live in Thailand. Nearly 90 percent of them are ethnic Thais. The rest are ethnic Chinese, other Southeast Asians and a small number of Caucasians. Thailand is a Buddhist nation. 95 percent of the population follows Theravada Buddhism while about 5 percent follow Islam. About 85 percent of the people speak Thai, with the rest speaking regional languages. English is widely spoken as a second language in Thailand.
Thailand has faced several economic challenges. The 2004 tsunami and 1997 Asian financial crisis were both major setbacks. Thailand's economy is powered mainly by exports of natural resources and manufactured products. Natural resources include rice, timber, rubber and precious stones. Manufactured products include electronics, auto parts and petrochemicals.
Thailand has a thriving tourism industry. It has stunning natural beauty, ample cultural treasures and very friendly people. Bangkok is a thriving metropolis dotted with majestic Buddha statues and sparkling golden temples. The Grand Palace rivals any royal palace in the world. Chiang Mai is known as the cultural center of the Northern Thailand. It is filled with temples and is an ideal launching point for expeditions to visit remote hill tribes. Thailand boasts many spectacular beaches including those in Phuket in the south.
