Хэрэглэгч:Tsatsaa/note/тайланд хуудасны эх кодыг харах

{{Инфобокс Улс
|гадаад_нэр                    =ราชอาณาจักรไทย <br />''Ratcha Anachak Thai'' 
|албан_ёсны_нэр                =Тайландийн вант улс 
|богино_нэр                    =Тайланд
|далбааны_зураг                =Flag of Thailand.svg
|сүлдний_зураг                 =Emblem of Thailand.svg
|сүлдний_төрөл                 =Төрийн
|үндэсний_уриа                 =''[[Phleng Chat]]''
|төрийн_дуулал                 =''[[Phleng Sansoen Phra Barami]]'' 
|газрын_зураг                  =LocationThailand.svg
|нийслэл                       =[[Бангкок]]
|албан_ёсны_хэлнүүд            =[[Тайланд хэл]] 
|засаглалын_хэлбэр             =Ардчилсан, үндсэн хуульт хаант засаглалтай
|удирдагчийн_цол1              =Хаан
|удирдагчийн_нэр1              =[[Бумибол Адуляадэй]] (Bhumibol Adulyadej)
|удирдагчийн_цол2              =Ерөнхий сайд
|удирдагчийн_нэр2              =[[Самак Сунаравэй]] 
|удирдагчийн_цол3              =
|удирдагчийн_нэр3              =
|тусгаар_тогтносон_үйл_явдал1  =[[Суходайн вант улс байгуулагдсан]] 
|тусгаар_тогтносон_огноо1      =1238–1368 он
|тусгаар_тогтносон_үйл_явдал2  =[[Аяатдаяан вант улс байгуулагдсан]] 
|тусгаар_тогтносон_огноо2      =1350 он
|тусгаар_тогтносон_үйл_явдал3  =[[Донбурийн вант улс байгуулагдсан]] 
|тусгаар_тогтносон_огноо3      =1764 он
|тусгаар_тогтносон_үйл_явдал4  =[[Раттанакосын вант улс байгуулагдсан]] 
|тусгаар_тогтносон_огноо4      =1782 он, 4 сар 6
|тусгаар_тогтносон_үйл_явдал5  =[[Ардчилсан, үндсэн хуульт]] 
|тусгаар_тогтносон_огноо5      =1932 он, 6 сар 24
|европын_холбоонд_элссэн_огноо =
|газар_нутаг_эрэмбэ            =49
|газар_нутаг                   =513,115
|усны_эзлэх_хувь               =0.4
|газар_нутаг_бусад             =
|газар_нутаг_бусад_нэр         =
|хүн_амын_тооцоо               =63,038,247
|хүн_ам_эрэмбэ                 =20
|хүн_амын_тооцоо_хийсэн_он     =2007 он, 12 сар
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|хүн_амын тооллого_хийсэн_он   =
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|хүн_амын нягтшил_эрэмбэ       =85
|ҮНБ                           =АНУ$519.9 тэр бум
|ҮНБ_эрэмбэ                    =21
|ҮНБ-ий_тооцоо_хийсэн_он       =2007
|1_хүнд_оногдох_ҮНБ            =АНУ$8,000
|1_хүнд_оногдох_ҮНБ_эрэмбэ     =69
|ХХИ                           =0.781
|ХХИ_эрэмбэ                    =78
|ХХИ-ий_тооцоо_хийсэн_он       =2005
|ХХИ_категори                  =
|Мөнгөн_тэмдэгт                =Батт  
|мөнгөн_тэмдэгтийн_код         =THB
|цагийн_бүс                    =+7
|цагийн_бүс_зун                =
|домэйн_нэр                    =.th
|утасны_код                    =+66
|тэмдэглэл                     =Тайланд нэр: ''Krung Thep Maha Nakhon'' юмуу ''Krung Thep'' Бүтэн нэр Крун дэп(Krung Thep) 
}}
Тайландийн вант улс (lang-th|ราชอาณาจักรไทย) нь [[зүүн өмнөд ази]] тивд орших орон юм. Зүүн талаараа [[Лаос]] болон [[Камбож]] улстай; урд талаараа  [[Тайландын далай]] болон [[Малайз]] улстай; баруун талаараа [[Андаманы Тэнгис]] болон [[Мьянмар]] улстай хиллэнэ. Нийслэл [[Бангкок]] нь Тайландын хамгийн том хот юм.

== Нэр == 
Улсын албан ёсны нэрийг '''Сиам''' (สยาม)гэдэг байсныг 1939 оны 6 сарын 23 нд ''Тайланд'' болгож өөрчилсөн; 1945оны 5 сарын 11-нээс - 1949 оны хооронд '''Сиам''' нэрийг дахин хэрэглэж байсан. ''Thai'' (ไทย) гэдэг нь олон хүмүүсийн боддог шиг Тай хэлний "чөлөөт" гэсэн утгатай ''Tai'' (ไท)  гэдэг нь үгнээс үүсээгүй байна. Энэ ''Tai'' (ไท) гэдэг нь Тайландын төв орчмын нэгэн овог аймгийн нэр байжээ.

Харин Тайландын алдартай эрдэмтэн судалгаагаараа Тай (ไท) гэдэг нь жирийн ''хүн'', ''хүмүүн бие'' гэсэн утгыг илэрхийлнэ гэж

A famous Thai scholar argued that Tai (ไท) simply means "people" or "human being" since his investigation shows that in some rural areas the word "Tai" was used instead of the usual Thai word "khon" (คน) for people <ref>จิตร ภูมิศักดิ์ 1976: "ความเป็นมาของคำสยาม ไทย ลาวและขอม และลักษณะทางสังคม ของชื่อชนชาติ" (Jid Phumisak 1976: "Coming Into Existence for the Siamese Words for Thai, Laotian and Khmer and Societal Characteristics for Nation-names")</ref>. 

Энэ үг нь нутгийнханы дунд ''Чөлөөт газар'' гэж яригддаг байжээ.
With that in mind the locals seemed to have also accepted the alternative meaning and will verbally state that it means "Land of the free". {{fact|date=April 2008}}


''Ratcha Anachak Thai'' гэдэг нь "Тайландын вант улс" буюу "Тайгийн вант улс" гэдэг утгатай. Нэрний бүрэлдэхүүн хэсэгт: ''-Ratcha-'' ([[санскрит хэл]]ний ''raja'', утга нь "хаан, төр, вант улс, нутаг") ; ''-ana-'' нь ( [[Пали хэл|Pāli]]ний , " эрх мэдэл, тушаал, ноёрхол, хүч чадал", энэ нь санскрит хэлэнд ижил утгатай) ''-chak'' (санскрит хэлний "жолоо", хүч чадал, эрх мэдлийн бэлэг тэмдэг гэсэн утгатай).


== Etymology ==
The country's official name was '''Siam''' ({{lang-th|สยาม}}; {{IPA2|saˈjaːm}}, {{RTGS|Sayam origin unknown}}) until [[23 June]] [[1939]],<ref name="ThaiCSM">[http://www.csmngt.com/thailand_history.htm Thailand (Siam) History], CSMngt-Thai.</ref> when it was changed to Thailand; it was renamed Siam between 1945 and [[11 May]] [[1949]], after which the name Thailand was once again adopted. The word ''Thai'' (ไทย) is not, as commonly believed to be, derived from the word ''Tai'' (ไท) meaning "free" in the [[Thai language]]; it is, however, the name of an [[ethnic group]] from the central plains (the [[Thai people]]).{{Fact|date=November 2007}} A famous Thai scholar argued that Tai (ไท) simply means "people" or "human being" since his investigation shows that in some rural areas the word "Tai" was used instead of the usual Thai word "khon" (คน) for people <ref>จิตร ภูมิศักดิ์ 1976: "ความเป็นมาของคำสยาม ไทย ลาวและขอม และลักษณะทางสังคม ของชื่อชนชาติ" (Jid Phumisak 1976: "Coming Into Existence for the Siamese Words for Thai, Laotian and Khmer and Societal Characteristics for Nation-names")</ref>. With that in mind the locals seemed to have also accepted the alternative meaning and will verbally state that it means "Land of the free". {{fact|date=April 2008}}

''Ratcha Anachak Thai'' means "Kingdom of Thailand" or "Kingdom of Thai". Etymologically, its components are: ''-Ratcha-'' (from Sanskrit ''[[raja]]'', meaning "king, royal, realm", from Sanskrit) ; ''-ana-'' (from [[Pāli language|Pāli]] ''{{IPA|āṇā}}'', "authority, command, power", itself from Sanskrit ''{{IPA|ājñā}}'', same meaning) ''-chak'' (from Sanskrit ''[[chakra]]'', meaning "wheel", a symbol of power and rule).

== Түүх  ==
{{main|History of Thailand}}
{{see also|Peopling of Thailand}}

The region known today as Thailand has been inhabited by humans since the [[paleolithic]] үе (ойролцоогоор 10000 жилийн өмнө). Prior to the fall of the [[Khmer Empire]] in the 13th century, various states thrived there, such as the various [[Tai peoples|Tai]], [[Mon (ethnic group)|Mon]], [[Khmer people|Khmer]] and [[Malays (ethnic group)|Malay]] kingdoms, as seen through the numerous [[archaeological]] sites and artifacts that are scattered throughout the Siamese landscape. Prior to the 12th century however, the first [[Thai people|Thai]] or Siamese state is traditionally considered to be the [[Buddhist]] kingdom of [[Sukhothai kingdom|Sukhothai]], which was founded in 1238.  

Following the decline and fall of the Khmer empire in the 13th - 14th century, various Buddhist [[Tai]] Kingdoms of Sukhothai, [[Lanna]] and Lan chang were on the ascendancy.  However, a century later, Sukhothai's power was overshadowed by the new [[Ayutthaya Kingdom|kingdom of Ayutthaya]], established in the mid-14th century. 

After Ayutthaya fell in 1767 to the Burmese, [[Thonburi]] was the capital of Thailand for a brief period under King [[Taksin]] the Great. The current (Rattanakosin) era of Thai history began in 1782 following the establishment of [[Bangkok]] as capital of the [[Chakri dynasty]] under King [[Rama I]] the Great. 

Siam retains an immemorial tradition of trade with its neighboring states and the cultures of the Indian ocean and the [[South China sea]]. [[Europe]]an trade and influence arrived to Thailand in the 16th century, beginning with the [[Portuguese people|Portuguese]]. Despite European pressure, Thailand is the only [[Southeast Asia]]n nation never to have been colonised. Two main reasons for this were that Thailand had a long succession of very able rulers in the 1800s and that it was able to exploit the rivalry and tension between the [[French Indochina|French]] and the [[British empire|British]]. As a result, the country remained as a [[buffer state]] between parts of [[Southeast Asia]] that were colonized by the two [[colonial powers]]. Despite this, Western influence led to many reforms in the 19th century and major concessions, most notably being the loss of large territory on the east side of the [[Mekong]] to the [[French Indochina|French]] and the step by step absorption by Britain of the Shan ([[Thai Yai]]) States (now in [[Burma]]) and the [[Malay Peninsula]]. The loss initially included Penang and Tumasik and eventually culminated in the loss of three predominantly ethnic-Malay southern provinces, which later became [[Malaysia]]'s three northern states, under the [[Anglo-Siamese Treaty of 1909]].

In 1932, a bloodless revolution resulted in a new [[constitutional monarchy]].  During [[World War II]], following an invasion and brief resistance, Thailand became an ally of Japan while at the same time maintaining an active anti-Japanese resistance movement known as the [[Seri Thai]].  After the war, Thailand emerged as an ally of the [[United States]]. As with many of the developing nations during the [[Cold War]], Thailand then went through decades of political transgression characterised by [[coup d'état|coups d'état]] as one military regime replaced another, but eventually progressed towards a stable prosperity and [[democracy]] in the 1980s.

In 1997, Thailand was hit with the [[Asian financial crisis]] and the Thai [[baht]] for a short time peaked at 56 baht to the US dollar compared to about 25 baht to the dollar before 1997. Since then, the baht has regained most of its strength and as of 23 May 2007, is valued at 32 baht to the [[US dollar]]. 

The [[Thai solar calendar|official calendar]] in Thailand is based on Eastern version of the [[Buddhist calendar|Buddhist Era]], which is 543 years ahead of the [[Gregorian calendar|Gregorian (western) calendar]]. For example, the year AD 2008 is called 2551 BE in Thailand.

== Politics and government ==
{{main|Politics of Thailand}}
{{seealso|Constitutions of Thailand}}
=== History ===
Since the [[Siamese coup d'état of 1932|political reform]] of the [[absolute monarchy]] in 1932, Thailand has had [[Constitutions of Thailand|17 constitutions and charters]].<ref>The Council of State, [http://www.parliament.go.th/files/library/b05.htm Constitutions of Thailand]. This list contains 2 errors: it states that the 6th constitution was promulgated in 1912 (rather than 1952), and it states that the 11th constitution was promulgated in 1976 (rather than 1974).</ref><ref name="Thanet">Thanet Aphornsuvan, {{PDFlink|[http://rspas.anu.edu.au/pah/human_rights/papers/2001/Thanet.pdf The Search for Order: Constitutions and Human Rights in Thai Political History]|152&nbsp;[[Kibibyte|KiB]]<!-- application/pdf, 155909 bytes -->}}, 2001 Symposium: Constitutions and Human Rights in a Global Age: An Asia Pacific perspective</ref> Throughout this time, the form of government has ranged from military dictatorship to electoral democracy, but all governments have acknowledged a [[List of Kings of Thailand|hereditary monarch]] as the head of state.<ref name="multiple">[http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20060919/thailand_coups_060919/20060919/ A list of previous coups in Thailand]</ref><ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,214562,00.html A list of recent coups in Thailand's history]</ref>

=== 1997 to 2006 ===
{{seealso|1997 Constitution of Thailand}}
The 1997 Constitution was the first constitution to be drafted by popularly-elected Constitutional Drafting Assembly, and was popularly called the "People's Constitution".<ref name="Criminal Justice">Kittipong Kittayarak, {{PDFlink|[http://www.unafei.or.jp/english/pdf/PDF_rms/no60/ch06.pdf The Thai Constitution of 1997 and its Implication on Criminal Justice Reform]|221&nbsp;[[Kibibyte|KiB]]<!-- application/pdf, 227040 bytes -->}}</ref>

The 1997 Constitution created a [[bicameral legislature]] consisting of a 500-seat House of Representatives (สภาผู้แทนราษฎร, sapha phutan ratsadon) and a 200-seat [[Senate]] (วุฒิสภา, wuthisapha). For the first time in Thai history, both houses were directly [[Election|elected]]. Many [[human rights]] are explicitly acknowledged, and measures were established to increase the stability of elected governments. The House was elected by the first-past-the-post system, where only one candidate with a simple majority could be elected in one constituency. The Senate was elected based on the province system, where one province can return more than one Senator depending on its population size. Members of the House of Representatives served four-year terms, while Senators served six-year terms.

The court system (ศาล, saan) included a [[Constitutional Court of Thailand|constitutional court]] with jurisdiction over the constitutionality of parliamentary acts, royal decrees, and political matters.

The [[Thailand legislative election, 2001|January 2001 general election]], the first election under the 1997 Constitution, was called the most open, corruption-free election in Thai history.<ref>Robert B. Albritton and Thawilwadee Bureekul, {{PDFlink|[http://www.asianbarometer.org/newenglish/publications/workingpapers/no.28.pdf Developing Democracy under a New Constitution in Thailand]|319&nbsp;[[Kibibyte|KiB]]<!-- application/pdf, 327281 bytes -->}}, National Taiwan University and Academia Sinica Asian Barometer Project Office Working Paper Series No. 28, 2004</ref> The subsequent government was the first in Thai history to complete a 4-year term. The [[Thailand legislative election, 2005|2005 election]] had the highest voter turnout in Thai history and was noted for a marked reduction in vote-buying compared to previous elections.<ref>Pongsudhirak Thitinan, "Victory places Thaksin at crossroads", Bangkok Post, 9 February 2005</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nationmultimedia.com/Election2005/news/news.php?news=02%2F10020506.htm |date=February 10, 2005 |title=Unprecedented 72% turnout for latest poll |publisher=The Nation}}</ref><ref name="QuoVadis">Aurel Croissant and Daniel J. Pojar, Jr., [http://www.ccc.nps.navy.mil/si/2005/Jun/croissantJun05.asp Quo Vadis Thailand? Thai Politics after the 2005 Parliamentary Election], Strategic Insights, Volume IV, Issue 6 (June 2005) </ref>

In early 2006, significant pressure from corruption allegations led [[Thaksin Shinawatra]] to call for a snap election. The opposition boycotted the elections and Thaksin was re-elected. Pressure continued to build, leading to a military coup on [[19 September]] [[2006]].

=== After the 2006 coup ===
{{seealso|2006 Thai coup d'état}}
Without meeting much resistance, a [[military junta]] [[2006 Thailand coup|overthrew]] the elected government of [[Thaksin Shinawatra]] on [[2006]] [[September 19]] . The [[junta]] [[abrogated]] the constitution, dissolved Parliament and the Constitutional Court, detained and later removed several members of the government, declared martial law, and appointed one of the King's Privy Counselors, General [[Surayud Chulanont]], as the Prime Minister. The junta later wrote a highly abbreviated [[2006 Interim Constitution of Thailand|interim constitution]] and appointed a panel to draft a [[Next constitution of Thailand|permanent constitution]]. The junta also appointed a 250-member legislature, called by some critics a "chamber of generals" and others claimed that it lacks representatives from the poor majority.<ref>The Nation, [http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2006/10/13/headlines/headlines_30016076.php NLA 'doesn't represent' all of the people], 14 October 2006</ref><ref>The Nation, [http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2006/10/13/headlines/headlines_30016078.php Assembly will not play a major role], 14 October 2006</ref> In this interim constitution draft, the head of the junta was allowed to remove the Prime Minister at any time. The legislature was not allowed to hold a vote of confidence against the Cabinet and the public was not allowed to file comments on bills.<ref>The Nation, [http://nationmultimedia.com/2006/09/27/headlines/headlines_30014776.php Interim charter draft], 27 September 2006</ref> This interim constitution was later surpassed by [[2007 Constitution of Thailand|the permanent constitution]] on [[24 August]] [[2007]].

Martial law was partially revoked in January 2007.

The ban on political activities was lifted in July 2007,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2007/07/18/politics/politics_30041398.php|title=Ban on political activities lifted|publisher=The Nation|date=July 18, 2007}}</ref> following the [[Party dissolution charges in Thai politics, 2006|30 May dissolution]] of the [[Thai Rak Thai]] party. The [[Next constitution of Thailand|new constitution]] has been approved by a referendum on 19 August, which led to a return to [[Thai general election, 2007|democratic elections on 23 December 2007]].

Thailand remains an active member of the regional [[Association of Southeast Asian Nations]].

== Education ==
{{main|Education in Thailand}}

Thailand enjoys a high level of literacy and education is provided by a well organized school system of kindergarten, primary, lower secondary and upper secondary schools, numerous vocational colleges, and universities. The private sector of education is well developed and significantly contributes to the overall provision of education which the government would not be able to meet through its own establishments.
Education is compulsory up to and including Grade 9, and the government provides free education through to  Grade 12.

Thailand has never been colonized, and therefore its educational system does not draw off of European models to a great extent. Education in a modern sense is relatively recent and, according to some sources, still needs to overcome some major cultural hurdles in order to ensure further development and improvement to its standards, which in some respects have fallen to the lowest levels in southeast Asia. 

The establishment of reliable and coherent curricula for its primary and secondary schools is subject to such rapid changes that schools and their teachers are not always sure what they are supposed to be teaching, and authors and publishers of textbooks are unable to write and print new editions quickly enough to keep up with the volatile situation. The issue concerning university entrance has therefore also been in constant upheaval for a number of years.
Nevertheless, education has seen its greatest progress in the years since 2001, most of the present  generation of pupils and students is computer literate, and knowledge of English is on the increase  at least in quantity if not in quality.<br />See the main article for a complete treatment of [[Education in Thailand]].

== Administrative divisions ==
[[Image:Thailand map CIA.png|right|thumb|Map of Thailand]]
{{main|Subdivisions of Thailand}}

Thailand is divided into 75<!--not 76, Bangkok is not a province, see next sentence!--> [[Provinces of Thailand|provinces]] (จังหวัด, changwat), which are gathered into 5 groups of provinces by location. There are also 2 special governed [[districts]]: the capital [[Bangkok]] (Krung Thep Maha Nakhon) and [[Pattaya]], of which Bangkok is at provincial level and thus often counted as a 76th province.

Each province is divided into [[Amphoe|districts]] and the districts are further divided into sub-districts (tambons). As of 2006 there are 877 districts (อำเภอ, amphoe) and the 50 [[districts of Bangkok]] (เขต, khet). Some parts of the provinces bordering Bangkok are also referred to as [[Bangkok Metropolitan Area|Greater Bangkok]] (ปริมณฑล, pari monthon). These provinces include [[Nonthaburi Province|Nonthaburi]], [[Pathum Thani Province|Pathum Thani]], [[Samut Prakan Province|Samut Prakan]], [[Nakhon Pathom Province|Nakhon Pathom]] and [[Samut Sakhon Province|Samut Sakhon]]. The name of each province's capital city (เมือง, mueang) is the same as that of the province: for example, the capital of Chiang Mai province (''changwat Chiang Mai'') is ''Mueang Chiang Mai'' or ''Chiang Mai''. The 75 [[Provinces of Thailand|provinces]] are as follows:

==== [[Central Thailand|Central]] ====

# [[Ang Thong Province|Ang Thong]]
# [[Bangkok|Bangkok (Krung Thep Maha Nakhon)]], Special Governed District of [1]
# [[Chainat Province|Chai Nat]]
# [[Kanchanaburi Province|Kanchanaburi]] [2]
# [[Lopburi Province|Lop Buri]]
# [[Nakhon Nayok Province|Nakhon Nayok]]
# [[Nakhon Pathom Province|Nakhon Pathom]] [1]
# [[Nonthaburi Province|Nonthaburi]] [1]
# [[Pathum Thani Province|Pathum Thani]] [1]
# [[Phetchaburi Province|Phetchaburi]] [2]
# [[Ayutthaya Province|Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya]][[Image:Monkprayer.jpg|thumb|upright|Monk praying at a temple.]]
# [[Prachuap Khiri Khan Province|Prachuap Khiri Khan]] [2]
# [[Ratchaburi Province|Ratchaburi]] [2]
# [[Samut Prakan Province|Samut Prakan]] [1]
# [[Samut Sakhon Province|Samut Sakhon]] [1]
# [[Samut Songkhram Province|Samut Songkhram]] [2]
# [[Saraburi Province|Saraburi]]
# [[Sing Buri Province|Sing Buri]]
# [[Suphanburi Province|Suphan Buri]]

==== [[Eastern Thailand|East]] ====

# [[Chachoengsao Province|Chachoengsao]]
# [[Chanthaburi Province|Chanthaburi]]
# [[Chonburi Province|Chonburi]]
# [[Prachinburi Province|Prachinburi]]
# [[Rayong Province|Rayong]]
# [[Sa Kaeo Province|Sa Kaeo]]
# [[Trat Province|Trat]]

==== [[Northern Thailand|North]] ====
[[Image:Phra That Chae Haeng, Province de Nan.jpg|right|thumb|upright|Phra That Chae Haeng, [[Nan Province]] ]]
# [[Chiang Mai Province|Chiang Mai]]
# [[Chiang Rai Province|Chiang Rai]]
# [[Kamphaeng Phet Province|Kamphaeng Phet]]
# [[Lampang Province|Lampang]]
# [[Lamphun Province|Lamphun]]
# [[Mae Hong Son Province|Mae Hong Son]]
# [[Nakhon Sawan Province|Nakhon Sawan]]
# [[Nan Province|Nan]]
# [[Phayao Province|Phayao]]
# [[Phetchabun Province|Phetchabun]]
# [[Phichit Province|Phichit]]
# [[Phitsanulok Province|Phitsanulok]]
# [[Phrae Province|Phrae]]
# [[Sukhothai Province|Sukhothai]]
# [[Tak Province|Tak]]
# [[Uthai Thani Province|Uthai Thani]]
# [[Uttaradit Province|Uttaradit]]

[[Image:Phra That Phanom.jpg|right|thumb|upright|[[Wat Phra That Phanom|Phra That Phanom]], [[Nakhon Phanom Province]] ]]

==== [[Northeast Thailand|Northeast]] ([[Isan]])====
# [[Amnat Charoen Province|Amnat Charoen]]
# [[Buri Ram Province|Buri Ram]]
# [[Chaiyaphum Province|Chaiyaphum]]
# [[Kalasin Province|Kalasin]]
# [[Khon Kaen Province|Khon Kaen]]
# [[Loei Province|Loei]]
# [[Maha Sarakham Province|Maha Sarakham]]
# [[Mukdahan Province|Mukdahan]]
# [[Nakhon Phanom Province|Nakhon Phanom]]
# [[Nakhon Ratchasima Province|Nakhon Ratchasima]]
# [[Nongbua Lamphu Province|Nong Bua Lamphu]]
# [[Nong Khai Province|Nong Khai]]
# [[Roi Et Province|Roi Et]]
# [[Sakon Nakhon Province|Sakon Nakhon]]
# [[Sisaket Province|Si Sa Ket]]
# [[Surin Province|Surin]]
# [[Ubon Ratchathani Province|Ubon Ratchathani]][[Image:Borom That Chaiya.jpg|thumb|upright|right|Architecture in the [[Srivijaya]]n style. [[Surat Thani Province|Surat Thani]] [[Thailand]] ]]
# [[Udon Thani Province|Udon Thani]]
# [[Yasothon Province|Yasothon]]

==== [[Southern Thailand|South]] ====
 
# [[Chumphon Province|Chumphon]]
# [[Krabi Province|Krabi]]
# [[Nakhon Si Thammarat Province|Nakhon Si Thammarat]]
# [[Narathiwat Province|Narathiwat]]
# [[Pattani Province|Pattani]]
# [[Phang Nga Province|Phang Nga]]
# [[Phatthalung Province|Phatthalung]]
# [[Phuket Province|Phuket]]
# [[Ranong Province|Ranong]]
# [[Satun Province|Satun]]
# [[Songkhla Province|Songkhla]]
# [[Surat Thani Province|Surat Thani]]
# [[Trang Province|Trang]]
# [[Yala Province|Yala]]

'''NOTE''': In ''italics'' [1], that province represents the '''Greater Bangkok''' sub-region; in ''italics'' [2], that province represents the '''West''' sub-region.

''See also:'' [[List of cities in Thailand]], [[List of cities in Thailand by population]]

== Geography ==
[[Image:Erawan Waterfall, Kanchanaburi Province, Thailand - June 2004.jpg|thumb|right|A [[waterfall]] in [[Erawan National Park]].]]

{{main|Geography of Thailand}}
{{See also|River Systems of Thailand|List of islands of Thailand}}
:''For maps, see: [http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Atlas_of_Thailand Atlas of Thailand]''

At 514,000 km² (198,000 [[square miles|sq mi]]), Thailand is the world's 50th largest country in land mass, whilst it is the world's 28th largest country in terms of population. It is comparable in population to countries such as Iran and Peru, and is similar in land size to France and California in the US; it is just over twice the size of the entire United Kingdom, and 1.4 times the size of Germany.

Thailand is home to several distinct geographic regions, partly corresponding to the provincial groups. The north of the country is mountainous, with the highest point being [[Doi Inthanon]] at 2,565 metres above sea level (8,415&nbsp;ft). The northeast, [[Isan]], (see special section  on this region) consists of the [[Khorat Plateau]], bordered to the east by the [[Mekong]] river. The centre of the country is dominated by the predominantly flat [[Chao Phraya]] river valley, which runs into the [[Gulf of Thailand]]. The south consists of the narrow [[Kra Isthmus]] that widens into the [[Malay Peninsula]].

The local [[climate]] is tropical and characterized by [[monsoon]]s. There is a rainy, warm, and cloudy southwest monsoon from mid-May to September, as well as a dry, cool northeast monsoon from November to mid-March. The southern isthmus is always hot and humid. Major cities beside the capital [[Bangkok]] include [[Nakhon Ratchasima]], [[Khon Kaen]], [[Udon Thani]], [[Ubon Ratchathani]], [[Nakhon Sawan]], [[Chiang Mai]], [[Phitsanulok]], [[Surat Thani]], [[Phuket]] and [[Hat Yai]].

== Economy ==
[[Image:Bangkok skytrain sunset.jpg|thumb|right|A [[Bangkok Skytrain|BTS skytrain]] passing the [[Sathon]] area of Bangkok.]] 
[[Image:พร้อมพงษ์1.jpg|thumb|Elevated view of [[Sukhumvit Road]] in downtown Bangkok.]]
{{main|Economy of Thailand}}

Thailand is a [[newly industrialized country]]. After enjoying the world's highest growth rate from 1985 to 1996 - averaging almost 9% annually - increased pressure on Thailand's currency, the [[Thai baht|baht]], in 1997, the year in which the economy contracted by 1.9% led to a crisis that uncovered financial sector weaknesses and forced the government to float the currency. Pegged at 25 to the [[US dollar]] from 1978 to 1997, the baht reached its lowest point of 56 to the US dollar in January 1998 and the economy contracted by 10.8% that same year. The collapse prompted a wider [[Asian financial crisis]]. 

Thailand entered a recovery stage in 1998, expanding 4.2% and 4.4% in 2000, largely due to strong exports - which increased about 20% in 2000. Growth (2.2%) was dampened by a softening of the global economy in 2001, but picked up in the subsequent years due to strong growth in the [[People's Republic of China]], a relatively weak baht encouraging exports and increasing domestic spending as a result of several mega projects and incentives  of [[List of Prime Ministers of Thailand|Prime Minister]] [[Thaksin Shinawatra]], known as [[Thaksinomics]]. Growth in 2002/03 and 2004 was 5-7% annually. Growth in 2007 is 4.7% due to the higher growth rate of 5.7% in the fourth quarter of the year.<ref name=CIA_Thailand/> Due both to the weakening of the US dollar and an increasingly strong Thai currency, by March 2008, the dollar was hovering around the 30 baht mark.

Thailand exports over $105 billion worth of products annually.<ref name=CIA_Thailand/> Major exports include rice, textiles and footwear, fishery products, rubber, jewelry, automobiles, computers and electrical appliances. Thailand is the world’s no.1 exporter of rice, exporting 6.5 million tons of milled rice annually. Rice is the most important crop in the country. Thailand has the highest percent of arable land, 27.25%, of any nation in the Greater Mekong Subregion.<ref>[https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/2097.html CIA world factbook - Greater Mekong Subregion]</ref> About 55% of the available land area is used for rice production.<ref name=IRRI_Thailand>[http://www.irri.org/science/cnyinfo/thailand.asp IRRI country profile]</ref>

Substantial industries include electric appliances, components, computer parts and automobiles, while tourism contributes about 5% of the Thai economy's GDP. 

Thailand uses the metric system but traditional units of measurement and imperial measure (feet, inches) are still much in use, particularly for agriculture and building materials. Years are numbered as B.E. ([[Thai solar calendar|Buddhist Era]]) in education, the civil service, government, and on contracts and newspaper datelines; in banking, however, and increasingly in industry and commerce, standard Western year (Christian or Common Era) counting prevails.<ref>[http://www.cockatoo.com/english/thailand/thailand-weights-measures.htm Weights and measures in Thailand]</ref>

== Demographics ==
{{main|Demographics of Thailand}}
[[Image:Bangkok market.jpg|thumb|right|A market (Phahurat;พาหุรัด) in [[Bangkok]].]]

=== Language ===
Thailand's population can be generally categorized into the Central Thai, the Northeastern Thai or [[Isan language|Isan]] (see special section on this region), the Northern Thai, and the Southern Thai. The Central Thai have long dominated the nation politically, economically, and culturally, even though they make up only about one-third of Thailand's population and are slightly outnumbered by the Northeastern Thai. Due to the education system and the forging of a national identity, many people are now able to speak Central Thai as well as their own local dialects.

The largest group of non-Thai people are the [[Thai Chinese|Chinese]] who have historically played a disproportionately significant role in the economy. Many have assimilated into mainstream Thai society, and do not live in Bangkok's Chinatown on [[Yaowarat Road]]. Other dominant ethnic groups include Malays in the south, Mon, Khmer and various hill tribes. After the end of the Vietnam War, many Vietnamese refugees settled in Thailand, mainly in the northeastern region.

The [[Thai language]] is Thailand's national language, written in its own [[Thai alphabet|alphabet]], but many ethnic and regional dialects exist as well as areas where people speak predominantly [[Isan language|Isan]] or [[Mon-Khmer languages]]. Although [[English language|English]] is widely taught in schools, its use is not widespread throughout the country.

=== Religion ===
{{main|Religion in Thailand}}
According to the last census (2000) 95% of Thais are [[Buddhism|Buddhists]] of the [[Theravada]] tradition. [[Islam in Thailand|Muslims]] are the second largest religious group in Thailand at 4.6%. Thailand's southernmost provinces - Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat and part of Songkhla [[Chumphon]] have dominant Muslim populations, consisting of both ethnic Thai and Malay. {{Verify source|date=July 2007}} Most often Muslims live in separate communities from non-Muslims. The southern tip of Thailand is mostly ethnic [[Malays (ethnic group)|Malays]]. [[Christianity|Christians]], mainly [[Roman Catholic Church|Catholic]]s, represent 0.75% of the population. A tiny but influential community of [[Sikhism in Thailand|Sikhs in Thailand]] and some [[Hindus]] also live in the country's cities, and are heavily engaged in retail commerce.  There is also a small [[Jews and Judaism in Thailand|Jewish community in Thailand]], dating back to the 17th century. Since 2001, Muslim activists, generally described by the Thai government as terrorists or  separatists, have rallied against the central government because of alleged corruption and ethnic bias on the part of officials.

== Culture ==
[[Image:Thai bells.jpg|right|thumb|upright|Thai bells at the [[Golden Mount]] in [[Bangkok]].]]
[[Image:Temple girls.jpg|right|thumb|Children performing [[Traditional Thai musical instruments|traditional musical instruments]]]]
[[Image:Phutthamonthon Buddha.gif|thumb|right|[[Theravada Buddhism]] is highly respected in Thailand.]]
The culture of Thailand incorporates a great deal of influence from India, China, Cambodia, and the rest of Southeast Asia. Thailand's main theology [[Theravada Buddhism]] is central to modern Thai identity and belief. In practice, [[Buddhism in Thailand|Thai Buddhism]] has evolved over time to include many regional beliefs originating from animism as well as ancestor worship. In areas in the southernmost parts of Thailand, [[Islam]] is prevalent. Several different ethnic groups, many of which are marginalized, populate Thailand. Some of these groups overlap into [[Burma]], [[Laos]], [[Cambodia]], and [[Malaysia]] and have maintained a distinctly traditional way of life despite strong Thai cultural influence. [[Overseas Chinese]] also form a significant part of Thai society, particularly in and around Bangkok. Their successful integration into Thai society has allowed for this group to hold positions of economic and political power, the most noteworthy of these being the Thai Prime Minister, [[Thaksin Shinawatra]], who held power from 2001 until 19 September 2006 when he was ousted by a military coup d'état.

Like most Asian cultures, respect towards ancestors is an essential part of Thai spiritual practice. Thais have a strong sense of hospitality and generosity, but also a strong sense of social hierarchy. Seniority is an important concept in Thai culture.  Elders have by tradition ruled in family decisions or ceremonies.

The traditional Thai greeting, the ''[[Thai greeting|wai]]'', is generally offered first by the youngest of the two people meeting, with their hands pressed together, fingertips pointing upwards as the head is bowed to touch their face to the hands, usually coinciding with the spoken word "Sawat-dii khrap" for male speakers, and "Sawat-dii ka" for females. The elder then is to respond afterwards in the same way. Social status and position, such as in government, will also have an influence on who performs the ''[[Thai greeting|wai]]'' first. For example, although one may be considerably older than a provincial governor, when meeting it is usually the visitor who pays respect first. When children leave to go to school, they are taught to ''wai'' to their parents to represent their respect for them. They do the same when they come back.  The wai is a sign of respect and reverence for another, similar to the [[namaste]] greeting of India.

[[Muay Thai]], or Thai boxing, is the national sport in Thailand and its natives [[martial art]] call "Muay". In the past "Muay" was taught to Royal soldiers for combat on battlefield if unarmed. After they retired from the army, these soldiers often became Buddhist monks and stayed at the temples. Most of the Thai people's lives are closely tied to Buddhism and temples; they often send their sons to be educated with the monks. ”Muay” is also one of the subjects taught in the temples.<ref name=History>[http://www.muaythaiart.com/blog/muay-thai-history Muay Thai History]</ref>.

Muay Thai achieved popularity all over the world in the 1990s. Although similar martial arts styles exist in other [[southeast Asian]] countries, few enjoy the recognition that Muay Thai has received with its full-contact rules allowing strikes including elbows, throws and knees. [[Football (soccer)]], however, has possibly overtaken Muay Thai's position as most widely viewed and liked sport in contemporary Thai society and it is not uncommon to see Thais cheering their favourite English Premier League teams on television and walking around in replica kits. Another widely enjoyed pastime, and once a competitive sport, is [[kite flying]].

Taboos in Thailand include touching someone's head or pointing with the feet, as the head is considered the most sacred and the foot the dirtiest part of the body. Stepping over someone, or over food, is considered insulting. However, Thai culture as in many other Asian cultures, is succumbing to the influence of globalization with some of the traditional taboos slowly fading away with time.

Books and other documents are the most revered of secular objects. One should not slide a book across a table or place it on the floor.

[[Cuisine of Thailand|Thai cuisine]] blends five fundamental tastes: sweet, spicy, sour, bitter and salty. Some common ingredients used in Thai cuisine include garlic, chillies, lime juice, lemon grass, and fish sauce. The staple food in Thailand is rice, particularly [[Jasmine rice|jasmine variety rice]] (also known as Hom Mali rice) which is included in almost every meal. Thailand is the world's largest exporter of rice, and Thais domestically consume over 100 kg of milled rice per person per year.<ref name=IRRI_Thailand>[http://www.irri.org/science/cnyinfo/thailand.asp IRRI country profile Thailand]</ref> Over 5000 varieties of rice from Thailand are preserved in the rice gene bank of the [[International Rice Research Institute]] (IRRI), based in the Philippines. The King of Thailand is the official patron of IRRI.<ref>{{PDFlink|[http://www.irri.org/media/facts/pdfs/THAILAND.pdf Cooperation of IRRI and Thailand]|38.7&nbsp;[[Kibibyte|KiB]]<!-- application/pdf, 39696 bytes -->}}</ref>

Thai society has been influenced in recent years by its widely-available multi-language press and media. There are numerous English, Thai and Chinese newspapers in circulation; most Thai popular magazines use English headlines as a [[Chic (style)|chic]] glamor factor.  Most large businesses in Bangkok operate in English as well as other languages. English is also spoken among many Thais, sometimes as a way of demonstrating their educated, high-society status, but other times because of the [[lingua franca]] nature of English.  Thailand is the largest newspaper market in South East Asia with an estimated circulation of at least 13 million copies daily in 2003. Even upcountry, out of Bangkok, media flourishes. For example, according to Thailand's Public Relations Department Media Directory 2003-2004, the nineteen provinces of northeast Thailand themselves hosted 116 newspapers in addition to radio, TV and cable.

== International rankings ==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Organization
! Survey
! Ranking
|-
| [[Heritage Foundation]]
| [[Indices of Economic Freedom]]
| 50 out of 157
|-
| [[Reporters Without Borders]]
| [[Reporters Without Borders#Worldwide press freedom index|Worldwide Press Freedom Index]]
| 134 out of 169
|-
| [[Transparency International]]
| [[Corruption Perceptions Index]]
| 84 out of 179
|-
| [[United Nations Development Programme]]
| [[List of countries by Human Development Index|Human Development Index]]
| 78 out of 177
|}

== See also ==
{{Portal|Thailand|Thailand portal by Melanochromis.jpg|80|120}}
* [[Thai Temple Art and Architecture]]
* [[:Category:Thai Buddhist temples]]
* [[Buddhism in Thailand]]
* [[:Category:Thai Buddhist temples outside of Thailand]]

{{Portal:Thailand/box-header|''Thailand topics''|Thailand topics|TOC=Y|EDIT=Y}}
{{Portal:Thailand topics}}
{{Portal:Thailand/box-footer|}}

== Notes ==
{{reflist|2}}

== External links ==
{{sisterlinks|Thailand}}

=== Official ===
* [http://www.thaigov.go.th/ Thaigov.go.th] Royal Government of Thailand 
* [http://www.tourismthailand.org/ Tourism Authority of Thailand] Official tourism website
* [http://www.parliament.go.th/files/mainpage.htm Thai National Assembly] Official Thai Parliament website
* [http://www.mfa.go.th/ Mfa.go.th] Thailand Ministry of Foreign Affairs
* [http://www.nectec.or.th/inet-map Thailand Internet Information] National Electronics and Computer Technology Center

=== Other ===
<!--Wikipedia is NOT a weblink directory. Please only add weblinks of top quality here, otherwise please consider using DMOZ (http://dmoz.org) -->
* {{wikitravel|Thailand}}
* [http://www.thaibirding.com Birdwatching in Thailand]
* [http://www.learnthaiculture.com Learn Thai Culture.com]
* [https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/th.html CIA - The World Factbook - Thailand]
* {{flickr|Thailand}}
* [http://www.commonlanguageproject.net/?page_id=41#Thailand Thailand Country Fact Sheet] from the Common Language Project
* [http://www.thailand-search.com/ Search Thailand] 
* [http://www.thailex.info/ Thailand Travel Dictionary] Non-commercial information site
* [http://map.longdo.com/ Longdo Map Thailand] On-line Thailand map

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{{Countries and territories bordering the Indian Ocean}}
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{{Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) }}
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[[Ангилал:Хэрэглэгч:Засвартай өгүүллэг]]