There are conflicting opinions to the origins of the Thais.  Three decades ago it could be said with presumed certainty that the Thais originated in northwestern Szechuan in China about 4,500 years ago and later migrated down to their present homeland.  However, this history has been altered by the discovery of remarkable prehistoric artifacts in the village of Ban Chiang in the Nong Han District of Udon Thani Province in the Northeast.  These include evidence of bronze metallurgy going back 3,500 years, as well as other indications of a far more sophisticated culture than any previously suspected by archaeologists.  It now appears that the Thais might have originated here in Thailand and later scattered to various parts of Asia, including some parts of China.

            “Siam” is the name  by which the country was known to the world until 1939 and again between  1945 and 1949.  On May 11, 1949, an official proclamation changed the name of the country to “Prathet Thai”, or “Thailand”, by which it has since been known.  The word “Thai” means “free” , and therefore ‘Thailand” means “Land of the Free”.

Situated in the heart of the Southeast Asian mainland and covering an area of 513,115 square kilometers, from North 5’ 30” to 21’ and from East 97’ 30” to 105’ 30”, Thailand borders the Lao People’s Democratic Republic and Myanmar to the north. Cambodia and the Gulf of Thailand to the east, Myanmar and the Indian Ocean  to the west, and Malaysia to the south.  Thailand has maximum dimensions of about 2,500 kilometers north to south and 1,250 kilometers east to west, with a coastline of approximately 1,840 kilometers on the Gulf of Thailand and 865 kilometers along the Indian Ocean.

Topography

Thailand is divided into four natural regions:  (1) the North, (2) the Central Plain, or Chao Phraya River Basin, (3) the Northeast, or the Korat Plateau, and (4) the South, or Southern Peninsula.

The North is a mountainous region comprising natural forests, ridges and deep, narrow, alluvial valleys. The leading city of this region is Chiang Mai.

             Central Thailand, the basin of the Chao Phraya River, is a lush, fertile valley.  It is the richest and most extensive rice-producing area in the country and has often been called the “Rice Bowl of Asia”.  Bangkok, the capital of Thailand, is located in this region.

             The Northeast region, or the Korat Plateau, is an arid region characterized by a rolling surface and undulating hills.  Harsh climate conditions often result in this region being subjected to floods and droughts.

             The Southern region is hilly to mountainous , with thick virgin forests and rich  deposits of minerals and ores.  This region is the center for the production of rubber and the cultivation of other tropical crops.

Climate 

Thailand is a warm and rather humid tropical country.  The climate  is monsoonal, marked by a pronounced rainy season lasting from May to September and a relatively dry season for the remainder of the year.  Temperatures are highest in March and April and lowest in December and January.  The average temperature is 23.7 to 32.5 degree Celsius.

Population 

The population of Thailand is approximately 62.3 million (2002), with an annual growth rate of approximately 0.8 percent.  The population includes ethnic Chinese, Malays, Cambodians, Vietnamese, Indians, and others.  Immigration is controlled by a quota system.

Religion 

Buddhism, the national religion, is the professed faith of 95 percent of the population.  Islam, Christianity, Hinduism and others are embraced by the rest of the population.  There is absolute religious freedom.  The King of Thailand, under the  constitution and in practice, is patron of all major religious embraced by the people.

Language

The official national language, spoken by almost 100 percent of the population, is Thai.  It is a tonal language, uninflected, and predominantly monosyllabic.  More polysyllabic words in the vocabulary have been borrowed, mainly from Khmer, Pali or Sanskrit.  Dialects are spoken in rural areas.  Other languages are Chinese and Malay.  English, a mandatory subject in public schools, is widely spoken and understood, particularly in Bangkok and other major cities.

Government

Thailand is governed by a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentarian form of government.  The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration is administered by an elective governor and is divided into 54 districts.  The country is divided into 76 provinces, each administered by an appointed governor, which are sub-divided  into districts, sub-districts, tambons (group of villages), and villages.

Economy 

According to the National Economic and Social Development Board, in 1998 the Gross Domestic Product was 2,746,128 million Baht and the Gross National Product was 2,671,125 million Baht.  In 2002 the Thai economy will grow by 2 per cent.  Inflation will be 2.0 per cent.  Current account will register net the surplus of 3.4 billion US dollars, which is equivalent to 2.9 per cent of GDP.

Flag

Thailand’s national flag, ceremoniously raised each morning and evening at 08.00 hrs and lowered at 18.00 hrs in every bands of red, white, and blue.  Outer bands of red representing the nation enclose equal inner bands of evoking religion.  The blue band, occupying the central one-third of the total area, symbolizes the monarchy.  The harmony of  design expresses the complimentary nature of these three pillars of the Thai nation. 

            This tri-coloured flag, first introduced by King Vajaravudh (Rama VI) in 1917, succeeded an earlier design which placed a white elephant on a red background.

National Anthem 

The national anthem is played on all ceremonial occasions of national importance  and while the national flag is being raised and lowered.  Its music was composed in 1932 by Professor Phra Jenduriyang, while the lyrics, as presently constituted, were written in 1939 by Colonel Luang Saranuprabhandh.  A literal translation is as follows:

                        Thailand is the unity of Thai blood and body.
                        The whole country belongs to the Thai people, maintaining 
                               thus far for the Thai.
                        All Thais intend to unite together.
                        Thais love peace, but do not fear to fight.
                        They will never let anyone threaten their independence.
                        They will sacrifice every drop of their blood to contribute to 
                               the nation, will serve their country  with pride and prestige-
                               full of victory.  Chai Yo (CHEERS).

Royal Anthem

The royal Thai anthem, acclaiming the Chakravat in ideal King Bhumibol Adulyadej embodies, is played during state occasions and public meetings – sports events, cinema shows, concerts, etc.  Unlike other anthems whose lyrics often archaic or obsolete, the sentiments expressed in the royal Thai anthem precisely mirror the feelings of the Thai people towards their King.  An English translation may be found in the section on the monarchy.

National Symbols 

The Thai national and royal symbol is the Garuda, a mythical half-bird half-human figure (steed of the Hindu god Vishnu) that adorns King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s scepter and royal standard.  Many ministries and departments have incorporated the Garuda into their insignias.  Moreover, the Garuda is signification of “By Royal Appointment” and is awarded, at the personal discretion of His Majesty the King, as a sign of royal approval to companies that have rendered outstanding economic and charitable services to Thailand.  Such an award is rarely bestowed and is considered a great honour.

National Colours 

Thailand has no official national colours, although the used of red, white, and blue, inspired by the colours of the Thai flag, are used by Thai international sporting teams, as well as on other appropriate occasions.

National Dress

Although there is no official national dress, the traditional dress has been adopted as the unofficial national costume and can be seen on both formal and informal occasions.  For women, it is a full length pasin – s sarong --  generally made of Thai silk.  The  pasin can be of any colour and generally worn with a long-sleeved silk blouse.  On formal occasions a sash may be worn across right the breast from the left shoulder to the right part of the waist.  For men, the traditional dress is trousers with a “sua phra ratchathan”, a short-sleeved shirt (long-sleeved for formal occasions) with a high collarless neck.  On formal occasions, a cummerbund is tied around the waist.

National Day

December 5, the birthday of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej, is the Thai national Day.  It is a public holiday.

Public Holidays

Most national holidays and festivals are of religious nature and serve to evoke a sense of devotion to the monarchy, the religion, and the nation.  Some are cerebrated by the lunar calendar and thus vary in date from year to year, while others are celebrated according to the solar calendar.

Policy

Population Policy Statement, 1970

            “The Thai Government has the policy to support voluntary family planning in order to solve the problems of rapid population growth which causes adverse effects to the economic and social development of the nation.”

          Later in 1974 the Constitution included:  

            “The Country is to formulate population policy to suit the natural resources of the nation, social and economic conditions and technical progress for the interest of economic and social development and security of the Country.”

Reproductive Health Policy Statement, 1997

Selected Population and Reproductive Health Statistics 

Key statistics of population and households of the country
(From Population and Housing Census 2000)  

Population by age group and sex

Population: (As of January 1, 2002)

Sources