Week8

Thailand

CAPITAL

         Bangkok, population 8 million

MAJOR CITIES

         Nonthaburi, population 265,000

         Pak Kret, population 175,000

         Hat Yai, population 158,000

         Chiang Mai, population 146,000

GOVERNMENT

        Thailand is a constitutional monarchy under the beloved king, Bhumibol Adulyadej, who has reigned since 1946. King Bhumibol is the world's longest-serving head of state. Thailand's current Prime Minister is Yingluck Shinawatra, who assumed office as the first ever female in that role on August 5, 2011.

LANGUAGE

        Thailand's official language is Thai, a tonal language from the Tai-Kadai family of East Asia. Thai has a unique alphabet derived from the Khmer script, which is itself descended from the Brahmic Indian writing system. Written Thai first appeared around 1292 A.D.

Commonly used minority languages in Thailand include Lao, Yawi (Malay), Teochew, Mon, Khmer, Viet, Cham, Hmong, Akhan, and Karen.

POPULATION

       Thailand's estimated population as of 2007 was 63,038,247. The population density is 317 people per square mile.

       The vast majority are ethnic Thais, who make up about 80% of the population. There is also a large ethnic Chinese minority, comprising about 14% of the population. Unlike the Chinese in many neighboring Southeast Asian countries, the Sino-Thai are well-integrated into their communities. Other ethnic minorities include the Malay, Khmer, Mon, and Vietnamese. Northern Thailand also is home to small mountain tribes such as the Hmong, Karen, and Mein, with a total population of less than 800,000.

RELIGION

       Thailand is a deeply spiritual country, with 95% of the population belonging to the Theravada branch of Buddhism. Visitors will see gold-spired Buddhist stupas scattered all across the country.

       Muslims, mostly of Malay origin, make up 4.5% of the population. They are located primarily in the far south of the country, in the provinces of Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat, and Songkhla Chumphon.

      Thailand also hosts tiny populations of Sikhs, Hindus, Christians (mostly Catholics), and Jews.