Official Name: Muang Thai, or Prathet Thai (Kingdom of Thailand)

Area: Asia

Size: 514.000 km²

Coastline: 40 km

Independence: formation of the Ratanakosin kingdom April 6, 1782

Form of Govt.: Constitutional monarchy

Head of Govt.: Prime Minister

Capital: Bangkok

Largest City: Bangkok

Demographics (2005): 62,828, 706.   122 /km²

Thai (including Lao, who make up about ⅓ of the Thai population) 75%, Chinese 14%, other 11%

GDP per Capita (2005): $9,100

Languages: Thai, English (secondary language of the elite), Isan or Khmer, ethnic and regional dialects

Geography: Thailand is home to several distinct geographic regions. The north of the country is mountainous. The northeast consists of the Khorat Plateau, bordered to the east by the Mekong river. The centre of the country is dominated by the flat Chao Phraya river valley. The south consists of the narrow Kra Isthmus that widens into the Malay Peninsula.

Climate: Thailand has a tropical climate dominated by the monsoons. The climate is characterized in general by four seasons. (1.) A dry season from January to February. (2.) A hot season from March to May. (3.) A wet season from June to October and (4.) a cool season from November to December, with around 90% of rainfall occurring in the wet season. Average annual precipitation varies from 1,020 mm to 2,030 mm depending on the region. Average temperature ranges in Bangkok are from 20 degrees in December to 35 degrees in April.