FACTS

Location: Southeastern Asia, bordering the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand, southeast of Burma

Area (only Total) total: 514,000 sq km

Climate: tropical; rainy, warm, cloudy southwest monsoon (mid-May to September); dry, cool northeast monsoon (November to mid-March); southern isthmus always hot and humid

Terrain: central plain; Khorat Plateau in the east; mountains elsewhere

Population: 65,493,298

Main Language (only first): Thai

Government type: constitutional monarchy

Capital (Name): Bangkok

Capital (Time Difference): UTC+7

Independence: 1238 (traditional founding date; never colonized)

National holiday: Birthday of King PHUMIPHON (BHUMIBOL), 5 December (1927)