Kingdom of Thailand
South-Eastern Asia
Golden · Smiling · Vibrant
Thailand (officially Kingdom of Thailand) is a country located in South-Eastern Asia. Its capital city is Bangkok, with other major cities including Chiang Mai and Pattaya. With a population of approximately 71.6M, the main language spoken is Thai. The country covers an area of 513,120 km². The official currency is the Thai baht (฿). Traffic drives on the left side.
Thailand has never been colonised by a European power — 'Thai' literally means 'free' in the Thai language.
Bangkok serves as the political, cultural and economic heart of Thailand, positioned in South-Eastern Asia. As the seat of government and often the most populous city, it concentrates the country's main institutions, universities and cultural landmarks. Beyond the capital, major cities include Chiang Mai, Pattaya, Phuket — each a hub of regional culture, economy and history. Bangkok's official ceremonial name — Krung Thep Maha Nakhon — is an abbreviation of a 169-character full name given by Rama I in 1782, and the city's Grand Palace complex, built in the same year on a bend of the Chao Phraya River, remains the spiritual and symbolic centre of the Thai monarchy.
With a population of approximately 71.6M, Thailand is a vibrant society with a rich mix of traditions and communities. The official language is Thai, which reflects the country's cultural heritage and connects it with a wide international community. Internationally, Thailand is reached via the dialling code +66. Thai social interaction is governed by the concept of kreng jai — the desire to avoid burdening or discomforting another person — which produces indirect communication, reluctance to say no directly, and a hospitality so insistent that refusal of food or an offer of help requires careful social navigation.
Thailand spans 513,120 km², in the South-Eastern Asia subregion of Asia. Geographically centred around 15.0°N, 100.0°E, the country offers a diverse range of landscapes shaped by its location, climate and geology. Road traffic follows the left-hand rule, in line with surrounding Asia convention.
The official currency is the Thai baht (฿), used for everyday transactions and commerce throughout the country. Thailand's economy is shaped by its geography, natural resources and trade relationships. Business and daily life operate under UTC+07:00, aligning the country with its regional neighbours.
The emblematic dish of Thailand is Pad Thai. Food culture in Thailand is deeply tied to local identity — shared meals and markets are central to daily life and social gatherings across the country.
Muay Thai / Football holds a special place in the heart of Thailand's national identity. Muay Thai — the art of eight limbs, using fists, elbows, knees and shins — has been practised in Thailand for at least 500 years; the Rajadamnern and Lumpinee stadiums in Bangkok host weekly bouts that retain a ceremonial pre-fight dance, the Wai Kru, unchanged for generations.
The highest point in Thailand is Doi Inthanon, rising to 2,565 metres above sea level. Phang Nga Bay in southern Thailand contains over 40 limestone karst towers rising vertically from the Andaman Sea — including Ko Tapu, the isolated pinnacle made internationally known by its appearance in The Man with the Golden Gun — a seascape created by rising sea levels flooding a karst landscape 12,000 years ago.