Map: Thailand

Population: 59,450,818 (July 1997 est.)  

National capital: Bangkok

Exchange rates: US$1 = 38.3000 baht (October, 1998)  

Area - comparative: slightly more than twice the size of Wyoming  

Area:
total: 514,000 sq km
land: 511,770 sq km
water: 2,230 sq km
lowest point: Gulf of Thailand 0 m
highest point: Doi Inthanon 2,576 m

Coastline: 3,219 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   

Natural hazards: land subsidence in Bangkok area resulting from the depletion of the water table; droughts

Environment - current issues: air pollution from vehicle emissions; water pollution from organic and factory wastes; deforestation; soil erosion; wildlife populations threatened by illegal hunting Geography - note: controls only land route from Asia to Malaysia and Singapore

Ethnic groups: Caucasian 95%, Asian 4%, aboriginal and other 1%  

Religions: Buddhism 95%, Muslim 3.8%, Christianity 0.5%, Hinduism 0.1%, other 0.6% (1991)