A unified Thai kingdom was established in the mid-14th century. Known as Siam until 1939, Thailand is the only Southeast Asian country never to have been taken over by a European power. A bloodless revolution in 1932 led to a constitutional monarchy. In alliance with Japan during World War II, Thailand became a US ally following the conflict. Thailand is currently facing armed violence in its three Muslim-majority southernmost provinces. 

Facts

Location: Southeastern Asia, bordering the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand, southeast of Burma
Geographic coordinates: 15 00 N, 100 00 E
Population: 62,828,706 (2006, estimated)
Capital: Bangkok
Major language: Thai
Major religion: Buddhism
Life expectancy: 66 years (men), 74 years (women) (UN)
Monetary unit: 1 baht = 100 satangs
Main exports: Food and live animals, office equipment, textiles and clothing, rubber
GNI per capita: US $2,490 (World Bank, 2006)
Internet domain: .th
International dialling code: +66
Area: total: 514,000 sq km land: 511,770 sq km water: 2,230 sq km
Area - comparative: Slightly more than twice the size of Wyoming
Land boundaries: total: 4,863 km border countries: Burma 1800 km, Cambodia 803 km, Laos 1754 km, Malaysia 506 km
Coastline: 3,219 km
Maritime claims: continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation territorial sea: 12 NM exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
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
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Gulf of Thailand 0 m highest point: Doi Inthanon 2,576 m
Natural resources: Tin, rubber, natural gas, tungsten, tantalum, timber, lead, fish, gypsum, lignite, fluorite, arable land
Land use: arable land: 29.36% permanent crops: 6.46% other: 64.18% (2001)
Irrigated land: 47,490 sq km (1998 est.)
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
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea (not ratified)
Geography - Note: Controls only land route from Asia to Malaysia and Singapore

Courtesy of Yahoo World Factbook