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Thailand

The Kingdom of Thailand (IPA: /ˈtaɪlænd/, Thai: ราชอาณาจักรไทย, IPA: [râːtɕʰa-ʔaːnaːtɕɑ̀k-tʰɑj]) is an independent country in Southeast Asia. To its north lie Laos and Burma; to its east, Laos and Cambodia; to its south, the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia; and to its west, the Andaman Sea and Burma. Its capital and largest city is Bangkok, called "Krung Thep Mahanakorn" in Thai. At 514,000 km² (198,000 sq mi) , Thailand is the world's 50th largest country in terms of land area, while it is the world's 28th largest country in terms of population. It is comparable in terms of population to countries such as France and United Kingdom, and is similar in land area to France and California, United States. The Thai language is Thailand's official language, written in its own script, and 95% of Thais are Buddhists of the Theravada branch. The culture of Thailand incorporates a great deal of influence from India, China, Cambodia, and the rest of Southeast Asia. Like most Asian cultures, respect towards ancestors and elders is an essential part of Thai spiritual practices. Thais have not only a strong sense of hospitality and generosity, but also a strong sense of social hierarchy. Seniority is an important concept in Thai culture-- elders have by tradition ruled in family decisions or ceremonies.

Thailand has one of the longest monarchies in history. It is the only Southeast Asian country that was never colonized by any European power. A unified Thai kingdom was established in the mid-14th century. Thailand was known as Siam until 1939 when it was renamed. A bloodless revolution in 1932 led to a constitutional monarchy. In alliance with Axis during World War II, Thailand became a US ally during the Cold War. Thailand is currently facing separatist violence in its three southernmost ethnic Malay-Muslim provinces which border Malaysia.

Thailand exports an increasing value of over $105 billion worth of goods and services annually. Major exports include rice, textiles and...