introduction thailand background a unified thai kingdom was established in the mid 14th century known as siam until 1939 is only southeast asian country never to have been taken over by european power bloodless revolution 1932 led constitutional monarchy alliance with japan during world war ii became us ally following conflict geography area total 514 000 sq km water 2 230 land 511 770 natural resources tin rubber gas tungsten tantalum timber lead fish gypsum lignite fluorite arable use 32 88 permanent crops 7 other 60 12 1998 est hazards subsidence bangkok resulting from depletion of table droughts geo note controls route asia malaysia and singapore people population 64 865 523 estimates for this explicitly take into account effects excess mortality due aids can result lower life expectancy higher infant death rates growth changes distribution age sex than would otherwise be expected july 2004 ethnic groups
