Thailand is another stop on the September 2010 World Race. It is a country full of unique culture and history. Here are some things you might not have known about Thailand!
- Thailand was known as Siam until 1939.
- Population: 65,998,436 (20th most populated country) and is about the size of California
- About 75% of the population is ethnically Thai, 14% is Chinese origin, and 3% is Malaysian.
- Thailand is divided into 76 different provinces.
- It is the only Southeast Asian country never to have been taken over by a European power.
- The climate in Thailand ranges from a tropical, warm, and rainy in the southwest to a dry and cool in the northeast. The southern isthmus is hot and humid year round.
- Thai cuisine blends five fundamental tastes: sweet, spicy, sour, bitter and salty.
- It is the world’s second-largest tungsten producer and third-largest tin producer
- Muay Thai, or Thai boxing, is the national sport of Thailand.
- 94% of the population is Buddhist, 4.6% is Muslim, while Christians make up the remaining 0.7%.
- In Thailand, sex-trafficking is a $15 billion a year business.
- Trafficking within Thailand usually consists of Thai females, 12-16 year olds from hill tribes of the North East
- Aproximately 610,000 people die each year from HIV/AIDS and it is currently the leading cause of death.
- Thailand’s Health System Research Institute reported that children in prostitution make up 40% of prostitutes in Thailand.
Ready to apply? You can apply and check out the rest of the route here.
