Thailand: A Country Profile

Capital: Bangkok (in Thai, Krung Thep, ¿ ¿¿¿-City of Angels).
Major Cities: The largest metropolitan area is the capital, Bangkok, with an estimated 9.6
million inhabitants in 2002. According to the 2000 Thai census, 6.3 million people were living in
the metropolitan area (combining Bangkok and Thon Buri). Other major cities, based on 2000
census data, include Samut Prakan (378,000), Nanthaburi (291,000), Udon Thani (220,000), and
Nakhon Ratchasima (204,000). Fifteen other cities had populations of more than 100,000 in
2000.
Independence: The traditional founding date is 1238. Unlike other nations in Southeast Asia,
Thailand was never colonized.