Thailand is a country in Asia, in Southeast Asia, with about 71.6 million people (2025) and an area of 513,115 square kilometres. Its capital is Bangkok, and it shares land borders with 4 countries.
By Team Geography·Last reviewed
Flag of ThailandThailand in solid, land neighbours outlined, capital marked.
The app teaches each country through short hand written lenses: PLACE for physical geography, STORY for history and identity, NOW for the news, and THREAD for the ties between countries. Here is one of Thailand's 9, in full.
STORYLens 1 of 9
The Thai monarchy is not background scenery
The monarchy sits at the center of Thai political life in ways that outsiders often underestimate. The lèse-majesté laws are actively enforced, the crown holds enormous wealth and moral authority, and every political faction since the 1930s has sought to align itself with royal legitimacy. Understanding Thai politics without the monarchy is like reading a play with the lead character removed.
More on lèse-majesté
Thailand's strict laws against criticizing the monarchy carry penalties of up to 15 years in prison per offense. They are among the most severe in the world and are used to constrain political debate.
8 more lenses on Thailand in the app
PLACE Thailand is Southeast Asia's central crossroads
STORY Thailand was never colonized, and never lets you forget it
NOW Thailand is pivoting from the Detroit of Asia to an EV manufacturing hub
NOW Political instability is Thailand's recurring condition
THREAD Thailand hedges between China and the United States
THREAD China now sets the Mekong's flood schedule
STORY Thailand made its cuisine an instrument of policy
NOW Few large economies lean this hard on tourism
Titles only. The app brings each lens back on a spaced repetition schedule set by how well you knew it: New, Hazy or Clear.
Compare Thailand with another country
Opens the country comparison tool with population, area, income and more side by side, every figure dated.
Common questions
What is the capital of Thailand?
The capital of Thailand is Bangkok. Bangkok lies at about 13.8 degrees north and 100.5 degrees east. Thailand is in Asia, in the region often called Southeast Asia. It is home to about 71.6 million people. The world capitals quiz on this site tests every capital, and the printable capitals sheets cover each continent.
What is the population of Thailand?
About 71.6 million people live in Thailand, according to the World Bank figures for 2025. That makes it the 20th most populous of the 195 countries. With an area of 513,115 square kilometres, that is about 140 people per square kilometre.
What countries border Thailand?
Thailand shares land borders with 4 countries: Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia and Myanmar. The map on this page outlines each of them around Thailand. The count includes only borders on land, not neighbours across a sea or a lake. Borders here follow Natural Earth at the 1:50 million scale, with Crimea shown as part of Ukraine and Western Sahara as a separate territory.
How big is Thailand?
Thailand covers 513,115 square kilometres, or about 198,115 square miles. That makes it the 52nd largest of the 195 countries. The figure is total surface area, which includes inland water such as lakes and rivers. Its population of about 71.6 million gives a density of 140 people per square kilometre.
Thailand is a country in Asia, in Southeast Asia, with about 71.6 million people (2025) and an area of 513,115 square kilometres. Its capital is Bangkok, and it shares land borders with 4 countries.
Capital
Bangkok
Continent
Asia
Region
Southeast Asia
Population
71,619,863 2025, World Bank. 20th of 195.
Area
513,115 km² (198,115 sq mi) World Bank, surface area. 52nd largest of 195.
Population density
140 people per km²
Land neighbours
4: Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar
Official name
Kingdom of Thailand
UN status
Member state
STORY · from the Geography app
The Thai monarchy is not background scenery
The monarchy sits at the center of Thai political life in ways that outsiders often underestimate. The lèse-majesté laws are actively enforced, the crown holds enormous wealth and moral authority, and every political faction since the 1930s has sought to align itself with royal legitimacy. Understanding Thai politics without the monarchy is like reading a play with the lead character removed.
Keep going on your iPhone. Scan for Geography: the world, one country at a time, about five minutes a day. No quizzes and no streaks. playgeography.app/countries/thailand/ · Map data: Natural Earth. Figures: World Bank and national sources, as listed on the page.
Geography · Country report
Thailand
NameDate
Draw the flag
Colour Thailand on the map, then fill in what you find.
Capital
Continent
Population
Area
Languages
Currency
Neighbours
Landmarks
Rivers or mountains
Three things I learned
1
2
3
One question I still have
?
Keep going on your iPhone. Scan for Geography: the world, one country at a time, about five minutes a day. No quizzes and no streaks. playgeography.app/countries/thailand/ · Map data: Natural Earth. Figures: World Bank and national sources, as listed on the page.
