The region is the center for production of rubber and cultivation of other tropical crops. Go to top of page Thailand is a warm and rather humid tropical country. The climate is monsoonal, marked by a pronounced rainy season lasting from about May to September and a relatively dry season for the remainder of the year. Temperatures are highest in March and April and lowest in December and January. The population of Thailand, approximately 62.9 million in 1999, includes ethnic Chinese, Malays, Cambodians, Vietnamese, Indians, and others.
Immigration is controlled by a quota system.
Go to top of page Buddhism, the national religion, is the professed faith of 95 percent of the population. Islam, Christianity, Hinduism, and other creeds are embraced by the rest of the population. There is absolute religious freedom. The King of Thailand, under the constitution and in practice, is patron of all major religions. The official national language is Thai.