US News and World Report recently ranked Thailand as the 21st World's Best Country in 2016. The reported stated that Thailand, with the GDP of $387 billion and income per capita worth $14,354, Thailand recorded the 4th highest economic growth from 60 countries in the list.
Thailand is one of the world’s most visited country, though tourism accounts for just 7 percent of gross domestic product. Buddha figures are ever-present in the “land of smiles,” where bustling, modern cities are juxtaposed with ancient ruins, glistening beaches and gilded temples. The nation is home to the acclaimed Thai massage and cuisine that is known to balance sweet, sour, salty, bitter and spicy flavors.
More than 3 million citizens make up a growing Muslim minority, largely concentrated in the south, where there have been violent separatist movements for more than a decade. Thailand also faces challenges with human trafficking and illegal immigration, especially among refugees from Myanmar.
Thailand was a founding member of the ASEAN Regional Forum and a signer of the Manila Pact, which formed the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization. It is also a Partner for Cooperation with the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and a member of the United Nations, APEC and the World Bank, among others.
A substantial agriculture sector and competitive manufacturing industry have kept Thailand strong and growing with low poverty and unemployment rates. It is the world’s largest exporter of rice and a leader in textiles, tin and electronics. Western education and technology have been absorbed into a devout Buddhist society.
Sources: http://www.usnews.com/news/best-countries/thailand
Thailand ranked 21st as the World's Best Country in 2016: US World and News Report
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