The Airport Rail Link, opened in August 2010, connects the city centre to Suvarnabhumi Airport to the east. Other religions include Islam (4.7 percent), Christianity (2 percent), Hinduism (0.5 percent), Sikhism (0.1 percent) and Confucianism (0.1 percent).[84]. A master development plan has been proposed to increase total park area to 4 square metres (43 sq ft) per person. [31] The city's urban sprawl reaches into parts of the six other provinces it borders, namely, in clockwise order from northwest: Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, Chachoengsao, Samut Prakan, Samut Sakhon, and Nakhon Pathom. [47], Like most of Thailand, Bangkok has a tropical savanna climate (Aw) under the Köppen climate classification and is under the influence of the South Asian monsoon system. In 1980, Bangkok's population was fifty-one times that of Hat Yai and Songkhla, the second-largest urban centre, making it the world's most prominent primate city.[76][77]. Poor surface maintenance, encroachment by hawkers and street vendors, and a hostile environment for cyclists and pedestrians, make cycling and walking unpopular methods of getting around in Bangkok. With the exception of local news segments broadcast by the NBT, all programming is done in Bangkok and repeated throughout the provinces. Two commercial airports serve the city, the older Don Mueang International Airport and the newer Suvarnabhumi Airport. The port handled 11,936,855 tonnes (13,158,130 tons) of cargo in the first eight months of the 2010 fiscal year, about 22 percent the total of the country's international ports. [153] The 1990s saw the emergence of vehicle theft and organized crime, particularly by foreign gangs. Although initial passenger numbers were low and their service area was limited to the inner city until the 2016 opening of the Purple Line, which serves the Nonthaburi area, these systems have become indispensable to many commuters. The present king's and queen's birthdays, respectively on 5 December and 12 August, are marked as Thailand's national Father's Day and national Mother's Day. (eds) 2006, p. 24. The Siam and Ratchaprasong areas in Pathum Wan are home to some of the largest shopping malls in Southeast Asia. The city is also famous for its dynamic nightlife. [11] Rapid growth of the city continued through the 1980s and early 1990s, until it was stalled by the 1997 Asian financial crisis. With the exception of Chachoengsao, these provinces, together with Bangkok, form the greater Bangkok Metropolitan Region.[2]. The total population of Thailand is 66,558,935 on 31 December 2019. Although Bangkok's sex tourism scene is well known to foreigners, it is usually not openly acknowledged by locals or the government. [145] King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi, also located in Bangkok, is the only Thai university in the top 400 of the 2012–13 Times Higher Education World University Rankings.[146]. Thai ethnicity is rather a question of cultural identity than of genetic origin. The chedi collapsed during construction because the soft soil could not support its weight. Although prostitution is technically illegal and is rarely openly discussed in Thailand, it commonly takes place among massage parlours, saunas and hourly hotels, serving foreign tourists as well as locals. In his hand Indra holds his weapon, the vajra. The city's waterway network served as the primary means of transport until the late 19th century, when modern roads began to be built. United Nations population projections are also included through the year 2035. To learn more about cookies, click here. [75] As a result of Western medicine brought by missionaries as well as increased immigration from both within Siam and overseas, Bangkok's population gradually increased as the city modernized in the late 19th century. The census and projected population of Thai planning regions and provinces ("changwat", จังหวัด). The BMA has the authority to implement local ordinances, although civil law enforcement falls under the jurisdiction of the Metropolitan Police Bureau. [155][156], According to police statistics, the most common complaint received by the Metropolitan Police Bureau in 2010 was housebreaking, with 12,347 cases. India is one exception, with a population of 1.38 billion. New Year celebrations take place at many venues, the most prominent being the plaza in front of CentralWorld. More than 14 million (or 22.2% of the total population) live in the Bangkok Metropolitan Region. While many universities have been established in major provinces, the Greater Bangkok region remains home to the greater majority of institutions, and the city's tertiary education scene remains over-populated with non-Bangkokians. Most government ministries also have headquarters and offices in the capital. [137], Bangkok Port, popularly known by its location as Khlong Toei Port, was Thailand's main international port from its opening in 1947 until it was superseded by the deep-sea Laem Chabang Port in 1991. The City Pillar was erected on 21 April 1782, which is regarded as the date of foundation of the present city. Report on the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey 2019, National Statistical Office & UNICEF. By the late 1980s, Bangkok's crime rates were about four times that of the rest of the country. Although film settings normally feature locations throughout the country, the city is home to all major film studios. Population Pyramids: Thailand - 2019. The Government Complex,Building B,Chaeng Watthana Rd, Laksi Bangkok 10210 Thailand Tel. The demand for higher education has led to the founding of many other universities and colleges, both public and private. [95] The city has a Gini coefficient of 0.48, indicating a high level of inequality. Find Out, Online tool for visualization and analysis. [162], Bangkok is a member of several international organizations and regional city government networks, including the Asian Network of Major Cities 21, the Japan-led Asian-Pacific City Summit, the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group, the ESCAP-sponsored Regional Network of Local Authorities for Management of Human Settlements in Asia and Pacific (CITYNET), Japan's Council of Local Authorities for International Relations, the World Association of the Major Metropolises and Local Governments for Sustainability, among others. In 2016, Thailand joined the World Bank Group’s Partnership for Market Readiness , which is an alliance of over 30 nations aiming to reduce the production of greenhouse gases and energy consumption in developing nations.