from
CIA World Factbook 2006
Thailand
Introduction
Background: A unified Thai kingdom was established in the mid-14th
century. Known as Siam until 1939, Thailand is the only
Southeast Asian country never to have been taken over
by a European power. A bloodless revolution in 1932 led
to a constitutional monarchy. In alliance with Japan
during World War II, Thailand became a US ally
following the conflict. Thailand is currently facing
armed violence in its three Muslim-majority
southernmost provinces.
Geography
Location: Southeastern Asia, bordering the Andaman Sea and the
Gulf of Thailand, southeast of Burma
Geographic 15 00 N, 100 00 E
coordinates:
Map Southeast Asia
references:
Area: total: 514,000 sq km
land: 511,770 sq km
water: 2,230 sq km
Area - slightly more than twice the size of Wyoming
comparative:
Land total: 4,863 km
boundaries: border countries: Burma 1,800 km, Cambodia 803 km, Laos
1,754 km, Malaysia 506 km
Coastline: 3,219 km
Maritime territorial sea: 12 nm
claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of
exploitation
Climate: tropical; rainy, warm, cloudy southwest monsoon
(mid-May to September); dry, cool northeast monsoon
(November to mid-March); southern isthmus always hot
and humid
Terrain: central plain; Khorat Plateau in the east; mountains
elsewhere
Elevation lowest point: Gulf of Thailand 0 m
extremes: highest point: Doi Inthanon 2,576 m
Natural tin, rubber, natural gas, tungsten, tantalum, timber,
resources: lead, fish, gypsum, lignite, fluorite, arable land
Land use: arable land: 27.54%
permanent crops: 6.93%
other: 65.53% (2005)
Irrigated 49,860 sq km (2003)
land:
Natural land subsidence in Bangkok area resulting from the
hazards: depletion of the water table; droughts
Environment - air pollution from vehicle emissions; water pollution
current from organic and factory wastes; deforestation; soil
issues: erosion; wildlife populations threatened by illegal
hunting
Environment - party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate
international Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered
agreements: Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation,
Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical
Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Geography - controls only land route from Asia to Malaysia and
note: Singapore
People
Population: 64,631,595
note: estimates for this country explicitly take into
account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS;
this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant
mortality and death rates, lower population and growth
rates, and changes in the distribution of population by
age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2006
est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 22% (male 7,284,068/female 6,958,632)
15-64 years: 70% (male 22,331,312/female 22,880,588)
65 years and over: 8% (male 2,355,190/female 2,821,805)
(2006 est.)
Median age: total: 31.9 years
male: 31.1 years
female: 32.8 years (2006 est.)
Population 0.68% (2006 est.)
growth rate:
Birth rate: 13.87 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate: 7.04 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
rate:
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.84 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant total: 19.49 deaths/1,000 live births
mortality male: 20.77 deaths/1,000 live births
rate: female: 18.15 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life total population: 72.25 years
expectancy at male: 69.95 years
birth: female: 74.68 years (2006 est.)
Total 1.64 children born/woman (2006 est.)
fertility
rate:
HIV/AIDS - 1.5% (2003 est.)
adult
prevalence
rate:
HIV/AIDS - 570,000 (2003 est.)
people living
with HIV/AIDS:
HIV/AIDS - 58,000 (2003 est.)
deaths:
Major degree of risk: high
infectious food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea and
diseases: hepatitis A
vectorborne diseases: dengue fever, malaria, Japanese
encephalitis, and plague are high risks in some
locations
animal contact disease: rabies
water contact disease: leptospirosis
note: at present, H5N1 avian influenza poses a minimal
risk; during outbreaks among birds, rare cases could
occur among US personnel who have close contact with
infected birds or poultry (2005)
Nationality: noun: Thai (singular and plural)
adjective: Thai
Ethnic groups: Thai 75%, Chinese 14%, other 11%
Religions: Buddhist 94.6%, Muslim 4.6%, Christian 0.7%, other 0.1%
(2000 census)
Languages: Thai, English (secondary language of the elite), ethnic
and regional dialects
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 92.6%
male: 94.9%
female: 90.5% (2002)
Government
Country name: conventional long form: Kingdom of Thailand
conventional short form: Thailand
local long form: Ratcha Anachak Thai
local short form: Prathet Thai
former: Siam
Government constitutional monarchy
type:
Capital: name: Bangkok
geographic coordinates: 13 45 N, 100 31 E
time difference: UTC+7 (12 hours ahead of Washington,
DC during Standard Time)
Administrative 76 provinces (changwat, singular and plural); Amnat
divisions: Charoen, Ang Thong, Buriram, Chachoengsao, Chai Nat,
Chaiyaphum, Chanthaburi, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Chon
Buri, Chumphon, Kalasin, Kamphaeng Phet, Kanchanaburi,
Khon Kaen, Krabi, Krung Thep Mahanakhon (Bangkok),
Lampang, Lamphun, Loei, Lop Buri, Mae Hong Son, Maha
Sarakham, Mukdahan, Nakhon Nayok, Nakhon Pathom, Nakhon
Phanom, Nakhon Ratchasima, Nakhon Sawan, Nakhon Si
Thammarat, Nan, Narathiwat, Nong Bua Lamphu, Nong Khai,
Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, Pattani, Phangnga,
Phatthalung, Phayao, Phetchabun, Phetchaburi, Phichit,
Phitsanulok, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Phrae, Phuket,
Prachin Buri, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Ranong, Ratchaburi,
Rayong, Roi Et, Sa Kaeo, Sakon Nakhon, Samut Prakan,
Samut Sakhon, Samut Songkhram, Sara Buri, Satun, Sing
Buri, Sisaket, Songkhla, Sukhothai, Suphan Buri, Surat
Thani, Surin, Tak, Trang, Trat, Ubon Ratchathani, Udon
Thani, Uthai Thani, Uttaradit, Yala, Yasothon
Independence: 1238 (traditional founding date; never colonized)
National Birthday of King PHUMIPHON, 5 December (1927)
holiday:
Constitution: constitution signed by King PHUMIPHON on 11 October
1997; abrogated on 19 September 2006 after coup;
interim constitution promulgated on 1 October 2006;
junta has promised new constitution by October 2007
Legal system: based on civil law system, with influences of common
law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive chief of state: King PHUMIPHON Adunyadet (since 9 June
branch: 1946)
head of government: Interim Prime Minister SURAYUT
Chulanon (since 1 October 2006); Interim Deputy Prime
Ministers KHOSIT Panpiamrat (since 9 October 2006);
PRIDIYATHON Thewakun (since 9 October 2006)
note: Prime Minister THAKSIN Chinnawat was overthrown
on 19 September 2006 in a coup led by General SONTHI
Boonyaratglin
cabinet: Council of Ministers
note: there is also a Privy Council
elections: none; monarch is hereditary; according to
1997 constitution, prime minister was designated from
among members of House of Representatives; following
national elections for House of Representatives, leader
of party that could organize a majority coalition
usually was appointed prime minister by king
Legislative bicameral National Assembly or Rathasapha consisted of
branch: the Senate or Wuthisapha (200 seats; members elected by
popular vote to serve six-year terms) and the House of
Representatives or Sapha Phuthaen Ratsadon (500 seats;
members elected by popular vote to serve four-year
terms); after coup in September 2006, junta appointed
an interim National Assembly with 250 members to act as
Senate and House of Representatives; body has no vote
on government matters
elections: Senate - last held 19 April 2006; House of
Representatives - last held 6 February 2005; junta
scheduled next general election by October 2007
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party -
NA; seats by party - NA; House of Representatives -
(2005 election) percent of vote by party - NA; seats by
party - TRT 376, DP 97, TNP 25, PP 2
Judicial Supreme Court or Sandika (judges appointed by the
branch: monarch)
Political Democrat Party or DP (Prachathipat Party) [ABHISIT
parties and Wetchachiwa]; People's Party or PP (Mahachon Party)
leaders: [ANEK Laothamatas]; Thai Nation Party or TNP (Chat Thai
Party) [BARNHARN SILPA-ARCHA]; Thai Rak Thai Party or
TRT [CHATURON Chaisang]
Political NA
pressure
groups and
leaders:
International APEC, APT, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN, BIMSTEC, BIS, CP, EAS,
organization FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory),
participation: ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OAS
(observer), OIC (observer), ONUB, OPCW, OSCE (partner),
PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIS, UPU, WCL,
WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic chief of mission: Ambassador Virasakdi FUTRAKUL
representation chancery: 1024 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Suite 401,
in the US: Washington, DC 20007-3681
telephone: [1] (202) 944-3600
FAX: [1] (202) 944-3611
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, New York
Diplomatic chief of mission: Ambassador Ralph L. BOYCE
representation embassy: 120-122 Wireless Road, Bangkok 10330
from the US: mailing address: APO AP 96546
telephone: [66] (2) 205-4000
FAX: [66] (2) 254-2990, 205-4131
consulate(s) general: Chiang Mai
Flag five horizontal bands of red (top), white, blue (double
description: width), white, and red
Economy
Economy - With a well-developed infrastructure, a free-enterprise
overview: economy, and pro-investment policies, Thailand appears
to have fully recovered from the 1997-98 Asian
Financial Crisis. The country was one of East Asia's
best performers in 2002-04. Boosted by increased
consumption and strong export growth, the Thai economy
grew 6.9% in 2003 and 6.1% in 2004 despite a sluggish
global economy. Bangkok has pursued preferential trade
agreements with a variety of partners in an effort to
boost exports and to maintain high growth. In 2004,
Thailand and the US began negotiations on a Free Trade
Agreement. In late December 2004, a major tsunami took
8,500 lives in Thailand and caused massive destruction
of property in the southern provinces of Krabi,
Phangnga, and Phuket. Growth slowed to 4.4% in 2005.
The downturn can be attributed to high oil prices,
weaker demand from Western markets, severe drought in
rural regions, tsunami-related declines in tourism, and
lower consumer confidence. Moreover, the THAKSIN
administration's expansionist economic policies,
including plans for multi-billion-dollar mega-projects
in infrastructure and social development, has raised
concerns about fiscal discipline and the health of
financial institutions. On the positive side, the Thai
economy performed well beginning in the third quarter
of 2005. Export-oriented manufacturing - in particular
automobile production - and farm output are driving
these gains. In 2006, the economy should benefit from
an influx of investment and a revived tourism sector;
however, a possible avian flu epidemic could
significantly harm economic prospects throughout the
region.
GDP $550.2 billion (2005 est.)
(purchasing
power parity):
GDP (official $183.9 billion (2005 est.)
exchange
rate):
GDP - real 4.5% (2005 est.)
growth rate:
GDP - per $8,600 (2005 est.)
capita (PPP):
GDP - agriculture: 9.9%
composition by industry: 44.1%
sector: services: 46% (2005 est.)
Labor force: 35.36 million (2005 est.)
Labor force - agriculture: 49%
by occupation: industry: 14%
services: 37% (2000 est.)
Unemployment 1.8% (2005 est.)
rate:
Population 10% (2004 est.)
below poverty
line:
Household lowest 10%: 2.8%
income or highest 10%: 32.4% (1998)
consumption by
percentage
share:
Distribution 51.1 (2002)
of family
income - Gini
index:
Inflation rate 4.5% (2005 est.)
(consumer
prices):
Investment 29% of GDP (2005 est.)
(gross fixed):
Budget: revenues: $30.64 billion
expenditures: $31.76 billion; including capital
expenditures of $5 billion (2005 est.)
Public debt: 47.6% of GDP (2005 est.)
Agriculture - rice, cassava (tapioca), rubber, corn, sugarcane,
products: coconuts, soybeans
Industries: tourism, textiles and garments, agricultural
processing, beverages, tobacco, cement, light
manufacturing such as jewelry and electric appliances,
computers and parts, integrated circuits, furniture,
plastics, automobiles and automotive parts; world's
second-largest tungsten producer and third-largest tin
producer
Industrial 9.1% (2005 est.)
production
growth rate:
Electricity - 114.7 billion kWh (2003)
production:
Electricity - fossil fuel: 91.3%
production by hydro: 6.4%
source: nuclear: 0%
other: 2.4% (2001)
Electricity - 107.3 billion kWh (2003)
consumption:
Electricity - 315 million kWh (2003)
exports:
Electricity - 980 million kWh (2003)
imports:
Oil - 230,000 bbl/day (2005 est.)
production:
Oil - 851,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)
consumption:
Oil - exports: NA bbl/day
Oil - imports: NA bbl/day
Oil - proved 583 million bbl (November 2003)
reserves:
Natural gas - 22.28 billion cu m (2003 est.)
production:
Natural gas - 29.15 billion cu m (2003 est.)
consumption:
Natural gas - 0 cu m (2001 est.)
exports:
Natural gas - 5.2 billion cu m (2001 est.)
imports:
Natural gas - 377.7 billion cu m (November 2003)
proved
reserves:
Current $-3.689 billion (2005 est.)
account
balance:
Exports: $105.8 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Exports - textiles and footwear, fishery products, rice, rubber,
commodities: jewelry, automobiles, computers and electrical
appliances
Exports - US 15.5%, Japan 13.7%, China 8.3%, Singapore 6.8%, Hong
partners: Kong 5.6%, Malaysia 5.2% (2005)
Imports: $107 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Imports - capital goods, intermediate goods and raw materials,
commodities: consumer goods, fuels
Imports - Japan 22%, China 9.4%, US 7.4%, Malaysia 6.8%, UAE
partners: 4.8%, Singapore 4.5% (2005)
Reserves of $52.07 billion (2005 est.)
foreign
exchange and
gold:
Debt - $52.46 billion (2005 est.)
external:
Economic aid - $72 million (2002)
recipient:
Currency baht (THB)
(code):
Currency code: THB
Exchange baht per US dollar - 40.22 (2005), 40.222 (2004),
rates: 41.485 (2003), 42.96 (2002), 44.432 (2001)
Fiscal year: 1 October - 30 September
Communications
Telephones - 7.035 million (2005)
main lines in
use:
Telephones - 27.379 million (2005)
mobile
cellular:
Telephone general assessment: high quality system, especially in
system: urban areas like Bangkok; WTO requirement for
privatization of telecom sector is planned to be
complete by 2006
domestic: fixed line system provided by both a
government owned and commercial provider; wireless
service expanding rapidly and outpacing fixed lines
international: country code - 66; satellite earth
stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Pacific
Ocean); landing country for APCN submarine cable
Radio AM 204, FM 334, shortwave 6 (1999)
broadcast
stations:
Radios: 13.96 million (1997)
Television 111 (2006)
broadcast
stations:
Televisions: 15.19 million (1997)
Internet .th
country code:
Internet 938,784 (2006)
hosts:
Internet 15 (2000)
Service
Providers
(ISPs):
Internet 8.42 million (2005)
users:
Transportation
Airports: 108 (2006)
Airports - total: 66
with paved over 3,047 m: 8
runways: 2,438 to 3,047 m: 11
1,524 to 2,437 m: 22
914 to 1,523 m: 20
under 914 m: 5 (2006)
Airports - total: 42
with unpaved 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
runways: 914 to 1,523 m: 15
under 914 m: 26 (2006)
Heliports: 3 (2006)
Pipelines: gas 3,760 km; refined products 379 km (2006)
Railways: total: 4,071 km
narrow gauge: 4,071 km 1.000-m gauge (2005)
Roadways: total: 57,403 km
paved: 56,542 km
unpaved: 861 km (2000)
Waterways: 4,000 km
note: 3,701 km navigable by boats with drafts up to 0.9
m (2005)
Merchant total: 400 ships (1000 GRT or over) 2,808,509 GRT/
marine: 4,317,320 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 60, cargo 145, chemical tanker
14, container 21, liquefied gas 29, passenger 1,
passenger/cargo 6, petroleum tanker 91, refrigerated
cargo 32, specialized tanker 1
foreign-owned: 45 (China 1, Egypt 1, Indonesia 1, Japan
4, Norway 30, Singapore 6, UK 2)
registered in other countries: 34 (Bahamas 1, Mongolia
1, Panama 9, Singapore 22, Tuvalu 1) (2006)
Ports and Bangkok, Laem Chabang, Prachuap Port, Si Racha
terminals:
Military
Military Royal Thai Army (RTA), Royal Thai Navy (RTN, includes
branches: Royal Thai Marine Corps), Royal Thai Air Force (Knogtap
Agard Thai, RTAF) (2006)
Military 21 years of age for compulsory military service; males
service age are registered at 18 years of age; conscript service
and obligation - two years; 18 years of age for voluntary
obligation: military service (2004)
Manpower males age 21-49: 14,903,855
available for females age 21-49: 15,265,854 (2005 est.)
military
service:
Manpower fit males age 21-49: 10,396,032
for military females age 21-49: 11,487,690 (2005 est.)
service:
Manpower males age 18-49: 526,276
reaching females age 21-49: 514,396 (2005 est.)
military
service age
annually:
Military $1.775 billion (FY00)
expenditures -
dollar figure:
Military 1.8% (2003)
expenditures -
percent of
GDP:
Transnational
Issues
Disputes - separatist violence in Thailand's predominantly Muslim
international: southern provinces prompt border closures and controls
with Malaysia to stem terrorist activities; southeast
Asian states have enhanced border surveillance to check
the spread of avian flu; talks continue on completion
of demarcation with Thailand but disputes remain over
several areas along Mekong River and Thai squatters;
despite continuing border committee talks, significant
differences remain with Burma over boundary alignment
and the handling of ethnic rebels, refugees, and
illegal cross-border activities; Cambodia and Thailand
dispute sections of boundary with missing boundary
markers; Cambodia claims Thai encroachments into
Cambodian territory and obstructing access to Preah
Vihear temple ruins awarded to Cambodia by ICJ decision
in 1962; ethnic Karens from Burma flee into Thailand -
to escape fighting between Karen rebels and Burmese
troops - resulting in Thailand sheltering about 120,000
Burmese refugees in 2005; Karens also protest Thai
support for a Burmese hydroelectric dam construction on
the Salween River near the border; environmentalists in
Burma and Thailand remain concerned about China's
construction of hydroelectric dams upstream on the
Nujiang/Salween River in Yunnan Province
Refugees and refugees (country of origin): 120,814 (Burma)
internally IDPs: 6,000 (26 December 2004 tsunami) (2005)
displaced
persons:
Illicit drugs: a minor producer of opium, heroin, and marijuana;
illicit transit point for heroin en route to the
international drug market from Burma and Laos;
eradication efforts have reduced the area of cannabis
cultivation and shifted some production to neighboring
countries; opium poppy cultivation has been reduced by
eradication efforts; also a drug money-laundering
center; minor role in methamphetamine production for
regional consumption; major consumer of methamphetamine
since the 1990s