Thailand

 
Geography                 Economy                 Defense Forces
 

People                    Transportation          Government



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GEOGRAPHY

Location

Southeastern Asia, bordering the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand, southeast of Burma

Area

Total area: 514,000 sq km
Land area: 511,770 sq km
Comparative area: slightly more than twice the size of Wyoming

Land Boundaries

Total 4,863 km, Burma 1,800 km, Cambodia 803 km, Laos 1,754 km, Malaysia 506 km

Coastline

3,219 km

Maritime Claims

Continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Territorial sea: 12 nm

International Disputes

Boundary dispute with Laos; unresolved maritime boundary with Vietnam; parts of border with Cambodia in dispute; maritime boundary with Cambodia not clearly defined

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
lowest point: Gulf of Thailand 0 m
highest point: Doi Inthanon 2,576 m

Natural Resources

Tin
Rubber
Natural gas
Tungsten
Tantalum
Timber
Lead
Fish
Gypsum
Lignite
Fluorite

Land Use

Arable land: 34%
Permanent crops: 4%
Meadows and pastures: 1%
Forest and woodland: 30%
Other: 31%

Irrigated Land

42,300 sq km (1989 est.)

Environment

Current issues: air pollution from vehicle emissions; water pollution from organic and factory wastes; deforestation; soil erosion; wildlife populations threatened by illegal hunting
Natural hazards: land subsidence in Bangkok area resulting from the depletion of the water table; droughts
International agreements: party to - Climate Change, Endangered Species, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the sea

Note: Controls only land route from Asia to Malaysia and Singapore

PEOPLE

Population

58,851,357 (July 1996 est.)
60,271,300 (July 1995 est.)

Age Structure

0-14 Years

25% (male 7,627,916; female 7,351,264) (July 1996 est.)
29% (male 8,866,271; female 8,545,362) (July 1995 est.)

15-64 Years

69% (male 19,994,884; female 20,576,141) (July 1996 est.) 66% (male 20,185,392; female 19,733,773) (July 1995 est.)

65 Years and Over

6% (male 1,468,814; female 1,832,338) (July 1996 est.)
5% (male 1,304,076; female 1,636,426) (July 1995 est.)

Population Growth Rate

1.03% (1996 est.)
1.24% (1995 est.)

Birth Rate

17.29 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
18.87 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Death Rate

7 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
6.48 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Net Migration Rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female
all ages: 0.98 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Infant Mortality Rate

33.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
35.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)

Life Expectancy at Birth

Total population: 68.6 years 91996 est.), 68.42 years (1995 est.)
Male: 64.89 years (1996 est.), 64.94 years (1995 est.)
Female: 72.49 years (1996 est.), 72.08 years (1995 est.)

Total Fertility Rate

1.89 children born/woman (1996 est.)
2.04 children born/woman (1995 est.)

Nationality

Noun: Thai (singular and plural)
Adjective: Thai

Ethnic Divisions

Thai 75%
Chinese 14%
Other 11%

Religions

Buddhism 95%
Muslim 3.8%
Christianity 0.5%
Hinduism 0.1%
Other 0.6% (1991)

Languages

Thai, English the secondary language of the elite, ethnic and regional dialects

Literacy

Age 15 and over that can read and write (1995 est.)

Total population: 93.8%
Male: 96%
Female: 91.6%

Labor Force

32,152,600

By occupation:

Agriculture 57%
Industry 17%
Commerce 11%
Services (including government) 15% (1993 est.)

GOVERNMENT

Names

Conventional long form: Kingdom of Thailand
Conventional short form: Thailand

Digraph

Type

Constitutional monarchy

Capital

Bangkok

Administrative Divisions

76 provinces (changwat, singular and plural); Amnat 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, 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 Holiday

Birthday of His Majesty the King, 5 December (1927)

Constitution

New constitution approved 7 December 1991; amended 10 June 1992

Legal System

Based on civil law system, with influences of common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; martial law in effect since 23 February 1991 military coup

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive Branch

Chief of state: King PHUMIPHON Adunyadet (since 9 June 1946); Heir Apparent Crown Prince WACHIRALONGKON (born 28 July 1952)
Head of government: Prime Minister BANHAN Sinlapa-acha (since 13 July 1995); prime minister must be appointed from among the members of the House of Representatives
Cabinet: Council of Ministers

Privy Council

Legislative Branch

Bicameral National Assembly (Rathasapha)

Senate (Wuthisapha)

Consists of a 270-member appointed body

House of Representatives (Sapha Phuthaen-Ratsadon)

Elections last held 2 July 1995 (next to be held 2 July 1999); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (391 total) TNP 93, DP 86, NAP 56, NDP 53, PDP 23, SAP 23, NTP 18, TCP 18, LDP 10, SP 8, MP 3

Judicial Branch

Supreme Court (Sandika), judges appointed by the king

Political Parties and Leaders

Thai Nation Party (TNP or Chat Thai Party), BANHAN Sinlapa-acha; Democratic Party (DP or Prachathipat Party), CHUAN Likphai; New Aspiration Party (NAP or Khwamwang Mai), Gen. CHAWALIT Yongchaiyut; National Development Party (NDP or Chat Phattana), CHATCHAI Chunhawan; Phalang Dharma Party (PDP or Phalang Tham), THAKSIN Chinnawat; Social Action Party (SAP or Kitsangkhom Party), MONTRI Phongphanit; Thai Leadership Party (NTP or Nam Thai), Amnuai Wirawan; Thai Citizen's Party (TCP or Prachakon Thai), SAMAK Sunthonwet; Liberal Democratic Party (LDP or Seri Tham), ATHIT Urairat; Solidarity Party (SP or Ekkaphap Party), UTHAI Phimchaichon; Mass Party (MP or Muanchon), Pol. Cpt. CHALOEM Yubamrung

Member of

APEC, AsDB, ASEAN, CCC, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, Mekong Group, NAM, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO

National Anthem

National anthem

Flag

Five horizontal bands of red (top), white, blue (double width), white, and red

ECONOMY

Overview

One of the more advanced developing countries in Asia, Thailand depends on exports of manufactures - including high-technology goods - and the development of the service sector to fuel the country's rapid growth, averaging 9% since 1989. Most of Thailand's recent imports have been for capital equipment and raw materials, although imports of consumer goods are beginning to rise. Thailand's 35% domestic savings rate is a key source of capital for the economy, and the country is also benefiting from rising investment from abroad. Prime Minister BANHAN's government - Thailand's sixth government in five years - undoubtedly will continue Bangkok's probusiness policies despite some concerns that it is relaxing Bangkok's traditional fiscal austerity. BANHAN is beginning to address Thailand's serious infrastructure bottlenecks, especially in the transport and telecommunications sectors. Over the longer term, Bangkok must produce more college graduates with technical training and upgrade workers' skills to continue its rapid economic development.

National Product

GDP - purchasing power parity - $416.7 billion (1995 est.), $355.2 billion (1994 est.)

National Product Real Growth Rate

1% (1997 est.)
6.7% (1996 est.)
8.6% (1995 est.)
8% (1994 est.)

National Product Per Capita

$6,900 (1995 est.)
$5,970 (1994 est.)

Inflation Rate (consumer Prices)

5.8% (1995)
5% (1994 est.)

Unemployment Rate

2.7% (1995 est.)
3.2% (1993 est.)

Budget

Revenues: $28.4 billion
Expenditures: $28.4 billion, including capital expenditures of $6.1 billion (FY94/95 est.)

Exports

$45.1 billion (f.o.b., 1994 est.)

Commodities:

Machinery and manufactures 73%
Agricultural products and fisheries 21%
Raw materials 5%
Fuels 1% (1994 est.)

Partners:

U.S. 21.0%
Japan 17.1%
Singapore 13.6%
Hong Kong 5.3%
Germany 3.5%
U.K. 3.0%
Netherlands 2.8%
Malaysia 2.4% (1994)

Imports

$53.9 billion (c.i.f., 1994 est.)

Commodities:

Manufactures 80%
Fuels 6.9%
Raw materials 6.6%
Foodstuffs 4.3% (1994 est.)

Partners:

Japan 30.4%
U.S. 11.9%
Singapore 6.3%
Germany 5.8%
Taiwan 5.1%
Malaysia 4.9%
South Korea 3.7%
China 2.6% (1994)

External Debt

$64.3 billion (1994 est.)

Industrial Production

Growth rate 13.3% (1995 est.), 11.5% (1993 est.); accounts for 30.6% of GDP

Electricity

Capacity: 12,810,000 kW
Production: 56.8 billion kWh
Consumption per capita: 909 kWh (1993)

Industries

Tourism is the largest source of foreign exchange
Textiles and garments, agricultural processing, beverages, tobacco, cement, light manufacturing, such as jewelry
Electric appliances and components, integrated circuits, furniture, plastics
World's second-largest tungsten producer and third-largest tin producer

Agriculture

Accounts for 10.2% of GDP and 57% of labor force; leading producer and exporter of rice and cassava (tapioca); other crops - rubber, corn, sugarcane, coconuts, soybeans; except for wheat, self-sufficient in food

Illicit Drugs

A minor producer of opium and marijuana; major illicit transit point for heroin, particularly from Burma and Laos, for the international drug market; 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 major drug money laundering center; rapidly growing role in amphetamine production for regional consumption; increasing indigenous abuse of heroin and cocaine

Economic Aid

Recipient: ODA, $624 million (1993), U.S. commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $870 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $8.6 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $19 million

Currency

1 baht (B) = 100 satang

Exchange Rates

Baht (B) per US$1 - 25.300 (January 1996), 25.000 (1995 est.), 25.150 (1994), 25.319 (1993), 25.400 (1992), 25.517 (1991), 25.585 (1990)

Fiscal Year

1 October - 30 September

TRANSPORTATION

Railroads

Total: 4,623 km
Narrow gauge: 4,623 km 1.000-m gauge (99 km double track)

Highways

Total: 54,388 km
Paved: 48,786 km (including 171 km of expressways)
Unpaved: 5,602 km (1992 est.)

Inland Waterways

3,999 km principal waterways; 3,701 km with navigable depths of 0.9 m or more throughout the year; numerous minor waterways navigable by shallow-draft native craft

Pipelines

Petroleum products 67 km; natural gas 350 km

Ports

Bangkok, Laem Chabang, Pattani, Phuket, Sattahip, Si Racha, Songkhla

Merchant Marine

Total: 259 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,559,037 GRT/2,498,812 DWT
Ships by type: bulk 32, cargo 143, chemical tanker 3, container 11, liquefied gas tanker 12, oil tanker 45, passenger 1, refrigerated cargo 7, roll-on/roll-off cargo 2, short-sea passenger 1, specialized tanker 2 (1995 est.)

Airports

Total: 98
With paved runways over 3,047 m: 6
With paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 9
With paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 12
With paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 22
With paved runways under 914 m: 36
With unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 1
With unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 12 (1995 est.)

Heliports

2 (1995 est.)

COMMUNICATIONS

Telephone System

1,553,200 telephones (1994 est.); service to general public inadequate; bulk of service to government activities provided by multichannel cable and microwave radio relay network

Local: NA
Intercity: microwave radio relay and multichannel cable; domestic satellite system being developed
International: 2 INTELSAT (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Pacific Ocean) earth stations

Radio

Broadcast stations: AM 200 (in government-controlled network), FM 100 (in government-controlled network), shortwave 0
Radios: 10.75 million (1992 est.)

Television

Broadcast stations: 11 (in government-controlled network)
Televisions: 3.3 million (1993 est.)

DEFENSE FORCES

Branches

Royal Thai Army, Royal Thai Navy (includes Royal Thai Marine Corps), Royal Thai Air Force, Paramilitary Forces

Manpower Availability

Males age 15-49 16,835,334; males fit for military service 10,182,904; males reach military age (18) annually 592,268 (1996 est.)

Defense Expenditures

Exchange rate conversion - $4.0 billion, 2.5% of GNP (FY94/95)

History
World Atlas

last updated: 29 november 1997

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