|
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 five
Muslim-majority southern provinces. |
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Location:
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Southeastern
Asia, bordering the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of
Thailand, southeast of Burma |
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Geographic coordinates:
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15 00
N, 100 00 E |
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Map references:
|
Southeast
Asia |
|
Area:
|
total:
514,000 sq km
water: 2,230 sq km
land: 511,770 sq km |
|
Area - comparative:
|
slightly
more than twice the size of Wyoming |
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Land boundaries:
|
total:
4,863 km
border countries: Burma 1,800 km, Cambodia
803 km, Laos 1,754 km, Malaysia 506 km |
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Coastline:
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3,219
km |
|
Maritime claims:
|
territorial
sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the
depth of exploitation |
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Climate:
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tropical;
rainy, warm, cloudy southwest monsoon (mid-May to
September); dry, cool northeast monsoon (November to
mid-March); southern isthmus always hot and humid |
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Terrain:
|
central
plain; Khorat Plateau in the east; mountains
elsewhere |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest
point: Gulf of Thailand 0 m
highest point: Doi Inthanon 2,576 m |
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Natural resources:
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tin,
rubber, natural gas, tungsten, tantalum, timber,
lead, fish, gypsum, lignite, fluorite, arable land |
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Land use:
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arable
land: 29.36%
permanent crops: 6.46%
other: 64.18% (2001) |
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Irrigated land:
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47,490
sq km (1998 est.) |
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Natural hazards:
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land
subsidence in Bangkok area resulting from the
depletion of the water table; droughts |
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Environment - current issues:
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air
pollution from vehicle emissions; water pollution
from organic and factory wastes; deforestation; soil
erosion; wildlife populations threatened by illegal
hunting |
|
Environment - international agreements:
|
party
to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation,
Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical
Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea |
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Geography - note:
|
controls
only land route from Asia to Malaysia and Singapore
|
|
Population:
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64,865,523
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 2004 est.) |
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Age structure:
|
0-14
years: 24.1% (male 7,985,724; female 7,631,337)
15-64 years: 68.7% (male 21,998,552; female
22,538,765)
65 years and over: 7.3% (male 2,167,421;
female 2,543,724) (2004 est.) |
|
Median age:
|
total:
30.5 years
male: 29.7 years
female: 31.2 years (2004 est.) |
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Population growth rate:
|
0.91%
(2004 est.) |
|
Birth rate:
|
16.04
births/1,000 population (2004 est.) |
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Death rate:
|
6.94
deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.) |
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Net migration rate:
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0
migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.) |
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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: 0.85 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2004
est.) |
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Infant mortality rate:
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total:
21.14 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 19.73 deaths/1,000 live births (2004
est.)
male: 22.49 deaths/1,000 live births |
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Life expectancy at birth:
|
total
population: 71.41 years
male: 69.23 years
female: 73.71 years (2004 est.) |
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Total fertility rate:
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1.89
children born/woman (2004 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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1.5%
(2003 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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570,000
(2003 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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58,000
(2003 est.) |
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Nationality:
|
noun:
Thai (singular and plural)
adjective: Thai |
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Ethnic groups:
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Thai
75%, Chinese 14%, other 11% |
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Religions:
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Buddhism
95%, Muslim 3.8%, Christianity 0.5%, Hinduism 0.1%,
other 0.6% (1991) |
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Languages:
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Thai,
English (secondary language of the elite), ethnic
and regional dialects |
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Literacy:
|
definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 92.6%
male: 94.9%
female: 90.5% (2002)
|
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Country name:
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conventional
long form: Kingdom of Thailand
conventional short form: Thailand
former: Siam |
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Government type:
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constitutional
monarchy |
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Capital:
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Bangkok |
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Administrative divisions:
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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 (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 |
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Independence:
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1238
(traditional founding date; never colonized) |
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National holiday:
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Birthday
of King PHUMIPHON, 5 December (1927) |
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Constitution:
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new
constitution signed by King PHUMIPHON on 11 October
1997 |
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Legal system:
|
based
on civil law system, with influences of common law;
has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction |
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Suffrage:
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18
years of age; universal and compulsory |
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Executive branch:
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chief
of state: King PHUMIPHON Adunyadet (since 9 June
1946)
note: there is also a Privy Council
head of government: Prime Minister THAKSIN
Chinnawat (since 9 February 2001) and Deputy Prime
Ministers CHATURON Chaisaeng, Gen. CHAWALIT
Yongchaiyut (Ret.), PHOKIN Phalakun, PURACHAI
Piamsombun, SOMKHIT Chatusiphithak, SUWIT Khunkitti,
VISHANU Krua-ngam (since 8 November 2003);
LIPTAPANLOP Suwat (since 1 July 2004)
cabinet: Council of Ministers
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary;
prime minister is designated from among the members
of the House of Representatives; following national
elections for the House of Representatives, the
leader of the party that can organize a majority
coalition usually is appointed prime minister by the
king |
|
Legislative branch:
|
bicameral
National Assembly or Rathasapha consists of 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)
elections: Senate - last held 4 March, 29
April, 4 June, 9 July, and 22 July 2000 (next to be
held by March 2006); House of Representatives - last
held 6 January 2001 (next to be held January 2005)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by
party - NA; seats by party - NA; House of
Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA;
seats by party - TRT 248, DP 128, TNP 41, NDP 29,
other 54 |
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Judicial branch:
|
Supreme
Court or Sandika (judges appointed by the monarch) |
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Political parties and leaders:
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Democrat
Party or DP (Prachathipat Party) [BANTADTAN Banyat];
National Development Party or NDP (Chat Phattana) [SUWAT
Lipataphanlop]; People's Party or PP (Mahachon
Party) [ANEK Laothamatas]; Thai Nation Party or TNP
(Chat Thai Party) [BANHAN Sinlapa-acha]; Thai Rak
Thai Party or TRT [THAKSIN Chinnawat] |
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Political pressure groups and leaders:
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NA |
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International organization participation:
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APEC,
ARF, AsDB, ASEAN, BIS, CP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD,
IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM,
ISO, ITU, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC (observer), OPCW,
OSCE (partner), PCA, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMISET, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO |
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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chief
of mission: KASIT Piromya
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles,
and New York
FAX: [1] (202) 944-3611
telephone: [1] (202) 944-3600
chancery: 1024 Wisconsin Avenue NW,
Washington, DC 20007 |
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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chief
of mission: Ambassador Darryl N. JOHNSON
embassy: 120/22 Wireless Road, Bangkok
mailing address: APO AP 96546
telephone: [66] (2) 205-4000
FAX: [66] (2) 254-2990, 205-4131
consulate(s) general: Chiang Mai |
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Flag description:
|
five
horizontal bands of red (top), white, blue (double
width), white, and red
|
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Economy - overview:
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Thailand
has a free-enterprise economy and welcomes foreign
investment. Exports feature textiles and footwear,
fishery products, rice, rubber, jewelry,
automobiles, computers and electrical appliances.
Thailand has recovered from the 1997-98 Asian
Financial Crisis and was one of East Asia's best
performers in 2002. Increased consumption and
investment spending and strong export growth pushed
GDP growth up to 6.3% in 2003 despite a sluggish
global economy. The highly popular government has
pushed an expansionist policy, including major
support of village economic development. |
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GDP:
|
purchasing
power parity - $477.5 billion (2003 est.) |
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GDP - real growth rate:
|
6.7%
(2003 est.) |
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GDP - per capita:
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purchasing
power parity - $7,400 (2003 est.) |
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture:
9.8%
industry: 44%
services: 46.3% (2003) |
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Investment (gross fixed):
|
25.5%
of GDP (2003) |
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Population below poverty line:
|
10.4%
(2002 est.) |
|
Household income or consumption by percentage
share:
|
lowest
10%: 2.8%
highest 10%: 32.4% (1998) |
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Distribution of family income - Gini index:
|
41.4
(1998) |
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
|
1.8%
(2003 est.) |
|
Labor force:
|
34.9
million (2003 est.) |
|
Labor force - by occupation:
|
agriculture
49%, industry 14%, services 37% (2000 est.) |
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Unemployment rate:
|
2.2%
(2003 est.) |
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Budget:
|
revenues:
$24.41 billion
expenditures: $24.01 billion, including
capital expenditures of $5 billion (2003 est.) |
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Public debt:
|
46.6%
of GDP (2003) |
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Agriculture - products:
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rice,
cassava (tapioca), rubber, corn, sugarcane,
coconuts, soybeans |
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Industries:
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tourism,
textiles and garments, agricultural processing,
beverages, tobacco, cement, light manufacturing such
as jewelry, electric appliances and components,
computers and parts, integrated circuits, furniture,
plastics, world's second-largest tungsten producer,
and third-largest tin producer |
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Industrial production growth rate:
|
12.3%
(2003 est.) |
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Electricity - production:
|
97.6
billion kWh (2001) |
|
Electricity - production by source:
|
fossil
fuel: 91.3%
hydro: 6.4%
other: 2.4% (2001)
nuclear: 0% |
|
Electricity - consumption:
|
90.91
billion kWh (2001) |
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Electricity - exports:
|
200
million kWh (2001) |
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Electricity - imports:
|
350
million kWh (2001) |
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Oil - production:
|
173,800
bbl/day (2001 est.) |
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Oil - consumption:
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785,000
bbl/day (2001 est.) |
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Oil - exports:
|
NA
(2001) |
|
Oil - imports:
|
NA
(2001) |
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Oil - proved reserves:
|
600
million bbl (1 January 2003) |
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Natural gas - production:
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18.73
billion cu m (2001 est.) |
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Natural gas - consumption:
|
23.93
billion cu m (2001 est.) |
|
Natural gas - exports:
|
0 cu m
(2001 est.) |
|
Natural gas - imports:
|
5.2
billion cu m (2001 est.) |
|
Natural gas - proved reserves:
|
368.2
billion cu m (1 January 2003) |
|
Current account balance:
|
$9.44
billion (2003) |
|
Exports:
|
$75.99
billion f.o.b. (2003 est.) |
|
Exports - commodities:
|
computers,
office machine parts, transistors, rubber, vehicles
(cars and trucks), plastic, seafood (2002) |
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Exports - partners:
|
US 17%,
Japan 14.2%, Singapore 7.3%, China 7.1%, Hong Kong
5.4%, Malaysia 4.8% (2003 est.) |
|
Imports:
|
$65.3
billion f.o.b. (2003 est.) |
|
Imports - commodities:
|
capital
goods, intermediate goods and raw materials,
consumer goods, fuels (2000) |
|
Imports - partners:
|
Japan
24.1%, US 9.5%, China 8%, Malaysia 6%, Singapore
4.3%, Taiwan 4.2% (2003 est.) |
|
Reserves of foreign exchange & gold:
|
$42.15
billion (2003) |
|
Debt - external:
|
$53.75
billion (2003 est.) |
|
Economic aid - recipient:
|
$131.5
million (1998 est.) |
|
Currency:
|
baht (THB) |
|
Currency code:
|
THB |
|
Exchange rates:
|
baht
per US dollar - 41.4846 (2003), 42.9601 (2002),
44.4319 (2001), 40.1118 (2000), 37.8137 (1999) |
|
Fiscal year:
|
1
October - 30 September
|
|
Telephones - main lines in use:
|
6.6
million (2003) |
|
Telephones - mobile cellular:
|
16.117
million (2002) |
|
Telephone system:
|
general
assessment: service to general public adequate,
but investment in technological upgrades reduced by
recession; bulk of service to government activities
provided by multichannel cable and microwave radio
relay network
domestic: microwave radio relay and
multichannel cable; domestic satellite system being
developed
international: country code - 66; satellite
earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1
Pacific Ocean) |
|
Radio broadcast stations:
|
AM 204,
FM 334, shortwave 6 (1999) |
|
Radios:
|
13.96
million (1997) |
|
Television broadcast stations:
|
5 (all
in Bangkok; plus 131 repeaters) (1997) |
|
Televisions:
|
15.19
million (1997) |
|
Internet country code:
|
.th |
|
Internet hosts:
|
103,700
(2003) |
|
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
|
15
(2000) |
|
Internet users:
|
6,031,300
(2003)
|
|
Railways:
|
total:
4,071 km
narrow gauge: 4,071 km 1.000-m gauge (2003) |
|
Highways:
|
total:
64,600 km
paved: 62,985 km
unpaved: 1,615 km (1999 est.) |
|
Waterways:
|
4,000
km
note: 3,701 km are navigable throughout the
year by boats with drafts up to 0.9 meters; numerous
minor waterways serve shallow-draft native craft |
|
Pipelines:
|
gas
3,066 km; refined products 265 km (2003) |
|
Ports and harbors:
|
Bangkok,
Laem Chabang, Pattani, Phuket, Sattahip, Si Racha,
Songkhla |
|
Merchant marine:
|
total:
339 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 2,038,597 GRT/3,104,712
DWT
foreign-owned: Egypt 1, Germany 3, Indonesia
1, Japan 4, Norway 38, Panama 2, Singapore 3
registered in other countries: 43 (2003 est.)
by type: bulk 40, cargo 135, chemical tanker
5, combination bulk 2, combination ore/oil 1,
container 19, liquefied gas 22, multi-functional
large load carrier 2, passenger 1, petroleum tanker
79, refrigerated cargo 22, roll on/roll off 2,
short-sea/passenger 2, specialized tanker 6, vehicle
carrier 1 |
|
Airports:
|
109
(2003 est.) |
|
Airports - with paved runways:
|
total:
65
over 3,047 m: 7
2,438 to 3,047 m: 10
914 to 1,523 m: 19
under 914 m: 6 (2003 est.)
1,524 to 2,437 m: 23 |
|
Airports - with unpaved runways:
|
total:
44
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 15
under 914 m: 28 (2003 est.) |
|
Heliports:
|
3 (2003
est.)
|
|
Military branches:
|
Royal
Thai Army, Royal Thai Navy (including Royal Thai
Marine Corps), Royal Thai Air Force |
|
Military manpower - military age:
|
20
years of age; males are registered at 18 years of
age (2004 est.) |
|
Military manpower - availability:
|
males
age 15-49: 17,944,151 (2004 est.) |
|
Military manpower - fit for military service:
|
males
age 15-49: 10,735,354 (2004 est.) |
|
Military manpower - reaching military age
annually:
|
males:
531,511 (2004 est.) |
|
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
|
$1.775
billion (FY00) |
|
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
|
1.8%
(2003)
|
| Transnational
Issues |
Thailand |
|
Disputes - international:
|
a 1
kilometer segment at the mouth of the Golok River
remains in dispute with Malaysia; demarcation with
Laos complete except for certain Mekong River islets
and complaints of 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 accuses Thailand
of moving boundary markers and obstructing access to
Preah Vihear temple ruins awarded to Cambodia by ICJ
decision in 1962; 2003 anti-Thai riots in Phnom Penh
resulted in the destruction of the Thai Embassy and
damage to 17 Thai-owned businesses and disputes over
payments of full compensation persist; groups in
Burma and Thailand express concern over China's
construction of 13 hydroelectric dams on the Salween
River in Yunnan Province |
|
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 amphetamine
production for regional consumption; increasing
indigenous abuse of methamphetamine
|
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