Thailand Population: 67,448,120
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| 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 treaty ally in 1954 after sending troops to Korea and later fighting alongside the United States in Vietnam. Thailand since 2005 has experienced several rounds of political turmoil including a military coup in 2006 that ousted then Prime Minister THAKSIN Chinnawat, followed by large-scale street protests by competing political factions in 2008, 2009, and 2010. Demonstrations in 2010 culminated with clashes between security forces and pro-THAKSIN protesters, elements of which were armed, and resulted in at least 92 deaths and an estimated $1.5 billion in arson-related property losses. THAKSIN's youngest sister, YINGLAK Chinnawat, in 2011 led the Puea Thai Party to an electoral win and assumed control of the government. YINGLAK's leadership was almost immediately challenged by historic flooding in late 2011 that had large swathes of the country underwater and threatened to inundate Bangkok itself. Throughout 2012 the Puea Thai-led government struggled with the opposition Democrat Party to fulfill some of its main election promises, including constitutional reform and political reconciliation. Since January 2004, thousands have been killed and wounded in violence associated with the ethno-nationalist insurgency in Thailand's southern Malay-Muslim majority provinces. |
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| Geography | |
| Controls only land route from Asia to Malaysia and Singapore | |
| Location: | Southeastern Asia, bordering the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand, southeast of Burma |
| Geographic coordinates: | 15 00 N, 100 00 E |
| Area: | total: 513,120 sq km land: 510,890 sq km water: 2,230 sq km Size comparison: slightly more than twice the size of Wyoming |
| Land Boundaries: | total: 4,863 km border countries: Burma 1,800 km, Cambodia 803 km, Laos 1,754 km, Malaysia 506 km |
| Coastline: | 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 |
| 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 extremes: | 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, arable land |
| Land use: | arable land: 27.54% permanent crops: 6.93% other: 65.53% (2005) |
| Irrigated land: | 64,150 sq km (2003) |
| Natural hazards: | land subsidence in Bangkok area resulting from the depletion of the water table; droughts |
| Current Environment Issues: | air pollution from vehicle emissions; water pollution from organic and factory wastes; deforestation; soil erosion; wildlife populations threatened by illegal hunting |
| International Environment 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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| People | |
| Population: | 67,448,120 (July 2013 est.) 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, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2013 est.) |
| Age structure: | 0-14 years: 19.2% (male 6,620,873/female 6,313,188) 15-24 years: 15.1% (male 5,181,468/female 4,975,083) 25-54 years: 45.6% (male 15,192,334/female 15,569,761) 55-64 years: 10.4% (male 3,345,493/female 3,661,867) 65 years and over: 9.8% (male 2,971,426/female 3,616,627) (2013 est.) population pyramid: |
| Median age: | total: 34.7 years male: 33.7 years female: 35.6 years (2012 est.) |
| Population growth rate: | 0.543% (2012 est.) |
| Birth rate: | 12.81 births/1,000 population (2012 est.) |
| Death rate: | 7.38 deaths/1,000 population (July 2012 est.) |
| Net migration rate: | 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2012 est.) |
| 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: 0.82 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2011 est.) |
| Infant mortality rate: | total: 15.9 deaths/1,000 live births male: 16.88 deaths/1,000 live births female: 14.86 deaths/1,000 live births (2012 est.) |
| Life expectancy at birth: | total population: 73.83 years male: 71.45 years female: 76.33 years (2012 est.) |
| Total fertility rate: | 1.66 children born/woman (2013 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: | 1.3% (2009 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: | 530,000 (2009 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - deaths: | 28,000 (2009 est.) |
| Nationality: | noun: Thai (singular and plural) adjective: Thai |
| Ethnic groups: | Thai 75%, Chinese 14%, other 11% |
| Religions: | Buddhist (official) 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% (2000 census) |
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| 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 type: | constitutional monarchy |
| 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 divisions: | 77 provinces (changwat, singular and plural); Amnat Charoen, Ang Thong, Bueng Kan, 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 holiday: | Birthday of King PHUMIPHON (BHUMIBOL), 5 December (1927) |
| Constitution: | 24 August 2007 |
| Legal system: | civil law system with common law influences |
| Suffrage: | 18 years of age; universal and compulsory |
| Executive branch: | chief of state: King PHUMIPHON Adunyadet, also spelled BHUMIBOL Adulyadej (since 9 June 1946) head of government: Prime Minister YINGLAK Chinnawat also spelled YINGLUCK Shinawatra (since 8 August 2011); Deputy Prime Minister CHALOEM Yubamrung also spelled CHALERM Yubamrung (since 28 October 2012); Deputy Prime Minister KITTIRAT Na Ranong (since 28 October 2012); Deputy Prime Minister PHONGTHEP Therkanchana also spelled PHONGTHEP Thepkanchana (since 28 October 2012); Deputy Prime Minister PLODPRASOP Suraswadi (since 28 October 2012); Deputy Prime Minister SURAPHONG Towijakchaikun also spelled SURAPONG Tovichakchaikul (since 28 October 2012); Deputy Prime Minister YUKHON Limiaemthong (since 25 March 2013) cabinet: Council of Ministers (For more information visit the World Leaders website ) note: there is also a Privy Council advising the king elections: the monarchy is hereditary; according to the 2007 constitution, the prime minister is elected from among members of the House of Representatives; following national elections for the House of Representatives, the leader of the party positioned to organize a majority coalition usually becomes prime minister by appointment by the king; the prime minister is limited to two four-year terms |
| Legislative branch: | bicameral National Assembly or Rathasapha consisted of the Senate or Wuthisapha (150 seats; 77 members elected by popular vote representing 77 provinces, 73 appointed by judges and independent government bodies; members serve six-year terms) and the House of Representatives or Sapha Phuthaen Ratsadon (500 seats; 375 members elected from 375 single-seat constituencies and 125 elected on proportional party-list basis; members serve four-year terms) elections: Senate - last held on 2 March 2008 (next to be held in March 2014); House of Representatives - last election held on 3 July 2011 (next to be held by July 2015) 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 - PTP 265, DP 159, PJT 34, CTP 19, others 15 note: 74 senators were appointed on 19 February 2008 by a seven-member committee headed by the chief of the Constitutional Court; 76 senators were elected on 2 March 2008; elections to the Senate are non-partisan; registered political party members are disqualified from being senators |
| Judicial branch: | Constitutional Court, Supreme Court of Justice, and Supreme Administrative Court; all judges are appointed by the king; the king's appointments to the Constitutional Court are made upon the advice of the Senate; the nine Constitutional Court judges are drawn from the Supreme Court of Justice and Supreme Administrative Court as well as from among substantive experts in law and social sciences outside the judiciary |
| Political parties and leaders: | Chat Pattana Party or CPN (Nation Development Party [WANNARAT Channukul]; Chat Thai Phattana Party or CTP (Thai Nation Development Party) [THAWORN Jampa-ngoen (acting)]; Mahachon Party or Mass Party [APHIRAT Sirinawin]; Matubhum Party (Motherland Party [SONTHI Bunyaratkalin]; Phalang Chon Party (People [Chonburi] Power Party) [CHAO Maneewong]; Phumjai (Bhumjai) Thai Party or PJT (Thai Pride) [ANUTIN Charnvirakul]; Prachathipat Party or DP (Democrat Party) [ABHISIT Wechachiwa, also spelled ABHISIT Vejjajiva]; Prachathipathai Mai Party (New Democrat Party0 [SURATIN Phijarn]; Puea Thai Party (For Thais Party) or PTP [CHARUPHONG Rueangsusan also spelled JARUPONG Ruangsuwan]; Rak Prathet Thai Party (Love Thailand Party) [CHUWIT Kamonwisit]; Rak Santi Party (Peace Conservation Party) [THAWIL Surachetphong] |
| Political pressure groups and leaders: | Multicolor Group; People's Alliance for Democracy or PAD; United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship or UDD |
| International organization participation: | ADB, APEC, ARF, ASEAN, BIMSTEC, BIS, CD, CICA, CP, EAS, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC (observer), OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE (partner), PCA, PIF (partner), UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMOGIP, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO |
| Diplomatic representation in the US: | chief of mission: Ambassador CHAIYONG Satchiphanon (also spelled CHAIYONG Satjipanon) chancery: 1024 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Suite 401, Washington, DC 20007 telephone: [1] (202) 944-3600 FAX: [1] (202) 944-3611 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, New York |
| Diplomatic representation from the US: | chief of mission: Ambassador Kristie A. KENNEY embassy: 120-122 Wireless Road, Bangkok 10330 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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| Economy | |
| With a well-developed infrastructure, a free-enterprise economy, generally pro-investment policies, and strong export industries, Thailand achieved steady growth due largely to industrial and agriculture exports - mostly electronics, agricultural commodities, automobiles and parts, and processed foods. Thailand is trying to maintain growth by encouraging domestic consumption and public investment to offset weak exports in 2012. Unemployment, at less than 1% of the labor force, stands as one of the lowest levels in the world, which puts upward pressure on wages in some industries. Thailand also attracts nearly 2.5 million migrant workers from neighboring countries. The Thai government is implementing a nation-wide 300 baht ($10) per day minimum wage policy and deploying new tax reforms designed to lower rates on middle-income earners. The Thai economy has weathered internal and external economic shocks in recent years. The global economic severely cut Thailand's exports, with most sectors experiencing double-digit drops. In 2009, the economy contracted 2.3%. However, in 2010, Thailand's economy expanded 7.8%, its fastest pace since 1995, as exports rebounded. In late 2011 growth was interrupted by historic flooding in the industrial areas in Bangkok and its five surrounding provinces, crippling the manufacturing sector. Industry recovered from the second quarter of 2012 onward with GDP growth at 5.5% in 2012. The government has approved flood mitigation projects worth $11.7 billion, which were started in 2012, to prevent similar economic damage, and an additional $75 billion for infrastructure over the next seven years with a plan to start in 2013. | |
| GDP (purchasing power parity): | GDP (purchasing power parity): $645.7 billion (2012 est.) $612 billion (2011 est.) $611.7 billion (2010 est.) note: data are in 2012 US dollars |
| GDP (official exchange rate): | GDP (official exchange rate): $377 billion (2012 est.) |
| GDP - real growth rate: | 5.5% (2012 est.) 0.1% (2011 est.) 7.8% (2010 est.) |
| GDP - per capita (PPP): | GDP - per capita (PPP): $10,000 (2012 est.) $9,600 (2011 est.) $9,600 (2010 est.) note: data are in 2012 US dollars |
| GDP - composition by sector: | agriculture: 8.6% industry: 39% services: 52.4% (2011 est.) |
| Labor force: | 39.77 million (2012 est.) |
| Labor force - by occupation: | agriculture: 38.2% industry: 13.6% services: 48.2% (2011 est.) |
| Unemployment rate: | 0.6% (2012 est.) 0.7% (2011 est.) |
| Population below poverty line: | 7.75% (2010 est.) |
| Household income or consumption by percentage share: | lowest 10%: 2.8% highest 10%: 31.5% (2009 est.) |
| Distribution of family income - Gini index: | 53.6 (2009) 42 (2002) |
| Inflation rate (consumer prices): | Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3% (2012 est.) 3.8% (2011 est.) |
| Investment (gross fixed): | Investment (gross fixed): 28.8% of GDP (2012 est.) |
| Budget: | revenues: $63.7 billion expenditures: $76.6 billion (2012 est.) |
| Public debt: | 43.3% of GDP (2012 est.) 40.8% of GDP (2011 est.) note: data cover general government debt, and includes debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data include debt issued by subnational entities, as well as intra-governmental debt; intra-governmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as for retirement, medical care, and unemployment; debt instruments for the social funds are sold at public auctions |
| Agriculture - products: | rice, cassava (manioc), rubber, corn, sugarcane, 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 production growth rate: | 2.5% (2012 est.) |
| Electricity - production: | 173.3 billion kWh (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 25 |
| Electricity - consumption: | 169.4 billion kWh (2012 est.) |
| Electricity - exports: | 1.535 billion kWh (2012 est.) |
| Electricity - imports: | 9.575 billion kWh (2012 est.) |
| Natural gas - production: | 28.21 billion cu m (2011 est.) |
| Natural gas - consumption: | 45.08 billion cu m (2010 est.) |
| Natural gas - exports: | 0 cu m (2010 est.) |
| Natural gas - imports: | 8.81 billion cu m (2010 est.) |
| Natural gas - proved reserves: | 299.8 billion cu m (1 January 2012 est.) |
| Current account balance: | -$2.728 billion (2012 est.) $5.889 billion (2011 est.) |
| Exports: | $226.2 billion (2012 est.) $219.1 billion (2011 est.) |
| Exports - commodities: | electronics, computer parts, automobiles and parts, electrical appliances, machinery and equipment, textiles and footwear, fishery products, rice, rubber |
| Exports - partners: | China 12%, Japan 10.5%, US 9.6%, Hong Kong 7.2%, Malaysia 5.4%, Singapore 5%, Indonesia 4.4% (2011) |
| Imports: | $213.7 billion (2012 est.) $202.1 billion (2011 est.) |
| Imports - commodities: | capital goods, intermediate goods and raw materials, consumer goods, fuels |
| Imports - partners: | Japan 18.4%, China 13.4%, UAE 6.3%, US 5.9%, Malaysia 5.4%, South Korea 4% (2011) |
| Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: | $181.6 billion (31 December 2012 est.) $175.1 billion (31 December 2011 est.) |
| Debt - external: | $126.4 billion (30 September 2011 est.) $104.6 billion (30 September 2011 est.) |
| Stock of direct foreign investment - at home: | $159.2 billion (31 December 2012 est.) $150.5 billion (31 December 2011 est.) |
| Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad: | $51.59 billion (31 December 2012 est.) $40.65 billion (31 December 2011 est.) |
| Market value of publicly traded shares: | $245 billion (31 December 2012) $230.9 billion (31 December 2011) $218.7 billion (31 December 2010) |
| Exchange rates: | baht per US dollar - 31.085 (2012 est.) 30.492 (2011 est.) 31.686 (2010 est.) 34.286 (2009) 33.37 (2008) |
| Fiscal year: | 1 October - 30 September |
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| Communications | |
| Telephones in use: | 6.661 million (2011) country comparison to the world: 28 |
| Cellular Phones in use: | 77.605 million (2011) |
| Telephone system: | general assessment: high quality system, especially in urban areas like Bangkok domestic: fixed line system provided by both a government-owned and commercial provider; wireless service expanding rapidly international: country code - 66; connected to major submarine cable systems providing links throughout Asia, Australia, Middle East, Europe, and US; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean, 1 Pacific Ocean) |
| Radio broadcast stations: | |
| Television broadcast stations: | |
| Internet country code: | .th |
| Internet hosts: | 3.399 million (2012) |
| Internet users: | 17.483 million (2009) |
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| Transportation | |
| Airports: | 103 (2012) country comparison to the world: 55 |
| Airports (paved runways): | total: 63 over 3,047 m: 8 2,438 to 3,047 m: 12 1,524 to 2,437 m: 23 914 to 1,523 m: 15 under 914 m: 5 (2012) |
| Airports (unpaved runways): | total: 40 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 12 under 914 m: 27 (2012) |
| Heliports: | 6 (2012) |
| Pipelines: | gas 1,889 km; liquid petroleum gas 85 km; refined products 1,099 km (2010) |
| Railways: | total: 4,071 km standard gauge: 29 km 1.435-m gauge (29 km electrified) narrow gauge: 4,042 km 1.000-m gauge (2008) |
| Roadways: | total: 180,053 km (includes 450 km of expressways) (2006) |
| Waterways: | 4,000 km (3,701 km navigable by boats with drafts up to 0.9 m) (2011) |
| Merchant marine: | total: 363 by type: bulk carrier 31, cargo 99, chemical tanker 28, container 18, liquefied gas 36, passenger 1, passenger/cargo 10, petroleum tanker 114, refrigerated cargo 24, roll on/roll off 1, vehicle carrier 1 foreign-owned: 13 (China 1, Hong Kong 1, Malaysia 3, Singapore 1, Taiwan 1, UK 6) registered in other countries: 46 (Bahamas 4, Belize 1, Honduras 2, Panama 6, Singapore 33) (2010) |
| Ports and terminals: | Bangkok, Laem Chabang, Map Ta Phut, Prachuap Port, Si Racha |
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| Military | |
| Military branches: | Royal Thai Army (Kongthap Bok Thai, RTA), Royal Thai Navy (Kongthap Ruea Thai, RTN, includes Royal Thai Marine Corps), Royal Thai Air Force (Kongthap Agard Thai, RTAF) (2010) |
| Military service age and obligation: | 21 years of age for compulsory military service; 18 years of age for voluntary military service; males register at 18 years of age; 2-year conscript service obligation (2009) |
| Manpower available for military service: | males age 16-49: 17,689,921 females age 16-49: 17,754,795 (2010 est.) |
| Manpower fit for military service: | males age 16-49: 13,308,372 females age 16-49: 14,182,567 (2010 est.) |
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