Thailand

§1. 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.

§2. Thailand Geography

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

Geographic coordinates:
  15 00 N, 100 00 E

Map references:
  Southeast_Asia

Area:
  total: 514,000 km²
  land: 511,770 km²
  water: 2,230 km²

Area - comparative:
  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:
  47,490 km² (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:
  land subsidence in Bangkok area resulting from the depletion of the water
  table; droughts

Environment - current issues:
  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

Geography - note:
  controls only land route from Asia to Malaysia and Singapore

§3. Thailand 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 growth rate:
  0.68% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
  13.87 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
  7.04 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:
  0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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: 0.84 male(s)/female
  total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:
  total: 19.49 deaths/1,000 live births
  male: 20.77 deaths/1,000 live births
  female: 18.15 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
  total population: 72.25 years
  male: 69.95 years
  female: 74.68 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:
  1.64 children born/woman (2006 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
  1.5% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
  570,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:
  58,000 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases:
  degree of risk: high
  food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea and 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)

§4. Thailand Government

Country name:
  conventional long form: Kingdom of Thailand
  conventional short form: Thailand
  former: Siam

Government 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 (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, 5 December (1927)

Constitution:
  new constitution signed by King PHUMIPHON on 11 October 1997

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 branch:
  chief of state: King PHUMIPHON Adunyadet (since 9 June 1946)
  head of government: Prime Minister THAKSIN Chinnawat (since 9 February
    2001) and Deputy Prime Ministers CHITCHAI Wannasathit (since 11 March
    2005), SOMKHIT Chatusiphithak (since 11 March 2005), SUCHAI
    Charoenrattanakhun (since 31 October 2005), SURAKIAT Sathianthai (since
    11 March 2005), SURIYA Chungrungruankit (since 2 August 2005), SUWAT
    Liptapanlop (since 2 August 2005), WISANU Kruangam (since 3 November
    2002)
  cabinet: Council of Ministers
  note: there is also a Privy Council
  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 in April 2006); House of Representatives -
    last held 6 February 2005 (next to be held in February 2009)
  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 376, DP 97, TNP 25, PP 2

Judicial branch:
  Supreme Court or Sandika (judges appointed by the monarch)

Political parties and leaders:
  Democrat Party or DP (Prachathipat Party) [ABHISIT Wetchachiwa]; People's
  Party or PP (Mahachon Party) [ANEK Laothamatas]; Thai Nation Party or TNP
  (Chat Thai Party) [BARNHARN SILPA-ARCHA]; Thai Rak Thai Party or TRT
  [THAKSIN Chinnawat]

Political pressure groups and leaders:
  NA

International organization participation:
  APEC, APT, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN, BIMSTEC, BIS, CP, EAS, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD,
  ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), 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, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
  UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
  chief of mission: KASIT Piromya
  chancery: 1024 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Suite 401, Washington, DC 20007-3681
  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 Ralph L. BOYCE
  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

Flag description:
  five horizontal bands of red (top), white, blue (double width), white, and
  red

§5. Thailand Economy

Economy - overview:
  With a well-developed infrastructure, a free-enterprise 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 (purchasing power parity):
  $545.8 billion (2005 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):
  $177.2 billion (2005 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:
  4.4% (2005 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):
  $8,300 (2005 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:
  agriculture: 9.3%
  industry: 45.1%
  services: 45.6% (2005 est.)

Labor force:
  35.36 million (2005 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:
  agriculture 49%, industry 14%, services 37% (2000 est.)

Unemployment rate:
  1.4% (September 2005)

Population below poverty line:
  10% (2004 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
  lowest 10%: 2.8%
  highest 10%: 32.4% (1998)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:
  51.1 (2002)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  4.8% (2005 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):
  31.7% of GDP (2005 est.)

Budget:
  revenues: $30.64 billion
  expenditures: $31.76 billion; including capital expenditures of $5 billion
    (2005 est.)

Public debt:
  35.9% of GDP (2005 est.)

Agriculture - products:
  rice, cassava (tapioca), 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:
  8.2% (2005 est.)

Electricity - production:
  114.7 billion kWh (2003)

Electricity - consumption:
  107.3 billion kWh (2003)

Electricity - exports:
  315 million kWh (2003)

Electricity - imports:
  980 million kWh (2003)

Oil - production:
  230,000 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - consumption:
  851,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
  NA bbl/day

Oil - imports:
  NA bbl/day

Oil - proved reserves:
  583 million bbl (November 2003)

Natural gas - production:
  22.28 billion m³ (2003 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:
  29.15 billion m³ (2003 est.)

Natural gas - exports:
  0 m³ (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports:
  5.2 billion m³ (2001 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:
  377.7 billion m³ (November 2003)

Current account balance:
  $-5.901 billion (2005 est.)

Exports:
  $105.8 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)

Exports - commodities:
  textiles and footwear, fishery products, rice, rubber, jewelry,
  automobiles, computers and electrical appliances

Exports - partners:
  US 16.1%, Japan 14%, China 7.4%, Singapore 7.3%, Malaysia 5.5%, Hong Kong
  5.1% (2004)

Imports:
  $107 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)

Imports - commodities:
  capital goods, intermediate goods and raw materials, consumer goods, fuels

Imports - partners:
  Japan 23.6%, China 8.6%, US 7.7%, Malaysia 5.8%, Singapore 4.4%, Taiwan
  4.1%, UAE 4% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
  $51.9 billion (December 2005)

Debt - external:
  $50.63 billion (30 June 2005 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:
  $72 million (2002)

Currency (code):
  baht (THB)

Exchange rates:
  baht per US dollar - 40.22 (2005), 40.222 (2004), 41.485 (2003), 42.96
  (2002), 44.432 (2001)

Fiscal year:
  1 October - 30 September

§6. Thailand Communications

Telephones - main lines in use:
  6.797 million (2004)

Telephones - mobile cellular:
  27.379 million (2005)

Telephone system:
  general assessment: high quality system, especially in 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 broadcast stations:
  AM 204, FM 334, shortwave 6 (1999)

Television broadcast stations:
  5 (all in Bangkok; plus 131 repeaters) (1997)

Internet country code:
  .th

Internet hosts:
  786,226 (2005)

Internet users:
  8.42 million (2005)

§7. Thailand Transportation

Airports:
  108 (2005)

Airports - with paved runways:
  total: 65
  over 3,047 m: 7
  2,438 to 3,047 m: 10
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 24
  914 to 1,523 m: 19
  under 914 m: 5 (2005)

Airports - with unpaved runways:
  total: 43
  over 3,047 m: 1
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
  914 to 1,523 m: 15
  under 914 m: 26 (2005)

Heliports:
  3 (2005)

Pipelines:
  gas 3,112 km; refined products 265 km (2004)

Railways:
  total: 4,071 km
  narrow gauge: 4,071 km 1.000-m gauge (2004)

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 marine:
  total: 394 ships (1000 GRT or over) 2,815,932 GRT/4,341,947 DWT
  by type: bulk carrier 59, cargo 145, chemical tanker 14, combination
    ore/oil 1, container 20, liquefied gas 28, passenger 3, passenger/cargo
    5, petroleum tanker 89, refrigerated cargo 29, specialized tanker 1
  foreign-owned: 45 (Indonesia 1, Japan 4, South Korea 1, Norway 30,
    Singapore 9)
  registered in other countries: 37 (The Bahamas 1, Liberia 1, Mongolia 1,
    Panama 10, Singapore 23, Tuvalu 1) (2005)

Ports and terminals:
  Bangkok, Laem Chabang, Prachuap Port, Si Racha

§8. Thailand Military

Military branches:
  Royal Thai Army, Royal Thai Navy (includes Royal Thai Marine Corps), Royal
  Thai Air Force

Military service age and obligation:
  21 years of age for compulsory military service; males are registered at 18
  years of age; conscript service obligation - two years; 18 years of age for
  voluntary military service (2004)

Manpower available for military service:
  males age 21-49: 14.984 million (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:
  males age 21-49: 10,342,337 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:
  males: 530,493 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:
  $1.775 billion (FY00)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
  1.8% (2003)

§9. Thailand Transnational Issues

Disputes - international:
  separatist violence in Thailand's predominantly Muslim 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 internally displaced persons:
  refugees (country of origin): 120,814 (Burma)
  IDPs: 6,000 (26 December 2004 tsunami) (2005)

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


<Factbook 2006>
