Thailand

Airports

115 total, 97 usable; 50 with permanent-surface runways; 1 with runways over 3,659 m; 13 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 28 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Civil air

41 (plus 2 leased) major transport aircraft

Highways

44,534 km total; 28,016 km paved, 5,132 km earth surface, 11,386 km under development

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

Merchant marine

151 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 628,225 GRT/957,095 DWT; includes 1 short-sea passenger, 87 cargo, 11 container, 31 petroleum tanker, 9 liquefied gas, 2 chemical tanker, 3 bulk, 4 refrigerated cargo, 2 combination bulk, 1 passenger

Pipelines

natural gas 350 km, petroleum products 67 km

Ports

Bangkok, Pattani, Phuket, Sattahip, Si Racha

Railroads

3,940 km 1.000-meter gauge, 99 km double track

Telecommunications

service to general public inadequate; bulk of service to government activities provided by multichannel cable and radio relay network; 739,500 telephones (1987); broadcast stations - over 200 AM, 100 FM, and 11 TV in government-controlled networks; satellite earth stations - 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT and 1 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT domestic satellite system being developed

Branches

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

Defense expenditures

exchange rate conversion - $2.7 billion, about 3% of GNP (1992 budget)

Manpower availability

males 15-49, 16,361,393; 9,966,446 fit for military service; 612,748 reach military age (18) annually

Agriculture

accounts for 12% of GDP and 60% 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

Budget

revenues $17.9 billion; expenditures $17.9 billion, including capital expenditures of $5.0 billion (FY92 est.)

Currency

baht (plural - baht); 1 baht (B) = 100 satang

Economic aid

US 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

Electricity

7,400,000 kW capacity; 37,500 million kWh produced, 660 kWh per capita (1991)

Exchange rates

baht (B) per US$1 - 25.614 (March 1992), 25.517 (1991), 25.585 (1990), 25.702 (1989), 25.294 (1988), 25.723 (1987)

Exports

$27.5 billion (f.o.b., 1991) commodities: machinery and manufactures 62%, food 28%, crude materials 7% (1990) partners: US 23.4%, Japan 17.2%, Singapore 7.3%, Germany 5.3%, Hong Kong 4.8%, UK 4.4%, Netherlands 4.3%, Malaysia, France, China (1990)

External debt

$25.1 billion (1990)

Fiscal year

1 October-30 September

GNP

exchange rate conversion - $92.6 billion, per capita $1,630; real growth rate 8% (1991 est.)

Illicit drugs

a minor producer, major illicit trafficker of heroin, particularly from Burma and Laos, and cannabis 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 affected by eradication efforts

Imports

$39.0 billion (c.i.f., 1991) commodities: machinery and manufactures 67%, chemicals l0%, fuels 9%, crude materials 6% (1990) partners: Japan 30.2%, US 12%, Singapore 6.9%, Taiwan 5%, Germany 4.8%, China 3.2%, South Korea, Malaysia, UK (1990)

Industrial production

growth rate 14% (1990 est.); accounts for about 25% of GDP

Industries

tourism is the largest source of foreign exchange; textiles and garments, agricultural processing, beverages, tobacco, cement, other light manufacturing, such as jewelry; electric appliances and components, integrated circuits, furniture, plastics; world's second-largest tungsten producer and third-largest tin producer

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

5.6% (1991 est.)

Overview

Thailand, one of the more advanced developing countries in Asia, enjoyed a year of 8% growth in 1991, although down from an annual average of 11% growth between 1987 and 1990. The increasingly sophisticated manufacturing sector benefited from export-oriented investment. The manufacturing and service sectors have accounted for the lion's share of economic growth. Thailand's traditional agricultural sector continued to become less important to the overall economy in 1991. The trade deficit continued to increase in 1991, to $11 billion; earnings from tourism and remittances grew marginally as a result of the Gulf War; and Thailand's import bill grew, especially for manufactures and oil. The government has followed fairly sound fiscal and monetary policies. Aided by increased tax receipts from the fast-moving economy; Bangkok recorded its fourth consecutive budget surplus in 1991. The government is moving ahead with new projects - especially for telecommunications, roads, and port facilities - needed to refurbish the country's overtaxed infrastructure. Political unrest and the military's shooting of antigovernment demonstrators in May 1992 have caused international businessmen to question Thailand's political stability. Thailand's general economic outlook remains good, however, assuming the continuation of the government's progrowth measures.

Unemployment rate

4.1% (1991 est.)

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

Coastline

3,219 km

Comparative area

slightly more than twice the size of Wyoming

Disputes

boundary dispute with Laos; unresolved maritime boundary with Vietnam

Environment

air and water pollution; land subsidence in Bangkok area

Land area

511,770 km2

Land boundaries

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

Land use

arable land 34%; permanent crops 4%; meadows and pastures 1%; forest and woodland 30%; other 31%; includes irrigated 7%

Maritime claims

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm Territorial sea: 12 nm

Natural resources

tin, rubber, natural gas, tungsten, tantalum, timber, lead, fish, gypsum, lignite, fluorite

Note

controls only land route from Asia to Malaysia and Singapore

Terrain

central plain; eastern plateau (Khorat); mountains elsewhere

Total area

514,000 km2

Administrative divisions

72 provinces (changwat, singular and plural); 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, Nakhon Nayok, Nakhon Pathom, Nakhon Phanom, Nakhon Ratchasima, Nakhon Sawan, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Nan, Narathiwat, 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, 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

Capital

Bangkok

Communists

illegal Communist party has 500 to 1,000 members; armed Communist insurgents throughout Thailand total 200 (est.)

Constitution

22 December 1978; new constitution approved 7 December 1991

Diplomatic representation

Ambassador-designate PHIRAPHONG Kasemsi; Embassy at 2300 Kalorama Road NW, Washington, DC 20008; telephone (202) 483-7200; there are Thai Consulates General in Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York US: Ambassador David F. LAMBERTSON; Embassy at 95 Wireless Road, Bangkok (mailing address is APO AP 96546); telephone [66] (2) 252-5040; FAX [66] (2) 254-2990; there is a US Consulate General in Chiang Mai and Consulates in Songkhla and Udorn

Elections

House of Representatives: last held 22 March 1992 (next to be held by NA); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (360 total) Samakki Tham 79, Chart Thai Party 74, New Aspiration Party 72, DP 44, Palang Dharma 41, SAP 31, TCP 7, Solidarity Party 6, Rassadorn 4, Muanchon 1, Puangchon Chotahi 1

Executive branch

monarch, interim prime minister, three interim deputy prime ministers, interim Council of Ministers (cabinet), Privy Council; following the military coup of 23 February 1991 a National Peace-Keeping Council was set up

Flag

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

Independence

1238 (traditional founding date); never colonized

Judicial branch

Supreme Court (Sarndika)

Leaders

Chief of State: King PHUMIPHON Adunlayadet (since 9 June 1946); Heir Apparent Crown Prince WACHIRALONGKON (born 28 July 1952) Head of Government: Prime Minister Anan PANYARACHUN (since 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

Legislative branch

bicameral National Assembly (Rathasatha) consists of an upper house or Senate (Vuthisatha) and a lower house or House of Representatives (Saphaphoothan-Rajsadhorn)

Long-form name

Kingdom of Thailand

Member of

APEC, AsDB, ASEAN, CCC, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LORCS, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO

National holiday

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

Political parties and leaders

Justice Unity Party (Samakki Tham); Chart Thai Party; Solidarity Party; Thai Citizens Party (TCP, Prachakorn Thai); Social Action Party (SAP); Democrat Party (DP); Force of Truth Party (Palang Dharma); New Aspiration Party; Rassadorn Party; Muanchon Party; Puangchon Chothai Party

Suffrage

universal at age 21

Type

constitutional monarchy

Birth rate

20 births/1,000 population (1992)

Death rate

6 deaths/1,000 population (1992)

Ethnic divisions

Thai 75%, Chinese 14%, other 11%

Infant mortality rate

35 deaths/1,000 live births (1992)

Labor force

30,870,000; agriculture 62%, industry 13%, commerce 11%, services (including government) 14% (1989 est.)

Languages

Thai; English is the secondary language of the elite; ethnic and regional dialects

Life expectancy at birth

67 years male, 71 years female (1992)

Literacy

93% (male 96%, female 90%) age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)

Nationality

noun - Thai (singular and plural); adjective - Thai

Net migration rate

0 migrants/1,000 population (1992)

Organized labor

309,000 union members (1989)

Population

57,624,180 (July 1992), growth rate 1.4% (1992)

Religions

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

Total fertility rate

2.2 children born/woman (1992)