Thailand

Airports

total: 105 usable: 96 with permanent-surface runways: 51 with runways over 3,659 m: 1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 14 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 28

Highways

total: 77,697 km paved: 35,855 km (including 88 km of expressways) unpaved: gravel, other stabilization 14,092 km; earth 27,750 km (1988)

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

198 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 998,372 GRT/1,561,824 DWT, bulk 14, cargo 105, chemical tanker 2, combination bulk 2, container 13, liquefied gas 9, oil tanker 43, passenger 1, refrigerated cargo 6, roll-on/roll-off cargo 1, short-sea passenger 1, specialized tanker 1

Pipelines

petroleum products 67 km; natural gas 350 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 microwave 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 - $3.8 billion, 2.9% of GNP (FY93/94 est.)

Manpower availability

males age 15-49 16,982,226; fit for military service 10,312,744; reach military age (18) annually 599,240 (1994 est.)

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: $21.36 billion expenditures: $22.4 billion, including capital expenditures of $6.24 billion (1993 est.)

Currency

1 baht (B) = 100 satang

Economic aid

recipient: 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

capacity: 10,000,000 kW production: 43.75 billion kWh consumption per capita: 760 kWh (1992)

Exchange rates

baht (B) per US$1 - 25.446 (December 1993), 25.400 (1992), 25.517 (1991), 25.585 (1990), 25.702 (1989)

Exports

$28.4 billion (f.o.b., 1992) commodities: machinery and manufactures 76.9%, agricultural products 14.9%, fisheries products 5.9% (1992) partners: US 22%, Japan 18%, Singapore 8%, Hong Kong 5%, Germany 4%, Netherlands 4%, UK 4%, Malaysia, France, China (1992)

External debt

$33.4 billion (1991)

Fiscal year

1 October-30 September

Illicit drugs

a minor producer of opium and marijuana; major illicit trafficker of 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 affected by eradication efforts; also a major drug money laundering center

Imports

$37.6 billion (c.i.f., 1992) commodities: capital goods 41.4%, intermediate goods and raw materials 32.8%, consumer goods 10.4%, oil 8.2% partners: Japan 29.3%, US 11.4%, Singapore 7.6%, Taiwan 5.5%, Germany 5.4%, South Korea 4.6%, Malaysia 4.2%, China 3.3%, Hong Kong 3.3%, UK (1992)

Industrial production

growth rate 9% (1992); accounts for about 26% of GDP

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

4.1% (1992 est.)

National product

GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $323 billion (1993 est.)

National product per capita

$5,500 (1993 est.)

National product real growth rate

7.8% (1993 est.)

Overview

Thailand's economy recovered rapidly from the political unrest in May 1992 to post an impressive 7.5% growth rate for the year and 7.8% in 1993. One of the more advanced developing countries in Asia, Thailand depends on exports of manufactures and the development of the service sector to fuel the country's rapid growth. The trade and current account deficits fell in 1992; much of Thailand's recent imports have been for capital equipment suggesting that the export sector is poised for further growth. With foreign investment slowing, Bangkok is working to increase the generation of domestic capital. Prime Minister CHUAN's government - Thailand's fifth government in less than two years - is pledged to continue Bangkok's probusiness policies, and the return of a democratically elected government has improved business confidence. Nevertheless, CHUAN must overcome divisions within his ruling coalition to complete much needed infrastructure development programs if Thailand is to remain an attractive place for business investment. Over the longer-term, Bangkok must produce more college graduates with technical training and upgrade workers' skills to continue its rapid economic development.

Unemployment rate

3.1% (1992 est.)

Area

total area: 514,000 sq km land area: 511,770 sq km comparative area: slightly more than twice the size of Wyoming

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

Environment

current issues: air pollution increasing from vehicle emissions; water pollution from organic and factory wastes; deforestation; wildlife populations threatened by illegal hunting natural hazards: land subsidence in Bangkok area resulting from the depletion of the water table international agreements: party to - Endangered Species, Marine Life Conservaiton, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea

International disputes

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

Irrigated land

42,300 sq km (1989 est.)

Land boundaries

total 4,863 km, 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%

Location

Southeastern Asia, bordering the Gulf of Thailand, between Burma and Cambodia

Map references

Asia, Southeast Asia, Standard Time Zones of the World

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; Khorat plateau in the east; mountains elsewhere

Administrative divisions

73 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, Mukdahan, 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

Constitution

new constitution approved 7 December 1991; amended 10 June 1992

Digraph

TH

Diplomatic representation in US

chief of mission: Ambassador PHIRAPHONG Kasemsi chancery: 2300 Kalorama Road NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 483-7200

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 CHUAN Likphai (since 23 September 1992) cabinet: Council of Ministers

FAX

(202) 234-4498 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York

FAX

[66] (2) 254-2990 consulate(s) general: Chiang Mai consulate(s): Udorn (Udon Thani)

Flag

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

House of Representatives(Saphaphoothan-Rajsadhorn)

elections last held 13 September 1992 (next to be held by NA); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (360 total) DP 79, TNP 77, NDP 60, NAP 51, Phalang Tham 47, SAP 22, LDP 8, SP 8, Mass Party 4, Thai Citizen's Party 3, People's Party 1, People's Force Party 0

Independence

1238 (traditional founding date; never colonized)

Judicial branch

Supreme Court (Sarndika)

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)

Member of

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

Names

conventional long form: Kingdom of Thailand conventional short form: Thailand

National holiday

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

Political parties and leaders

Democrat Party (DP), Chuan LIKPHAI; Thai Nation Pary (TNP or Chat Thai Party), Banhan SINLAPA-ACHA; National Development Party (NDP or Chat Phattana), Chatchai CHUNHAWAN; New Aspiration Party (NAP), Gen. Chawalit YONGCHAIYUT; Phalang Tham (Palang Dharma), Bunchu ROTCHANASATIEN; Social Action Party (SAP), Montri PHONGPHANIT; Liberal Democratic Party (LDP or Seri Tham), Athit URAIRAT; Solidarity Party (SP), Uthai PHIMCHAICHON; Mass Party (Muanchon), Pol. Cpt. Choem YUBAMRUNG; Thai Citizen's Party (Prachakon Thai), Samak SUNTHONWET; People's Party (Ratsadon), Chaiphak SIRIWAT; People's Force Party (Phalang Prachachon), Col. Sophon HANCHAREON

Privy Council

NA

Senate (Vuthisatha)

consists of a 270-member appointed body

Suffrage

21 years of age; universal

Type

constitutional monarchy

US diplomatic representation

chief of mission: Ambassador David F. LAMBERTSON embassy: 95 Wireless Road, Bangkok mailing address: APO AP 96546 telephone: [66] (2) 252-5040

Birth rate

19.43 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)

Death rate

6.41 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)

Ethnic divisions

Thai 75%, Chinese 14%, other 11%

Infant mortality rate

37.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)

Labor force

30.87 million by occupation: agriculture 62%, industry 13%, commerce 11%, services (including government) 14% (1989 est.)

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 68.35 years male: 64.99 years female: 71.87 years (1994 est.)

Literacy

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

Nationality

noun: Thai (singular and plural) adjective: Thai

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)

Population

59,510,471 (July 1994 est.)

Population growth rate

1.3% (1994 est.)

Religions

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

Total fertility rate

2.1 children born/woman (1994 est.)