Thailand

Radio broadcast stations

AM 200 (in government-controlled network), FM 100 (in government-controlled network), shortwave 0

Radios

10.75 million (1992 est.)

Telephone system

service to general public inadequate; 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: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Pacific Ocean)

Telephones

1,553,200 (1994 est.)

Television broadcast stations

11 (in government-controlled network)

Televisions

3.3 million (1993 est.)

Agriculture - products

rice, cassava (tapioca), rubber, corn, sugarcane, coconuts, soybeans

Budget

revenues : $28.4 billion expenditures: $28.4 billion, including capital expenditures of $6.1 billion (FY94/95)

Currency

1 baht (B) = 100 satang

Debt - external

$61.6 billion (1995)

Economic aid

recipient: ODA, $624 million (1993)

Economy - overview

One of the more advanced developing countries in Asia, Thailand depends on exports of manufactures - including high-technology goods - and the development of the service sector to fuel the country's rapid growth, averaging 9% since 1989. Most of Thailand's recent imports have been for capital equipment and raw materials, although imports of consumer goods are beginning to rise. Thailand's 35% domestic savings rate is a key source of capital for the economy, and the country is also benefiting from rising investment from abroad. Prime Minister CHAWALIT's government - Thailand's seventh government in six years - will continue Bangkok's probusiness policies and reemphasize Bangkok's traditional fiscal austerity. CHAWALIT is beginning to address Thailand's serious infrastructure bottlenecks, especially in the transport and telecommunications sectors. Over the longer term, Bangkok must produce more college graduates with technical training and upgrade workers' skills to continue its rapid economic development.

Electricity - capacity

15.84 million kW (1994)

Electricity - consumption per capita

1,205 kWh (1995 est.)

Electricity - production

70.21 billion kWh (1994)

Exchange rates

baht (B) per US$1 - 25.708 (January 1997), 15.343 (1996), 24.915 (1995), 25.150 (1994), 25.319 (1993), 25.400 (1992)

Exports

total value: $57.3 billion (f.o.b., 1996) commodities: manufactures 73%, agricultural products and fisheries 21%, raw materials 5%, fuels 1% partners : US 21.0%, Japan 17.1%, Singapore 13.6%, Hong Kong 5.3%, Germany 3.5%, UK 3.0%, Netherlands 2.8%, Malaysia 2.4%

Fiscal year

1 October - 30 September

GDP

purchasing power parity - $455.7 billion (1996 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 10.5% industry: 30.5% services: 59% (1996 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $7,700 (1996 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

6.7% (1996 est.)

Imports

total value: $72.4 billion (c.i.f., 1996) commodities: manufactures 80%, fuels 6.9%, raw materials 6.6%, foodstuffs 4.3% partners: Japan 30.4%, US 11.9%, Singapore 6.3%, Germany 5.8%, Taiwan 5.1%, Malaysia 4.9%, South Korea 3.7%, China 2.6%

Industrial production growth rate

13.3% (1995 est.)

Industries

tourism; 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 price index

5.9% (1996 est.)

Labor force

total: 34.03 million (1996 est.) by occupation: agriculture 57%, industry 17%, commerce 11%, services (including government) 15% (1993 est.)

Unemployment rate

2.6% (1996 est.)

Area

total: 514,000 sq km land: 511,770 sq km water: 2,230 sq km

Area - comparative

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

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Gulf of Thailand 0 m highest point: Doi Inthanon 2,576 m

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: Climate Change, Endangered Species, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94 signed, but not ratified: Biodiversity, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea

Geographic coordinates

15 00 N, 100 00 E

Geography - note

controls only land route from Asia to Malaysia and Singapore

Irrigated land

44,000 sq km (1993 est.)

Land boundaries

total: 4,863 km border countries: Burma 1,800 km, Cambodia 803 km, Laos 1,754 km, Malaysia 506 km

Land use

arable land: 34% permanent crops : 6% permanent pastures: 2% forests and woodland: 26% other: 32% (1993 est.)

Location

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

Map references

Southeast Asia

Maritime claims

continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

Natural hazards

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

Natural resources

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

Terrain

central plain; Khorat Plateau in the east; mountains elsewhere

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

Constitution

new constitution approved 7 December 1991; amended 10 June 1992; new constitution currently being drafted with completion expected by the end of 1997

Country name

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

Data code

TH

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission : Ambassador William H. ITOH embassy: 120/22 Wireless Road, Bangkok mailing address: APO AP 96546 telephone: [66] (2) 205-4000

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador NIT Phibunsongkhram chancery: 1024 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007 telephone: [1] (202) 944-3600

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 CHAWALIT Yongchaiyut (since 25 November 1996) cabinet: Council of Ministers note: there is also a Privy Council elections : none; the king is a constitutional monarch; prime minister designated from among the members of the House of Representatives; following elections in the House of Representatives, the leader of the party that wins a plurality of seats usually becomes prime minister

FAX

[1] (202) 944-3611 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York

FAX

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

Flag description

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

Government type

constitutional monarchy

Independence

1238 (traditional founding date; never colonized)

International organization participation

APEC, AsDB, ASEAN, CCC, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, Mekong Group, NAM, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO

Judicial branch

Supreme Court (Sandika), judges appointed by the king

Legal system

based on civil law system, with influences of common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Legislative branch

bicameral National Assembly or Rathasapha consists of the Senate or Wuthisapha (a 270-member appointed body; members serve six-year terms) and the House of Representatives or Sapha Phuthaen Ratsadon (393 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections : House of Representatives - last held 17 November 1996 (next scheduled to be held by 17 November 2000, but may be held earlier as Prime Minister CHAWALIT has promised to hold elections after the draft of the new constitution is complete and that is scheduled for the end of 1997) election results: House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NAP 125, DP 123, NDP 52, TNP 39, SAP 20, TCP 18, SP 8, LDP 4, MP 2

National capital

Bangkok

National holiday

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

Political parties and leaders

Thai Nation Party (TNP or Chat Thai Party), BANHAN Sinlapa-acha; Democratic Party (DP or Prachathipat Party), CHUAN Likphai; New Aspiration Party (NAP or Khwamwang Mai), Gen. CHAWALIT Yongchaiyut; National Development Party (NDP or Chat Phattana), CHATCHAI Chunhawan; Phalang Dharma Party (PDP or Phalang Tham), SUDARAT Keyuraphan; Social Action Party (SAP or Kitsangkhom Party), MONTRI Phongphanit; Thai Citizen's Party (TCP or Prachakon Thai), SAMAK Sunthonwet; Liberal Democratic Party (LDP or Seri Tham), PHINIT Charusombat; Solidarity Party (SP or Ekkaphap Party), UTHAI Phimchaichon; Mass Party (MP or Muanchon), Pol. Cpt. CHALOEM Yubamrung

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Military branches

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

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$4 billion (FY94/95)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

2.5% (FY94/95)

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49 : 17,076,040 (1997 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males : 10,315,765 (1997 est.)

Military manpower - military age

18 years of age

Military manpower - reaching military age annually

males: 591,094 (1997 est.)

Age structure

0-14 years: 25% (male 7,531,192; female 7,257,574) 15-64 years: 69% (male 20,308,061; female 20,902,406) 65 years and over: 6% (male 1,530,905; female 1,920,680) (July 1997 est.)

Birth rate

17.03 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Death rate

7.05 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Ethnic groups

Thai 75%, Chinese 14%, other 11%

Infant mortality rate

32.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 68.8 years male: 65.12 years female: 72.66 years (1997 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 93.8% male: 96% female: 91.6% (1995 est.)

Nationality

noun: Thai (singular and plural) adjective: Thai

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Population

59,450,818 (July 1997 est.)

Population growth rate

1% (1997 est.)

Religions

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

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years : 0.97 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (1997 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.86 children born/woman (1997 est.)

Disputes - international

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

Illicit drugs

a minor producer of opium, heroin, and marijuana; major 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; rapidly growing role in amphetamine production for regional consumption; increasing indigenous abuse of methamphetamines and heroin TOGO

Airports

100 (1996 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

total: 86 over 3,047 m : 6 2,438 to 3,047 m: 9 1,524 to 2,437 m: 13 914 to 1,523 m: 22 under 914 m: 36 (1996 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 14 1,524 to 2,437 m : 1 914 to 1,523 m: 13 (1996 est.)

Heliports

2 (1996 est.)

Highways

total: 56,903 km paved: 52,806 km unpaved : 4,097 km (1993 est.)

Merchant marine

total : 283 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,859,021 GRT/3,060,277 DWT ships by type: bulk 38, cargo 144, chemical tanker 5, combination bulk 1, container 12, liquefied gas tanker 15, multi-function large load carrier 3, oil tanker 49, passenger 1, refrigerated cargo 10, roll-on/roll-off cargo 2, short-sea passenger 1, specialized tanker 2 (1996 est.)

Pipelines

petroleum products 67 km; natural gas 350 km

Ports and harbors

Bangkok, Laem Chabang, Pattani, Phuket, Sattahip, Si Racha, Songkhla

Railways

total : 4,623 km narrow gauge: 4,623 km 1.000-m gauge (99 km double track)

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