Thailand

Internet country code

.th

Internet hosts

1.231 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 37

Internet users

16.1 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 23

Radio broadcast stations

AM 238, FM 351, shortwave 6 (2007)

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 and outpacing fixed lines 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)

Telephones - main lines in use

7.024 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 26

Telephones - mobile cellular

62 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 17

Television broadcast stations

111 (2006)

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

revenues: $48.24 billion expenditures: $51.33 billion (2008 est.)

Central bank discount rate

3.25% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 127 3.75% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

7.04% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 117 7.25% (31 December 2007)

Current account balance

-$113 million (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 79 $15.76 billion (2007 est.)

Debt - external

$65.09 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 46 $61.74 billion (31 December 2007)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

42 (2002) country comparison to the world: 55

Economy - overview

With a well-developed infrastructure, a free-enterprise economy, and generally pro-investment policies, Thailand was one of East Asia's best performers from 2002-04, averaging more than 6% annual real GDP growth. However, overall economic growth has fallen sharply - averaging 4.9% from 2005 to 2007 - as persistent political crisis stalled infrastructure mega-projects, eroded investor and consumer confidence, and damaged the country's international image. The growth rate fell to 2.6% in 2008. Exports were the key economic driver as foreign investment and consumer demand stalled. Export growth from January 2005 to November 2008 averaged 17.5% annually. Business uncertainty escalated, however, following the September 2006 coup when the military-installed government imposed capital controls and considered far-reaching changes to foreign investment rules and other business legislation. Although controversial capital controls have since been lifted and business rules largely remain unchanged, investor sentiment has not recovered. Moreover, the 2008 global financial crisis further darkened Thailand's economic horizon. Continued political uncertainty will hamper resumption of infrastructure mega-projects.

Electricity - consumption

129.5 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 24

Electricity - exports

773 million kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - imports

2.784 billion kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - production

135.2 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 26

Exchange rates

baht per US dollar - 33.37 (2008 est.), 34.52 (2007), 37.882 (2006), 40.22 (2005), 40.222 (2004)

Exports

$175.3 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 29 $150 billion (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities

textiles and footwear, fishery products, rice, rubber, jewelry, automobiles, computers and electrical appliances

Exports - partners

US 11.4%, Japan 11.4%, China 9.2%, Singapore 5.7%, Hong Kong 5.6%, Malaysia 5.6%, Australia 4.3% (2008)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$273.3 billion (2008 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$548.7 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 25 $534.8 billion (2007 est.) $509.8 billion (2006 est.) note: data are in 2008 US dollars

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 11.6% industry: 45.1% services: 43.3% (2008 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$8,400 (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 118 $8,200 (2007 est.) $7,900 (2006 est.) note: data are in 2008 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

2.6% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 137 4.9% (2007 est.) 5.2% (2006 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 2.6% highest 10%: 33.7% (2004)

Imports

$157.3 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 28 $124.5 billion (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities

capital goods, intermediate goods and raw materials, consumer goods, fuels

Imports - partners

Japan 18.8%, China 11.2%, US 6.4%, UAE 6%, Malaysia 5.5%, Saudi Arabia 4.1%, Singapore 4% (2008)

Industrial production growth rate

3.4% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 75

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

5.5% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 94 2.2% (2007 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

27.3% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 35

Labor force

37.78 million (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 16

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture: 42.6% industry: 20.2% services: 37.1% (2005 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$102.6 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 39 $196 billion (31 December 2007) $141.1 billion (31 December 2006)

Natural gas - consumption

37.31 billion cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 22

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2008) country comparison to the world: 107

Natural gas - imports

8.55 billion cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 26

Natural gas - production

28.76 billion cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 27

Natural gas - proved reserves

317.1 billion cu m (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 39

Oil - consumption

942,000 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 22

Oil - exports

216,400 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 54

Oil - imports

826,000 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 17

Oil - production

361,300 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 34

Oil - proved reserves

441 million bbl (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 48

Population below poverty line

10% (2004 est.)

Public debt

37.9% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 60 47.6% of GDP (November 2004 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$111 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 12 $87.46 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$7.013 billion (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 51

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$80.83 billion (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 40

Stock of domestic credit

$274.1 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 26 $263.5 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of money

$28.76 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 29 $28.63 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money

$237.5 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 13 $224.9 billion (31 December 2007)

Unemployment rate

1.4% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 8 1.4% (2007 est.)

Area

total: 513,120 sq km country comparison to the world: 50 land: 510,890 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: 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

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total: 82.75 cu km/yr (2%/2%/95%) per capita: 1,288 cu m/yr (2000)

Geographic coordinates

15 00 N, 100 00 E

Geography - note

controls only land route from Asia to Malaysia and Singapore

Irrigated land

49,860 sq km (2003)

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: 27.54% permanent crops: 6.93% other: 65.53% (2005)

Location

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

Map references

Southeast Asia

Maritime claims

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

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, arable land

Terrain

central plain; Khorat Plateau in the east; mountains elsewhere

Total renewable water resources

409.9 cu km (1999)

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

Capital

name: Bangkok geographic coordinates: 13 45 N, 100 31 E time difference: UTC+7 (12 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Constitution

24 August 2007

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

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Eric G. JOHN 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

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador DON Pramudwinai 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

Executive branch

chief of state: King PHUMIPHON Adunyadet, also spelled BHUMIBOL Adulyadej (since 9 June 1946) head of government: Prime Minister ABHISIT Wetchachiwa, also spelled ABHISIT Vejjajiva (since 17 December 2008); Deputy Prime Minister KORBSAK Saphawasu, also spelled KORBSAK Sabhavasu (since 22 December 2008); Deputy Prime Minister SANAN Kachornprasat, also spelled SANAN Kachornparsart (since 7 February 2008); Deputy Prime Minister SUTHEP Thueaksuban, also spelled SUTHEP Thaugsuban (since 22 December 2008) cabinet: Council of Ministers note: there is also a Privy Council advising the king elections: monarch is hereditary; according to 2007 constitution, prime minister is elected from among members of House of Representatives; following national elections for House of Representatives, leader of party that could organize a majority coalition usually was appointed prime minister by king; prime minister is limited to two 4-year terms

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

ADB, APEC, APT, ARF, ASEAN, BIMSTEC, BIS, CP, EAS, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC (observer), OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE (partner), PCA, PIF (partner), UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMIS, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Judicial branch

Supreme Court or Sandika (judges appointed by the monarch)

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 consisted of the Senate or Wuthisapha (150 seats; 76 members elected by popular vote representing 76 provinces, 74 appointed by judges and independent government bodies; all serve six-year terms) and the House of Representatives or Sapha Phuthaen Ratsadon (480 seats; 400 members elected from 157 multi-seat constituencies and 80 elected on proportional party-list basis of 10 per eight zones or groupings of provinces; all 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 23 December 2007 (next to be held by December 2011) 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 - PPP 233, DP 164, TNP 34, Motherland 24, Middle Way 11, Unity 9, Royalist People's 5 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

National holiday

Birthday of King PHUMIPHON (BHUMIBOL), 5 December (1927)

Political parties and leaders

Chat Thai Phattana Party or CP (Thai Nation Development Party) [CHUMPON Silpa-archa]; Democrat Party or DP (Prachathipat Party) [ABHISIT Wetchachiwa, also spelled ABHISIT Vejjajiva]; Motherland Party (Phuea Phaendin Party) [CHANCHAI Chairungrueang]; Phuea Thai Party (For Thais Party) or PTP [CHAVALIT Yongchaiyudh]; Phumchai (Bhumjai) Thai Party or PCT (Thai Pride) [CHAVARAT Charnvirakul]; Royalist People's Party (Pracharaj) [SANOH Thienthong]; Ruam Jai Thai Party (Thai Unity Party) [WANNARAT Channukul]

Political pressure groups and leaders

People's Alliance for Democracy or PAD; United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal and compulsory

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 following the conflict. A military coup in September 2006 ousted then Prime Minister THAKSIN Chinnawat. The interim government held elections in December 2007 that saw the former pro-THAKSIN People's Power Party (PPP) emerge at the head of a coalition government. The anti-THAKSIN People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) in May 2008 began street demonstrations against the new government, eventually occupying the prime minister's office in August. Clashes in October 2008 between PAD protesters blocking parliament and police resulted in the death of at least two people. The PAD occupied Bangkok's international airports briefly, ending their protests in early December 2008 following a court ruling that dissolved the ruling PPP and two other coalition parties for election violations. The Democrat Party then formed a new coalition government with the support of some of THAKSIN's former political allies, and ABHISIT Wetchachiwa became prime minister. Since January 2004, thousands have been killed as separatists in Thailand's southern ethnic Malay-Muslim provinces increased the violence associated with their cause.

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 17,553,410 females age 16-49: 17,751,268 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 13,086,106 females age 16-49: 14,126,398 (2009 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 532,977 female: 510,737 (2009 est.)

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 (Kongtap Agard Thai, RTAF) (2009)

Military expenditures

1.8% of GDP (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 91

Military service age and obligation

21 years of age for compulsory military service; 18 years of age for voluntary military service; males are registered at 18 years of age; 2-year conscript service obligation (2007)

Age structure

0-14 years: 20.8% (male 7,009,845/female 6,691,470) 15-64 years: 70.5% (male 22,977,945/female 23,512,538) 65 years and over: 8.7% (male 2,594,387/female 3,119,225) (2009 est.)

Birth rate

13.4 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 155

Death rate

7.25 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 126

Education expenditures

4.2% of GDP (2005) country comparison to the world: 99

Ethnic groups

Thai 75%, Chinese 14%, other 11%

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

1.4% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 46

HIV/AIDS - deaths

30,000 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 17

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

610,000 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 18

Infant mortality rate

total: 17.63 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 117 male: 18.9 deaths/1,000 live births female: 16.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 73.1 years country comparison to the world: 110 male: 70.77 years female: 75.55 years (2009 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 92.6% male: 94.9% female: 90.5% (2000 census)

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk: high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea vectorborne diseases: dengue fever, Japanese encephalitis, and malaria animal contact disease: rabies water contact disease: leptospirosis note: highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified in this country; it poses a negligible risk with extremely rare cases possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds (2009)

Median age

total: 33.3 years male: 32.4 years female: 34.2 years (2009 est.)

Nationality

noun: Thai (singular and plural) adjective: Thai

Net migration rate

NA (2009 est.)

Population

65,905,410 country comparison to the world: 20 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 2009 est.)

Population growth rate

0.615% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 148

Religions

Buddhist 94.6%, Muslim 4.6%, Christian 0.7%, other 0.1% (2000 census)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 14 years male: 13 years female: 14 years (2006)

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: 0.83 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2009 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.65 children born/woman (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 178

Urbanization

urban population: 33% of total population (2008) rate of urbanization: 1.7% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

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 Laos but disputes remain over several islands in the Mekong River; despite continuing border committee talks, Thailand must deal with Karen and other ethnic rebels, refugees, and illegal cross-border activities, and as of 2006, over 116,000 Karen, Hmong, and other refugees and asylum seekers from Burma; Cambodia and Thailand dispute sections of historic 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; Thailand is studying the feasibility of jointly constructing the Hatgyi Dam on the Salween river near the border with Burma; in 2004, international environmentalist pressure prompted China to halt construction of 13 dams on the Salween River that flows through China, Burma, and Thailand

Illicit drugs

a minor producer of opium, heroin, and marijuana; transit point for illicit 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 despite a series of government crackdowns

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees (country of origin): 132,241 (Burma) (2007)

Airports

105 (2009) country comparison to the world: 56

Airports - with paved runways

total: 64 over 3,047 m: 8 2,438 to 3,047 m: 11 1,524 to 2,437 m: 24 914 to 1,523 m: 15 under 914 m: 6 (2009)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 41 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 13 under 914 m: 27 (2009)

Heliports

4 (2009)

Merchant marine

total: 398 country comparison to the world: 25 by type: bulk carrier 53, cargo 135, chemical tanker 15, container 22, liquefied gas 28, passenger/cargo 10, petroleum tanker 100, refrigerated cargo 32, specialized tanker 2, vehicle carrier 1 foreign-owned: 16 (China 1, Japan 4, Malaysia 3, Singapore 2, Taiwan 1, UK 5) registered in other countries: 40 (Bahamas 5, Mongolia 1, Panama 10, Singapore 23, Tuvalu 1) (2008)

Pipelines

gas 1,348 km; refined products 323 km (2008)

Ports and terminals

Bangkok, Laem Chabang, Prachuap Port, Si Racha

Railways

total: 4,071 km country comparison to the world: 41 standard gauge: 29 km 1.435-m gauge narrow gauge: 4,042 km 1.000-m gauge (2008)

Roadways

total: 180,053 km (includes 450 km of expressways) (2006) country comparison to the world: 28

Waterways

4,000 km country comparison to the world: 27 note: 3,701 km navigable by boats with drafts up to 0.9 m (2008)