Thailand

Broadcast media

6 terrestrial TV stations in Bangkok broadcast nationally via relay stations - 2 of the networks are owned by the military, the other 4 are government-owned or controlled, leased to private enterprise, and all are required to broadcast government-produced news programs twice a day; multi-channel satellite and cable TV subscription services are available; radio frequencies have been allotted for more than 500 government and commercial radio stations; many small community radio stations operate with low-power transmitters (2008)

Internet country code

.th

Internet hosts

3.399 million (2012) country comparison to the world: 31

Internet users

17.483 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 23

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 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

6.661 million (2011) country comparison to the world: 28

Telephones - mobile cellular

77.605 million (2011) country comparison to the world: 18

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

revenues: $68.26 billion expenditures: $77.13 billion (2012 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-2.4% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 85

Central bank discount rate

3.25% (31 December 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 113 2% (31 December 2010 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

7.1% (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 128 6.91% (31 December 2011 est.)

Current account balance

-$2.442 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 144 $5.322 billion (2011 est.)

Debt - external

$115.6 billion (30 September 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 42 $100.6 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

53.6 (2009) country comparison to the world: 12 42 (2002)

Economy - overview

With a well-developed infrastructure, a free-enterprise economy, generally pro-investment policies, and strong export industries, Thailand achieved steady growth due largely to industrial and agriculture exports - mostly electronics, agricultural commodities and processed foods. Bangkok is trying to maintain growth by encouraging domestic consumption and public investment. Unemployment, at less than 1% of the labor force, stands as one of the lowest levels in the world, which puts upward pressure on wages in some industries. Thailand also attracts nearly 2.5 million migrant workers from neighboring countries. Bangkok is implementing a nation-wide 300 baht per day minimum wage policy and deploying new tax reforms designed to lower rates on middle-income earners. The Thai economy has weathered internal and external economic shocks in recent years. The global economic severely cut Thailand's exports, with most sectors experiencing double-digit drops. In 2009, the economy contracted 2.3%. However, in 2010, Thailand's economy expanded 7.8%, its fastest pace since 1995, as exports rebounded. In late 2011 growth was interrupted by historic flooding in the industrial areas north of Bangkok, crippling the manufacturing sector. Industry recovered from the second quarter of 2012 onward and GDP expanded 5.8% in 2012. The government has invested in flood mitigation projects to prevent similar economic damage.

Exchange rates

baht per US dollar - 31.41 (2012 est.) 30.492 (2011 est.) 31.686 (2010 est.) 34.286 (2009) 33.37 (2008)

Exports

$218.1 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 26 $219.1 billion (2011 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

China 12%, Japan 10.5%, US 9.6%, Hong Kong 7.2%, Malaysia 5.4%, Singapore 5%, Indonesia 4.4% (2011)

Fiscal year

1 October - 30 September

GDP (official exchange rate)

$377 billion (2012 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$646.1 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 25 $612 billion (2011 est.) $611.7 billion (2010 est.) note: data are in 2012 US dollars

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 13% industry: 43% services: 44.1% (2012 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$10,000 (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 113 $9,600 (2011 est.) $9,600 (2010 est.) note: data are in 2012 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

5.6% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 48 0.1% (2011 est.) 7.8% (2010 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 2.8% highest 10%: 31.5% (2009 est.)

Imports

$213.7 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 25 $202.1 billion (2011 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

Japan 18.4%, China 13.4%, UAE 6.3%, US 5.9%, Malaysia 5.4%, South Korea 4% (2011)

Industrial production growth rate

-9.3% (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 166

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

3.1% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 80 3.8% (2011 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

28.8% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 23

Labor force

39.77 million (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 16

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture: 40.7% industry: 13.2% services: 46.1% (2011 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$268.5 billion (31 December 2011) country comparison to the world: 29 $277.7 billion (31 December 2010) $138.2 billion (31 December 2009)

Population below poverty line

8.1% (2009 est.)

Public debt

47.8% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 69 44.9% of GDP (2011 est.) note: data cover general government debt, and includes debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data include debt issued by subnational entities, as well as intra-governmental debt; intra-governmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as for retirement, medical care, and unemployment; debt instruments for the social funds are sold at public auctions

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$172.8 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 15 $175.1 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of broad money

$462.4 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 23 $428.1 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$45.79 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 36 $34.79 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$158.7 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 27 $146.7 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$420.4 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 28 $402.5 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$49.33 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 47 $44.63 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

18.1% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 173

Unemployment rate

0.9% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 3 0.7% (2011 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

278.5 million Mt (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 23

Crude oil - exports

39,820 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 48

Crude oil - imports

807,400 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 15

Crude oil - production

378,200 bbl/day (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 32

Crude oil - proved reserves

442 million bbl (1 January 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 53

Electricity - consumption

131.9 billion kWh (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 24

Electricity - exports

1.35 billion kWh (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 53

Electricity - from fossil fuels

90.9% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 74

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

7.4% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 121

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 183

Electricity - from other renewable sources

1.7% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 63

Electricity - imports

7.812 billion kWh (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 31

Electricity - installed generating capacity

47.38 million kW (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 19

Electricity - production

147.9 billion kWh (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 25

Natural gas - consumption

45.08 billion cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 21

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 60

Natural gas - imports

8.81 billion cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 27

Natural gas - production

36.27 billion cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 26

Natural gas - proved reserves

299.8 billion cu m (1 January 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 40

Refined petroleum products - consumption

985,100 bbl/day (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 24

Refined petroleum products - exports

191,600 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 34

Refined petroleum products - imports

7,564 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 139

Refined petroleum products - production

837,400 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 25

Area

total: 513,120 sq km country comparison to the world: 51 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

64,150 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

77 provinces (changwat, singular and plural); Amnat Charoen, Ang Thong, Bueng Kan, 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 Kristie A. KENNEY 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 CHAIYONG Satchiphanon (also spelled CHAIYONG Satjipanon) 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 YINGLAK Chinnawat, also spelled YINGLUCK Shinawatra (since 8 August 2011); Deputy Prime Minister CHARUPHONG Rueangsusan also spelled JARUPONG Ruangsuwan (since 28 October 2012); Deputy Prime Minister CHALOEM Yubamrung also spelled CHALERM Yubamrung (since 28 October 2012; Deputy Prime Minister KITTIRAT Na Ranong (since 28 October 2012); Deputy Prime Minister PHONGTHEP Therkanchana also spelled PHONGTHEP Thepkanchana (since 28 October 2012); Deputy Prime Minister PLODPRASOP Suraswadi (since 28 October 2012);Deputy Prime Minister SURAPHONG Towijakchaikun also spelled SURAPONG Tovichakchaikul (since 28 October 2012) cabinet: Council of Ministers (For more information visit theWorld Leaders website) note: there is also a Privy Council advising the king elections: the monarchy is hereditary; according to 2007 constitution, the prime minister is elected from among members of House of Representatives; following national elections for House of Representatives, the leader of the party positioned to organize a majority coalition usually becomes prime minister by appointment by the king; the prime minister is limited to two four-year terms

Flag description

five horizontal bands of red (top), white, blue (double width), white, and red; the red color symbolizes the nation and the blood of life; white represents religion and the purity of Buddhism; blue stands for the monarchy note: similar to the flag of Costa Rica but with the blue and red colors reversed

Government type

constitutional monarchy

Independence

1238 (traditional founding date; never colonized)

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

International organization participation

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

Judicial branch

Constitutional Court, Supreme Court of Justice, and Supreme Administrative Court; all judges are appointed by the king; the king's appointments to the Constitutional Court are made upon the advice of the Senate; the nine Constitutional Court judges are drawn from the Supreme Court of Justice and Supreme Administrative Court as well as from among substantive experts in law and social sciences outside the judiciary

Legal system

civil law system with common law influences

Legislative branch

bicameral National Assembly or Rathasapha consisted of the Senate or Wuthisapha (150 seats; 77 members elected by popular vote representing 77 provinces, 73 appointed by judges and independent government bodies; members serve six-year terms) and the House of Representatives or Sapha Phuthaen Ratsadon (500 seats; 375 members elected from 375 single-seat constituencies and 125 elected on proportional party-list basis; members 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 3 July 2011 (next to be held by July 2015) 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 - PTP 265, DP 159, PJT 34, CTP 19, others 15 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 anthem

name: "Phleng Chat Thai" (National Anthem of Thailand) lyrics/music: Luang SARANUPRAPAN/Phra JENDURIYANG note: music adopted 1932, lyrics adopted 1939; by law, people are required to stand for the national anthem at 0800 and 1800 every day; the anthem is played in schools, offices, theaters, and on television and radio during this time; "Phleng Sansasoen Phra Barami" (A Salute to the Monarch) serves as the royal anthem and is played in the presence of the royal family and during certain state ceremonies

National holiday

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

National symbol(s)

garuda (mythical half-man, half-bird figure); elephant

Political parties and leaders

Chat Pattana Party or CPN (Nation Development Party [WANNARAT Channukun]; Chat Thai Phattana Party or CTP (Thai Nation Development Party) [CHUMPON Silpa-archa]; Phalang Chon Party (People [Chonburi] Power Party) [CHAO Manivong]; Phumjai (Bhumjai) Thai Party or PJT (Thai Pride) [Boonjong WONGTRAIRAT (acting)]; Prachathipat Party or DP (Democrat Party) [ABHISIT Wechachiwa, also spelled ABHISIT Vejjajiva]; Puea Thai Party (For Thais Party) or PTP [CHARUPHONG Rueangsusan also spelled JARUPONG Ruangsuwan]; Rak Prathet Thai Party (Love Thailand Party) [CHUWIT Kamonwisit]

Political pressure groups and leaders

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

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 in 1954 after sending troops to Korea and later fighting alongside the United States in Vietnam. Thailand since 2005 has experienced several rounds of political turmoil including a military coup in 2006 that ousted then Prime Minister THAKSIN Chinnawat, followed by large-scale street protests by competing political factions in 2008, 2009, and 2010. Demonstrations in 2010 culminated with clashes between security forces and pro-THAKSIN protesters, elements of which were armed, and resulted in at least 92 deaths and an estimated $1.5 billion in arson-related property losses. THAKSIN's youngest sister, YINGLAK Chinnawat, in 2011 led the Puea Thai Party to an electoral win and assumed control of the government. YINGLAK's leadership was almost immediately challenged by historic flooding in late 2011 that had large swathes of the country underwater and threatened to inundate Bangkok itself. Throughout 2012 the Puea Thai-led government struggled with the opposition Democrat Party to fulfill some its main election promises, including constitutional reform and political reconciliation. Since January 2004, thousands have been killed and wounded in violence associated with the ethno-nationalist insurgency in Thailand's southern Malay-Muslim majority provinces.

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 17,689,921 females age 16-49: 17,754,795 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 13,308,372 females age 16-49: 14,182,567 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 533,424 female: 509,780 (2010 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 (Kongthap Agard Thai, RTAF) (2010)

Military expenditures

1.8% of GDP (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 82

Military service age and obligation

21 years of age for compulsory military service; 18 years of age for voluntary military service; males register at 18 years of age; 2-year conscript service obligation (2009)

Age structure

0-14 years: 19.5% (male 6,697,165/ female 6,386,840) 15-64 years: 71% (male 23,575,773/ female 24,071,836) 65 years and over: 9.5% (male 2,870,445/ female 3,489,030) (2012 est.)

Birth rate

12.81 births/1,000 population (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 154

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

7% (2006) country comparison to the world: 73

Death rate

7.38 deaths/1,000 population (July 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 117

Education expenditures

4.1% of GDP (2009) country comparison to the world: 102

Ethnic groups

Thai 75%, Chinese 14%, other 11%

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

1.3% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 39

HIV/AIDS - deaths

28,000 (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 13

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

530,000 (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 15

Health expenditures

4.3% of GDP (2009) country comparison to the world: 153

Hospital bed density

2.2 beds/1,000 population (2002)

Infant mortality rate

total: 15.9 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 107 male: 16.88 deaths/1,000 live births female: 14.86 deaths/1,000 live births (2012 est.)

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 73.83 years country comparison to the world: 114 male: 71.45 years female: 76.33 years (2012 est.)

Literacy

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

Major cities - population

BANGKOK (capital) 6.902 million (2009)

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)

Maternal mortality rate

48 deaths/100,000 live births (2010) country comparison to the world: 110

Median age

total: 34.7 years male: 33.7 years female: 35.6 years (2012 est.)

Nationality

noun: Thai (singular and plural) adjective: Thai

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 106

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

7.8% (2003) country comparison to the world: 60

Physicians density

0.298 physicians/1,000 population (2004)

Population

67,091,089 (July 2012 est.) 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

Population growth rate

0.543% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 147

Religions

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

Sanitation facility access

improved: urban: 95% of population rural: 96% of population total: 96% of population unimproved: urban: 5% of population rural: 4% of population total: 4% of population

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 12 years male: 12 years female: 13 years (2010)

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: 0.82 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.66 children born/woman (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 175

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

total: 4.3% country comparison to the world: 125 male: 3.7% female: 5.1% (2009)

Urbanization

urban population: 34% of total population (2010) rate of urbanization: 1.8% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Disputes - international

separatist violence in Thailand's predominantly Malay-Muslim southern provinces prompt border closures and controls with Malaysia to stem insurgent 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; Cambodia and Thailand dispute sections of boundary; in 2011 Thailand and Cambodia resorted to arms in the dispute over the location of the boundary on the precipice surmounted by Preah Vihear temple ruins, awarded to Cambodia by ICJ decision in 1962 and part of a planned UN World Heritage site; 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; 140,000 mostly Karen refugees fleeing civil strife, political upheaval and economic stagnation in Burma live in remote camps in Thailand near the border

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): 88,148 (Burma) (2011) IDPs: undetermined (resurgence in ethno-nationalist violence in south of country since 2004)(2011)

Airports

103 (2012) country comparison to the world: 55

Airports - with paved runways

total: 63 over 3,047 m: 8 2,438 to 3,047 m: 12 1,524 to 2,437 m: 23 914 to 1,523 m: 15 under 914 m: 5 (2012)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 40 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 12 under 914 m: 27 (2012)

Heliports

6 (2012)

Merchant marine

total: 363 country comparison to the world: 28 by type: bulk carrier 31, cargo 99, chemical tanker 28, container 18, liquefied gas 36, passenger 1, passenger/cargo 10, petroleum tanker 114, refrigerated cargo 24, roll on/roll off 1, vehicle carrier 1 foreign-owned: 13 (China 1, Hong Kong 1, Malaysia 3, Singapore 1, Taiwan 1, UK 6) registered in other countries: 46 (Bahamas 4, Belize 1, Honduras 2, Panama 6, Singapore 33) (2010)

Pipelines

gas 1,889 km; liquid petroleum gas 85 km; refined products 1,099 km (2010)

Ports and terminals

Bangkok, Laem Chabang, Map Ta Phut, Prachuap Port, Si Racha

Railways

total: 4,071 km country comparison to the world: 42 standard gauge: 29 km 1.435-m gauge (29 km electrified) 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: 27

Waterways

4,000 km (3,701 km navigable by boats with drafts up to 0.9 m) (2011) country comparison to the world: 27