Geography
Location: Southeastern Asia, bordering the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand, Southeast
of Burma
Geographic coordinates: 15 00 N, 100 00 E
Area:
Total: 514,000 sq. km
Land: 511,770 sq. km
Water: 2,230 sq. km
Area - comparative: slightly the same as the size of France
Land boundaries: Total: 4,863 km
Border countries: Burma 1,800 km, Cambodia 803 km, Laos 1,754 km, Malaysia 506 Km
Coastline: 3,219 km
Maritime claims:
Continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of
exploitation
Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Territorial sea: 12 nm
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
Terrain:
Central plain; Khorat Plateau in the east; mountains elsewhere
Elevation extremes:
Lowest point: Gulf of Thailand 0 m
Highest point: Doi Inthanon 2,576 m
Natural resources: tin, rubber, natural gas, tungsten, tantalum, timber, lead,
Fish, gypsum, lignite, fluorite
Land use:
Arable land: 34%
Permanent crops: 6%
Permanent pastures: 2%
Forests and woodland: 26%
Other: 32% (1993 ESTIMATED)
Irrigated land: 44,000 sq. km (1993 ESTIMATED)
Natural hazards:
Land subsidence in Bangkok area resulting from the
depletion of the water table; droughts
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
Geography - note: controls only land route from Asia to Malaysia and Singapore
People
Population: 59,450,818 (July 1997 estimated)
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 estimated)
Population growth rate: 1% (1997 estimated)
Birth rate: 17.03 births/1,000 population (1997 estimated)
Death rate: 7.05 deaths/1,000 population (1997 estimated)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 estimated)
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 estimated)
Infant mortality rate: 32.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 estimated)
Life expectancy at birth:
Total population: 68.8 years
Male: 65.12 years
Female: 72.66 years (1997 estimated)
Total fertility rate: 1.86 children born/woman (1997 estimated)
Nationality:
Noun: Thai (singular and plural)
Adjective: Thai
Ethnic groups: Thai 75%, Chinese 14%, and other 11%
Religions:
Buddhism 95%, Muslim 3.8%, Christianity 0.5%, Hinduism
0.1%, other
0.6% (1991)
Languages: Thai English the secondary language of the elite, ethnic and regional dialects
Literacy:
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 93.8%
Male: 96%
Female: 91.6% (1995 estimated)
Government
Country name: conventional long form: Kingdom of
Thailand conventional short form: Thailand
Data code: TH
Government type:
Constitutional monarchy
National capital: Bangkok
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
Independence:
1238 (traditional founding date; never colonized)
National holiday:
Birthday of His Majesty the King, 5 December (1927)
Constitution: new constitution approved 7 December 1991; amended 10 June 1992; new
constitution currently being drafted with completion expected by the end of 1997
Legal system:
Based on civil law system, with influences of common
law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal 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
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
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (Sandika) judges appointed by the king
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
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
Diplomatic representation in the Denmark:
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
H.E. Mr. Apiphong Jayanama
Residence: Ryvangs Alle 64
2900 Hellerup Copenhagen
Tel. +45 39 62 75 56
Flag description: five horizontal bands of red (top),
white, blue (double width), white, and red
Economy:
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.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $455.7 billion (1996 estimated)
GDP - real growth rate: 6.7% (1996 estimated)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $7,700 (1996 estimated)
GDP - composition by sector:
Agriculture: 10.5%
Industry: 30.5%
Services: 59% (1996 estimated)
Inflation rate - consumer price index: 5.9% (1996 estimated)
Labor force:
Total: 34.03 million (1996 estimated)
By occupation:
Agriculture 57%, industry 17%, commerce 11%, services (including government) 15% (1993
estimated)
Unemployment rate: 2.6% (1996 estimated)
Budget:
Revenues: $28.4 billion
Expenditures: $28.4 billion, including capital expenditures of $6.1 billion (FY94/95)
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
Industrial production growth rate: 13.3% (1995 estimated)
Electricity - capacity: 15.84 million kW (1994)
Electricity - production: 70.21 billion kWh (1994)
Electricity - consumption per capita: 1,205 kWh (1995 estimated)
Agriculture - products: rice, cassava (tapioca), rubber, corn, sugarcane,
Coconuts, soybeans
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%
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%
Debt - external: $61.6 billion (1995)
Economic aid:
Recipient: ODA, $624 million (1993)
Currency: 1 Baht (B) = 100 satang
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)
Fiscal year: 1 October - 30 September
Communications
Telephones: 1,553,200 (1994 estimated)
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)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 200 (in government-controlled network), FM 100 (in
government-controlled network), shortwave 0 Radios: 10.75 million (1992 estimated)
Television broadcast stations: 11 (in government-controlled network)
Televisions: 3.3 million (1993 estimated)
Transportation
Railways: total : 4,623 km narrow gauge: 4,623 km
1.000-m gauge (99 km double track)
Highways: total: 56,903 km paved: 52,806 km unpaved: 4,097 km (1993 estimated)
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
Pipelines:
Petroleum products 67 km; natural gas 350 km
Ports and harbors:
Bangkok, Laem Chabang, Pattani, Phuket, Sattahip, Si
Racha, Songkhla
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 estimated)
Airports:
100 (1996 estimated) 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 estimated) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 14 1,524 to 2,437
m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 13 (1996 estimated)
Heliports: 2 (1996 estimated)
Military:
Military branches: Royal Thai Army, Royal Thai Navy
(includes Royal Thai Marine Corps), Royal Thai Air Force, Paramilitary Forces
Military manpower - military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 17,076,040 (1997 estimated)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males: 10,315,765 (1997 estimated)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 591,094 (1997 estimated)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $4 billion (FY94/95)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 2.5% (FY94/95)
Transnational Issues
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
02. December 2004