Thailand

Two unified Thai kingdoms emerged in the mid-13th century. The Sukhothai Kingdom, located in the south-central plains, gained its independence from the Khmer Empire to the east. By the late 13th century, Sukhothai’s territory extended into present-day Burma and Laos. Sukhothai lasted until the mid-15th century. The Thai Lan Na Kingdom was established in the north with its capital at Chang Mai; the Burmese conquered Lan Na in the 16th century. The Ayutthaya Kingdom (14th-18th centuries) succeeded the Sukhothai and would become known as the Siamese Kingdom. During the Ayutthaya period, the Thai/Siamese peoples consolidated their hold on what is present-day central and north-central Thailand. Following a military defeat at the hands of the Burmese in 1767, the Siamese Kingdom rose to new heights under the military ruler TAKSIN, who defeated the Burmese occupiers and expanded the kingdom’s territory into modern-day northern Thailand (formerly the Lan Na Kingdom), Cambodia, Laos, and the Malay Peninsula. In the mid-1800s, Western pressure led to Siam signing trade treaties that reduced the country’s sovereignty and independence. In the 1890s and 1900s, the British and French forced the kingdom to cede Cambodian, Laotian, and Malay territories that had been under Siamese control. Following a bloodless revolution in 1932 that led to the establishment of a constitutional monarchy, Thailand's political history was marked by a series of mostly bloodless coups with power concentrated among military and bureaucratic elites. Periods of civilian rule were unstable. The Cold War era saw a communist insurgency and the rise of strongman leaders. Thailand became a US treaty ally in 1954 after sending troops to Korea and later fighting alongside the US in Vietnam. In the 21st century, Thailand has experienced additional turmoil, including a military coup in 2006 that ousted then Prime Minister THAKSIN Chinnawat and large-scale street protests led by competing political factions in 2008-2010. In 2011, THAKSIN's youngest sister, YINGLAK Chinnawat, led the Puea Thai Party to an electoral win and assumed control of the government. In 2014, after months of major anti-government protests in Bangkok, the Constitutional Court removed YINGLAK from office, and the Army, led by Gen. PRAYUT Chan-ocha, then staged a coup against the caretaker government. The military-affiliated National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) ruled the country under PRAYUT for more than four years, drafting a new constitution that allowed the military to appoint the entire 250-member Senate and required a joint meeting of the House and Senate to select the prime minister -- which effectively gave the military a veto on the selection. King PHUMIPHON Adunyadet passed away in 2016 after 70 years on the throne; his only son, WACHIRALONGKON (aka King RAMA X), formally ascended the throne in 2019. The same year, a long-delayed election allowed PRAYUT to continue his premiership, although the results were disputed and widely viewed as skewed in favor of the party aligned with the military. The country again experienced major anti-government protests in 2020. The reformist Move Forward Party won the most seats in the 2023 election but was unable to form a government, and Srettha THRAVISIN from the Pheu Thai Party replaced PRAYUT as prime minister after forming a coalition of moderate and conservative parties.

land

510,890 sq km

total

513,120 sq km

water

2,230 sq km

about three times the size of Florida; slightly more than twice the size of Wyoming

tropical; rainy, warm, cloudy southwest monsoon (mid-May to September); dry, cool northeast monsoon (November to mid-March); southern isthmus always hot and humid

3,219 km

highest point

Doi Inthanon 2,565 m

lowest point

Gulf of Thailand 0 m

mean elevation

287 m

15 00 N, 100 00 E

controls only land route from Asia to Malaysia and Singapore; ideas for the construction of a canal across the Kra Isthmus that would create a bypass to the Strait of Malacca and shorten shipping times around Asia continue to be discussed

64,150 sq km (2012)

border countries

Burma 2,416 km; Cambodia 817 km; Laos 1,845 km; Malaysia 595 km

total

5,673 km

agricultural land

41.2% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 30.8% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 8.8% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 1.6% (2018 est.)

forest

37.2% (2018 est.)

other

21.6% (2018 est.)

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

salt water lake(s)

Thalesap Songkhla - 1,290 sq km

Mae Nam Khong (Mekong) (shared with China [s], Burma, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam [m]) - 4,350 km; Salween (shared with China [s] and Burma [m]) - 3,060 km; Mun - 1,162 kmnote – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth

Indian Ocean drainage: Salween (271,914 sq km)Pacific Ocean drainage: Mekong (805,604 sq km)

Southeast Asia

continental shelf

200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

exclusive economic zone

200 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

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

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

highest population density is found in and around Bangkok; significant population clusters found througout large parts of the country, particularly north and northeast of Bangkok and in the extreme southern region of the country

central plain; Khorat Plateau in the east; mountains elsewhere

0-14 years

15.8% (male 5,669,592/female 5,394,398)

15-64 years

69% (male 23,681,528/female 24,597,535)

65 years and over

15.1% (2024 est.) (male 4,714,191/female 5,863,754)

beer

1.85 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

other alcohols

0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

spirits

4.78 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

total

6.86 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

wine

0.23 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

9.9 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

men married by age 18

9.8% (2019 est.)

women married by age 15

3%

women married by age 18

20.2%

7.7% (2019)

73% (2019)

4.4% of GDP (2020)

60.8% (2023 est.)

8 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Thailand has experienced a substantial fertility decline since the 1960s largely due to the nationwide success of its voluntary family planning program.  In just one generation, the total fertility rate (TFR) shrank from 6.5 children per woman in the 1960s to below the replacement level of 2.1 in the late 1980s.  Reduced fertility occurred among all segments of the Thai population, despite disparities between urban and rural areas in terms of income, education, and access to public services.  The country’s “reproductive revolution” gained momentum in the 1970s as a result of the government’s launch of an official population policy to reduce population growth, the introduction of new forms of birth control, and the assistance of foreign non-government organizations.  Contraceptive use rapidly increased as new ways were developed to deliver family planning services to Thailand’s then overwhelmingly rural population.  The contraceptive prevalence rate increased from just 14% in 1970 to 58% in 1981 and has remained about 80% since 2000.  Thailand’s receptiveness to family planning reflects the predominant faith, Theravada Buddhism, which emphasizes individualism, personal responsibility, and independent decision-making.  Thai women have more independence and a higher status than women in many other developing countries and are not usually pressured by their husbands or other family members about family planning decisions.  Thailand’s relatively egalitarian society also does not have the son preference found in a number of other Asian countries; most Thai ideally want one child of each sex. Because of its low fertility rate, increasing life expectancy, and growing elderly population, Thailand has become an aging society that will face growing labor shortages.  The proportion of the population under 15 years of age has shrunk dramatically, the proportion of working-age individuals has peaked and is starting to decrease, and the proportion of elderly is growing rapidly.  In the short-term, Thailand will have to improve educational quality to increase the productivity of its workforce and to compete globally in skills-based industries.  An increasing reliance on migrant workers will be necessary to mitigate labor shortfalls. Thailand is a destination, transit, and source country for migrants. It has 3-4 million migrant workers as of 2017, mainly providing low-skilled labor in the construction, agriculture, manufacturing, services, and fishing and seafood processing sectors.  Migrant workers from other Southeast Asian countries with lower wages – primarily Burma and, to a lesser extent, Laos and Cambodia – have been coming to Thailand for decades to work in labor-intensive industries.  Many are undocumented and are vulnerable to human trafficking for forced labor, especially in the fisheries industry, or sexual exploitation.  A July 2017 migrant worker law stiffening fines on undocumented workers and their employers, prompted tens of thousands of migrants to go home.  Fearing a labor shortage, the Thai Government has postponed implementation of the law until January 2018 and is rapidly registering workers.  Thailand has also hosted ethnic minority refugees from Burma for more than 30 years; as of 2016, approximately 105,000 mainly Karen refugees from Burma were living in nine camps along the Thailand-Burma border. Thailand has a significant amount of internal migration, most often from rural areas to urban centers, where there are more job opportunities.  Low- and semi-skilled Thais also go abroad to work, mainly in Asia and a smaller number in the Middle East and Africa, primarily to more economically developed countries where they can earn higher wages.

elderly dependency ratio

18.4

potential support ratio

4.8 (2021 est.)

total dependency ratio

43.5

youth dependency ratio

22.7

improved: rural

rural: 100% of population

improved: total

total: 100% of population

improved: urban

urban: 100% of population

unimproved: rural

rural: 0% of population

unimproved: total

total: 0% of population (2020 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 0% of population

3.2% of GDP (2020 est.)

Thai 97.5%, Burmese 1.3%, other 1.1%, unspecified <0.1% (2015 est.)

note

note: data represent population by nationality

0.75 (2024 est.)

female

5.6 deaths/1,000 live births

male

6.9 deaths/1,000 live births

total

6.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)

Languages

Thai (official) only 90.7%, Thai and other languages 6.4%, only other languages 2.9% (includes Malay, Burmese); English is a secondary language among the elite (2010 est.)

major-language sample(s)

สารานุกรมโลก - แหล่งข้อมูลพื้นฐานที่สำคัญ (Thai)The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

note

note: data represent population by language(s) spoken at home

female

81.3 years

male

75.2 years

total population

78.2 years (2024 est.)

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

92.8% (2021)

male

95.5%

total population

94.1%

11.070 million BANGKOK (capital), 1.454 Chon Buri, 1.359 million Samut Prakan, 1.213 million Chiang Mai, 1.005 million Songkla, 1.001 million Nothaburi (2023)

29 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)

female

42.7 years

male

40.2 years

total

41.5 years (2024 est.)

23.3 years (2009 est.)

adjective

Thai

noun

Thai (singular and plural)

-0.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)

10% (2016)

0.95 physicians/1,000 population (2020)

female

35,855,687 (2024 est.)

male

34,065,311

total

69,920,998

highest population density is found in and around Bangkok; significant population clusters found througout large parts of the country, particularly north and northeast of Bangkok and in the extreme southern region of the country

0.17% (2024 est.)

Buddhist 92.5%, Muslim 5.4%, Christian 1.2%, other 0.9% (includes animist, Confucian, Hindu, Jewish, Sikh, and Taoist) (2021 est.)

improved: rural

rural: 100% of population

improved: total

total: 100% of population

improved: urban

urban: 99.9% of population

unimproved: rural

rural: 0% of population

unimproved: total

total: 0% of population (2020 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 0.1% of population

female

16 years (2016)

male

15 years

total

15 years

0-14 years

1.05 male(s)/female

15-64 years

0.96 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.8 male(s)/female

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

0.95 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

female

2.9% (2020 est.)

male

41.3% (2020 est.)

total

22.1% (2020 est.)

1.54 children born/woman (2024 est.)

rate of urbanization

1.43% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

53.6% of total population (2023)

76 provinces (changwat, singular and plural) and 1 municipality* (maha nakhon); Amnat Charoen, Ang Thong, Bueng Kan, Buri Ram, Chachoengsao, Chai Nat, Chaiyaphum, Chanthaburi, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Chon Buri, Chumphon, Kalasin, Kamphaeng Phet, Kanchanaburi, Khon Kaen, Krabi, Krung Thep* (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, Saraburi, Satun, Sing Buri, Si Sa Ket, Songkhla, Sukhothai, Suphan Buri, Surat Thani, Surin, Tak, Trang, Trat, Ubon Ratchathani, Udon Thani, Uthai Thani, Uttaradit, Yala, Yasothon

etymology

Bangkok was likely originally a colloquial name, but one that was widely adopted by foreign visitors; the name may derive from bang ko, where bang is the Thai word for "village on a stream" and ko means "island," both referencing the area's landscape, which was carved by rivers and canals; alternatively, the name may come from bang makok, where makok is the name of the Java plum, a plant bearing olive-like fruit; this possibility is supported by the former name of Wat Arun, a historic temple in the area, that used to be called Wat Makok; Krung Thep Maha Nakhon, the city's Thai name, means "City of Angels, Great City" or simply "Great City of Angels" and is a shortening of the full ceremonial name: Krungthepmahanakhon Amonrattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilokphop Noppharatratchathaniburirom Udomratchaniwetmahasathan Amonphimanawatansathit Sakkathattiyawitsanukamprasit; translated the meaning is: "City of angels, great city of immortals, magnificent city of the nine gems, seat of the king, city of royal palaces, home of gods incarnate, erected by Vishvakarman at Indra's behest"; it holds the world's record as the longest place name (169 letters); Krung Thep is used colloquially

geographic coordinates

13 45 N, 100 31 E

name

Bangkok

time difference

UTC+7 (12 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

citizenship by birth

no

citizenship by descent only

at least one parent must be a citizen of Thailand

dual citizenship recognized

no

residency requirement for naturalization

5 years

amendments

amendments require a majority vote in a joint session of the House and Senate and further require at least one fifth of opposition House members and one third of the Senate vote in favor; a national referendum is additionally required for certain amendments; all amendments require signature by the king; Thailand's 2017 constitution was amended in November 2021 to increase the number of constituency members of parliament (MPs) from 350 to 400, reduce the number of party-list MPs from 150 to 100, and change the election to a two-ballot system

history

many previous; latest drafted and presented 29 March 2016, approved by referendum 7 August 2016, signed into law by the king on 6 April 2017

conventional long form

Kingdom of Thailand

conventional short form

Thailand

etymology

Land of the Tai [People]"; the meaning of "tai" is uncertain, but may originally have meant "human beings," "people," or "free people''

former

Siam

local long form

Ratcha Anachak Thai

local short form

Prathet Thai

chief of mission

Ambassador Robert F. GODEC (since 7 October 2022)

consulate(s) general

Chiang Mai

email address and website

acsbkk@state.govhttps://th.usembassy.gov/

embassy

95 Wireless Road, Bangkok 10330

FAX

[66] 2-205-4103

mailing address

7200 Bangkok Place, Washington DC  20521-7200

telephone

[66] 2-205-4000

chancery

1024 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Suite 401, Washington, DC 20007

chief of mission

Ambassador Dr. SURIYA Chindawongse (since 17 June 2024)

consulate(s) general

Chicago, Los Angeles, New York

email address and website

thai.wsn@thaiembdc.orghttps://washingtondc.thaiembassy.org/en/index

FAX

[1] (202) 944-3611

telephone

[1] (202) 944-3600

cabinet

Council of Ministers nominated by the prime minister, appointed by the king; a Privy Council advises the king

chief of state

King WACHIRALONGKON; also spelled Vajiralongkorn (since 1 December 2016)

elections/appointments

the monarchy is hereditary; prime minister candidate approved by the House of Representatives and Senate and appointed by the king; starting in 2024, approval of prime minister needed only by the House of Representatives

head of government

Prime Minister PHAETHONGTHAN Chinnawat; also spelled PAETONGTARN Shinawatra (since 18 August 2024)

note

note: following its May 2023 election win, the MJP formed an eight-party coalition and put forward its leader PITA Limjaroenrat for prime minister; however, the Senate blocked PITA from becoming prime minister in the first National Assembly vote in July 2023, and the Assembly subsequently voted that he could not submit his name again; the Constitutional Court also suspended PITA after accepting cases accusing him of violating election law; in August 2023, MJP handed over the lead in forming a new government to the second largest party in the coalition, PTP, which then formed a new coalition without MJP; PTP put forward SRETTHA Thavisin for prime minister, and he was approved by the National Assembly 482 votes out of a possible 747

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, and blue stands for the monarchy

note

note: similar to the flag of Costa Rica but with the blue and red colors reversed

constitutional monarchy

1238 (traditional founding date; never colonized)

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

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, UNOOSA, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

highest court(s)

Supreme Court of Justice (consists of the court president, 6 vice presidents, 60-70 judges, and organized into 10 divisions); Constitutional Court (consists of the court president and 8 judges); Supreme Administrative Court (number of judges determined by Judicial Commission of the Administrative Courts)

judge selection and term of office

Supreme Court judges selected by the Judicial Commission of the Courts of Justice and approved by the monarch; judge term determined by the monarch; Constitutional Court justices - 3 judges drawn from the Supreme Court, 2 judges drawn from the Administrative Court, and 4 judge candidates selected by the Selective Committee for Judges of the Constitutional Court, and confirmed by the Senate; judges appointed by the monarch serve single 9-year terms; Supreme Administrative Court judges selected by the Judicial Commission of the Administrative Courts and appointed by the monarch; judges serve for life

subordinate courts

courts of first instance and appeals courts within both the judicial and administrative systems; military courts

civil law system with common law influences

description

bicameral National Assembly or Ratthasapha consists of:Senate or Wuthisapha (200 seats; members indirectly elected in a three-step process (district, provincial, and national) from 20 eligible groups of professionals and then certified by Election Commission for a single 5-year term)House of Representatives or Saphaphuthan Ratsadon (500 seats; 400 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote and 100 members elected in a single nationwide constituency by party-list proportional representation vote; members serve 4-year terms)

election results

Senate - percent of vote by party - independents; seats by party - NA; composition - NAHouse of Representatives - percent of vote by party - MFP 36.2%, PTP 27.7%, UTN 11.9%, BJT/PJT 2.9%, DP 2.3%, PPRP 1.4%, PCC 1.5%, other 16%; seats by party - MFP 152, PTP 141, BJT/PJT 71, PPRP 41, UTN 36, DP 24, PCC 9, CTP 10, Thai Sang Thai 6, other 11; composition - 403 men, 97 women, percentage women 19.4%

elections

Senate - last election dates 9, 16, and 26 June 2024; certified on 10 July 2024 (next to be held in June 2029)House of Representatives - last held on 14 May 2023 (next to be held in May 2027)

lyrics/music

Luang SARANUPRAPAN/Phra JENDURIYANG

name

"Phleng Chat Thai" (National Anthem of Thailand)

note

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 Sanlasoen 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

selected World Heritage Site locales

Historic City of Ayutthaya (c); Historic Sukhothai and Associated Historic Towns (c); Thungyai-Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuaries (n); Ban Chiang Archaeological Site (c); Dong Phayayen-Khao Yai Forest Complex (n); Kaeng Krachan Forest Complex (n); The Ancient Town of Si Thep and its Associated Dvaravati Monuments (n); Phu Phrabat, a testimony to the Sīma stone tradition of the Dvaravati period (c)

total World Heritage Sites

8 (5 cultural, 3 natural)

Birthday of King WACHIRALONGKON, 28 July (1952)

garuda (mythical half-man, half-bird figure), elephant; national colors: red, white, blue

Bhumjaithai Party or BJT (aka Phumchai Thai Party or PJT; aka Thai Pride Party) Chat Thai Phatthana Party (Thai Nation Development Party) or CTPMove Forward Party or MFP (dissolved by order of the Constitutional Court, August 2024)Palang Pracharat Party (People's State Power Party) or PPRP Pheu (Puea) Thai Party (For Thais Party) or PTP Prachachat Party or PCC Prachathipat Party (Democrat Party) or DP Thai Sang Thai Party United Thai Nation (Ruam Thai Sang Chat) or UTN

18 years of age; universal and compulsory

sugarcane, rice, cassava, oil palm fruit, maize, rubber, tropical fruits, chicken, pineapples, fruits (2022)

note

note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

on alcohol and tobacco

3% of household expenditures (2022 est.)

on food

26.8% of household expenditures (2022 est.)

expenditures

$106.576 billion (2022 est.)

note

note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenses converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

revenues

$90.509 billion (2022 est.)

Fitch rating

BBB+ (2013)

Moody's rating

Baa1 (2003)

note

note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained.

Standard & Poors rating

BBB+ (2004)

Current account balance 2021

-$10.268 billion (2021 est.)

Current account balance 2022

-$15.742 billion (2022 est.)

Current account balance 2023

$7.002 billion (2023 est.)

note

note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

Debt - external 2022

$35.388 billion (2022 est.)

note

note: present value of external debt in current US dollars

upper middle-income Southeast Asian economy; substantial infrastructure; major electronics, food, and automobile parts exporter; globally used currency; extremely low unemployment; ongoing Thailand 4.0 economic development

Currency

baht per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2019

31.048 (2019 est.)

Exchange rates 2020

31.294 (2020 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

31.977 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates 2022

35.061 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates 2023

34.802 (2023 est.)

Exports 2021

$295.972 billion (2021 est.)

Exports 2022

$324.063 billion (2022 est.)

Exports 2023

$336.871 billion (2023 est.)

note

note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

machine parts, integrated circuits, cars, trucks, vehicle parts/accessories (2022)

note

note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

US 17%, China 11%, Japan 8%, Vietnam 4%, Malaysia 4% (2022)

note

note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

exports of goods and services

65.4% (2023 est.)

government consumption

16.6% (2023 est.)

household consumption

57.7% (2023 est.)

imports of goods and services

-63.7% (2023 est.)

investment in fixed capital

23% (2023 est.)

investment in inventories

-0.4% (2023 est.)

note

note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

agriculture

8.6% (2023 est.)

industry

32.9% (2023 est.)

note

note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

services

58.5% (2023 est.)

$514.945 billion (2023 est.)

note

note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2021

34.9 (2021 est.)

note

note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality

highest 10%

27.1% (2021 est.)

lowest 10%

3.2% (2021 est.)

note

note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

Imports 2021

$296.115 billion (2021 est.)

Imports 2022

$334.478 billion (2022 est.)

Imports 2023

$328.009 billion (2023 est.)

note

note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

crude petroleum, integrated circuits, gold, natural gas, vehicle parts/accessories (2022)

note

note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

China 26%, Japan 11%, UAE 6%, US 5%, Malaysia 5% (2022)

note

note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

-2.27% (2023 est.)

note

note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

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, agricultural machinery, air conditioning and refrigeration, ceramics, aluminum, chemical, environmental management, glass, granite and marble, leather, machinery and metal work, petrochemical, petroleum refining, pharmaceuticals, printing, pulp and paper, rubber, sugar, rice, fishing, cassava, world's second-largest tungsten producer and third-largest tin producer

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021

1.23% (2021 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

6.08% (2022 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023

1.23% (2023 est.)

note

note: annual % change based on consumer prices

40.814 million (2023 est.)

note

note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

6.3% (2021 est.)

note

note: % of population with income below national poverty line

note

note: central government debt as a % of GDP

Public debt 2022

60.35% of GDP (2022 est.)

note

note: data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021

$1.452 trillion (2021 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

$1.488 trillion (2022 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

$1.516 trillion (2023 est.)

note

note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real GDP growth rate 2021

1.57% (2021 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2022

2.46% (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2023

1.88% (2023 est.)

note

note: data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP per capita 2021

$20,300 (2021 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2022

$20,800 (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2023

$21,100 (2023 est.)

note

note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

Remittances 2021

1.79% of GDP (2021 est.)

Remittances 2022

1.8% of GDP (2022 est.)

Remittances 2023

1.9% of GDP (2023 est.)

note

note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021

$246.025 billion (2021 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022

$216.501 billion (2022 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023

$224.47 billion (2023 est.)

14.38% (of GDP) (2022 est.)

note

note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

note

note: % of labor force seeking employment

Unemployment rate 2021

1.22% (2021 est.)

Unemployment rate 2022

0.94% (2022 est.)

Unemployment rate 2023

0.91% (2023 est.)

female

7.4% (2023 est.)

male

3.9% (2023 est.)

note

note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

total

5.3% (2023 est.)

from coal and metallurgical coke

61.666 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

from consumed natural gas

89.511 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

from petroleum and other liquids

156.756 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

total emissions

307.934 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

consumption

36.03 million metric tons (2022 est.)

exports

96,000 metric tons (2022 est.)

imports

22.485 million metric tons (2022 est.)

production

13.642 million metric tons (2022 est.)

proven reserves

1.063 billion metric tons (2022 est.)

consumption

199.672 billion kWh (2022 est.)

exports

2.02 billion kWh (2022 est.)

imports

34.223 billion kWh (2022 est.)

installed generating capacity

57.216 million kW (2022 est.)

transmission/distribution losses

14.464 billion kWh (2022 est.)

electrification - rural areas

100%

electrification - total population

99.9% (2022 est.)

electrification - urban areas

100%

biomass and waste

9.7% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

fossil fuels

82.1% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

hydroelectricity

3.7% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

solar

2.8% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

wind

1.7% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

Total energy consumption per capita 2022

69.958 million Btu/person (2022 est.)

consumption

48.898 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

imports

17.112 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

production

30.797 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

proven reserves

138.243 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)

crude oil estimated reserves

252.75 million barrels (2021 est.)

refined petroleum consumption

1.248 million bbl/day (2022 est.)

total petroleum production

386,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

16 (2020 est.)

total

11,478,265 (2020 est.)

26 digital TV stations in Bangkok broadcast nationally, 6 terrestrial TV stations in Bangkok broadcast nationally via relay stations - 2 of the stations 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 (2017)

.th

percent of population

85% (2021 est.)

total

61.2 million (2021 est.)

domestic

fixed-line is 19 per 100 and mobile-cellular is 176 per 100 (2022)

general assessment

Thailand’s telecom sector is relatively mature and hosts a mix of public and private sector players; the mobile market is highly developed and has experienced strong growth over the last seven years; the market returned to growth in 2021 after it contracted in 2020 driven by the Covid-19 pandemic, and a steep decline in inbound tourism; it remains highly saturated, owing to overall maturity and the popularity of multiple SIM card use, which has resulted in a particularly high penetration rate; in general, the sector retains considerable potential given the impetus of 5G, the recent spectrum auctions, and continued network deployments by the country’s network operators; further auctions of spectrum in the 700MHz band (being repurposed from digital TV broadcasting), and in the 3.6GHz range will further improve network capacity; in the wire line segment, the decline in fixed-line penetration is expected to continue as subscribers migrate to mobile networks for voice and data services; the emphasis among operators has been to bolster their fiber footprints in key high-value areas; the transition to fiber from DSL and cable has also been facilitated by changes to the regulatory structure that have removed some barriers to investment; this is supporting the cannibalization of older copper-based DSL lines by fiber; the returns from this investment remain a long-term prospect as consumers still favor entry-level packages; there is also strong interest from the government, as well as private vendors, in establishing Thailand as a data center hub to serve the region; the size, capacity and spread of existing data centers in the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) outside of Thailand is small; Thailand retains some advantages to attract investment, including improved fiber connectivity and international bandwidth; increasing submarine capacity, such as the SJC2 cable to come online later in 2023, will considerably improve Thailand’s potential as a regional hub (2022)

international

country code - 66; landing points for the AAE-1, FEA, SeaMeWe-3,-4, APG, SJC2, TIS, MCT and AAG submarine cable systems providing links throughout Asia, Australia, Africa, Middle East, Europe, and US; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean, 1 Pacific Ocean) (2019)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

6 (2022 est.)

total subscriptions

4.368 million (2022 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

176 (2022 est.)

total subscriptions

126.414 million (2022 est.)

108 (2024)

HS

5 (2024)

by type

bulk carrier 28, container ship 28, general cargo 88, oil tanker 251, other 489

total

884 (2023)

annual freight traffic on registered air carriers

2,666,260,000 (2018) mt-km

annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers

76,053,042 (2018)

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers

283

number of registered air carriers

15 (2020)

2 km condensate, 5,900 km gas, 85 km liquid petroleum gas, 1 km oil, 1,097 km refined products (2013)

key ports

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

large

1

medium

2

ports with oil terminals

14

small

3

total ports

21 (2024)

very small

15

narrow gauge

4,043 km (2017) 1.000-m gauge

standard gauge

84 km (2017) 1.435-m gauge (84 km electrified)

total

4,127 km (2017)

total

180,053 km (2006) (includes 450 km of expressways)

4,000 km (2011) (3,701 km navigable by boats with drafts up to 0.9 m)

the RTARF’s missions include defending the country’s territory and sovereignty, protecting the monarchy, ensuring internal security, and responding to natural disasters; it also plays a large role in domestic politics and has attempted as many as 20 coups since the fall of absolute monarchy in 1932, the most recent being in 2014since 2004, the military and associated paramilitary forces have fought against separatist insurgents in the southern provinces of Pattani, Yala, and Narathiwat, as well as parts of Songkhla; the insurgency is rooted in ethnic Malay nationalist resistance to Thai rule that followed the extension of Siamese sovereignty over the Patani Sultanate in the 18th century; the insurgency consists of several armed groups, the largest of which is the Barisan Revolusi Nasional-Koordinasi (BRN-C): since 2020, Thai officials have been negotiating with BRN, and has parallel talks with an umbrella organization, MARA Pattani, that claims to represent the insurgency groups; since 2004, violence associated with the insurgency has claimed more than 7,000 lives; the Thai Government has had as many as 100,000 military and paramilitary forces deployed in the south to combat the insurgencyThailand has Major Non-NATO Ally (MNNA) status with the US, a designation under US law that provides foreign partners with certain benefits in the areas of defense trade and security cooperation; the Thai and US militaries host the annual "Cobra Gold" multinational military exercises in Thailand; the exercise is one of the largest multinational exercises in the Pacific region (2024)

Royal Thai Armed Forces (Kongthap Thai, RTARF): Royal Thai Army (Kongthap Bok Thai, RTA), Royal Thai Navy (Kongthap Ruea Thai, RTN; includes Royal Thai Marine Corps), Royal Thai Air Force (Kongthap Akaat Thai, RTAF)Office of the Prime Minister: Royal Thai Police (2024)

note

note 1: the Thai Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC) oversees counter-insurgency operations, as well as countering terrorism, narcotics and weapons trafficking, and other internal security duties; it is primarily run by the Armynote 2: official paramilitary forces in Thailand include the Thai Rangers (Thahan Phran or "Hunter Soldiers") under the Army; the Paramilitary Marines under the Navy; the Border Patrol Police (BPP) under the Royal Thai Police; the Volunteer Defense Corps (VDC or O So) and National Defense Volunteers (NDV), both under the Ministry of Interior; there are also several government-backed volunteer militias created to provide village security against insurgents in the Deep South or to assist the ISOC

estimated 350,000 active-duty personnel (250,000 Army; 70,000 Navy; 30,000 Air Force); approximately 230,000 Royal Thai Police (2023)

280 South Sudan (UNMISS) (2024)

the RTARF has a diverse array of foreign-supplied weapons and equipment, as well as some domestically produced items; in recent years, Thailand has received arms from a wide variety of countries, including China and the US; Thailand has a domestic defense industry, which produces such items as armored vehicles, artillery systems, naval vessels, unmanned aerial vehicles, and other military technologies  (2024)

Military Expenditures 2019

1.3% of GDP (2019 est.)

Military Expenditures 2020

1.4% of GDP (2020 est.)

Military Expenditures 2021

1.3% of GDP (2021 est.)

Military Expenditures 2022

1.3% of GDP (2022 est.)

Military Expenditures 2023

1.3% of GDP (2023 est.)

18 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; 21 years of age for compulsory military service for men; men register at 18 years of age; volunteer service obligation may be as short as 6 or 12 months, depending on educational qualifications; conscript service obligation also varies by educational qualifications, but is typically 24 months (2023)

note

note: serving in the armed forces is a national duty of all Thai citizens; conscription was introduced in 1905; it includes women, however, only men over the age of 21 who have not gone through reserve training are conscripted; conscripts are chosen by lottery (on draft day, eligible draftees can request volunteer service, or they may choose to stay for the conscription lottery); approximately 75-100,000 men are drafted for military service each year

not a cultivator or producer of significant quantities of opiates, methamphetamine, or other illicit drugs; not a significant source or transit country for drugs entering the United States; drugs smuggled through Thailand heading for Indo-Pacific region markets; large influx of methamphetamine and heroin from neighboring Burma to other markets, but also consumed domestically, most of which transits through Thailand to other markets, but is also consumed domestically; a major source of precursor or essential chemicals used in the production of illicit narcotics

IDPs

41,000 (2022)

note

note: Thai nationality was granted to more than 23,000 stateless persons between 2012 and 2016 and more than 18,000 between 2018 and 2021; in 2016, the Government of Thailand approved changes to its citizenship laws that could make 80,000 stateless persons eligible for citizenship, as part of its effort to achieve zero statelessness by 2024 (2021)

refugees (country of origin)

91,339 (Burma) (refugees and asylum seekers) (2023)

stateless persons

566,900 (2022) (estimate represents stateless persons registered with the Thai Government; actual number may be as high as 3.5 million); note - about half of Thailand's northern hill tribe people do not have citizenship and make up the bulk of Thailand's stateless population; most lack documentation showing they or one of their parents were born in Thailand; children born to Burmese refugees are not eligible for Burmese or Thai citizenship and are stateless; most Chao Lay, maritime nomadic peoples, who travel from island to island in the Andaman Sea west of Thailand are also stateless; stateless Rohingya refugees from Burma are considered illegal migrants by Thai authorities and are detained in inhumane conditions or expelled; stateless persons are denied access to voting, property, education, employment, healthcare, and driving

Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA; created in 2000 from the Thailand Remote Sensing Center that was established in 1979; GISTDA is under the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation); National Space Policy Committee (NSPC; advisory body to the prime minister) (2024)

none; in 2023, announced intentions to build a spaceport with South Korean assistance (2024)

has an ambitious and growing space program focused on the acquisition and operation of satellites and the development of related technologies; operates communications and remote sensing (RS) satellites; manufactures scientific/research/testing cube satellites and developing the capabilities to produce RS satellites (has historically built satellites with foreign assistance); cooperates with a range of foreign space agencies and industries, including those of other ASEAN countries, China, France, India, the Netherlands, Pakistan, Russia, South Korea, and the US; founding member of the China-led Asia-Pacific Space Cooperation Organization (APSCO); has a growing space industry, including Southeast Asia’s first dedicated satellite manufacturing facility, which opened in 2021 (2024)

note

note: further details about the key activities, programs, and milestones of the country’s space program, as well as government spending estimates on the space sector, appear in the Space Programs reference guide

carbon dioxide emissions

283.76 megatons (2016 est.)

methane emissions

86.98 megatons (2020 est.)

particulate matter emissions

24.64 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

tropical; rainy, warm, cloudy southwest monsoon (mid-May to September); dry, cool northeast monsoon (November to mid-March); southern isthmus always hot and humid

air pollution from vehicle emissions; water pollution from organic and factory wastes; water scarcity; deforestation; soil erosion; wildlife populations threatened by illegal hunting; hazardous waste disposal

party to

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified

none of the selected agreements

global geoparks and regional networks

Khorat; Satun (2023)

total global geoparks and regional networks

2

agricultural land

41.2% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 30.8% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 8.8% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 1.6% (2018 est.)

forest

37.2% (2018 est.)

other

21.6% (2018 est.)

salt water lake(s)

Thalesap Songkhla - 1,290 sq km

Mae Nam Khong (Mekong) (shared with China [s], Burma, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam [m]) - 4,350 km; Salween (shared with China [s] and Burma [m]) - 3,060 km; Mun - 1,162 kmnote – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth

Indian Ocean drainage: Salween (271,914 sq km)Pacific Ocean drainage: Mekong (805,604 sq km)

0.03% of GDP (2018 est.)

0.34% of GDP (2018 est.)

438.61 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

agricultural

51.79 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

industrial

2.78 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

municipal

2.74 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

rate of urbanization

1.43% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

53.6% of total population (2023)

municipal solid waste generated annually

26,853,366 tons (2015 est.)

municipal solid waste recycled annually

5,128,993 tons (2012 est.)

percent of municipal solid waste recycled

19.1% (2012 est.)