1991 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1991 (Project Gutenberg)
Geography
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
Comparative area
slightly more than twice the size of Wyoming
Disputes
boundary dispute with Laos; unresolved maritime boundary with Vietnam
Environment
air and water pollution; land subsidence in Bangkok area
Land boundaries
4,863 km total; Burma 1,800 km, Cambodia 803 km, Laos 1,754 km, Malaysia 506 km
Land use
arable land 34%; permanent crops 4%; meadows and pastures 1%; forest and woodland 30%; other 31%; includes irrigated 7%
Maritime claims
Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm; Territorial sea: 12 nm
Natural resources
tin, rubber, natural gas, tungsten, tantalum, timber, lead, fish, gypsum, lignite, fluorite
Note
controls only land route from Asia to Malaysia and Singapore
Terrain
central plain; eastern plateau (Khorat); mountains elsewhere
Total area
514,000 km2; land area: 511,770 km2
People and Society
Birth rate
20 births/1,000 population (1991)
Death rate
6 deaths/1,000 population (1991)
Ethnic divisions
Thai 75%, Chinese 14%, other 11%
Infant mortality rate
37 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)
Labor force
30,870,000; agriculture 62%, industry 13%, commerce 11%, services (including government) 14% (1989 est.)
Language
Thai; English is the secondary language of the elite; ethnic and regional dialects
Life expectancy at birth
66 years male, 71 years female (1991)
Literacy
93% (male 96%, female 90%) age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)
Nationality
noun--Thai (sing. and pl.); adjective--Thai
Net migration rate
0 migrants/1,000 population (1991)
Organized labor
309,000 union members (1989)
Population
56,814,069 (July 1991), growth rate 1.4% (1991)
Religion
Buddhism 95%, Muslim 3.8%, Christianity 0.5%, Hinduism 0.1%, other 0.5% (1991)
Total fertility rate
2.2 children born/woman (1991)
Government
Administrative divisions
73 provinces (changwat, singular and plural); 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, Lampang, Lamphun, Loei, Lop Buri, Mae Hong Son, Maha Sarakham, Nakhon Nayok, Nakhon Pathom, Nakhon Phanom, Nakhon Ratchasima, Nakhon Sawan, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Nan, Narathiwat, 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, 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
Bangkok
Communists
illegal Communist party has 500 to 1,000 members; armed Communist insurgents throughout Thailand total 300 to 500 (est.)
Constitution
22 December 1978; interim constitution promulgated by National Peace-Keeping Council on 1 March 1991
Diplomatic representation
Ambassador-designate PHIRAPHONG Kasemsi; Embassy at 2300 Kalorama Road NW, Washington DC 20008; telephone (202) 483-7200; there are Thai Consulates General in Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York; US--Ambassador Daniel A. O'DONAHUE; Embassy at 95 Wireless Road, Bangkok (mailing address is APO San Francisco 96346); telephone [66] (2) 252-504019; there is a US Consulate General in Chiang Mai and Consulates in Songkhla and Udorn
Elections
House of Representatives--last held 24 July 1988 (next to be held by April 1992 for a new National Legislative Assembly according to the National Peace-Keeping Council); results--TNP 27%, SAP 15%, DP 13%, TCP 9%, other 36%; seats--(357 total) TNP 96, Solidarity 62, SAP 53, DP 48, TCP 31, People's Party (Ratsadon) 21, Thai People's Party (Prachachon) 17, Force of Truth Party (Phalang Dharma) 15, United Democracy Party 5, Mass Party 5, Liberal 3, Social Democratic Force 1; note--the House of Representatives was dissolved 23 February 1991; the new interim National Legislative Assembly has 292 seats with 148 of the seats held by active and retired military officers
Executive branch
monarch, interim prime minister, three interim deputy prime ministers, interim Council of Ministers (cabinet), Privy Council; following the military coup of 23 February 1991 a National Peace-Keeping Council was set up
Flag
five horizontal bands of red (top), white, blue (double width), white, and red
Independence
1238 (traditional founding date); never colonized
Judicial branch
Supreme Court (Sarndika)
Leaders
Chief of State--King PHUMIPHON ADUNLAYADET (since 9 June 1946); Heir Apparent Crown Prince WACHIRALONGKON (born 28 July 1952); Head of Government--Interim Prime Minister ANAN Panyarachun (since 4 March 1991); Interim Deputy Prime Minister SANO Unakun (since 6 March 1991); Interim Deputy Prime Minister Police Gen. PHAO Sarasin (since 6 March 1991); Interim Deputy Prime Minister MICHAI Ruchupan (since 6 March 1991); National Peace-Keeping Council (ruling junta)--Chairman Gen. SUNTHON Khongsomphong; Vice Chairman Gen. SUCHINDA Khraprayun; Vice Chairman Adm. PRAPHAT Kritsanachan; Vice Chairman Air Chief Mar. KASET Rotchananin; Vice Chairman Police Gen. SAWAT Amonwiwat
Legal system
based on civil law system, with influences of common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; martial law in effect since 23 February 1991 military coup
Legislative branch
bicameral National Assembly (Rathasatha) consists of an upper house or Senate (Vuthisatha) and a lower house or House of Representatives (Saphaphoothan-Rajsadhorn); following the military coup of 23 February 1991 the National Assembly was dissolved and a new interim National Legislative Assembly has been formed until elections are held in April 1992
Long-form name
Kingdom of Thailand; under martial law since military takeover 23 February 1991
Member of
APEC, AsDB, ASEAN, CCC, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LORCS, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO
National holiday
Birthday of His Majesty the King, 5 December (1927)
Political parties and leaders
under martial law political parties are prohibited from meeting; leaders of several parties have resigned and other parties are fragmenting; it is unclear which of the following parties functioning at the time of the military coup will still be in existence by the time new elections are held; Thai Nation Party (TNP); Solidarity Party; Thai Citizens Party (TCP); People's Party (Ratsadon); Thai People's Party; Social Action Party (SAP); Democrat Party (DP); Mass Party; Force of Truth Party (Phalang Dharma); People's Party (Prachachon); New Aspiration Party; United Democracy Party; Liberal Party; Social Democratic Force
Suffrage
universal at age 21
Type
constitutional monarchy; under martial law since military coup of 23 February 1991
Economy
Agriculture
accounts for 15% of GNP and 62% of labor force; leading producer and exporter of rice and cassava (tapioca); other crops--rubber, corn, sugarcane, coconuts, soybeans; except for wheat, self-sufficient in food; fish catch of 2.8 million tons (1989)
Budget
revenues $15.2 billion; expenditures $15.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $4.1 billion (FY91)
Currency
baht (plural--baht); 1 baht (B) = 100 satang
Economic aid
US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $870 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-88), $8.1 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $19 million
Electricity
7,270,000 kW capacity; 29,000 million kWh produced, 530 kWh per capita (1990)
Exchange rates
baht (B) per US$1--25.224 (January 1991), 25.585 (1990), 25.702 (1989), 25.294 (1988), 25.723 (1987), 26.299 (1986), 27.159 (1985)
Exports
$23.0 billion (f.o.b., 1990 est.); commodities--light manufactures 66%, fishery products 12%, rice 8%, tapioca 8%, manufactured gas, corn, tin; partners--US 22%, Japan 17%, Singapore 7%, Netherlands, FRG, Hong Kong, UK, Malaysia, China (1989)
External debt
$26.9 billion (end 1990 est.)
Fiscal year
1 October-30 September
GNP
$79 billion, per capita $1,400; real growth rate 10% (1990 est.)
Illicit drugs
a minor producer, major illicit trafficker of heroin, particularly from Burma and Laos, and cannabis for the international drug market; eradication efforts have reduced the area of cannabis cultivation and shifted some production to neighboring countries; opium poppy cultivation has been affected by eradication efforts
Imports
$32.0 billion (c.i.f., 1990 est.); commodities--machinery and parts 23%, petroleum products 13%, chemicals 11%, iron and steel, electrical appliances; partners--Japan 30%, US 11%, Singapore 8%, FRG 5%, Taiwan, South Korea, China, Malaysia, UK (1989)
Industrial production
growth rate 14% (1990 est.); accounts for almost 27% of GDP
Industries
tourism is the largest source of foreign exchange; textiles and garments, agricultural processing, beverages, tobacco, cement, other light manufacturing, such as jewelry; electric appliances and components, integrated circuits, furniture, plastics; world's second-largest tungsten producer and third-largest tin producer
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
8% (1990 est.)
Overview
Thailand, one of the more advanced developing countries in Asia, enjoyed a year of 9% growth in 1990, although down from the double-digit rates of 1987-89. The increasingly sophisticated manufacturing sector benefited from export-oriented investment, but the agricultural sector contracted 2%, primarily because of weaker demand in Thailand's major overseas markets for commodities such as rice. The trade deficit almost doubled in 1990, to $9 billion, but earnings from tourism ($4.7 billion), remittances, and net capital inflows helped keep the balance of payments in surplus. The government has followed fairly sound fiscal and monetary policies, aided by increased tax receipts from the fast-moving economy. In 1990 the government approved new projects--especially for telecommunications and roads--needed to refurbish the country's now overtaxed infrastructure. Although growth in 1991 will slow further, Thailand's economic outlook remains good, assuming the continuation of prudent government policies in the wake of the 23 February 1991 military coup.
Unemployment rate
4.9% (1990 est.)
Communications
Airports
127 total, 103 usable; 56 with permanent-surface runways; 1 with runways over 3,659 m; 12 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 28 with runways 1,220-2,439 m
Civil air
41 (plus 2 leased) major transport aircraft
Highways
44,534 km total; 28,016 km paved, 5,132 km earth surface, 11,386 km under development
Inland 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
Merchant marine
136 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 521,565 GRT/791,570 DWT; includes 2 short-sea passenger, 79 cargo, 9 container, 29 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker, 9 liquefied gas, 1 chemical tanker, 3 bulk, 3 refrigerated cargo, 1 combination bulk
Pipelines
natural gas, 350 km; refined products, 67 km
Ports
Bangkok, Pattani, Phuket, Sattahip, Si Racha
Railroads
3,940 km 1.000-meter gauge, 99 km double track
Telecommunications
service to general public inadequate; bulk of service to government activities provided by multichannel cable and radio relay network; 739,500 telephones (1987); stations--over 200 AM, 100 FM, and 11 TV in government-controlled networks; satellite earth stations--1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT and 1 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT; domestic satellite system being developed
Military and Security
Branches
Royal Thai Army, Royal Thai Navy (including Royal Thai Marine Corps), Royal Thai Air Force, Paramilitary Forces
Defense expenditures
$2.4 billion, 3% of GNP (1990 est.) _%_
Manpower availability
males 15-49, 16,028,159; 9,778,003 fit for military service; 604,483 reach military age (18) annually