1995 Edition

Area

total area: 514,000 sq km land area: 511,770 sq km comparative area: 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

Environment

current issues: air pollution from vehicle emissions; water pollution from organic and factory wastes; deforestation; soil erosion; wildlife populations threatened by illegal hunting natural hazards: land subsidence in Bangkok area resulting from the depletion of the water table; droughts international agreements: party to - Climate Change, Endangered Species, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea

International disputes

boundary dispute with Laos; unresolved maritime boundary with Vietnam; parts of border with Thailand in dispute; maritime boundary with Thailand not clearly defined

Irrigated land

42,300 sq km (1989 est.)

Land boundaries

total 4,863 km, 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%

Location

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

Map references

Southeast Asia

Maritime claims

continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation 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; Khorat plateau in the east; mountains elsewhere

Age structure

0-14 years: 29% (female 8,545,362; male 8,866,271) 15-64 years: 66% (female 19,733,773; male 20,185,392) 65 years and over: 5% (female 1,636,426; male 1,304,076) (July 1995 est.)

Birth rate

18.87 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Death rate

6.48 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Ethnic divisions

Thai 75%, Chinese 14%, other 11%

Infant mortality rate

35.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)

Labor force

30.87 million by occupation: agriculture 62%, industry 13%, commerce 11%, services (including government) 14% (1989 est.)

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 68.42 years male: 64.94 years female: 72.08 years (1995 est.)

Literacy

age 15 and over can read and write (1990) total population: 93% male: 96% female: 91%

Nationality

noun: Thai (singular and plural) adjective: Thai

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Population

60,271,300 (July 1995 est.)

Population growth rate

1.24% (1995 est.)

Religions

Buddhism 95%, Muslim 3.8%, Christianity 0.5%, Hinduism 0.1%, other 0.6% (1991)

Total fertility rate

2.04 children born/woman (1995 est.)

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, 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

Bangkok

Constitution

new constitution approved 7 December 1991; amended 10 June 1992

Digraph

TH

Diplomatic representation in US

chief of mission: Ambassador MANATPHAT Chuto chancery: 1024 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007 telephone: [1] (202) 944-3600

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 CHUAN Likphai (since 23 September 1992) cabinet: Council of Ministers

FAX

[1] (202) 944-3611 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York

[66] (2) 254-2990 consulate(s) general: Chiang Mai consulate(s): Udorn (Udon Thani)

Flag

five horizontal bands of red (top), white, blue (double width), white, and red

House of Representatives (Saphaphoothan-Rajsadhorn)

elections last held 13 September 1992 (next to be held NA); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (360 total) DP 79, TNP 77, NDP 60, NAP 51, Phalang Tham 47, SAP 22, LDP 8, SP 8, Mass Party 4, Thai Citizen's Party 3, People's Party 1, People's Force Party 0

Independence

1238 (traditional founding date; never colonized)

Judicial branch

Supreme Court (Sarndika)

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)

Member of

APEC, AsDB, ASEAN, CCC, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, NAM, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO

Names

conventional long form: Kingdom of Thailand conventional short form: Thailand

National holiday

Birthday of His Majesty the King, 5 December (1927)

Political parties and leaders

Democrat Party (DP), CHUAN Likphai; Thai Nation Party (TNP or Chat Thai Party), Banhan SINLAPA-ACHA; National Development Party (NDP or Chat Phattana), Chatchai CHUNHAWAN; New Aspiration Party (NAP), Gen. Chawalit YONGCHAIYUT; Phalang Tham (Palang Dharma), CHAMLONG Simuang; Social Action Party (SAP), Montri PHONGPHANIT; Liberal Democratic Party (LDP or Seri Tham), Athit URAIRAT; Solidarity Party (SP), Uthai PHIMCHAICHON; Mass Party (Muanchon), Pol. Cpt. Choem YUBAMRUNG; Thai Citizen's Party (Prachakon Thai), Samak SUNTHONWET; People's Party (Ratsadon), Chaiphak SIRIWAT; People's Force Party (Phalang Prachachon), Col. Sophon HANCHAREON

Privy Council

NA

Senate (Vuthisatha)

consists of a 270-member appointed body

Suffrage

21 years of age; universal

Type

constitutional monarchy

US diplomatic representation

chief of mission: Ambassador David F. LAMBERTSON embassy: 95 Wireless Road, Bangkok mailing address: APO AP 96546 telephone: [66] (2) 252-5040

Agriculture

accounts for 11% of GDP 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

Budget

revenues: $28.4 billion expenditures: $28.4 billion, including capital expenditures of $9.6 billion (FY94/95 est.)

Currency

1 baht (B) = 100 satang

Economic aid

recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $870 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $8.6 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $19 million

Electricity

capacity: 12,810,000 kW production: 56.8 billion kWh consumption per capita: 909 kWh (1993)

Exchange rates

baht (B) per US$1 - 25.074 (January 1995), 25.150 (1994), 25.319 (1993), 25.400 (1992), 25.517 (1991), 25.585 (1990)

Exports

$46 billion (f.o.b., 1994 est.) commodities: machinery and manufactures 83%, agricultural products and fisheries 16%, others 1% (1994 est.) partners: US 22%, Japan 17%, Singapore 12%, Hong Kong 5%, Germany 4% (1993)

External debt

$64.3 billion (1994 est.)

Fiscal year

1 October - 30 September

Illicit drugs

a minor producer of opium and marijuana; major illicit transit point for heroin, particularly from Burma and Laos, 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 reduced by eradication efforts; also a major drug money laundering center; rapidly growing role in amphetamine production for regional consumption; increasing indigenous abuse of heroin and cocaine

Imports

$52.6 billion (c.i.f., 1994 est.) commodities: capital goods 44%, intermediate goods and raw materials 37%, consumer goods 16%, other 3% (1994 est.) partners: Japan 30%, US 12%, Singapore 6%, Germany 5%, Taiwan 5% (1993)

Industrial production

growth rate 11.5% (1993 est.); accounts for about 26% of GDP

Industries

tourism is the largest source of foreign exchange; 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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

5% (1994 est.)

National product

GDP - purchasing power parity - $355.2 billion (1994 est.)

National product per capita

$5,970 (1994 est.)

National product real growth rate

8% (1994 est.)

Overview

Thailand's economy recovered rapidly from the political unrest in May 1992 to post an impressive 7.5% growth rate for the year, 7.8% in 1993, and 8% in 1994. One of the more advanced developing countries in Asia, Thailand depends on exports of manufactures and the development of the service sector to fuel the country's rapid growth. Much of Thailand's recent imports have been for capital equipment, suggesting that the export sector is poised for further growth. With foreign investment slowing, Bangkok is working to increase the generation of domestic capital. Prime Minister CHUAN's government - Thailand's fifth government in less than three years - is pledged to continue Bangkok's probusiness policies, and the return of a democratically elected government has improved business confidence. Even so, CHUAN must overcome divisions within his ruling coalition to complete much needed infrastructure development programs if Thailand is to remain an attractive place for business investment. Over the longer-term, Bangkok must produce more college graduates with technical training and upgrade workers' skills to continue its rapid economic development.

Unemployment rate

3.2% (1993 est.)

Radio

broadcast stations: AM 200 (in government-controlled network), FM 100 (in government-controlled network), shortwave 0 radios: NA

Telephone system

739,500 telephones (1987); service to general public inadequate; bulk of service to government activities provided by multichannel cable and microwave radio relay network local: NA intercity: microwave radio relay and multichannel cable; domestic satellite system being developed international: 2 INTELSAT (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Pacific Ocean) earth stations

Television

broadcast stations: 11 (in government-controlled network) televisions: NA

Airports

total: 105 with paved runways over 3,047 m: 6 with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 9 with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 10 with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 23 with paved runways under 914 m: 42 with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 1 with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 14

Highways

total: 77,697 km paved: 35,855 km (including 88 km of expressways) unpaved: gravel, other stabilization 14,092 km; earth 27,750 km (1988)

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

total: 229 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,231,172 GRT/1,931,117 DWT ships by type: bulk 22, cargo 122, chemical tanker 3, combination bulk 1, container 15, liquefied gas tanker 9, oil tanker 45, passenger 1, refrigerated cargo 7, roll-on/roll-off cargo 2, short-sea passenger 1, specialized tanker 1

Pipelines

petroleum products 67 km; natural gas 350 km

Ports

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

Railroads

total: 3,940 km narrow gauge: 3,940 km 1.000-m gauge (99 km double track)

Branches

Royal Thai Army, Royal Thai Navy (includes Royal Thai Marine Corps), Royal Thai Air Force, Paramilitary Forces

Defense expenditures

exchange rate conversion - $4.0 billion, 2.5% of GNP (FY94/95) ________________________________________________________________________ TOGO

Manpower availability

males age 15-49 17,297,854; males fit for military service 10,489,564; males reach military age (18) annually 585,009 (1995 est.)