2000 Edition

Background

A unified Thai kingdom was established in the mid-14th century; it was 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 ally following the conflict.

Area

land

511,770 sq km

total

514,000 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

highest point

Doi Inthanon 2,576 m

lowest point

Gulf of Thailand 0 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

Climate Change, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Biodiversity, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Law of the Sea

Geographic coordinates

15 00 N, 100 00 E

Geography - note

controls only land route from Asia to Malaysia and Singapore

Irrigated land

44,000 sq km (1993 est.)

Land boundaries

border countries

Burma 1,800 km, Cambodia 803 km, Laos 1,754 km, Malaysia 506 km

total

4,863 km

Land use

arable land

34%

forests and woodland

26%

other

32% (1993 est.)

permanent crops

6%

permanent pastures

2%

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 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

Age structure

0-14 years: 24% (male 7,386,231; female 7,107,010) 15-64 years: 70% (male 21,102,363; female 21,714,411) 65 years and over: 6% (male 1,726,043; female 2,194,816) (2000 est.)

Birth rate

16.86 births/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Death rate

7.53 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Ethnic groups

Thai 75%, Chinese 14%, other 11%

Infant mortality rate

31.48 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

female

71.97 years (2000 est.)

male

65.29 years

total population

68.55 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

91.6% (1995 est.)

male

96%

total population

93.8%

Nationality

adjective

Thai

noun

Thai (singular and plural)

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Population

61,230,874

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 and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2000 est.)

Population growth rate

0.93% (2000 est.)

Religions

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

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: 0.79 male(s)/female

total population

0.97 male(s)/female (2000 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.88 children born/woman (2000 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 (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

Bangkok

Constitution

new constitution signed by King PHUMIPHON on 11 October 1997

Country name

conventional long form

Kingdom of Thailand

conventional short form

Thailand

Data code

TH

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Richard HECKLINGER

embassy

120 Wireless Road, Bangkok

mailing address

APO AP 96546

telephone

(2) 205-4000

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

1024 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007

chief of mission

Ambassador NIT Phibunsongkhram (due to leave March 2000)

telephone

(202) 944-3600

Executive branch

cabinet

Council of Ministers

chief of state

King PHUMIPHON Adunyadet (since 9 June 1946)

elections

none; the monarch is hereditary; prime minister designated from among the members of the House of Representatives; following a national election for the House of Representatives, the leader of the party that can organize a majority coalition usually becomes prime minister

head of government

Prime Minister CHUAN Likphai (since 15 November 1997)

note

there is also a Privy Council

FAX

(202) 944-3611

(2) 254-2990

consulate(s) general

Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York

consulate(s) general

Chiang Mai

Flag description

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

Government type

constitutional monarchy

Independence

1238 (traditional founding date; never colonized)

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, NAM, OAS (observer), OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNITAR, UNMIBH, UNTAET, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Judicial branch

Supreme Court (Sandika), judges appointed by the monarch

Legal system

based on civil law system, with influences of common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Legislative branch

bicameral National Assembly or Rathasapha consists of the Senate or Wuthisapha (a 253-member appointed body which will be phased into a 200-member elected body starting in March 2000; members serve six-year terms) and the House of Representatives or Sapha Phuthaen Ratsadon (currently has 392 members, but will become a 500-member body after the next election; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)

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, PDP 1

elections

House of Representatives - last held 17 November 1996 (next scheduled to be held by 17 November 2000, but may be held earlier)

National holiday

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

Political parties and leaders

Democratic Party or DP (Prachathipat Party) ; Liberal Democratic Party or LDP (Seri Tham) ; Mass Party or MP [CHALERM Yoobamrung, SOPHON Petchsavang]; National Development Party or NDP (Chat Phattana) [KON Thappharangsi]; New Aspiration Party or NAP (Khwamwang Mai) [Gen. CHAWALIT Yongchaiyut]; Phalang Dharma Party or PDP (Phalang Tham) ; Social Action Party or SAP (Kitsangkhom Party) ; Solidarity Party or SP (Ekkaphap Party) [CHAIYOT Sasomsap]; Thai Citizen's Party or TCP (Prachakon Thai) [SAMAK Sunthonwet]; Thai Nation Party or TNP (Chat Thai Party) [BANHAN Sinlapa-acha]; Thai Rak Thai Party or TRT

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

expenditures

$23 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1999 est.)

revenues

$20 billion

Currency

1 baht (B) = 100 satang

Debt - external

$80 billion (1999 est.)

Economic aid - recipient

$1.732 billion (1995)

Economy - overview

After enjoying the world's highest growth rate from 1985 to 1995 - averaging almost 9% annually - increased speculative pressure on Thailand's currency in 1997 led to a crisis that uncovered financial sector weaknesses and forced the government to float the baht. Long pegged at 25 to the dollar, the baht reached its lowest point of 56 to the dollar in January 1998 and the economy contracted by nearly 10% that same year. Thailand entered a recovery stage in 1999; preliminary estimates are that the economy expanded by about 4% - most forecasters expect similar growth in 2000. Beginning in 1999 the baht stabilized and inflation and interest rates began coming down. The CHUAN government has cooperated closely with the IMF and adhered to its mandated recovery program, including passage of new bankruptcy and foreclosure laws. The regional recovery boosted exports, while fiscal stimulus buoyed domestic demand. While slow progress has been made in recapitalizing the financial sector, tough measures - such as implementing a privatization plan and forcing the private sector to restructure - remain undone.

Electricity - consumption

80.293 billion kWh (1999)

Electricity - exports

138 million kWh (1998)

Electricity - imports

700 million kWh (1998)

Electricity - production

85 billion kWh (1999)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

91.44%

hydro

8.56%

nuclear

0%

other

0% (1998)

Exchange rates

baht (B) per US$1 - 37.349 (January 2000), 37.844 (1999), 41.359 (1998), 31.364 (1997), 25.343 (1996), 24.915 (1995)

Exports

$58.5 billion (f.o.b., 1999 est.)

Exports - commodities

computers and parts, textiles, rice

Exports - partners

US 22.3%, Japan 13.7%, Singapore 8.6%, Hong Kong 5.1%, Netherlands 4.0%, UK 3.9%, Malaysia 3.3%, China 3.2%, Taiwan 3.2%, Germany 2.9% (1998)

Fiscal year

1 October - 30 September

GDP

purchasing power parity - $388.7 billion (1999 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

12%

industry

39%

services

49% (1997 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $6,400 (1999 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

4% (1999 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 2.5% highest 10%: 37.1% (1992)

Imports

$45 billion (f.o.b., 1999 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

Japan 23.6%, US 14.0%, Singapore 5.5%, Malaysia 5.1%, Taiwan 5.2%, Germany 4.2%, China 4.2%, South Korea 3.5%, Oman 2.6%, Indonesia 2.1% (1998)

Industrial production growth rate

12.6% (1999 est.)

Industries

tourism; textiles and garments, agricultural processing, beverages, tobacco, cement, light manufacturing, such as jewelry; electric appliances and components, computers and parts, integrated circuits, furniture, plastics; world's second-largest tungsten producer and third-largest tin producer

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

2.4% (1999 est.)

Labor force

32.6 million (1997 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture 54%, industry 15%, services 31% (1996 est.)

Population below poverty line

12.5% (1998 est.)

Unemployment rate

4.5% (1998 est.)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

13 (1999)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 204, FM 334, shortwave 6 (1999)

Radios

13.96 million (1997)

Telephone system

service to general public adequate, but investment in technological upgrades reduced by recession; 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)

Telephones - main lines in use

5.4 million (1998)

Telephones - mobile cellular

2.3 million (1998)

Television broadcast stations

5 (all in Bangkok; plus 131 repeaters) (1997)

Televisions

15.19 million (1997)

Airports

106 (1999 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

total

56 over 3,047 m: 6 2,438 to 3,047 m: 11 1,524 to 2,437 m: 17 914 to 1,523 m: 18 under 914 m: 4 (1999 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

50 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 16 under 914 m: 33 (1999 est.)

Heliports

3 (1999 est.)

Highways

paved

62,985 km

total

64,600 km

unpaved

1,615 km (1996 est.)

Merchant marine

ships by type

bulk 39, cargo 135, chemical tanker 3, combination bulk 1, container 13, liquified gas 19, multi-functional large load carrier 3, passenger 1, petroleum tanker 63, refrigerated cargo 13, roll-on/roll-off 2, short-sea passenger 2, specialized tanker 5 (1999 est.)

total

299 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,834,809 GRT/2,949,558 DWT

Pipelines

petroleum products 67 km; natural gas 350 km

Ports and harbors

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

Railways

narrow gauge

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

total

3,940 km

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

Military branches

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

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$2.075 billion (FY97/98)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

1.3% (FY97/98)

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49: 17,621,080 (2000 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49: 10,603,857 (2000 est.)

Military manpower - military age

18 years of age

Military manpower - reaching military age annually

males

580,014 (2000 est.)

Disputes - international

parts of the border with Laos are indefinite; maritime boundary with Vietnam resolved, August 1997; parts of border with Cambodia are indefinite; maritime boundary with Cambodia not clearly defined; sporadic conflict with Burma over alignment of border

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; minor role in amphetamine production for regional consumption; increasing indigenous abuse of methamphetamines and heroin

TOGO