2015 Edition

Background

A unified Thai kingdom was established in the mid-14th century. Known as Siam until 1939, Thailand is the only Southeast Asian country never to have been colonized by a European power. A bloodless revolution in 1932 led to the establishment of a constitutional monarchy. In alliance with Japan during World War II, Thailand became a US treaty ally in 1954 after sending troops to Korea and later fighting alongside the US in Vietnam. Thailand since 2005 has experienced several rounds of political turmoil including a military coup in 2006 that ousted then Prime Minister THAKSIN Chinnawat, followed by large-scale street protests by competing political factions in 2008, 2009, and 2010. THAKSIN's youngest sister, YINGLAK Chinnawat, in 2011 led the Puea Thai Party to an electoral win and assumed control of the government. A blanket amnesty bill for individuals involved in street protests, altered at the last minute to include all political crimes - including all convictions against THAKSIN - triggered months of large-scale anti-government protests in Bangkok beginning in November 2013. In early May 2014 YINGLAK was removed from office by the Constitutional Court and in late May 2014 the Royal Thai Army staged a coup against the caretaker government. The head of the Royal Thai Army, Gen. PRAYUT Chan-ocha, was appointed prime minister in August 2014. The interim military government created several interim institutions to promote reform and draft a new constitution. Elections are tentatively set for early 2016. Thailand has also experienced violence associated with the ethno-nationalist insurgency in its southern Malay-Muslim majority provinces. Since January 2004, thousands have been killed and wounded in the insurgency.

Area

land

510,890 sq km

total

513,120 sq km

water

2,230 sq km

Area - comparative

about three times the size of Florida; 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

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified

Law of the Sea

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

per capita

845.3 cu m/yr (2007)

total

57.31 cu km/yr (5%/5%/90%)

Geographic coordinates

15 00 N, 100 00 E

Geography - note

controls only land route from Asia to Malaysia and Singapore

Irrigated land

64,150 sq km (2007)

Land boundaries

border countries (4)

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

total

5,673 km

Land use

arable land 30.8%; permanent crops 8.8%; permanent pasture 1.6%

agricultural land

41.2%

forest

37.2%

other

21.6% (2011 est.)

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

Total renewable water resources

438.6 cu km (2011)

Age structure

0-14 years

17.41% (male 6,062,868/female 5,774,631)

15-24 years

14.78% (male 5,119,387/female 4,927,250)

25-54 years

46.69% (male 15,675,425/female 16,061,864)

55-64 years

11.26% (male 3,600,695/female 4,053,977)

65 years and over

9.86% (male 2,935,703/female 3,764,605) (2015 est.)

Birth rate

11.19 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Child labor - children ages 5-14

percentage

8% (2006 est.)

total number

818,399

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

9.2% (2012)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

79.3% (2012)

Death rate

7.8 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

14.6%

potential support ratio

6.9% (2015 est.)

total dependency ratio

39.2%

youth dependency ratio

24.7%

Drinking water source

urban: 97.6% of population

rural: 98% of population

total: 97.8% of population

urban: 2.4% of population

rural: 2% of population

total: 2.2% of population (2015 est.)

Education expenditures

7.6% of GDP (2012)

Ethnic groups

Thai 95.9%, Burmese 2%, other 1.3%, unspecified 0.9% (2010 est.)

Health expenditures

4.6% of GDP (2013)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

1.13% (2014 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

19,400 (2014 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

445,600 (2014 est.)

Hospital bed density

2.1 beds/1,000 population (2010)

Infant mortality rate

female

8.62 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.)

male

10.59 deaths/1,000 live births

total

9.63 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

Thai (official) 90.7%, Burmese 1.3%, other 8%

note

English is a secondary language of the elite (2010 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

female

77.78 years (2015 est.)

male

71.24 years

total population

74.43 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

96.7% (2015 est.)

male

96.6%

total population

96.7%

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk

very high

food or waterborne diseases

bacterial diarrhea

note

highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified in this country; it poses a negligible risk with extremely rare cases possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds (2013)

vectorborne diseases

dengue fever, Japanese encephalitis, and malaria

Major urban areas - population

BANGKOK (capital) 9.27 million; Samut Prakan 1.814 million (2015)

Median age

female

37.7 years (2015 est.)

male

35.7 years

total

36.7 years

Nationality

adjective

Thai

noun

Thai (singular and plural)

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

9.2% (2014)

Physicians density

0.39 physicians/1,000 population (2010)

Population

67,976,405

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, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2015 est.)

Population growth rate

0.34% (2015 est.)

Religions

Buddhist (official) 93.6%, Muslim 4.9%, Christian 1.2%, other 0.2%, none 0.1% (2010 est.)

Sanitation facility access

urban: 89.9% of population

rural: 96.1% of population

total: 93% of population

urban: 10.1% of population

rural: 3.9% of population

total: 7% of population (2015 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

14 years (2012)

male

13 years

total

13 years

Sex ratio

0-14 years

1.05 male(s)/female

15-24 years

1.04 male(s)/female

25-54 years

0.98 male(s)/female

55-64 years

0.89 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.78 male(s)/female

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

0.97 male(s)/female (2015 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.51 children born/woman (2015 est.)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

female

3.1% (2012 est.)

male

2.5%

total

2.8%

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

2.97% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

urban population

50.4% of total population (2015)

Administrative divisions

76 provinces (changwat, singular and plural) and 1 municipality* (maha nakhon); Amnat Charoen, Ang Thong, Bueng Kan, Buriram, 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, 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

geographic coordinates

13 45 N, 100 31 E

name

Bangkok

time difference

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

Constitution

many previous; interim constitution released 22 July 2014 (2015)

Country name

conventional long form

Kingdom of Thailand

conventional short form

Thailand

former

Siam

local long form

Ratcha Anachak Thai

local short form

Prathet Thai

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires W. Patrick MURPHY (November 2014)

consulate(s) general

Chiang Mai

embassy

120-122 Wireless Road, Bangkok 10330

FAX

[66] (2) 254-2990, 205-4131

mailing address

APO AP 96546

telephone

[66] (2) 205-4000

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

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

chief of mission

Ambassador PHISAN Manawaphat (since 23 February 2015)

consulate(s) general

Chicago, Los Angeles, New York

FAX

[1] (202) 944-3611

telephone

[1] (202) 944-3600

Executive branch

cabinet

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

chief of state

King PHUMIPHON Adunyadet, also spelled BHUMIBOL Adulyadej (since 9 June 1946)

elections/appointments

the monarchy is hereditary; prime minister appointed by the monarch with a resolution of the National Legislative Assembly (as stated in the 2014 interim constitution)

head of government

Interim Prime Minister Gen. PRAYUT Chan-ocha (since 25 August 2014) Deputy Prime Ministers PRAWIT Wongsuwan, Gen., PRIDIYATHON Thewakun, YONGYUT Yutthawong, THANASAK Patimaprakon, Gen., WISSANU Kruea-ngam (since 31 August 2014)

note

Prime Minister YINGLAK Chinnawat, also spelled YINGLUCK Shinawatra, was removed from office on 7 May 2014 after the Constitutional Court ruled she illegally transferred a government official; Thai army declared martial law on 20 May 2014 followed by a coup on 22 May 2014

Flag description

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; blue stands for the monarchy

note

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

Government type

constitutional monarchy

Independence

1238 (traditional founding date; never colonized)

International law organization participation

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

International organization participation

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

Judicial branch

highest court(s)

Supreme Court of Justice (consists of court president, 6 vice-presidents, and NA judges, and organized into civil and criminal divisions); Constitutional Court (consists of 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; judges' terms NA; 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 to serve single 9-year terms; Supreme Administrative Court judges selected by the Judicial Commission of the Administrative Courts and appointed by the monarch; judge tenure NA

subordinate courts

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

Legal system

civil law system with common law influences

Legislative branch

description

in transition; following the May 2014 military coup, a National Legislative Assembly or Sapha Nitibanyat of no more than 220 members replaced the bicameral National Assembly; elections for a permanent legislative body are currently unscheduled and may not occur until February 2017

election results

Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA

elections

Senate - last held on 30 March 2014; House of Representatives - last held on 2 February 2014, but later declared invalid by the Constitutional Court

National anthem

lyrics/music

Luang SARANUPRAPAN/Phra JENDURIYANG

name

"Phleng Chat Thai" (National Anthem of Thailand)

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 Sansasoen 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

National holiday

Birthday of King PHUMIPHON (BHUMIBOL), 5 December (1927)

National symbol(s)

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

Political parties and leaders

Chat Pattana Party or CPN (Nation Development Party) [WANNARAT Channukul]

Chat Thai Phattana Party or CTP (Thai Nation Development Party) [THEERA Wongsamut]

Mahachon Party or Mass Party [APHIRAT Sirinawin]

Matubhum Party (Motherland Party) [Gen. SONTHI Bunyaratkalin]

Phalang Chon Party (People Chonburi Power Party) [SONTHAYA Khunpluem]

Phumjai (Bhumjai) Thai Party or PJT (Thai Pride) [ANUTIN Charnvirakul]

Prachathipat Party or DP (Democrat Party) [ABHISIT Wechachiwa, also spelled ABHISIT Vejjajiva]

Prachathipathai Mai Party (New Democracy Party) [SURATIN Phijarn]

Puea Thai Party (For Thais Party) or PTP [acting leader VIROJ Paoin]

Rak Prathet Thai Party (Love Thailand Party) [CHUWIT Kamonwisit]

Rak Santi Party (Peace Conservation Party) [Pol. Lt. Gen. THAWIL Surachetphong]

Political pressure groups and leaders

Multicolor Group

People's Alliance for Democracy or PAD

People's Democratic Reform Committee or PDRC

Student and People Network for Thailand's Reform or STR

United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship or UDD

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Agriculture - products

rice, cassava (manioc, tapioca), rubber, corn, sugarcane, coconuts, palm oil, pineapple, livestock, fish products

Budget

expenditures

$84.75 billion (2014 est.)

revenues

$76.43 billion

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-2.2% of GDP (2014 est.)

Central bank discount rate

2% (31 December 2014)

2.25% (31 December 2013)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

7% (31 December 2014 est.)

6.94% (31 December 2014 est.)

Current account balance

$13.13 billion (2014 est.)

-$3.881 billion (2013 est.)

Debt - external

$140.7 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$141.9 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

48.4 (2011)

49 (2009)

Economy - overview

With a well-developed infrastructure, a free-enterprise economy, and generally pro-investment policies Thailand has historically had a strong economy due in part to competitive industrial and agriculture exports - mostly electronics, agricultural commodities, automobiles and parts, and processed foods. The economy experienced slow growth and declining exports in 2014, in part due to domestic political turmoil and sluggish global demand. With full employment, Thailand attracts an estimated 2-4 million migrant workers from neighboring countries, and faces labor shortages. Following the May 2014 coup d’?tat, tourism decreased 6-7% but is beginning to recover. The household debt to GDP ratio is over 80%. The Thai government in 2013 implemented a nation-wide 300 baht ($10) per day minimum wage policy and deployed new tax reforms designed to lower rates on middle-income earners. The Thai baht has remained stable.

Exchange rates

baht per US dollar -

32.484 (2014 est.)

30.732 (2013 est.)

31.08 (2012 est.)

30.492 (2011 est.)

31.686 (2010 est.)

Exports

$224.8 billion (2014 est.)

$225.4 billion (2013 est.)

Exports - commodities

automobiles and parts, computer and parts, jewelry and precious stones, polymers of ethylene in primary forms, refine fuels, electronic integrated circuits, chemical products, rice, fish products, rubber products, sugar, cassava, poultry, machinery and parts, iron and steel and their products

Exports - partners

China 11%, US 10.5%, Japan 9.6%, Malaysia 5.6%, Hong Kong 5.5%, Singapore 4.6%, Indonesia 4.2%, Australia 4.1% (2014)

Fiscal year

1 October - 30 September

GDP - composition, by end use

(2014 est.)

exports of goods and services

75%

government consumption

14.2%

household consumption

54.7%

imports of goods and services

-69.5%

investment in fixed capital

25.9%

investment in inventories

-0.3%

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

11.6%

industry

32.6%

services

55.8% (2014 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$14,400 (2014 est.)

$14,300 (2013 est.)

$13,900 (2012 est.)

note

data are in 2014 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

0.7% (2014 est.)

2.9% (2013 est.)

6.5% (2012 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$373.8 billion (2014 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$985.5 billion (2014 est.)

$978.6 billion (2013 est.)

$951.1 billion (2012 est.)

note

data are in 2014 US dollars

Gross national saving

29.4% of GDP (2014 est.)

28.6% of GDP (2013 est.)

29.3% of GDP (2012 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

31.5% (2009 est.)

lowest 10%

2.8%

Imports

$200.2 billion (2014 est.)

$218.7 billion (2013 est.)

Imports - commodities

machinery and parts, crude oil, electrical machinery and parts, chemicals, iron & steel and product, electronic integrated circuit, automobile’s parts, jewelry including silver bars and gold, computers and parts, electrical household appliances, soybean, soybean meal, wheat, cotton, dairy products

Imports - partners

China 16.9%, Japan 15.6%, US 6.4%, Malaysia 5.6%, UAE 5.6% (2014)

Industrial production growth rate

-1.1% (2014 est.)

Industries

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, casava, world's second-largest tungsten producer and third-largest tin producer

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

1.9% (2014 est.)

2.2% (2013 est.)

Labor force

38.26 million (2014 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

32.2%

industry

16.7%

services

51.1% (2014 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$313.8 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$383.2 billion (31 December 2013)

$245 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

Population below poverty line

12.6% (2012 est.)

Public debt

48.6% of GDP (2014 est.)

45.8% of GDP (2013 est.)

note

data cover general government debt, and includes debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data include debt issued by subnational entities, as well as intra-governmental debt; intra-governmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as for retirement, medical care, and unemployment; debt instruments for the social funds are sold at public auctions

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$157.1 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$167.3 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of broad money

$517.4 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$524.8 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$73.78 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$66.94 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$207.3 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$186.4 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$515.2 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$484.2 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$51.76 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$52.35 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

20.5% of GDP (2014 est.)

Unemployment rate

0.8% (2014 est.)

0.7% (2013 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

290.7 million Mt (2012 est.)

Crude oil - exports

32,200 bbl/day (2011 est.)

Crude oil - imports

793,900 bbl/day (2011 est.)

Crude oil - production

453,800 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves

448.8 million bbl (1 January 2014 est.)

Electricity - consumption

169.4 billion kWh (2012 est.)

Electricity - exports

1.375 billion kWh (2013 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels

89% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

10.9% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources

0.2% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

Electricity - imports

12.57 billion kWh (2013 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity

32.6 million kW (2012 est.)

Electricity - production

173.3 billion kWh (2012 est.)

Natural gas - consumption

50.86 billion cu m (2012 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2012 est.)

Natural gas - imports

9.574 billion cu m (2012 est.)

Natural gas - production

41.29 billion cu m (2012 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

255.9 billion cu m (1 January 2014 est.)

Refined petroleum products - consumption

1.005 million bbl/day (2013 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

192,400 bbl/day (2011 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

41,700 bbl/day (2011 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

913,600 bbl/day (2011 est.)

Broadcast media

6 terrestrial TV stations in Bangkok broadcast nationally via relay stations - 2 of the networks 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 (2008)

Internet country code

.th

Internet users

percent of population

28.8% (2014 est.)

total

19.5 million

Radio broadcast stations

AM 238, FM 351, shortwave 6 (2007)

Telephone system

domestic

fixed-line system provided by both a government-owned and commercial provider; wireless service expanding rapidly

general assessment

high quality system, especially in urban areas like Bangkok

international

country code - 66; connected to major submarine cable systems providing links throughout Asia, Australia, Middle East, Europe, and US; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean, 1 Pacific Ocean) (2011)

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

8 (2014 est.)

total subscriptions

5.69 million

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

143 (2014 est.)

total

97.1 million

Television broadcast stations

111 (2006)

Airports

101 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways

1,524 to 2,437 m

23

2,438 to 3,047 m

12

914 to 1,523 m

14

over 3,047 m

8

total

63

under 914 m

6 (2013)

Airports - with unpaved runways

26 (2013)

1,524 to 2,437 m

1

2,438 to 3,047 m

1

914 to 1,523 m

10

total

38

Heliports

7 (2013)

Merchant marine

by type

bulk carrier 31, cargo 99, chemical tanker 28, container 18, liquefied gas 36, passenger 1, passenger/cargo 10, petroleum tanker 114, refrigerated cargo 24, roll on/roll off 1, vehicle carrier 1

foreign-owned

13 (China 1, Hong Kong 1, Malaysia 3, Singapore 1, Taiwan 1, UK 6)

registered in other countries

46 (Bahamas 4, Belize 1, Honduras 2, Panama 6, Singapore 33) (2010)

total

363

Pipelines

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

Ports and terminals

container port(s) TEUs)

Bangkok (1,305,229), Laem Chabang (5,731,063)

LNG terminal(s) (import)

Map Ta Phut

major seaport(s)

Bangkok, Laem Chabang, Map Ta Phut, Prachuap Port, Si Racha

Railways

narrow gauge

4,042 km 1.000-m gauge (2014)

standard gauge

28.8 km 1.435-m gauge (28.8 km electrified)

total

4,070.8 km

Roadways

total

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

Waterways

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

Manpower available for military service

females age 16-49

17,754,795 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

17,689,921

Manpower fit for military service

females age 16-49

14,182,567 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

13,308,372

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

female

509,780 (2010 est.)

male

533,424

Military branches

Royal Thai Army (Kongthap Bok Thai, RTA), Royal Thai Navy (Kongthap Ruea Thai, RTN, includes Royal Thai Marine Corps), Royal Thai Air Force (Kongthap Agard Thai, RTAF) (2013)

Military expenditures

1.5% of GDP (2013)

1.47% of GDP (2012)

1.6% of GDP (2011)

1.47% of GDP (2010)

Military service age and obligation

21 years of age for compulsory military service; 18 years of age for voluntary military service; males register at 18 years of age; 2-year conscript service obligation (2012)

Disputes - international

separatist violence in Thailand's predominantly Malay-Muslim southern provinces prompt border closures and controls with Malaysia to stem insurgent activities; Southeast Asian states have enhanced border surveillance to check the spread of avian flu; talks continue on completion of demarcation with Laos but disputes remain over several islands in the Mekong River; despite continuing border committee talks, Thailand must deal with Karen and other ethnic rebels, refugees, and illegal cross-border activities; Cambodia and Thailand dispute sections of boundary; in 2011 Thailand and Cambodia resorted to arms in the dispute over the location of the boundary on the precipice surmounted by Preah Vihear temple ruins, awarded to Cambodia by ICJ decision in 1962 and part of a planned UN World Heritage site; Thailand is studying the feasibility of jointly constructing the Hatgyi Dam on the Salween river near the border with Burma; in 2004, international environmentalist pressure prompted China to halt construction of 13 dams on the Salween River that flows through China, Burma, and Thailand; 140,000 mostly Karen refugees fleeing civil strife, political upheaval and economic stagnation in Burma live in remote camps in Thailand near the border

Illicit drugs

a minor producer of opium, heroin, and marijuana; transit point for illicit 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 methamphetamine production for regional consumption; major consumer of methamphetamine since the 1990s despite a series of government crackdowns

Refugees and internally displaced persons

IDPs

up to 35,000 (resurgence in ethno-nationalist violence in south of country since 2004) (2015)

refugees (country of origin)

128,863 (Burma) (2014)

stateless persons

506,197 (2014); 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

Trafficking in persons

current situation

Thailand is a source, transit, and destination country for men, women, and children subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking; victims, who are most often from neighboring countries (especially Burma) but also China, Vietnam, Russia, Uzbekistan, India, and Fiji, migrate to Thailand in search of economic opportunities but are forced, coerced, or defrauded into labor in fishing, low-end garment production, factories, domestic work, street begging, or the sex trade; men from Burma, Cambodia, and Thailand who are forced to work on fishing boats have reportedly been kept at sea for years; migrants, members of ethnic minorities, and stateless persons are most vulnerable to forced labor and debt bondage; sex trafficking of Thai and migrant children and sex tourism remain significant problems; Thailand is a transit country for victims from North Korea, China, Vietnam, Pakistan, and Burma destined for exploitation in third countries, including Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Russia, South Korea, the US, and Western European countries

tier rating

Tier 2 Watch List – Thailand does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so; anti-trafficking efforts remain insufficient compared with the size of Thailand’s human trafficking problem, which is compounded by widespread corruption among law enforcement personnel; few efforts were made in 2013 to address frequent reports of forced labor and debt bondage among migrants in Thailand’s fishing and other commercial sectors; authorities systematically failed to investigate, prosecute, and convict owners, captains, or complicit officials for involvement in forced labor; government labor inspections did not result in the identification of any suspected cases of labor trafficking (2014)