2018 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. After the Japanese invaded Thailand in 1941, the government split into a pro-Japan faction and a pro-Ally faction backed by the King. Following the war, 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. In early May 2014, after months of large-scale anti-government protests in Bangkok beginning in November 2013, YINGLAK was removed from office by the Constitutional Court and in late May 2014 the Royal Thai Army, led by Royal Thai Army Gen. PRAYUT Chan-ocha, staged a coup against the caretaker government. PRAYUT was appointed prime minister in August 2014. PRAYUT also serves as the head of the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), a military-affiliated body that oversees the interim government. This body created several interim institutions to promote reform and draft a new constitution, which was passed in a national referendum in August 2016. In late 2017, PRAYUT announced elections would be held by November 2018; he has subsequently suggested they might occur in February 2019. As of mid-December 2018, a previoulsy held ban on campaigning and political activity has been lifted and per parliamentary laws, an election must be held within 150 days. King PHUMIPHON Adunyadet passed away in October 2016 after 70 years on the throne; his only son, WACHIRALONGKON Bodinthrathepphayawarangkun, ascended the throne in December 2016. He signed the new constitution in April 2017. 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

elevation extremes

0 m lowest point: Gulf of Thailand

mean elevation

287 m

note

2565 highest point: Doi Inthanon

Environment Current Issues

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

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

Geographic Coordinates

15 00 N, 100 00 E

Geography Note

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

Irrigated Land

64,150 sq km (2012)

Land Boundaries

border countries (4)

Burma 2416 km, Cambodia 817 km, Laos 1845 km, Malaysia 595 km

total

5,673 km

Land Use

arable land: 30.8% (2011 est.) / permanent crops: 8.8% (2011 est.) / permanent pasture: 1.6% (2011 est.)

agricultural land

41.2% (2011 est.)

forest

37.2% (2011 est.)

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

Population Distribution

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

Terrain

central plain; Khorat Plateau in the east; mountains elsewhere

Age Structure

0-14 years

16.73% (male 5,880,026 /female 5,598,611)

15-24 years

13.83% (male 4,840,303 /female 4,649,589)

25-54 years

46.12% (male 15,670,881 /female 15,972,254)

55-64 years

12.35% (male 3,970,979 /female 4,503,647)

65 years and over

10.97% (male 3,289,576 /female 4,239,992) (2018 est.)

Birth Rate

11 births/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Children Under The Age Of 5 Years Underweight

6.7% (2016)

Contraceptive Prevalence Rate

78.4% (2015/16)

Death Rate

8.1 deaths/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Dependency Ratios

elderly dependency ratio

14.8 (2015 est.)

potential support ratio

6.8 (2015 est.)

total dependency ratio

40 (2015 est.)

youth dependency ratio

25.2 (2015 est.)

Drinking Water Source

improved: urban: 97.6% of population

rural: 98% of population

total: 97.8% of population

unimproved: urban: 2.4% of population

rural: 2% of population

total: 2.2% of population (2015 est.)

Education Expenditures

4.1% of GDP (2013)

Ethnic Groups

Thai 97.5%, Burmese 1.3%, other 1.1%, unspecified <.1% (2015 est.)

note

data represent population by nationality

Health Expenditures

6.5% of GDP (2014)

Hiv Aids Adult Prevalence Rate

1.1% (2017 est.)

Hiv Aids Deaths

15,000 (2017 est.)

Hiv Aids People Living With Hiv Aids

440,000 (2017 est.)

Hospital Bed Density

2.1 beds/1,000 population (2010)

Infant Mortality Rate

female

8 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)

male

9.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)

total

9 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)

Languages

Thai (official) only 90.7%, Thai and other languages 6.4%, only other languages (includes Malay, Burmese) (2010 est.)

note

data represent population by language(s) spoken at home; English is a secondary language of the elite

Life Expectancy At Birth

female

78.5 years (2018 est.)

male

71.9 years (2018 est.)

total population

75.1 years (2018 est.)

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write (2015 est.)

female

91.2% (2015 est.)

male

94.7% (2015 est.)

total population

92.9% (2015 est.)

Major Infectious Diseases

degree of risk

very high (2016)

food or waterborne diseases

bacterial diarrhea (2016)

vectorborne diseases

dengue fever, Japanese encephalitis, and malaria (2016)

Major Urban Areas Population

10.156 million BANGKOK (capital), 1.272 million Samut Prakan, 1.135 million Chiang Mai, 940,000 Songkla, 937,000 Nothaburi, 889,000 Pathum Thani (2018)

Maternal Mortality Rate

20 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)

Median Age

female

39.2 years (2018 est.)

male

37 years

total

38.1 years

Mother S Mean Age At First Birth

23.3 years (2009 est.)

Nationality

adjective

Thai

noun

Thai (singular and plural)

Net Migration Rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.)

Obesity Adult Prevalence Rate

10% (2016)

Physicians Density

0.47 physicians/1,000 population (2015)

Population

68,615,858 (July 2018 est.)

Population Growth Rate

0.29% (2018 est.)

Religions

Buddhist 94.6%, Muslim 4.3%, Christian 1%, other (2015 est.)

Sanitation Facility Access

improved: urban: 89.9% of population (2015 est.)

rural: 96.1% of population (2015 est.)

total: 93% of population (2015 est.)

unimproved: urban: 10.1% of population (2015 est.)

rural: 3.9% of population (2015 est.)

total: 7% of population (2015 est.)

School Life Expectancy Primary To Tertiary Education

female

16 years (2015)

male

16 years (2015)

total

16 years (2015)

Sex Ratio

0-14 years

1.05 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

15-24 years

1.04 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

25-54 years

0.98 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

55-64 years

0.89 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

65 years and over

0.78 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

total population

0.97 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

Total Fertility Rate

1.52 children born/woman (2018 est.)

Unemployment Youth Ages 15 24

female

4.7% (2016 est.)

male

3% (2016 est.)

total

3.7% (2016 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

1.73% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

urban population

49.9% of total population (2018)

Administrative Divisions

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

Capital

geographic coordinates

13 45 N, 100 31 E

name

Bangkok

time difference

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

Citizenship

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

Constitution

amendments

proposed as a joint resolution by the Council of Ministers and the National Council for Peace and Order (the junta that has ruled Thailand since the 2014 coup) and submitted as a draft to the National Legislative Assembly; passage requires majority vote of the existing Assembly members and presentation to the monarch for assent and countersignature by the prime minister (2017)

history

many previous; latest completed 29 March 2016, approved by referendum 7 August 2016, signed into law by the king 6 April 2017 (2017)

Country Name

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

Diplomatic Representation From The Us

chief of mission

Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Peter HAMMOND (since October 2018)

consulate(s) general

Chiang Mai

embassy

95 Wireless Road, Bangkok 10330

FAX

[66] 2-205-4306

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 Wirachai PLASAI (since 22 June 2018)

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 WACHIRALONGKON Bodinthrathepphayawarangkun, also spelled Vajiralongkorn Bodindradebayavarangkun, (since 1 December 2016); note - King PHUMIPHON Adunyadet, also spelled BHUMIBOL Adulyadej (since 9 June 1946) died 13 October 2016

elections/appointments

the monarchy is hereditary; the House of Representatives and Senate approves a person for Prime Minister who must then be appointed by the King (as stated in the transitory provision of the 2017 constitution); the office of prime minister can be held for up to a total of 8 years

head of government

Interim Prime Minister Gen. PRAYUT Chan-ocha (since 25 August 2014); Deputy Prime Ministers PRAWIT Wongsuwan, Gen. (since 31 August 2014), WISSANU Kruea-ngam (since 31 August 2014), SOMKHIT Chatusiphithak (since 20 August 2015), PRACHIN Chantong, Air Chief Mar. (since 20 August 2015), CHATCHAI Sarikanya (since 23 November 2017)

note

  Prayut Chan-ocha was appointed interim prime minister in August 2014, three months after he staged the coup that removed the previously elected government of Prime Minister YINGLAK Chinnawat

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, and 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; note - interim military-affiliated government since May 2014

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 courts

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

Legal System

civil law system with common law influences

Legislative Branch

description

in transition; following the May 2014 military coup, the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) - appointed National Legislative Assembly or Sapha Nitibanyat Haeng Chat of no more than 220 members replaced the bicameral National Assembly; expanded to 250 members in September 2016; elections for a permanent legislative body were announced for February 2019; the 2017 constitution calls for a 250-member, NCPO-appointed Senate with 5-year terms and a 500-member elected House of Representatives with 4-year terms

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 but invalidated by the coup (in future, members will be appointed) House of Representatives - last held on 2 February 2014 but later declared invalid by the Constitutional Court (next to be held on 24 February 2019)

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 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

National Holiday

Birthday of King WACHIRALONGKON, 28 July (1952)

National Symbol S

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

Political Parties And Leaders

Action Coalition of Thailand Party or ACT [CHATUMONGKHON Sonakun]Anakhot Mai Party (Future Forward Party) or FFP [THANATHON Chuengrungrueangkit]Chat Thai Phatthana Party (Thai Nation Development Party) or CTP [KANCHANA Sinlapa-acha]Phalang Pracharat Party or PPP [UTTAMA Sawanayon]Phumchai Thai Party (Thai Pride Party) or PJT [ANUTHIN Chanwirakun]Puea Chat Party (For Nation Party) or PCP [SONGKHRAM Kitletpairot]Puea Thai Party (For Thais Party) or PTP [WIROT Paoin]Puea Tham Party (For Dharma Party) [NALINI Thawisin]Prachathipat Party (Democrat Party) or DP [ABHISIT Wechachiwa, also spelled ABHISIT Vejjajiva]Thai Raksa Chat Party (Thai National Preservation Party) [PRICHAPHON Phongpanit]

note

as of 5 April 2018, 98 new parties applied to be registered with the Election Commission in accordance with the provisions of the new organic law on political parties

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

85.12 billion (2017 est.)

revenues

69.23 billion (2017 est.)

Budget Surplus Or Deficit

-3.5% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Central Bank Discount Rate

1.5% (31 December 2016)

1.5% (31 December 2015)

Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate

4.42% (31 December 2017 est.)

4.47% (31 December 2016 est.)

Current Account Balance

$51.08 billion (2017 est.)

$48.24 billion (2016 est.)

Debt External

$132 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$130.6 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Distribution Of Family Income Gini Index

44.5 (2015)

48.4 (2011)

Economy Overview

With a relatively well-developed infrastructure, a free-enterprise economy, and generally pro-investment policies, Thailand is highly dependent on international trade, with exports accounting for about two-thirds of GDP. Thailand’s exports include electronics, agricultural commodities, automobiles and parts, and processed foods. The industry and service sectors produce about 90% of GDP. The agricultural sector, comprised mostly of small-scale farms, contributes only 10% of GDP but employs about one-third of the labor force. Thailand has attracted an estimated 3.0-4.5 million migrant workers, mostly from neighboring countries.Over the last few decades, Thailand has reduced poverty substantially. In 2013, the Thai Government implemented a nationwide 300 baht (roughly $10) per day minimum wage policy and deployed new tax reforms designed to lower rates on middle-income earners.Thailand’s economy is recovering from slow growth during the years since the 2014 coup. Thailand’s economic fundamentals are sound, with low inflation, low unemployment, and reasonable public and external debt levels. Tourism and government spending - mostly on infrastructure and short-term stimulus measures – have helped to boost the economy, and The Bank of Thailand has been supportive, with several interest rate reductions.Over the longer-term, household debt levels, political uncertainty, and an aging population pose risks to growth.

Exchange Rates

baht per US dollar -

34.34 (2017 est.)

35.296 (2016 est.)

35.296 (2015 est.)

34.248 (2014 est.)

32.48 (2013 est.)

Exports

$235.1 billion (2017 est.)

$214.3 billion (2016 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 12.4%, US 11.2%, Japan 9.5%, Hong Kong 5.2%, Vietnam 4.9%, Australia 4.5%, Malaysia 4.4% (2017)

Fiscal Year

1 October - 30 September

Gdp Composition By End Use

exports of goods and services

68.2% (2017 est.)

government consumption

16.4% (2017 est.)

household consumption

48.8% (2017 est.)

imports of goods and services

-54.6% (2017 est.)

investment in fixed capital

23.2% (2017 est.)

investment in inventories

-0.4% (2017 est.)

Gdp Composition By Sector Of Origin

agriculture

8.2% (2017 est.)

industry

36.2% (2017 est.)

services

55.6% (2017 est.)

Gdp Official Exchange Rate

$455.4 billion (2017 est.) (2017 est.)

Gdp Per Capita Ppp

$17,900 (2017 est.)

$17,200 (2016 est.)

$16,700 (2015 est.)

note

data are in 2017 dollars

Gdp Purchasing Power Parity

$1.236 trillion (2017 est.)

$1.19 trillion (2016 est.)

$1.152 trillion (2015 est.)

note

data are in 2017 dollars

Gdp Real Growth Rate

3.9% (2017 est.)

3.3% (2016 est.)

3% (2015 est.)

Gross National Saving

34.1% of GDP (2017 est.)

32.8% of GDP (2016 est.)

30.3% of GDP (2015 est.)

Household Income Or Consumption By Percentage Share

highest 10%

31.5% (2009 est.)

lowest 10%

31.5% (2009 est.)

Imports

$203.2 billion (2017 est.)

$177.7 billion (2016 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 20%, Japan 14.5%, US 6.8%, Malaysia 5.4% (2017)

Industrial Production Growth Rate

1.6% (2017 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, cassava, world's second-largest tungsten producer and third-largest tin producer

Inflation Rate Consumer Prices

0.7% (2017 est.)

0.2% (2016 est.)

Labor Force

38.37 million (2017 est.)

Labor Force By Occupation

agriculture

31.8%

industry

16.7%

services

51.5% (2015 est.)

Market Value Of Publicly Traded Shares

$348.8 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

$430.4 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$354.4 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Population Below Poverty Line

7.2% (2015 est.)

Public Debt

41.9% of GDP (2017 est.)

41.8% of GDP (2016 est.)

note

data cover general government debt and include 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 intragovernmental debt; intragovernmental 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

$202.6 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$171.9 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Stock Of Broad Money

$62.39 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$52.03 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Stock Of Direct Foreign Investment Abroad

$117.4 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$96.27 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Stock Of Direct Foreign Investment At Home

$227.8 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$193.5 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Stock Of Domestic Credit

$584.9 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$508.4 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Stock Of Narrow Money

$62.39 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$52.03 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Taxes And Other Revenues

15.2% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Unemployment Rate

0.7% (2017 est.)

0.8% (2016 est.)

Carbon Dioxide Emissions From Consumption Of Energy

355 million Mt (2017 est.)

Crude Oil Exports

790 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude Oil Imports

875,400 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude Oil Production

239,700 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Crude Oil Proved Reserves

349.4 million bbl (1 January 2018 est.)

Electricity Access

electrification - rural areas

98.3% (2013)

electrification - total population

99% (2013)

electrification - urban areas

99.7% (2013)

population without electricity

700,000 (2013)

Electricity Consumption

187.7 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity Exports

2.267 billion kWh (2015 est.)

Electricity From Fossil Fuels

76% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)

Electricity From Hydroelectric Plants

8% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity From Nuclear Fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity From Other Renewable Sources

16% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity Imports

19.83 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity Installed Generating Capacity

44.89 million kW (2016 est.)

Electricity Production

181.5 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Natural Gas Consumption

52.64 billion cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Exports

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Imports

14.41 billion cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Production

38.59 billion cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Proved Reserves

193.4 billion cu m (1 January 2018 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Consumption

1.326 million bbl/day (2016 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Exports

278,300 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Imports

134,200 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Production

1.328 million bbl/day (2015 est.)

Broadband Fixed Subscriptions

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

12 (2017 est.)

total

8.208 million (2017 est.)

Broadcast Media

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)

Internet Country Code

.th

Internet Users

percent of population

47.5% (July 2016 est.)

total

32,398,778 (July 2016 est.)

Telephone System

domestic

fixed-line system provided by both a government-owned and commercial provider; wireless service expanding rapidly (2016)

general assessment

high quality system, especially in urban areas like Bangkok (2016)

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) (2016)

Telephones Fixed Lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

4 (2017 est.)

total subscriptions

2.91 million (2017 est.)

Telephones Mobile Cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

178 (2017 est.)

total subscriptions

121.53 million (2017 est.)

Airports

101 (2013)

Airports With Paved Runways

1,524 to 2,437 m

23 (2013)

2,438 to 3,047 m

12 (2013)

914 to 1,523 m

14 (2013)

over 3,047 m

8 (2013)

total

63 (2013)

under 914 m

6 (2013)

Airports With Unpaved Runways

1,524 to 2,437 m

1 (2013)

2,438 to 3,047 m

1 (2013)

914 to 1,523 m

10 (2013)

total

38 (2013)

under 914 m

26 (2013)

Civil Aircraft Registration Country Code Prefix

HS (2016)

Heliports

7 (2013)

Merchant Marine

by type

bulk carrier 25, container ship 23, general cargo 94, oil tanker 240, other 399 (2017)

total

781 (2017)

National Air Transport System

annual freight traffic on registered air carriers

2,134,149,001 mt-km (2015)

annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers

54,259,629 (2015)

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers

276 (2015)

number of registered air carriers

19 (2015)

Pipelines

2 km condensate, 5900 km gas, 85 km liquid petroleum gas, 1 km oil, 1097 km refined products (2013)

Ports And Terminals

container port(s) (TEUs)

Bangkok (1,498,009), Laem Chabang (7,227,431) (2016)

LNG terminal(s) (import)

Map Ta Phut

major seaport(s)

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

Railways

narrow gauge

4,043 km 1.000-m gauge (2017)

standard gauge

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

total

4,127 km (2017)

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)

Military Branches

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) (2018)

Military Expenditures

1.5% of GDP (2017)

1.45% of GDP (2016)

1.44% of GDP (2015)

1.41% of GDP (2014)

1.4% of GDP (2013)

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 based on lottery (2018)

Disputes International

separatist violence in Thailand's predominantly Malay-Muslim southern provinces prompt border closures and controls with Malaysia to stem insurgent activitiesSoutheast Asian states have enhanced border surveillance to check the spread of avian flutalks continue on completion of demarcation with Laos but disputes remain over several islands in the Mekong Riverdespite continuing border committee talks, Thailand must deal with Karen and other ethnic rebels, refugees, and illegal cross-border activitiesCambodia and Thailand dispute sections of boundaryin 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 siteThailand is studying the feasibility of jointly constructing the Hatgyi Dam on the Salween river near the border with Burmain 2004, international environmentalist pressure prompted China to halt construction of 13 dams on the Salween River that flows through China, Burma, and Thailandapproximately 105,000 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

41,000 (resurgence in ethno-nationalist violence in south of country since 2004) (2017)

note

Thai nationality was granted to more than 23,000 stateless persons between 2012 and 2016; 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 (2018)

refugees (country of origin)

99,982 (Burma) (2017)

stateless persons

486,440 (2017) (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

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 from Burma, Cambodia, Laos, China, Vietnam, Uzbekistan, and India, migrate to Thailand in search of jobs but are forced, coerced, or defrauded into labor in commercial fishing, fishing-related industries, factories, domestic work, street begging, or the sex trade; some Thai, Burmese, Cambodian, and Indonesian men forced to work on fishing boats are kept at sea for years; sex trafficking of adults and children from Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, and Burma remains a significant problem; Thailand is a transit country for victims from China, Vietnam, Bangladesh, and Burma subjected to sex trafficking and forced labor in Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Russia, South Korea, the US, and countries in Western Europe; Thai victims are also trafficked in North America, Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East

tier rating

Tier 2 Watch List - Thailand does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking, and is not making significant efforts to do so; in 2014, authorities investigated, prosecuted, and convicted fewer traffickers and identified fewer victims; some cases of official complicity were investigated and prosecuted, but trafficking-related corruption continues to hinder progress in combatting trafficking; authorities’ efforts to screen for victims among vulnerable populations remained inadequate due to a poor understanding of trafficking indicators, a failure to recognize non-physical forms of coercion, and a shortage of language interpreters; the government passed new labor laws increasing the minimum age in the fishing industry to 18 years old, guaranteeing the minimum wage, and requiring work contracts, but weak law enforcement and poor coordination among regulatory agencies enabled exploitive labor practices to continue; the government increased efforts to raise public awareness to the dangers of human trafficking and to deny entry to foreign sex tourists (2015)