Thailand

Internet country code

.th

Internet hosts

103,700 (2003)

Internet users

6,971,500 (2003)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 204, FM 334, shortwave 6 (1999)

Telephone system

general assessment: high quality system, especially in urban areas like Bangkok; WTO requirement for privatization of telecom sector is planned to be complete by 2006 domestic: fixed line system provided by both a government owned and commercial provider; wireless service expanding rapidly and outpacing fixed lines international: country code - 66; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Pacific Ocean); landing country for APCN submarine cable

Telephones - main lines in use

6,617,400 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular

26.5 million (2005)

Television broadcast stations

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

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

revenues: $30.86 billion expenditures: $31.94 billion, including capital expenditures of $5 billion (2004 est.)

Currency (code)

baht (THB)

Current account balance

$6.736 billion (2004 est.)

Debt - external

$50.59 billion (2004 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

51.1 (2002)

Economic aid - recipient

$72 million (2002)

Economy - overview

Thailand has a well developed infrastructure, a free-enterprise economy, and welcomes foreign investment. Thailand has fully recovered from the 1997-98 Asian Financial Crisis and was one of East Asia's best performers in 2002-04. Increased consumption and investment spending and strong export growth pushed GDP growth up to 6.9% in 2003 and 6.1% in 2004 despite a sluggish global economy. The highly popular government's expansionist policy, including major support of village economic development, has raised concerns about fiscal discipline and the health of financial institutions. Bangkok has pursued preferential trade agreements with a variety of partners in an effort to boost exports and maintain high growth, and in 2004 began negotiations on a Free Trade Agreement with the US. In late December 2004, a major tsunami took 8,500 lives in Thailand and caused massive destruction of property in the southern provinces of Krabi, Phangnga, and Phuket.

Electricity - consumption

106.1 billion kWh (2003)

Electricity - exports

188 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports

600 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - production

118.9 billion kWh (2003)

Exchange rates

baht per US dollar - 40.222 (2004), 41.485 (2003), 42.96 (2002), 44.432 (2001), 40.112 (2000)

Exports

$87.91 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities

textiles and footwear, fishery products, rice, rubber, jewelry, automobiles, computers and electrical appliances

Exports - partners

US 15.9%, Japan 13.9%, China 7.3%, Singapore 7.2%, Malaysia 5.4%, Hong Kong 5.1% (2004)

Fiscal year

1 October - 30 September

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$524.8 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 9% industry: 44.3% services: 46.7% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $8,100 (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

6.1% (2004 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 2.8% highest 10%: 32.4% (1998)

Imports

$80.84 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

Japan 23.6%, China 8.6%, US 7.6%, Malaysia 5.8%, Singapore 4.4%, Taiwan 4.1% (2004)

Industrial production growth rate

8.5% (2004 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)

2.8% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

22.5% of GDP (Jan - Sep 2004 est.)

Labor force

36.43 million (November 2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture 49%, industry 14%, services 37% (2000 est.)

Natural gas - consumption

23.93 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports

5.2 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - production

18.73 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

368.2 billion cu m (1 January 2003)

Oil - consumption

785,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports

NA

Oil - imports

NA

Oil - production

225,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

600 million bbl (1 January 2003)

Population below poverty line

10% (2004 est.)

Public debt

47.6% of GDP (November 2004 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$48.3 billion (2004)

Unemployment rate

1.5% (November 2004 est.)

Area

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

lowest point: Gulf of Thailand 0 m highest point: Doi Inthanon 2,576 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

Geographic coordinates

15 00 N, 100 00 E

Geography - note

controls only land route from Asia to Malaysia and Singapore

Irrigated land

47,490 sq km (1998 est.)

Land boundaries

total: 4,863 km border countries: Burma 1,800 km, Cambodia 803 km, Laos 1,754 km, Malaysia 506 km

Land use

arable land: 29.36% permanent crops: 6.46% other: 64.18% (2001)

Location

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

Map references

Southeast Asia

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

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

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 former: Siam

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Ralph L. BOYCE embassy: 120/22 Wireless Road, Bangkok mailing address: APO AP 96546 telephone: [66] (2) 205-4000 FAX: [66] (2) 254-2990, 205-4131 consulate(s) general: Chiang Mai

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: KASIT Piromya chancery: 1024 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Suite 401, Washington, DC 20007-3681 telephone: [1] (202) 944-3600 FAX: [1] (202) 944-3611 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York

Executive branch

chief of state: King PHUMIPHON Adunyadet (since 9 June 1946) head of government: Prime Minister THAKSIN Chinnawat (since 9 February 2001) and Deputy Prime Ministers CHITCHAI Wannasathi (since 11 March 2005), PHINIT Charusombat (since 6 October 2004), SOMKHIT Chatusiphithak (since 11 March 2005), SURAKIAT Sathianthai (since 11 March 2005); SURIYA Chungrungruankit (since 3 August 2005), SUWAT Liptapanlop (since 3 August 2005), WISANU Kruangam (since 8 November 2003) cabinet: Council of Ministers note: there is also a Privy Council elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; prime minister is designated from among the members of the House of Representatives; following national elections for the House of Representatives, the leader of the party that can organize a majority coalition usually is appointed prime minister by the king

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, APT, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN, BIS, CP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC (observer), OPCW, OSCE (partner), PCA, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

Judicial branch

Supreme Court or 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 (200 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms) and the House of Representatives or Sapha Phuthaen Ratsadon (500 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: Senate - last held 4 March, 29 April, 4 June, 9 July, and 22 July 2000 (next to be held by March 2006); House of Representatives - last held 6 February 2005 (next to be held in February 2009) 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 - TRT 376, DP 97, TNP 25, PP 2

National holiday

Birthday of King PHUMIPHON, 5 December (1927)

Political parties and leaders

Democrat Party or DP (Prachathipat Party) [ABHISIT Wetchachiwa]; People's Party or PP (Mahachon Party) [ANEK Laothamatas]; Thai Nation Party or TNP (Chat Thai Party) [BARNHARN SILPA-ARCHA]; Thai Rak Thai Party or TRT [THAKSIN Chinnawat]

Political pressure groups and leaders

NA

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal and compulsory

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 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. Thailand is currently facing armed violence in its three Muslim-majority southernmost provinces.

Manpower available for military service

males age 21-49: 14.984 million (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 21-49: 10,342,337 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually

males: 530,493 (2005 est.)

Military branches

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

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$1.775 billion (FY00)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

1.8% (2003)

Military service age and obligation

21 years of age for compulsory military service; males are registered at 18 years of age; conscript service obliation - 2 years; 18 years of age for voluntary military service (2004)

Age structure

0-14 years: 23.9% (male 7,988,529/female 7,633,405) 15-64 years: 68.6% (male 22,195,625/female 22,731,767) 65 years and over: 7.5% (male 2,251,112/female 2,643,933) (2005 est.)

Birth rate

15.7 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate

7.02 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Ethnic groups

Thai 75%, Chinese 14%, other 11%

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

1.5% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

58,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

570,000 (2003 est.)

Infant mortality rate

total: 20.48 deaths/1,000 live births male: 21.83 deaths/1,000 live births female: 19.06 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 71.95 years male: 69.65 years female: 74.37 years (2005 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 92.6% male: 94.9% female: 90.5% (2002)

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk: high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea and hepatitis A vectorborne diseases: dengue fever, malaria, Japanese encephalitis, and plague are high risks in some locations animal contact disease: rabies water contact disease: leptospirosis (2004)

Median age

total: 30.88 years male: 30.11 years female: 31.66 years (2005 est.)

Nationality

noun: Thai (singular and plural) adjective: Thai

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Population

65,444,371 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 2005 est.)

Population growth rate

0.87% (2005 est.)

Religions

Buddhist 94.6%, Muslim 4.6%, Christian 0.7%, other 0.1% (2000 census)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.88 children born/woman (2005 est.)

Disputes - international

separatist violence in Thailand's predominantly Muslim southern provinces prompt border closures and controls with Malaysia to stem terrorist activities; southeast Asian states have enhanced border surveillance to check the spread of avian flu; Laos and Thailand pledge to complete demarcation of their boundary in 2005; despite continuing border committee talks, significant differences remain with Burma over boundary alignment and the handling of ethnic rebels, refugees, and illegal cross-border activities; Cambodia and Thailand dispute sections of boundary with missing boundary markers; Cambodia claims Thai encroachments into Cambodian territory and obstructing access to Preah Vihear temple ruins awarded to Cambodia by ICJ decision in 1962; ethnic Karens from Burma flee into Thailand to escape fighting between Karen rebels and Burmese troops resulting in Thailand sheltering about 118,000 Burmese refugees in 2004; Karens also protest Thai support for a Burmese hydroelectric dam construction on the Salween River near the border; environmentalists in Burma and Thailand remain concerned about China's construction of hydroelectric dams upstream on the Nujiang/Salween River in Yunnan Province

Illicit drugs

a minor producer of opium, heroin, and marijuana; 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 methamphetamine

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees (country of origin): 118,407 (Burma) (2004)

Airports

109 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

total: 65 over 3,047 m: 7 2,438 to 3,047 m: 10 1,524 to 2,437 m: 23 914 to 1,523 m: 19 under 914 m: 6 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 44 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 15 under 914 m: 28 (2004 est.)

Heliports

3 (2004 est.)

Highways

total: 57,403 km paved: 56,542 km unpaved: 861 km (2000 est.)

Merchant marine

total: 386 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 2,038,597 GRT/3,104,712 DWT by type: bulk carrier 57, cargo 142, chemical tanker 12, combination ore/oil 1, container 21, liquefied gas 25, passenger 3, passenger/cargo 4, petroleum tanker 89, refrigerated cargo 30, roll on/roll off 1, specialized tanker 1 foreign-owned: 55 (Indonesia 1, Japan 3, Norway 45, Singapore 6) registered in other countries: 35 (2005)

Pipelines

gas 3,112 km; refined products 265 km (2004)

Ports and harbors

Bangkok, Laem Chabang, Prachuap Port, Si Racha

Railways

total: 4,071 km narrow gauge: 4,071 km 1.000-m gauge (2004)

Waterways

4,000 km note: 3,701 km navigable by boats with drafts up to 0.9 m (2003)