Statistical information Thailand 1998

Thailand in the World
top of pageBackground: 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.
top of pageLocation: Southeastern Asia, bordering the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand, southeast of Burma
Geographic coordinates: 15 00 N, 100 00 E
Map reference:
Southeast AsiaAreaTotal: 514,000 km²
Land: 511,770 km²
Water: 2,230 km²
Comparative: slightly more than twice the size of Wyoming
Land boundariesTotal: 4,863 km
Border countries: (4) Burma 1,800 km;
, Cambodia 803 km;
, Laos 1,754 km;
, Malaysia 506 kmCoastline: 3,219 km
Maritime claimsContinental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Territorial sea: 12 nm
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
Terrain: central plain; Khorat Plateau in the east; mountains elsewhere
ElevationExtremes lowest point: Gulf of Thailand 0 m
Extremes highest point: Doi Inthanon 2,576 m
Natural resources: tin, rubber, natural gas, tungsten, tantalum, timber, lead, fish, gypsum, lignite, fluorite
Land useArable land: 34%
Permanent crops: 6%
Permanent pastures: 2%
Forests and woodland: 26%
Other: 32% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 44,000 km² (1993 est.)
Major riversMajor watersheds area km²Total water withdrawalTotal renewable water resourcesNatural hazards: land subsidence in Bangkok area resulting from the depletion of the water table; droughts
GeographyNote: controls only land route from Asia to Malaysia and Singapore
top of pagePopulation: 60,037,366 (July 1998 est.)
Growth rate: 0.97% (1998 est.)
NationalityNoun: Thai (singular and plural)
Adjective: Thai
Ethnic groups: Thai 75%, Chinese 14%, other 11%
Languages: Thai, English (secondary language of the elite), ethnic and regional dialects
Religions: Buddhism 95%, Muslim 3.8%, Christianity 0.5%, Hinduism 0.1%, other 0.6% (1991)
Demographic profileAge structure0-14 years: 24% (male 7,440,863; female 7,169,837)
15-64 years: 70% (male 20,605,197; female 21,210,697)
65 years and over: 6% (male 1,596,267; female 2,014,505) (July 1998 est.)
Dependency ratiosMedian agePopulation growth rate: 0.97% (1998 est.)
Birth rate: 16.76 births/1000 population (1998 est.)
Death rate: 7.11 deaths/1000 population (1998 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1000 population (1998 est.)
Population distributionUrbanizationMajor urban areasEnvironmentCurrent issues: air pollution from vehicle emissions; water pollution from organic and factory wastes; deforestation; soil erosion; wildlife populations threatened by illegal hunting
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
International agreements signed but not ratified: Biodiversity, Law of the Sea
Air pollutantsSex ratioAt 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 (1998 est.)
Mothers mean age at first birthMaternal mortality ratioInfant mortality rate: 30.82 deaths/1000 live births (1998 est.)
Life expectancy at birthTotal population: 69 years
Male: 65.35 years
Female: 72.83 years (1998 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.84 children born/woman (1998 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rateDrinking water sourceCurrent health expenditurePhysicians densityHospital bed densitySanitation facility accessHiv/AidsMajor infectious diseasesObesity adult prevalence rateAlcohol consumptionTobacco useChildren under the age of 5 years underweightEducation expendituresLiteracyDefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 93.8%
Male: 96%
Female: 91.6% (1995 est.)
School life expectancy primary to tertiary educationYouth unemploymenttop of pageCountry nameConventional long form: Kingdom of Thailand
Conventional short form: Thailand
Government type: constitutional monarchy
Capital: Bangkok
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
Dependent areasIndependence: 1238 (traditional founding date; never colonized)
National holiday: Birthday of His Majesty the King, 5 December (1927)
Constitution: new constitution signed by King PHUMIPHON on 11 October 1997
Legal system: based on civil law system, with influences of common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
International law organization participationCitizenshipSuffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branchChief of state: King PHUMIPHON Adunyadet (since 9 June 1946): ead of
Government: Prime Minister CHUAN Likphai (since 15 November 1997)
Cabinet: Council of Ministers
Note: there is also a Privy Council
Elections: none; the king is a constitutional monarch; 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
Legislative branch: bicameral National Assembly or Rathasapha consists of the Senate or Wuthisapha (a 270-member appointed body; members serve six-year terms) and the House of Representatives or Sapha Phuthaen Ratsadon (393 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
Elections: House of Representatives_last held 17 November 1996 (next must be held by 17 November 2000, but may be held earlier)
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, other 2
Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Sandika), judges appointed by the king
Political parties and leadersInternational 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, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representationIn the us chief of mission: Ambassador NIT Phibunsongkhram
In the us chancery: 1024 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20,007
In the us telephone: [1] (202) 944-3,600
In the us fax: [1] (202) 944-3,611
In the us consulates general: Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador William H. ITOH
From the us embassy: 120-122 Wireless Road, Bangkok
From the us mailing address: APO AP 96,546
From the us telephone: [66] (2) 205-4,000
From the us fax: [66] (2) 254-2,990
From the us consulates general: Chiang Mai
Flag description
: five horizontal bands of red (top), white, blue (double width), white, and red
National symbolsNational anthemNational heritagetop of pageEconomy overview: In 1997/98, the Thai economy is in a deep recession as a result of the severe financial problems facing many Thai firms, particularly banks and finance companies. In the early 1990s, Thailand liberalized financial inflows; banks and other firms borrowed in dollars and did not hedge their positions because there was no perceived exchange rate risk. These funds financed a property boom that began to taper off in the mid-1990s. In addition, export growth - previously a key driver of the Thai economy_collapsed in 1996, resulting in growing doubts that the Bank of Thailand could maintain the baht's peg to the dollar. The Bank mounted an expensive defense of the exchange rate that nearly depleted foreign exchange reserves, then decided to float the exchange rate, triggering a sharp increase in foreign liabilities that cash-strapped Thai firms were already having trouble repaying. In August 1997, the government headed by Prime Minister CHAWALIT signed an agreement with the IMF for access to a $14 billion facility to supplement foreign exchange reserves and restore financial market stability. CHAWALIT resigned in November 1997, however, under pressure for lacking a coherent approach to managing the IMF program and the financial crisis. Democratic Party leader CHUAN Likphai formed a seven-party coalition government and closely adhered to the IMF program, tentatively reestablishing financial stability by February 1998. An economic turnaround requires rescheduling the large short-term foreign liabilities of Thai firms, restoring high rates of export growth to finance foreign liabilities, and extensively recapitalizing the banking system.
Real gdp purchasing power parityReal gdp growth rate: -0.4% (1997 est.)
Real gdp per capita: purchasing power parity: $8,800 (1997 est.)
Gross national savingGdp composition by sector of origin
Gdp composition by end useGdp composition by sector of originAgriculture: 10%
Industry: 28.7%
Services: 61.3% (1997)
Agriculture products: rice, cassava (tapioca), rubber, corn, sugarcane, coconuts, soybeans
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
Industrial production growth rate: -15% (1997 est.)
Labor forceTotal: 32.6 million (1997 est.)
By occupation agriculture: 54%
By occupation industry: 15%
By occupation services(includinggovernment): 31% (1996 est.)
Unemployment rate: 3.5%
Youth unemploymentPopulation below poverty lineGini indexHousehold income or consumption by percentage shareDistribution of family income gini indexBudgetRevenues: $24 billion
Expenditures: $25 billion, including capital expenditures of $8 billion (FY96/97)
Taxes and other revenuesPublic debtRevenueFiscal year: 1 October_30 September
Inflation rate consumer pricesCentral bank discount rateCommercial bank prime lending rateStock of narrow moneyStock of broad moneyStock of domestic creditMarket value of publicly traded sharesCurrent account balanceExports: total value:$51.6 billion (f.o.b., 1997)
Commodoties: manufactures 82%, agricultural products and fisheries 14% (1997)
Partners: US 19.6%, Japan 14.9%, Singapore 11%, Hong Kong 5.7%, Malaysia 4.3%, UK 3.7% (1997)
Imports: total value:$73.5 billion (c.i.f., 1996)
Commodoties: capital goods 50%, consumer goods 10.2%, fuels 8.7% (1997)
Partners: Japan 25.6%, US 13.9%, Singapore 5%, Taiwan 4.6%, Germany 4.5%, Malaysia 4.1% (1997)
Reserves of foreign exchange and goldDebt external: $90 billion (1997)
Stock of direct foreign investment at homeStock of direct foreign investment abroadExchange rates: baht (B) per US$1_53.812 (January 1998), 31.364 (1997), 25.343 (1996), 24.915 (1995), 25.150 (1994), 25.319 (1993)
top of pageElectricityCapacity: 15.838 million kW (1995)
Production: 77.5 billion kWh (1995)
Consumption per capita: 1,295 kWh (1995)
CoalPetroleumCrude oilRefined petroleumNatural gasCarbon dioxide emissionsEnergy consumption per capitatop of pageTelephones: 1,553,200 (1994 est.)
Telephone system: service to general public adequate, but investments 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)
Broadcast mediaInternetBroadband fixed subscriptionstop of pageMilitary expendituresDollar figure: $4 billion (FY95/96)
Percent of gdp: 2.5% (FY94/95)
Military and security forcesMilitary service age and obligationSpace programTerrorist groupstop of pageNational air transport systemCivil aircraft registration country code prefixAirports: 106 (1997 est.)
With paved runways total: 55
With paved runways over 3047 m: 6
With paved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 9
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 16
With paved runways 914 to 1523 m: 20
With paved runways under 914 m: 4 (1997 est.)
With unpaved runways total: 51
With unpaved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 1
With unpaved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 1
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 15
With unpaved runways under 914 m: 34 (1997 est.)
Heliports: 3 (1997 est.)
Pipelines: petroleum products 67 km; natural gas 350 km
RailwaysTotal: 4,623 km
Narrow gauge: 4,623 km 1.000-m gauge (99 km double track)
RoadwaysWaterways: 3,999 km principal waterways; 3,701 km with navigable depths of 0.9 m or more throughout the year; numerous minor waterways navigable by shallow-draft native craft
Merchant marineTotal: 304 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,997,060 GRT/3,270,988 DWT
Ships by type: bulk 48, cargo 145, chemical tanker 7, container 9, liquefied gas tanker 13, multi-function large load carrier 3, oil tanker 62, passenger 1, refrigerated cargo 11, roll-on/roll-off cargo 2, short-sea passenger 1, specialized tanker 2 (1997 est.)
Ports and terminalstop of pageDisputes 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
Refugees and internally displaced personsIllicit 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; role in amphetamine production for regional consumption; increasing indigenous abuse of methamphetamines and heroin