Statistical information Thailand 2000

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 arable land
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 pagePopulationNote: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2000 est.)
Growth rate: 0.91% (2000 est.)
Below poverty line: 12.5% (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: 23.43% (male 7,380,273; female 7,099,506)
15-64 years: 69.95% (male 21,304,051; female 21,921,383)
65 years and over: 6.62% (male 1,796,325; female 2,296,213) (2000 est.)
Dependency ratiosMedian agePopulation growth rate: 0.91% (2000 est.)
Birth rate: 16.63 births/1000 population (2000 est.)
Death rate: 7.54 deaths/1000 population (2000 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1000 population (2000 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, Wetlands
International agreements signed but not ratified: Biodiversity, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Law of the Sea
Air pollutantsSex ratioAt birth: 1.05 male/female
Under 15 years: 1.04 male/female
15-64 years: 0.97 male/female
65 years and over: 0.78 male/female
Total population: 0.97 male/female (2000 est.)
Mothers mean age at first birthMaternal mortality ratioInfant mortality rate: 30.49 deaths/1000 live births (2000 est.)
Life expectancy at birthTotal population: 68.86 years
Male: 65.64 years
Female: 72.24 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.87 children born/woman (2000 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rateDrinking water sourceCurrent health expenditurePhysicians densityHospital bed densitySanitation facility accessHiv/AidsAdult prevalence rate: 2.15% (1999 est.)
People living with hivaids: 755,000 (1999 est.)
Deaths: 66,000 (1999 est.)
Major 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
Former: Siam
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 King PHUMIPHON 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 and compulsory
Executive branchChief of state: King PHUMIPHON Adunyadet (since 9 June 1946)
Head of government: Prime Minister THAKSIN Chinnawat (since NA January 2000)
Cabinet: Council of Ministers
Note: there is also a Privy Council
Elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; prime minister designated from among the members of the House of Representatives; following a national election for the House of Representatives, the leader of the party that can organize a majority coalition usually becomes prime minister
Legislative branchElections: Senate - last held 4 March, 29 April, 4 June, 9 July, and 22 July 2000 (next to be held NA March 2004); House of Representatives - last held 6 January 2000 (next to be held NA January 2005)
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 248, DP 128, TNP 41, NAP 36, NDP 29, other 18
Judicial branch: Supreme Court or Sandika (judges appointed by the monarch)
Political parties and leaders: Democratic Party or DP (Prachathipat Party) [CHUAN Likphai]; Liberal Democratic Party or LDP (Seri Tham) [PHINIT Charusombat]; Mass Party or MP [CHALERM Yoobamrung SOPHON Petchsavang]; National Development Party or NDP (Chat Phattana) [KORN Dabbaransi]; New Aspiration Party or NAP (Khwamwang Mai) [Gen. CHAWALIT Yongchaiyut]; Phalang Dharma Party or PDP (Phalang Tham) [CHAIWAT Sinsuwong]; Social Action Party or SAP (Kitsangkhom Party) [leader vacant]; Solidarity Party or SP (Ekkaphap Party) [CHAIYOT Sasomsap]; Thai Citizen's Party or TCP (Prachakon Thai) [SAMAK Sunthonwet]; Thai Nation Party or TNP (Chat Thai Party) [BANHAN Sinlapa-acha]; Thai Rak Thai Party or TRT [THAKSIN Chinnawat]
International organization participation: APEC ARF AsDB ASEAN BIS CCC CP ESCAP FAO G-77 IAEA IBRD ICAO ICC ICFTU ICRM IDA IFAD IFC IFRCS IHO ILO IMF IMO Inmarsat Intelsat Interpol IOC IOM ISO ITU NAM OAS (observer) OIC (observer) OPCW OSCE (partner) PCA UN UNCTAD UNESCO UNHCR UNIDO UNIKOM UNITAR UNMIBH UNTAET UNU UPU WCL WFTU WHO WIPO WMO WToO WTrO
Diplomatic representationIn the us chief of mission: Ambassador TEJ Bunnag
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 Richard E. HECKLINGER
From the us embassy: 120/22 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) 254-1171
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: After enjoying the world's highest growth rate from 1985 to 1995 - averaging almost 9% annually - increased speculative pressure on Thailand's currency in 1997 led to a crisis that uncovered financial sector weaknesses and forced the government to float the baht. Long pegged at 25 to the dollar the baht reached its lowest point of 56 to the dollar in January 1998 and the economy contracted by 10.2% that same year. Thailand entered a recovery stage in 1999 expanding 4.2% and grew about the same amount in 2000 largely due to strong exports - which increased about 20% in 2000. An ailing financial sector and the slow pace of corporate debt restructuring combined with a softening of global demand is likely to slow growth in 2000.
Real gdp purchasing power parityReal gdp growth rate: 4.2% (2000 est.)
Real gdp per capita: purchasing power parity - $6,700 (2000 est.)
Gross national savingGdp composition by sector of origin
Gdp composition by end useGdp composition by sector of originAgriculture: 13%
Industry: 40%
Services: 47% (1999)
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: 12.6% (1999 est.)
Labor force: 32.6 million (1997 est.)
By occupation agriculture: 54%
By occupation industry: 15%
By occupation services: 31% (1996 est.)
Unemployment rate: 4.5% (1998 est.)
Youth unemploymentPopulation below poverty line: 12.5% (1998 est.)
Gini indexHousehold income or consumption by percentage shareLowest 10: 2.5%
Highest 10: 37.1% (1992)
Distribution of family income gini indexBudgetTaxes and other revenuesPublic debtRevenueFiscal year: 1 October - 30 September
Inflation rate consumer prices: 2.1% (2000 est.)
Central bank discount rateCommercial bank prime lending rateStock of narrow moneyStock of broad moneyStock of domestic creditMarket value of publicly traded sharesCurrent account balanceExports: $58.5 billion (f.o.b. 1999 est.)
Commodities: computers and parts textiles rice
Partners: US 22.3% Japan 13.7% Singapore 8.6% Hong Kong 5.1% Netherlands 4.0% UK 3.9% Malaysia 3.3% China 3.2% Taiwan 3.2% Germany 2.9% (1998)
Imports: $45 billion (f.o.b. 1999 est.)
Commodities: capital goods intermediate goods and raw materials consumer goods fuels
Partners: Japan 23.6% US 14.0% Singapore 5.5% Malaysia 5.1% Taiwan 5.2% Germany 4.2% China 4.2% South Korea 3.5% Oman 2.6% Indonesia 2.1% (1998)
Reserves of foreign exchange and goldDebt external: $80 billion (1999 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment at homeStock of direct foreign investment abroadExchange rates: baht (B) per US$1 - 37.349 (January 2000) 37.844 (1999) 41.359 (1998) 31.364 (1997) 25.343 (1996) 24.915 (1995)
top of pageElectricityProduction: 85 billion kWh (1999)
Consumption: 80.293 billion kWh (1999)
Exports: 138 million kWh (1998)
Imports: 700 million kWh (1998)
CoalPetroleumCrude oilRefined petroleumNatural gasCarbon dioxide emissionsEnergy consumption per capitatop of pageTelephonesMain lines in use: 5.4 million (1998)
Mobile cellular: 2.3 million (1998)
Telephone system: service to general public adequate but investment in technological upgrades reduced by recession; bulk of service to government activities provided by multichannel cable and microwave radio relay network
Broadcast mediaInternetService providers isps: 13 (1999)
Broadband fixed subscriptionstop of pageMilitary expendituresDollar figure: $2.075 billion (FY97/98)
Percent of gdp: 1.3% (FY97/98)
Military and security forcesMilitary service age and obligationSpace programTerrorist groupstop of pageNational air transport systemCivil aircraft registration country code prefixAirports: 106 (1999 est.)
Heliports: 3 (1999 est.)
Pipelines: petroleum products 67 km; natural gas 350 km
RailwaysRoadwaysWaterways: 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 marinePorts 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; sporadic conflict with Burma over alignment of border
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; minor role in amphetamine production for regional consumption; increasing indigenous abuse of methamphetamines and heroin