Map of Thailand | Geography | People | Government | Economy | Energy | Communication
Military | Transportation | Transnational Issues | Year: Guide1989199019911992199319941995199619971998199920002001200220032004200520062007200820092010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025 | More stats

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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 treaty ally in 1954 after sending troops to Korea and fighting alongside the US in Vietnam. A military coup in September 2006 ousted then Prime Minister THAKSIN Chinnawat. December 2007 elections saw the pro-THAKSIN People's Power Party (PPP) emerge at the head of a coalition government that took office in February 2008. The anti-THAKSIN People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD aka yellow-shirts) in May 2008 began street demonstrations against the new government eventually occupying the prime minister's office in August and Bangkok's two international airports in November. After an early December 2008 court ruling that dissolved the ruling PPP and two other coalition parties for election violations the Democrat Party formed a new coalition government and ABHISIT Wetchachiwa became prime minister. In October 2008 THAKSIN fled abroad in advance of an abuse of power conviction and has agitated his followers from abroad since then. THAKSIN supporters under the banner of the United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD aka red-shirts) rioted in April 2009 shutting down an ASEAN meeting in Pattaya. Following a February 2010 court verdict confiscating half of THAKSIN's frozen assets the UDD staged large protests between March and May 2010 and occupied several blocks of downtown Bangkok. Clashes between security forces and protesters elements of which were armed resulted in at least 92 deaths and an estimated $1.5 billion in arson-related property losses. These protests exposed major cleavages in the Thai body politic that continue to hamper the current government. The ABHISIT administration has announced a plan for a general election some time in 2011 ahead of its full term by the year-end. Since January 2004 thousands have been killed as separatists in Thailand's southern ethnic Malay-Muslim provinces increased the violence associated with their cause.


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Location: 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 Asia

Area
Total: 513,120 km²
Rank: 51
Land: 510,890 km²
Water: 2,230 km²
Comparative: slightly more than twice the size of Wyoming

Land boundaries
Total: 4,863 km
Border countries: (4) Burma 1800 km; Cambodia 803 km; Laos 1754 km; Malaysia 506 km

Coastline: 3,219 km

Maritime claims
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Continental shelf: 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation

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

Elevation
Extremes 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 use
Arable land: 27.54%
Permanent crops: 6.93%
Other: 65.53% (2005)

Irrigated land: 64,150 km² (2008)

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²

Total water withdrawal

Total renewable water resources: 409.9 km³ (1999)

Natural hazards: land subsidence in Bangkok area resulting from the depletion of the water table; droughts

Geography
Note: controls only land route from Asia to Malaysia and Singapore


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Population: 66,720,153 (July 2011 est.)
Rank: 20
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
Growth rate: 0.566% (2011 est.)
Growth rate rank: 146
Below poverty line: 9.6% (2006 est.)

Nationality
Noun: Thai
Adjective: Thai

Ethnic groups: Thai 75% Chinese 14% other 11%

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

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

Demographic profile

Age structure
0-14 years: 19.9%
15-64 years: 70.9% (male 23,410,091/female 23,913,499)
65 years and over: 9.2% (male 2,778,012/female 3,372,203) (2011 est.)

Dependency ratios

Median age
Total: 34.2 years
Male: 33.3 years
Female: 35.2 years (2011 est.)

Population growth rate: 0.566% (2011 est.)
Rank: 146

Birth rate: 12.95 births/1000 population (2011 est.)
Rank: 152

Death rate: 7.29 deaths/1000 population (July 2011 est.)
Rank: 122

Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1000 population (2011 est.)
Rank: 108

Population distribution

Urbanization
Urban population: 34% of total population
Rate of urbanization: 1.8% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Major urban areas

Environment
Current 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: 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
International agreements signed but not ratified: Law of the Sea

Air pollutants

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.054 male/female
Under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.82 male(s)/female
Total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio

Infant mortality rate
Total: 16.39 deaths/1000 live births
Rank: 109
Male: 17.38 deaths/1000 live births
Female: 15.35 deaths/1000 live births (2011 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 73.6 years
Rank: 113
Male: 71.24 years
Female: 76.08 years (2011 est.)

Total fertility rate: 1.66 children born/woman (2011 est.)
Rank: 171

Contraceptive prevalence rate

Drinking water source:

Current health expenditure

Physicians density: 0.298 physicians/1000 population (2004)
Rank: 137

Hospital bed density: 2.2 beds/1000 population (2002)
Rank: 96

Sanitation facility access:

Hiv/Aids
Adult prevalence rate: 1.3% (2009 est.)
Adult prevalence rate rank: 38
People living with hivaids: 530,000 (2009 est.)
People living with hivaids rank: 15
Deaths: 28,000 (2009 est.)
Deaths rank: 13

Major infectious diseases
Degree of risk: high
Food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea
Vectorborne diseases: dengue fever Japanese encephalitis and malaria
Animal contact disease: rabies
Water contact disease: leptospirosis
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 (2009)

Obesity adult prevalence rate: 7.8% (2003)
Rank: 60

Alcohol consumption

Tobacco use

Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 7% (2006)
Rank: 73

Education expenditures: 4.1% of GDP (2009)
Rank: 102

Literacy
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 92.6%
Male: 94.9%
Female: 90.5% (2000 census)

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education
Total: 12 years
Male: 12 years
Female: 13 years (2010)

Youth unemployment


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Country name
Conventional long form: Kingdom of Thailand
Conventional short form: Thailand
Local long form: Ratcha Anachak Thai
Local short form: Prathet Thai
Former: Siam

Government type: constitutional monarchy

Capital
Name: Bangkok
Geographic coordinates: 13 45 N 100 31 E
Time difference: UTC+7 (12 hours ahead of Washington DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions: 77 provinces (changwat singular and plural); 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 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 areas

Independence: 1238 (traditional founding date; never colonized)

National holiday: Birthday of King PHUMIPHON (BHUMIBOL) 5 December (1927)

Constitution: 24 August 2007

Legal system: civil law system with common law influences

International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

Citizenship

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Executive branch
Chief of state: King PHUMIPHON Adunyadet also spelled BHUMIBOL Adulyadej
Head of government: Prime Minister YINGLAK Chinnawat also spelled YINGLUCK Shinawatra (since 8 August 2011); Deputy Prime Minister CHALERM Yubamrung (since 10 August 2011); Deputy Prime Minister CHUMPHON Sinlapa-acha also spelled CHUMPOL SILPA-archa (since 10 August 2011); Deputy Prime Minister KITTIRAT Na Ranong (since 10 August 2011); Deputy Prime Minister KOWIT Wattana (since 10 August 2011); Deputy Prime Minister YONGYUT Wichaidit (10 August 2011)
Cabinet: Council of Ministers
Note: there is also a Privy Council advising the king
Elections: the monarchy is hereditary; according to 2007 constitution the prime minister is elected from among members of House of Representatives; following national elections for House of Representatives the leader of the party positioned to organize a majority coalition usually becomes prime minister by appointment by the king; the prime minister is limited to two four-year terms

Legislative branch: bicameral National Assembly or Rathasapha consisted of the Senate or Wuthisapha (150 seats; 76 members elected by popular vote representing 76 provinces 74 appointed by judges and independent government bodies; members serve six-year terms) and the House of Representatives or Sapha Phuthaen Ratsadon (500 seats; 375 members elected from 157 multi-seat constituencies and 125 elected on proportional party-list basis; members serve four-year terms)
Elections: Senate - last held on 2 March 2008 (next to be held in March 2014); House of Representatives - last election held on 3 July 2011 (next to be held by July 2015)
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 - PTP 265 DP 159 PJT 34 CTP 19 others 15
Note: 74 senators were appointed on 19 February 2008 by a seven-member committee headed by the chief of the Constitutional Court; 76 senators were elected on 2 March 2008; elections to the Senate are non-partisan; registered political party members are disqualified from being senators

Judicial branch: Constitutional Court Supreme Court of Justice and Supreme Administrative Court; all judges are appointed by the king; the king's appointments to the Constitutional Courtare made upon the advice of the Senate; the nine Constitutional Court judges are drawn from the Supreme Court of Justice and Supreme Administrative Court as well as from among substantive experts in

Political parties and leaders: Chat Pattana Party or CPN (Nation Development Party [WANNARAT Channukun]; Chat Thai Phattana Party or CTP (Thai Nation Development Party) [CHUMPON Silpa-archa]; Phalang Chon Party (Chonburi Power Party) [CHAO Manivong]; Phumjai (Bhumjai) Thai Party or PJT (Thai Pride) [CHAWARAT Chanvirakun]; Prachathipat Party or DP (Democrat Party) [ABHISIT Wechachiwa also spelled ABHISIT Vejjajiva]; Puea Thai Party (For Thais Party) or PTP [YONGYUTH Wichaidit]; Rak Prathet Thai Party (Love Thailand Party) [YONGYUTH Wichaidit]

International organization participation: ADB APEC ARF ASEAN BIMSTEC BIS CICA CP EAS FAO G-77 IAEA IBRD ICAO ICC ICRM IDA IFAD IFC IFRCS IHO ILO IMF IMO IMSO Interpol IOC IOM IPU ISO ITSO ITU ITUC MIGA NAM OAS (observer) OIC (observer) OIF (observer) OPCW OSCE (partner) PCA PIF (partner) UN UNAMID UNCTAD UNESCO UNHCR UNIDO UNWTO UPU WCO WFTU WHO WIPO WMO WTO

Diplomatic representation
In the us chief of mission: Ambassador Kittiphong Na RANONG
In the us chancery: 1024 Wisconsin Avenue NW Suite 401 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 consulate general: Chicago Los Angeles New York
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador Kristie A. KENNEY
From the us embassy: 120-122 Wireless Road Bangkok 10,330
From the us mailing address: APO AP 96,546
From the us telephone: [66] (2) 205-4,000
From the us fax: [66] (2) 254-2,990 205-4,131
From the us consulate general: Chiang Mai

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

National symbols: garuda (mythical half-man half-bird figure); elephant

National anthem
Name: 'Phleng Chat Thai'
Lyricsmusic: LUANG Saranuprapan/PHRA Jenduriyang
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 heritage


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Economy overview: With a well-developed infrastructure a free-enterprise economy generally pro-investment policies and strong export industries Thailand enjoyed solid growth from 2000 to 2007 - averaging more than 4% per year - as it recovered from the Asian financial crisis of 1997-98. Thai exports - mostly machinery and electronic components agricultural commodities and jewelry - continue to drive the economy accounting for more than half of GDP. The global financial crisis of 2008-09 severely cut Thailand's exports with most sectors experiencing double-digit drops. In 2009 the economy contracted 2.2%. In 2010 Thailand's economy expanded 7.6% its fastest pace since 1995 as exports rebounded from their depressed 2009 level. Antigovernment protests during March-May and the country's polarized political situation had - at most - a temporary impact on business and consumer confidence. Although tourism was hit hard during the protests its quick recovery helped boost consumer confidence to new highs. Moreover business and investor sentiment remained buoyant as Thailand's stock market grew almost 5% during the three-month period. The economy probably will continue to experience high grow well into 2011.

Real gdp purchasing power parity:
Rank: 25
Note: data are in 2010 US dollars

Real gdp growth rate:
Rank: 21

Real gdp per capita:
Rank: 117
Note: data are in 2010 US dollars

Gross national saving

Gdp composition by end use

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 12.4%
Industry: 44.7%
Services: 43% (2010 est.)

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 and electric appliances computers and parts integrated circuits furniture plastics automobiles and automotive parts; world's second-largest tungsten producer and third-largest tin producer

Industrial production growth rate: 14.4% (2010 est.)
Rank: 10

Labor force: 38.64 million (2010 est.)
Rank: 16
By occupation agriculture: 42.4%
By occupation industry: 19.7%
By occupation services: 37.9% (2008 est.)

Unemployment rate: 1.5% (2009 est.)
Rank: 6

Youth unemployment

Population below poverty line: 9.6% (2006 est.)

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share
Lowest 10: 1.6%
Highest 10: 42.6% (2009)

Distribution of family income gini index: 42 (2002)
Rank: 14

Budget
Revenues: $58.1 billion
Expenditures: $62.16 billion (2010 est.)
Surplus or deficit: -1.3% of GDP (2010 est.)
Surplus or deficit rank: 62

Taxes and other revenues: 18.2% of GDP (2010 est.)
Rank: 170

Public debt: 44.9% of GDP (2009 est.)
Rank: 64

Revenue

Fiscal year

Inflation rate consumer prices: -0.9% (2009 est.)
Rank: 111

Central bank discount rate: 1.75% (31 December 2009 est.)
Rank: 122

Commercial bank prime lending rate: 5.963% (31 December 2009 est.)
Rank: 150

Stock of narrow money: $35.25 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Rank: 48

Stock of broad money: $318.6 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Rank: 24

Stock of domestic credit: $300.6 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Rank: 31

Market value of publicly traded shares:
Rank: 33

Current account balance: $21.86 billion (2009)
Rank: 24

Exports: $150.7 billion (2009 est.)
Rank: 26
Commodities: textiles and footwear fishery products rice rubber jewelry automobiles computers and electrical appliances
Partners: China 11% Japan 10.5% US 10.4% Hong Kong 6.7% Malaysia 5.4% Australia 4.8% Singapore 4.6% (2010)

Imports: $118 billion (2009 est.)
Rank: 26
Commodities: capital goods intermediate goods and raw materials consumer goods fuels
Partners: Japan 20.8% China 13.3% US 5.9% Malaysia 5.9% UAE 4.7% South Korea 4.4% (2010)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $138.4 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Rank: 13

Debt external: $74.05 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
Rank: 40

Stock of direct foreign investment at home: $109.6 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Rank: 31

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad: $18.16 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Rank: 39

Exchange rates:


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Electricity
Production: 139 billion kWh (2008 est.)
Production rank: 25
Consumption: 131.6 billion kWh (2008 est.)
Consumption rank: 25
Exports: 1.979 billion kWh (2009 est.)
Imports: 2.313 billion kWh (2009 est.)

Coal

Petroleum

Crude oil

Refined petroleum

Natural gas
Production: 30.88 billion m³ (2009 est.)
Production rank: 26
Consumption: 39.17 billion m³ (2009 est.)
Consumption rank: 23
Exports: 0 m³ (2009 est.)
Exports rank: 185
Imports: 8.29 billion m³ (2009 est.)
Imports rank: 27
Proven reserves: 312.2 billion m³ (1 January 2011 est.)
Proven reserves rank: 38

Carbon dioxide emissions

Energy consumption per capita


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Telephones
Main lines in use: 7.009 million (2010)
Main lines in use rank: 27
Mobile cellular: 69.683 million (2010)
Mobile cellular rank: 17

Telephone system
General assessment: high quality system especially in urban areas like Bangkok
Domestic: fixed line system provided by both a government owned and commercial provider; wireless service expanding rapidly
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)

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 are all 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
Hosts: 1.335 million (2010)
Hosts rank: 37
Users: 17.483 million (2009)
Users rank: 23

Broadband fixed subscriptions


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Military expenditures: 1.8% of GDP (2005 est.)
Rank: 83

Military and security forces

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 (2009)

Space program

Terrorist groups


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National air transport system

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Airports: 105 (2010)
Rank: 55
With paved runways total: 64
With paved runways over 3047 m: 8
With paved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 11
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 24
With paved runways 914 to 1523 m: 15
With paved runways under 914 m: 6 (2010)
With unpaved runways total: 41
With unpaved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 1
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 13
With unpaved runways under 914 m: 27 (2010)

Heliports: 4 (2010)

Pipelines: gas 1889 km; liquid petroleum gas 85 km; refined products 1099 km (2010)

Railways
Total: 4,071 km
Rank: 42
Standard gauge: 29 km 1.435-m gauge (29 km electrified)
Narrow gauge: 4,042 km 1.000-m gauge (2010)

Roadways
Total: 180,053 km (2006)
Rank: 27

Waterways: 4,000 km (3,701 km navigable by boats with drafts up to 0.9 m) (2010)
Rank: 27

Merchant marine
Total: 382
Rank: 27
By type: bulk carrier 30 cargo 116 chemical tanker 23 container 19 liquefied gas 36 passenger 1 passenger/cargo 10 petroleum tanker 120 refrigerated cargo 27
Foreign owned: 15 (China 1 Hong Kong 1 Japan 2 Malaysia 3 Singapore 1 Taiwan 1 UK 6)
Registered in other countries: 41 (Bahamas 4 Panama 6 Singapore 30 Tuvalu 1) (2010)

Ports and terminals: Bangkok Laem Chabang Map Ta Phut Prachuap Port Si Racha


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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; 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 and as of 2006 over 116,000 Karen Hmong and other refugees and asylum seekers from Burma; 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

Refugees and internally displaced persons
Refugees: 132,241 (Burma) (2007)

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 19