Thailand Population: 65,998,436
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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 following the conflict. A military coup in September 2006 ousted then Prime Minister THAKSIN Chinnawat. The interim government held elections in December 2007 that saw the former pro-THAKSIN People's Power Party (PPP) emerge at the head of a coalition government. The anti-THAKSIN People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) in May 2008 began street demonstrations against the new government, eventually occupying the prime minister's office in August. Clashes in October 2008 between PAD protesters blocking parliament and police resulted in the death of at least two people. The PAD occupied Bangkok's two international airports briefly, ending their protests in early December 2008 following a court ruling that dissolved the ruling PPP and two other coalition parties for election violations. The Democrat Party then formed a new coalition government with the support of some of THAKSIN's former political allies, and ABHISIT Wetchachiwa became prime minister. 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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| Geography | |
| Controls only land route from Asia to Malaysia and Singapore | |
| Location: | Southeastern Asia, bordering the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand, southeast of Burma |
| Geographic coordinates: | 15 00 N, 100 00 E |
| Area: |
total: 513,120 sq km
land:
510,890 sq km
water:
2,230 sq km
Size comparison: slightly more than twice the size of Wyoming |
| Land Boundaries: | total: 4,863 km border countries: Burma 1,800 km, Cambodia 803 km, Laos 1,754 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 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: | 49,860 sq km (2003) |
| Natural hazards: | land subsidence in Bangkok area resulting from the depletion of the water table; droughts |
| Current Environment Issues: | air pollution from vehicle emissions; water pollution from organic and factory wastes; deforestation; soil erosion; wildlife populations threatened by illegal hunting |
| International Environment 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 |
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| People | |
| Population: | 65,998,436 country comparison to the world: 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 (July 2009 est.) |
| Age structure: | 0-14 years: 20.8% (male 7,009,845/female 6,691,470) 15-64 years: 70.5% (male 22,977,945/female 23,512,538) 65 years and over: 8.7% (male 2,594,387/female 3,119,225) (2009 est.) |
| Median age: | total: 33.3 years male: 32.4 years female: 34.2 years (2009 est.) |
| Population growth rate: | 0.626% (2009 est.) |
| Birth rate: | 13.38 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) |
| Death rate: | 7.12 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) |
| Net migration rate: | NA (2009 est.) |
| 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: 0.83 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2009 est.) |
| Infant mortality rate: | total: 17.48 deaths/1,000 live births male: 18.48 deaths/1,000 live births female: 16.43 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.) |
| Life expectancy at birth: | total population: 73.1 years male: 70.77 years female: 75.55 years (2009 est.) |
| Total fertility rate: | 1.65 children born/woman (2009 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: | 1.4% (2007 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: | 610,000 (2007 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - deaths: | 30,000 (2007 est.) |
| Nationality: | noun: Thai (singular and plural) adjective: Thai |
| Ethnic groups: | Thai 75%, Chinese 14%, other 11% |
| Religions: | Buddhist 94.6%, Muslim 4.6%, Christian 0.7%, other 0.1% (2000 census) |
| Languages: | Thai, English (secondary language of the elite), ethnic and regional dialects |
| Literacy: | definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 92.6% male: 94.9% female: 90.5% (2000 census) |
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| Government | |
| 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: | 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 |
| Independence: | 1238 (traditional founding date; never colonized) |
| National holiday: | Birthday of King PHUMIPHON (BHUMIBOL), 5 December (1927) |
| Constitution: | 24 August 2007 |
| Legal system: | based on civil law system with influences of common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction |
| Suffrage: | 18 years of age; universal and compulsory |
| Executive branch: | chief of state: King PHUMIPHON Adunyadet, also spelled BHUMIBOL Adulyadej (since 9 June 1946) head of government: Prime Minister ABHISIT Wetchachiwa, also spelled ABHISIT Vejjajiva (since 17 December 2008); Deputy Prime Minister SANAN Kachornprasat, also spelled SANAN Kachornparsart (since 7 February 2008); Deputy Prime Minister SUTHEP Thueaksuban, also spelled SUTHEP Thaugsuban (since 22 December 2008); Deputy Prime Minister TRAIRONG Suwannakhiri (since 18 January 2010) cabinet: Council of Ministers note: there is also a Privy Council advising the king elections: the monarch 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 appintment 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; all serve six-year terms) and the House of Representatives or Sapha Phuthaen Ratsadon (480 seats; 400 members elected from 157 multi-seat constituencies and 80 elected on proportional party-list basis of 10 per eight zones or groupings of provinces; all 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 23 December 2007 (next to be held by December 2011) 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 - PPP 233, DP 164, TNP 34, Motherland 24, Middle Way 11, Unity 9, Royalist People's 5; following the PPP's dissolution in December 2008, most of the party's seats were assumed by its successor, the Phuea Thai Party 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 law and social sciences outside the judiciary |
| Political parties and leaders: | Chat Thai Phattana Party or CP (Thai Nation Development Party) [CHUMPON Silpa-archa]; Democrat Party or DP (Prachathipat Party) [ABHISIT Wetchachiwa, also spelled ABHISIT Vejjajiva]; Motherland Party (Phuea Phaendin Party) [CHANCHAI Chairungrueng]; Phuea Thai Party (For Thais Party) or PTP [CHAWALIT Yongchaiyut]; Phumchai (Bhumjai) Thai Party or PCT (Thai Pride) [CHAWARAT Chanvirakun]; Royalist People's Party (Pracharaj) [SANOH Thienthong]; Ruam Jai Thai Party (Thai Unity Party) [WANNARAT Channukun] |
| Political pressure groups and leaders: | People's Alliance for Democracy or PAD; United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship or UDD |
| International organization participation: | ADB, APEC, APT, ARF, ASEAN, BIMSTEC, BIS, CICA, CP, EAS, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), 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, UNMIS, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO |
| Diplomatic representation in the US: | chief of mission: Ambassador DON Pramudwinai chancery: 1024 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Suite 401, Washington, DC 20007 telephone: [1] (202) 944-3600 FAX: [1] (202) 944-3611 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, New York |
| Diplomatic representation from the US: | chief of mission: Ambassador Eric G. JOHN embassy: 120-122 Wireless Road, Bangkok 10330 mailing address: APO AP 96546 telephone: [66] (2) 205-4000 FAX: [66] (2) 254-2990, 205-4131 consulate(s) general: Chiang Mai |
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| Economy | |
| With a well-developed infrastructure, a free-enterprise economy, generally pro-investment policies, and strong export industries, Thailand enjoyed solid growth from 2000 to 2004 - averaging more than 4% per year - as it recovered from the Asian financial crisis of 1997-98. Since 2005, however, a prolonged political crisis has weakened the economy; average annual growth dipped to a little more than 3% from 2005 to 2008. Investor and consumer confidence eroded, and Thailand's international image was damaged. Thai exports - mostly machinery and electronic components, agricultural commodities, and jewelry - continued to drive the economy, accounting for as much as three-quarters of GDP. The global financial crisis of 2008-09 severely cut Thailand's exports, however, with most sectors experiencing double-digit drops. In 2009, the economy contracted about 3.5%. The Thai government is focusing on financing domestic infrastructure projects and stimulus programs to revive the economy, as external trade remains weak and the persistent internal political crisis dampens foreign direct investment prospects. | |
| GDP (purchasing power parity): | GDP (purchasing power parity): $535.8 billion (2009 est.) $555.3 billion (2008 est.) $541.2 billion (2007 est.) note: data are in 2009 US dollars |
| GDP (official exchange rate): | GDP (official exchange rate): $266.4 billion (2009 est.) |
| GDP - real growth rate: | -3.5% (2009 est.) 2.6% (2008 est.) 4.9% (2007 est.) |
| GDP - per capita (PPP): | GDP - per capita (PPP): $8,100 (2009 est.) $8,500 (2008 est.) $8,300 (2007 est.) note: data are in 2009 US dollars |
| GDP - composition by sector: | agriculture: 12.3% industry: 44% services: 43.7% (2009 est.) |
| Labor force: | 38.06 million (2009 est.) |
| Labor force - by occupation: | agriculture: 42.6% industry: 20.2% services: 37.1% (2005 est.) |
| Unemployment rate: | 2.7% (2009 est.) 1.4% (2007 est.) |
| Population below poverty line: | 10% (2004 est.) |
| Household income or consumption by percentage share: | lowest 10%: 2.6% highest 10%: 33.7% (2004) |
| Distribution of family income - Gini index: | 42 (2002) |
| Inflation rate (consumer prices): | Inflation rate (consumer prices): -0.9% (2009 est.) 5.5% (2008 est.) |
| Investment (gross fixed): | Investment (gross fixed): 24.2% of GDP (2009 est.) |
| Budget: | revenues: $39.66 billion expenditures: $54.11 billion (2009 est.) |
| Public debt: | 49.4% of GDP (2009 est.) 37.9% of GDP (2008 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: | -8.7% (2009 est.) |
| Electricity - production: | 135.2 billion kWh (2007 est.) |
| Electricity - consumption: | 129.5 billion kWh (2007 est.) |
| Electricity - exports: | 773 million kWh (2008 est.) |
| Electricity - imports: | 2.784 billion kWh (2008 est.) |
| Oil - production: | 361,300 bbl/day (2008 est.) |
| Oil - consumption: | 942,000 bbl/day (2008 est.) |
| Oil - exports: | 216,400 bbl/day (2007 est.) |
| Oil - imports: | 826,000 bbl/day (2007 est.) |
| Oil - proved reserves: | 441 million bbl (1 January 2009 est.) |
| Natural gas - production: | 28.76 billion cu m (2008 est.) |
| Natural gas - consumption: | 37.31 billion cu m (2008 est.) |
| Natural gas - exports: | 0 cu m (2008 est.) |
| Natural gas - imports: | 8.55 billion cu m (2008 est.) |
| Natural gas - proved reserves: | 317.1 billion cu m (1 January 2009 est.) |
| Current account balance: | $14.66 billion (2009 est.) $-113 million (2008 est.) |
| Exports: | $136.6 billion (2009 est.) $175.3 billion (2008 est.) |
| Exports - commodities: | textiles and footwear, fishery products, rice, rubber, jewelry, automobiles, computers and electrical appliances |
| Exports - partners: | US 11.4%, Japan 11.4%, China 9.2%, Singapore 5.7%, Hong Kong 5.6%, Malaysia 5.6%, Australia 4.3% (2008) |
| Imports: | $106.4 billion (2009 est.) $157.3 billion (2008 est.) |
| Imports - commodities: | capital goods, intermediate goods and raw materials, consumer goods, fuels |
| Imports - partners: | Japan 18.8%, China 11.2%, US 6.4%, UAE 6%, Malaysia 5.5%, Saudi Arabia 4.1%, Singapore 4% (2008) |
| Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: | $128.7 billion (31 December 2009 est.) $111 billion (31 December 2008 est.) |
| Debt - external: | $60.65 billion (31 December 2009 est.) $65.09 billion (31 December 2008 est.) |
| Stock of direct foreign investment - at home: | $NA (31 December 2009 est.) $80.83 billion (2007 est.) |
| Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad: | $7.013 billion (2007 est.) |
| Market value of publicly traded shares: | $102.6 billion (31 December 2008) $196 billion (31 December 2007) $141.1 billion (31 December 2006) |
| Exchange rates: | baht per US dollar - 34.318 (2009), 33.37 (2008), 34.52 (2007), 37.882 (2006), 40.22 (2005) |
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| Communications | |
| Telephones in use: | 7.024 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 26 |
| Cellular Phones in use: | 62 million (2008) |
| 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 and outpacing fixed lines 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) |
| Radio broadcast stations: | AM 238, FM 351, shortwave 6 (2007) |
| Television broadcast stations: | 111 (2006) |
| Internet country code: | .th |
| Internet hosts: | 1.231 million (2009) |
| Internet users: | 16.1 million (2008) |
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| Transportation | |
| Airports: | 105 (2009) country comparison to the world: 56 |
| Airports (paved runways): | total: 64 over 3,047 m: 8 2,438 to 3,047 m: 11 1,524 to 2,437 m: 24 914 to 1,523 m: 15 under 914 m: 6 (2009) |
| Airports (unpaved runways): | total: 41 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 13 under 914 m: 27 (2009) |
| Heliports: | 4 (2009) |
| Pipelines: | gas 1,348 km; refined products 323 km (2008) |
| Railways: | total: 4,071 km standard gauge: 29 km 1.435-m gauge narrow gauge: 4,042 km 1.000-m gauge (2008) |
| Roadways: | total: 180,053 km (includes 450 km of expressways) (2006) |
| Waterways: | 4,000 km note: 3,701 km navigable by boats with drafts up to 0.9 m (2008) |
| Merchant marine: | total: 398 by type: bulk carrier 53, cargo 135, chemical tanker 15, container 22, liquefied gas 28, passenger/cargo 10, petroleum tanker 100, refrigerated cargo 32, specialized tanker 2, vehicle carrier 1 foreign-owned: 16 (China 1, Japan 4, Malaysia 3, Singapore 2, Taiwan 1, UK 5) registered in other countries: 40 (Bahamas 5, Mongolia 1, Panama 10, Singapore 23, Tuvalu 1) (2008) |
| Ports and terminals: | Bangkok, Laem Chabang, Prachuap Port, Si Racha |
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| Military | |
| Military branches: | Royal Thai Army (Kongthap Bok Thai, RTA), Royal Thai Navy (Kongthap Ruea Thai, RTN, includes Royal Thai Marine Corps), Royal Thai Air Force (Kongtap Agard Thai, RTAF) (2009) |
| Military service age and obligation: | 21 years of age for compulsory military service; 18 years of age for voluntary military service; males are registered at 18 years of age; 2-year conscript service obligation (2007) |
| Manpower available for military service: | males age 16-49: 17,553,410 females age 16-49: 17,751,268 (2008 est.) |
| Manpower fit for military service: | males age 16-49: 13,086,106 females age 16-49: 14,126,398 (2009 est.) |
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