Thailand Statistics

:: Location
Southeastern Asia, bordering the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand, southeast of Burma.
:: Geographic coordinates
15 00 N, 100 00 E
:: Map references
Southeast Asia
:: 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
:: 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
Continental 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
:: 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
:: Land use
Arable land: 34%
Permanent crops: 6%
Permanent pastures: 2%
Forests and woodland: 26%
Other: 32% (1993 est.)
:: Irrigated land
44,000 sq km (1993 est.)
:: Natural hazards
Land subsidence in Bangkok area resulting from the depletion of the water table; droughts.
:: 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
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: Climate Change, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94.
:: Signed, but not ratified: Biodiversity, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Law of the Sea.
Geography-note: controls only land route from Asia to Malaysia and Singapore.
= People =
:: Population (December 2007 est.)
Total : 63,038,247
Male : 31,095,942
Female : 31,942,305
:: Age structure (December 2007 est.)
0-14 years: 21% (total : 12,924,777, male 6,640,218; female 6,284,559)
15-64 years: 70% (total : 43,904,274, male 21,581,405; female 22,322,869)
65 years and over: 9% (total : 4,710,969, male 2,048,169; female 2,662,800)
:: Population growth rate
0.64% (2007 est.)
:: Birth rate
12.87 births/1,000 population (2007 est.)
:: Death rate
6.32 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.)
:: Net migration rate
56.80 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.)
:: Sex ratio
Under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.7731 male(s)/female
Total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2007 est.)
:: Infant mortality rate
23 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)
:: Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 71 years
Male: 68 years
Female: 75 years (2007 est.)
:: Total fertility rate
1.6 children born/woman (2005 est.)
:: Nationality
Noun: Thai (singular and plural)
Adjective: Thai
:: Ethnic groups
Thai 80%, Chinese 15%, other 5%
:: Religions
Buddhism 95%, Muslim 3.8%, Christianity 0.5%, Hinduism 0.1%, other 0.6% (2007)
:: Languages
Thai, English (secondary language of the elite), ethnic and regional dialects
:: Literacy
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 93.8%
Male: 96%
Female: 91.6% (2007 est.)
= Government =
:: Country name
Conventional long form: Kingdom of Thailand
Conventional short form: Thailand
:: Data code
TH
:: Government type
Constitutional monarchy
:: Capital
Bangkok
:: Administrative divisions
76 provinces (changwat , singular and plural);
1.Amnat Charoen 20.Loei 39.Phatthalung 58.Samut Songkhram 2.Ang Thong 21.Lop Buri 40.Phayao 59.Sara Buri 3. Buriram 22.Mae Hong Son 41.Phetchabun 60.Satun 4.Chachoengsao 23.Maha Sarakham 42.Phetchaburi 61.Sing Buri 5.Chai Nat 24.Mukdahan 43.Phichit 62.Sisaket 6.Chaiyaphum 25.Nakhon Nayok 44.Phitsanulok 63.Samut Songkhram 7.Chanthaburi 26.Nakhon Pathom 45.Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya 64.Sukhothai 8.Chiang Mai 27.Nakhon Phanom 46.Phrae 65.Suphan Buri 9.Chon Buri 28.Nakhon Ratchasima 47.Phuket 66.Surat Thani 10.Chon Buri 29.Nakhon Sawan 48.Prachin Buri 67.Surin 11.Chumphon 30.Nakhon Si Thammarat 49.Prachuap Khiri Khan 68.Tak 12.Kalasin 31.Nan 50.Ranong 69.Trang 13.Kamphaeng Phet 32.Narathiwat 51.Ratchaburi 70.Trat 14.Kanchanaburi 33.Nong Bua Lamphu 52.Rayong 71.Ubon Ratchathani 15.Khon Kaen 34.Nong Khai 53.Roi Et 72.Udon Thani 16.Krabi 35.Nonthaburi 54.Sa Kaeo 73.Uthai Thani 17.Krung Thep Mahanakhon (Bangkok) 36.Pathum Thani 55.Sakon Nakhon 74.Uttaradit 18.Lampang 37.Pattani 56.Samut Prakan 75.Yala 19.Lamphun 38.Phangnga 57.Samut Sakhon 76.Yasothon
:: Independence
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
:: Suffrage
18 years of age; universal and compulsory
:: Executive branch
Chief of state: King PHUMIPHON Adunyadet (since 9 June 1946)
Head of government: Prime Minister SAMAK Sundaravej (since 29 January 2008)
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 branch
Bicameral National Assembly or Rathasapha consists of the Senate or Wuthisapha (a 253-member appointed body which will be phased into a 200-member elected body starting in March 2000; members serve six-year terms) and the House of Representatives or Sapha Phuthaen Ratsadon (currently has 391 members, but will become a 500-member body after the next election; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
Lections: House of Representatives-last held 17 November 1996 (next scheduled to 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
:: Judicial branch
Supreme Court (Sandika), judges appointed by the monarch
:: Political parties and leaders
Parties Leader 1. People's Power Party (Palang Prachachon Party) Samak Sundaravej 2. Democrat Party (Prachathipat Party) Abhisit Vejjajiva 3. Thai Nation Party (Chart Thai Party) Banharn Silpa-Archa 4. Great People's Party (Mahachon Party) Sanan Kachonprasat 5. Royalist People's Party (Pracha Raj Party) Sanoh Thienthong 6. Thais United National Development Party (Ruam Jai Thai Chat Pattana Party) Chettha Thanajarong 7. Natural Democratic Party (Matchima Thippathai Party) Anongwan Thepsuthin 8. For the Motherland (Pua Paendin Party) Suwit Khunkitti
:: International 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, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMIBH, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
:: Flag description
Five horizontal bands of red (top), white, blue (double width), white, and red
=  Economy =
:: Economy Overview
After months of speculative pressure on the Thai Baht, the government decided to float the currency in July 1997, the symbolic beginning of the country's current economic crisis. The crisis which began in the country's financial sector has spread throughout the economy. After years of rapid economic growth averaging 9% earlier this decade, the Thai economy contracted 0.4% in 1997 and shrunk another 8.5% in 1998. In the years before the crisis, Thailand ran persistent current account deficits. With the depreciation of the Thai Baht and the collapse of domestic demand, however, imports have fallen off sharply by more than 33% and Thailand posted a trade surplus of approximately $12 billion in 1998. Foreign investment for new projects, the long-time catalyst of Thailand's economic growth, has also slowed. The CHUAN government has closely adhered to the economic recovery program prescribed by the IMF. The cooperation afforded Thailand stability in the value of its currency in the second half of 1998 and helped replenish foreign reserves. Tough measures including passage of adequate bankruptcy and foreclosure legislation as well as privatization of state-owned companies and recapitalization of the financial sector remain undone. Bangkok is also trying to establish a social safety net for those displaced by the current economic crisis and is working to increase the quality of Thailand's labor force.
:: GDP
Purchasing power parity-$369 billion (1998 est.)
GDP-real growth rate: -8.5% (1998 est.)
GDP-per capita: purchasing power parity-$6,100 (1998 est.)
GDP-composition by sector:
Agriculture: 12%
Industry: 39%
Services: 49% (1997 est.)
:: Population below poverty line
13.1% (1992 est.)
:: Communications
Telephones
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)
:: Radio broadcast stations
AM 200 (in government-controlled network), FM 100 (in government-controlled network), shortwave
:: Radios
10.75 million (1992 est.)
:: Television broadcast stations
6 (all in Bangkok; in addition, there are 131 repeaters) (2008 est.)
:: Televisions
3.3 million (1993 est.)
= Transportation =
:: Railways
Total: 4,623 km
Narrow gauge: 4,623 km 1.000-m gauge (99 km double track)
:: Highways
Total: 64,600 km
Paved: 62,985 km
Unpaved: 1,615 km (1996 est.)
:: Waterways
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.
:: Pipelines
Petroleum products 67 km; natural gas 350 km
:: Ports and harbors
Bangkok, Laem Chabang, Pattani, Phuket, Sattahip, Si Racha, Songkhla
:: Merchant marine
Total: 293 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,848,626 GRT/2,989,382 DWT
Ships by type: bulk 41, cargo 135, chemical tanker 5, combination bulk 1, container 13, liquefied gas tanker 17, multifunction large-load carrier 3, oil tanker 61, passenger 1, refrigerated cargo 11, roll-on/roll-off cargo 2, short-sea passenger 1, specialized tanker 2 (1998 est.)
:: Airports
107 (1998 est.)
:: Airports with paved runways
Total: 56
Over 3,047 m: 6
2,438 to 3,047 m: 9
1,524 to 2,437 m: 17
914 to 1,523 m: 20
Under 914 m: 4 (1998 est.)
:: Airports - with unpaved runways
Total: 51
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 15
Under 914 m: 35 (1998 est.)
:: Heliports
3 (1998 est.)
=  Military =
Military branches
Royal Thai Army, Royal Thai Navy includes Royal Thai Marine Corps), Royal Thai Air Force, Paramilitary Forces
:: Military manpower - military age
18 years of age
:: Military manpower - availability
Males age 15-49: 17,486,014 (1999 est.)
:: Military manpower - fit for military service
Males age 15-49: 10,536,417 (1999 est.)
:: Military manpower - reaching military age annually
Males: 585,562 (1999 est.)
:: Military expenditures - dollar figure
$1.95 billion (FY97/98)
:: Military expenditures - percent of GDP
2.5% (FY97/98)
= Transnational Issues =
:: Disputes - 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
:: Illicit 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.