Thailand

Kingdom of Thailand

constitutional monarchyIndependence 1238 (traditional founding date

Thailand as the 1993 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 78 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.

field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe open editionEach field below ends in its editions, 1990 to 2025. Point at a year above to follow it down.

CapitalBangkok

Area514,000 km2

LocationSoutheast Asia, bordering the Gulf of Thailand, between Burma and Cambodia

Populationas each edition published it

58.72 million July 1993 est. · 55.12m in 1990

Population growth% a year

1.36% 1993 est. · 0.13% in 2025

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 30.1 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

68.28 years 1993 est. · 78.2 yrs in 2025

Fertility ratechildren per woman

2.16 children per woman 1993 est. · 2.1 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

38.5 deaths per 1,000 live births 1993 est. · 34 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$1,800 1992 est. · $21,700 in 2025

GDP real growth% a year

7% 1992 est. · 2.5% in 2025

Geography

Southeast Asia, bordering the Gulf of Thailand, between Burma and Cambodia

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Area

514,000km2

land area: 511,770 km2comparative area: slightly more than twice the size of Wyoming

Coastline

3,219km

exclusive economic zone: 200 nmterritorial sea: 12 nm

Land boundaries

4,863km

total · Burma 1,800 km, Cambodia 803 km, Laos 1,754 km, Malaysia 506 km

Irrigated land

42,300km2

(1989 est.)

Location

Southeast Asia, bordering the Gulf of Thailand, between Burma and Cambodia

Map references

Asia, Southeast Asia, Standard Time Zones of the World

International disputes

boundary dispute with Laos; unresolved maritime boundary with Vietnam

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;
eastern plateau (Khorat);
mountains elsewhere

Natural resources

tin, rubber, natural gas, tungsten, tantalum, timber, lead, fish, gypsum, lignite, fluorite

Land use

arable land:: 34%
permanent crops:: 4%
meadows and pastures:: 1% forest and woodland: 30%
other:: 31%

Environment

air and water pollution; land subsidence in Bangkok area

Note

controls only land route from Asia to Malaysia and Singapore

People

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Population

58,722,437

(July 1993 est.)growth rate: 1.36% (1993 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1993 est.)

Birth

19.97Death

6.33Net migration

Male · female(1993 est.)

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years68.28

65.05 · 71.66

TotalMale · femaleLiteracy93%

96% · 90%

MaleFemaleLiteracy age 15 and over can read and write (1990)

Ethnic divisions

Thai 75%Chinese 14%other 11%

Religions(1991)

Buddhism 95%Muslim 3.8%Christianity 0.5%Hinduism 0.1%other 0.6% (1991)

Labor force

30.87million

by occupation: agriculture 62%, industry 13%, commerce 11%, services (including government) 14% (1989 est.)

Infant mortality rate

38.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)

Nationality

noun:: Thai (singular and plural)
adjective:: Thai

Languages

Thai, English the secondary language of the elite, ethnic and regional dialects

Government

Constitutional monarchy

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Names

conventional long form:: Kingdom of Thailand
conventional short form:: Thailand

73 provinces (changwat, singular and plural); Ang Thong, Buriram, Chachoengsao, Chai Nat, Chaiyaphum, Changwat Mukdahan, Chanthaburi, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Chon Buri, Chumphon, Kalasin, Kamphaeng Phet, Kanchanaburi, Khon Kaen, Krabi, Krung Thep Mahanakhon, Lampang, Lamphun, Loei, Lop Buri, Mae Hong Son, Maha Sarakham, Nakhon Nayok, Nakhon Pathom, Nakhon Phanom, Nakhon Ratchasima, Nakhon Sawan, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Nan, Narathiwat, 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, 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)

Constitution

22 December 1978;
new constitution approved 7 December 1991;
amended 10 June 1992

Legal system

based on civil law system, with influences of common law;
has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction;
martial law in effect since 23 February 1991 military coup

National holiday

Birthday of His Majesty the King, 5 December (1927)

Political parties and leaders

Democrat Party (DP), Chuan LIKPHAI; Thai Nation Pary (TNP or Chat Thai Party), Praman ADIREKSAN; National Development Party (NDP or Chat Phattana), Chatchai CHUNHAWAN; New Aspiration Party, Gen. Chawalit YONGCHAIYUT; Phalang Tham (Palang Dharma), Bunchu ROTCHANASATIEN; Social Action Party (SAP), Montri PHONGPHANIT;

Liberal Democratic Party (LDP or Seri Tham), Athit URAIRAT; Solidarity Party (SP), Uthai PHIMCHAICHON; Mass Party (Muanchon), Pol. Cpt. Choem YUBAMRUNG; Thai Citizen's Party (Prachakon Thai), Samak SUNTHONWET; People's Party (Ratsadon), Chaiphak SIRIWAT; People's Force Party (Phalang Prachachon), Col. Sophon HANCHAREON

Suffrage

21 years of age; universal

Elections

House of Representatives:: last held 13 September 1992 (next to be held by NA);
results - percent of vote by party NA;
seats - (360 total) DP 79, TNP 77, NDP 60, NAP 51, Phalang Tham 47, SAP 22, LDP 8, SP 8, Mass Party 4, Thai Citizen's Party 3, People's Party 1, People's Force Party 0

Executive branch

monarch, prime minister, four deputy prime ministers, Council of Ministers (cabinet), Privy Council

Legislative branch

bicameral National Assembly (Rathasatha) consists of an upper house or Senate (Vuthisatha) and a lower house or House of Representatives (Saphaphoothan-Rajsadhorn)

Judicial branch

Supreme Court (Sarndika)

Leaders

Chief of State:: King PHUMIPHON Adunyadet (since 9 June 1946); Heir Apparent Crown Prince WACHIRALONGKON (born 28 July 1952)
Head of Government:: Prime Minister CHUAN Likphai (since 23 September 1992)

Member of

APEC, AsDB, ASEAN, CCC, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LORCS, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNTAC, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO

Diplomatic representation in US

chief of mission:: Ambassador-designate PHIRAPHONG Kasemsi
chancery:: 2300 Kalorama Road NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:: (202) 483-7200
consulates general:: Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York

US diplomatic representation

chief of mission:: Ambassador David F. LAMBERTSON
embassy:: 95 Wireless Road, Bangkok
mailing address:: APO AP 96546
telephone:: [66] (2) 252-5040
FAX:: [66] (2) 254-2990
consulate general:
Chiang Mai consulates:: Songkhla, Udorn

Flag

five horizontal bands of red (top), white, blue (double width), white, and red

Economy

Thailand's economy recovered rapidly from the political unrest in May 1992 | to post an impressive 7% growth rate for the year.

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GDP per capita, PPP

$1,800

(1992 est.)

Real growth rate

(1992 est.)industrial production growth: growth rate 18% (1990); accounts for about 26% of GDP

Inflation, consumer prices

4.5%

(1992 est.)

Unemployment rate

4.7%

(1992 est.)

Budget

Revenues

$21.36 billionExpenditures

$22.40 billion

expenditures, including capital expenditures of $6.24 billion (FY93 est.)

Overview

Thailand's economy recovered rapidly from the political unrest in May 1992 to post an impressive 7% growth rate for the year. Thailand, one of the more advanced developing countries in Asia, depends on exports of manufactures and the development of the service sector to fuel the country's rapid growth.

The trade and current account deficits fell in 1992; much of Thailand's recent imports have been for capital equipment suggesting that the export sector is poised for further growth. With foreign investment slowing, Bangkok is working to increase the generation of capital domestically.

Prime Minister CHUAN's government - Thailand's fifth government in less than two years - is pledged to continue Bangkok's probusiness policies, and the return of a democratically elected government has improved business confidence. Nevertheless, CHUAN must overcome divisions within his ruling coalition to complete much needed infrastructure development programs if Thailand is to remain an attractive place for business investment.

Over the longer-term, Bangkok must produce more college graduates with technical training and upgrade workers' skills to continue its rapid economic development.

National product

GDP - exchange rate conversion - $103 billion (1992 est.)

Exports

$32.9 billion (f.o.b., 1992)

commodities:: machinery and manufactures 76.9%, agricultural products 14.9%, fisheries products 5.9% (1992)
partners:: US 21.6%, Japan 18.0%, Singapore 8.7%, Hong Kong 4.8%, Germany 4.4%, Netherlands 4.2%, UK 3.4%, Malaysia, France, China (1992 est.)

Imports

$41.5 billion (c.i.f., 1992)

commodities:: capital goods 41.4%, intermediate goods and raw materials 32.8%, consumer goods 10.4%, oil 8.2%
partners:: Japan 29.3%, US 11.4%, Singapore 7.6%, Taiwan 5.5%, Germany 5.4%, South Korea 4.6%, Malaysia 4.2%, China 3.3%, Hong Kong 3.3%, UK (1992 est.)

External debt

$33.4 billion (1991)

Electricity

10,000,000 kW capacity; 43,750 million kWh produced, 760 kWh per capita (1992)

Industries

tourism is the largest source of foreign exchange;
textiles and garments, agricultural processing, beverages, tobacco, cement, light manufacturing, such as jewelry;
electric appliances and components, integrated circuits, furniture, plastics;
world's second-largest tungsten producer and third-largest tin producer

Agriculture

accounts for 12% of GDP and 60% of labor force;
leading producer and exporter of rice and cassava (tapioca);
other crops - rubber, corn, sugarcane, coconuts, soybeans;
except for wheat, self-sufficient in food

Illicit drugs

a minor producer, major illicit trafficker of heroin, particularly from Burma and Laos, and cannabis for the international drug market;
eradication efforts have reduced the area of cannabis cultivation and shifted some production to neighboring countries;
opium poppy cultivation has been affected by eradication efforts;
also a major drug money laundering center

Economic aid

US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $870 million;
Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $8.6 billion;
OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $19 million

Currency

1 baht (B) = 100 satang

Exchange rates

baht (B) per US$1 - 25.280 (April 1993), 25.400 (1992), 25.517 (1991), 25.585 (1990), 25.702 (1989), 25.294 (1988)

Fiscal year

1 October-30 September

Communications

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Merchant marine, 169 ships by type

short-sea passenger 1cargo 91container 12oil tanker 40liquefied gas 9chemical tanker 2bulk 5refrigerated cargo 6combination bulk 2passenger 1169 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 752,055 GRT/1,166,136 DWT

Networkskm

Highways

77,697 (1988)Railroads

3,940Inland waterways

3,999

Highways: ; 35,855 km paved (including 88 km expressways), 14,092 km gravel or other stabilization, 27,750 km mostly dirt and other · Railroads: , 99 km double track · Inland 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

Railroads

3,940 km 1.000-meter gauge, 99 km double track

Highways

77,697 km total; 35,855 km paved (including 88 km expressways), 14,092 km gravel or other stabilization, 27,750 km mostly dirt and other (1988)

Inland 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

natural gas 350 km, petroleum products 67 km

Ports

Bangkok, Pattani, Phuket, Sattahip, Si Racha

Airports

total:: 106
usable:: 95
with permanent-surface runways:: 51
with runways over 3,659 m:: 1
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:: 14
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:: 28

Telecommunications

service to general public inadequate;
bulk of service to government activities provided by multichannel cable and microwave radio relay network;
739,500 telephones (1987);
broadcast stations - over 200 AM, 100 FM, and 11 TV in government-controlled networks;
satellite earth stations - 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT and 1 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT;
domestic satellite system being developed