Geography
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: 514,000 sq km, land: 511,770 sq km, water: 2,230 sq km
Comparative Area:
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
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
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%
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People
Population: 60,037,366
Age structure:
0-14 years: 24% (male 7,440,863; female 7,169,837),
15-64 years: 70% (male 20,605,197; female 21,210,697),
65 years and over: 6% (male 1,596,267; female 2,014,505)
Population growth rate: 0.97%
Birth rate: 16.76 births/1,000 population
Death rate:
7.11 deaths/1,000 population
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s) / 1,000 population
Infant mortality rate:
30.82 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 69 years
male: 65.35 years
female: 72.83 years
Nationality:
noun: Thai (singular and plural)
adjective: Thai
Ethnic groups:
Thai 75%, Chinese 14%, other 11%
Religions:
Buddhism 95%, Muslim 3.8%, Christianity 0.5%, Hinduism 0.1%, other 0.6%
Languages:
Thai, English (as a foreign language), ethnic and regional dialects
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 93.8%
male: 96%
female: 91.6%
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Economy
GDP:
Purchasing power parity—$525 billion
GDP—real growth rate: -0.4%
GDP—per capita:
Purchasing power parity—$8,800 (1997 est.)
GDP—composition by sector:
agriculture: 10%,
industry: 28.7%,
services: 61.3%
Inflation rate—consumer price index: 5.6%
Labor force:
Total: 32.6 million
by occupation: agriculture 54%, industry 15%, services (including government) 31%
Unemployment rate: 3.5%
Budget:
Revenues: $24 billion
expenditures: $25 billion, including capital expenditures of $8 billion (FY96/97)
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:
-15% (1997 est.)
Agriculture—products:
Rice, cassava (tapioca), rubber, corn, sugarcane, coconuts, soybeans
Exports:
Total value: $51.6 billion
commodities: manufactures 82%, agricultural products and fisheries 14%;
partners: US 19.6%, Japan 14.9%, Singapore 11%, Hong Kong 5.7%, Malaysia 4.3%, UK 3.7%
Imports:
Total value: $73.5 billion
commodities: capital goods 50%, consumer goods 10.2%, fuels 8.7%;
partners: Japan 25.6%, US 13.9%, Singapore 5%, Taiwan 4.6%, Germany 4.5%, Malaysia 4.1%
Debt—external: $90 billion
Economic aid:
Recipient: ODA, $624 million
Currency: 1 baht (B) = 100 satang
Exchange rates:
Baht (B) per US$1—53.812, 31.364, 25.343, 24.915, 25.150, 25.319
Fiscal year: 1 October—30 September
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Government
Official Country Name:
Kingdom of Thailand
Government type: Constitutional monarchy
National capital: Bangkok
Administrative divisions: 76 provinces; 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 colonised)
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
Executive branch:
chief of state: King PHUMIPHON Adunyadet (since 9 June 1946),
head of government: Prime Minister CHUAN Likphai (since 15 November 1997)
Legislative branch:
Bicameral National Assembly (Rathasapha)
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (Sandika), judges appointed by the king
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