Almanac Statistical information covering land area, borders, Thailand's GNP, Mineral Resources, Agricultural Production, Transportation, Mineral Resources, Thailnd Legal System, Government, Thai Holidays.

Thailand By the Numbers

Total Area: 514,000 sq km (319,453 sq mi) Land Area: 511,770 sq km (318,067 sq mi) Comparative Area: Slightly more than twice the size of Wyoming Boundaries: 4,863 km (3,022 mi) total 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 Natural Resources: Tin, rubber, natural gas, tungsten, tantalum, timber, lead, fish, gypsum, lignite, fluorite Maritime Claims: Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm; Territorial sea: 12 nm Disputes: Boundary dispute with Laos and Cambodia; unresolved maritime boundary with Vietnam

Education in Thailand

Literacy Rate:                93 
Literacy Rate, Female Adults: 90 
Literacy Rate, Male Adults:   96 
Ages of Compulsory Education: 7--15 
Education Spending:           3.2% of GNP
Education Spending:           21% of total government expenditures
National Libraries:           24 
Special Libraries:            281 
Book Titles published:        7,783 
Museums:                      119

People of Thailand

Population 1980:                    46,986,000 
Population 1993:                    57,163,000 
Population 2010:                    69,164,000 
Population 2025:                    76,403,000 
Population Density:                 292 persons/sq mi
Urban Population:                   10,689,481  
Urban Percentage:                   18.7 % of total population
Population Growth (1993 est.):      811,715 
Population Growth Rate (1993 est.): 1.4 % annually
Population Doubling Time:           48.81 years
Births (1993 est.):                 1,194,707 annually
Birth Rate:                         20.90 births per 1,000 population.
Fertility Rate:                     2.41  children per woman.
Deaths (1993 est.):                 382,992 
Death Rate:                         6.70 per 1,000 population.
Population Under Age 15, Total:     16,462,944  
Population Under Age 15, Percent:   28.8 %
Population Over Age 65, Total:      2,629,498  
Population Over Age 65, Percent:    4.6 %
Life Expectancy:                    68.3  years
Life Expectancy, Female:            70.9  years
Life Expectancy, Male:              65.8  years
Net Migration Rate:                 0 migrants/1,000 population 
Marriages (latest year available):  461,280 
Marriage Rate:                      8.2 per 1,000 population.
Religious Affiliations:             Buddhism 95%, Muslim 3.8%,
                                    Christianity 0.5%, Hinduism 0.1%,

                                    other 0.6% 
Major Languages:                    Thai; English is the secondary
                                    language of the elite; ethnic and
                                   regional dialects 
Ethnic Divisions:                   Thai 75%, Chinese 14%, other 11%

Burma 1,800 km (1,119 mi),
Cambodia 803 km (499 mi), 

Laos 1,754 km (1,090 mi), 

Malaysia 506 km (314 mi) 

Coastline:
3,219 km (2,001 mi) 

Terrain:
Central plain; eastern plateau (Khorat); mountains elsewhere 

Environment:
Air and water pollution; land subsidence in Bangkok area 
Note:
Controls only land route from Asia to Malaysia and Singapore 

Land Use:
Arable land 34%; permanent crops 4%; meadows and pastures
1%; forest and woodland 30%; other 31%; includes irrigated 7% 

Deforestation Rate:
-1 annual rate of change of forests and woodland area.

Health in Thailand

Physicians:                          8,058 

Physicians per capita:               2 per 10,000 population
Nurses:                              54,012 
Nurses per capita:                   11 per 10,000 population
Pharmacists:                         3,312 
Pharmacists per capita:              1 per 10,000 population
Dentists:                            1,326 
Dentists per capita:                 0 per 10,000 population
Hospital Beds:                       626 persons per hospital bed
Contraception Use:                   64 % of currently married women
Infant Deaths (1993 est.):           47,549  
Infant Mortality Rate:               39.8  deaths per 1,000 live births.
Measles Immunization:                66% of children under one year of
                                     age
DPT Immunization:                    84% of children under one year of
                                     age
Access to Safe Water, Rural:         66%

Access to Safe Water, Urban:         85%

Access to Safe Water, Total:         64%
Caloric Consumption, Total:          2,280 per day
Caloric Consumption, Vegetable:      2,082 per day
Caloric Consumption, Animal:         198 per day

Government of Thailand

Capital:
Bangkok 

Type:
Constitutional monarchy 
Long Form of Name:
Kingdom of Thailand 
Independence:
1238 (traditional founding date); never colonized 
Administrative Regions:
72 provinces (changwat, singular and plural); 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, 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 

Constitution:
22 December 1978; new constitution approved 7 December 1991 

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

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 

Executive Branch:
Monarch, interim prime minister, three interim deputy prime
ministers, interim Council of Ministers (cabinet), Privy
Council; following the military coup of 23 February 1991 a
National Peace-Keeping Council was set up 

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) 

Suffrage:
Universal at age 21 

Leaders:Chief of State: King PHUMIPHON Adunlayadet (since 9 June
1946); Heir Apparent Crown Prince WACHIRALONGKON (born 28
July 1952); Head of Government: Prime Minister likphai CHUAN 

Political Parties:
Justice Unity Party (Samakki Tham); Chart Thai Party;
Solidarity Party; Thai Citizens Party (TCP, Prachakorn
Thai); Social Action Party (SAP); Democrat Party (DP); Force
of Truth Party (Palang Dharma); New Aspiration Party;
Rassadorn Party; Muanchon Party; Puangchon Chothai Party 

Elections:
House of Representatives: last held 22 March 1992; seats -
(360 total) Samakki Tham 79, Chart Thai Party 74, New
Aspiration Party 72, DP 44, Palang Dharma 41, SAP 31, TCP 7,
Solidarity Party 6, Rassadorn 4, Muanchon 1, Puangchon
Chotahi 1 

Defense Expenditures:
Exchange rate conversion - $2.7 billion, about 3% of GNP 

Military Branches:
Royal Thai Army, Royal Thai Navy (including Royal Thai
Marine Corps), Royal Thai Air Force, Paramilitary Forces 

Manpower Availability:
Males 15-49, 16,361,393; 9,966,446 fit for military service;
612,748 reach military age (18) annually 

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

Crime in Thailand

Homicides:               10 per 100,000 population
Sex Offenses:            10 per 100,000 population
Serious Assault:         22 per 100,000 population
Robbery & Violent Theft: 6 per 100,000 population
Theft, Aggravated:       31 per 100,000 population
Theft, Automobile:       4 per 100,000 population
Theft, All Types:        69 per 100,000 population
Breaking and Entering:   25 per 100,000 population
Fraud:                   14 per 100,000 population
Drug Offenses:           16 per 100,000 population

Economy of Thailand

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.

GDP:
Exchange rate conversion- $92.6 million, per capita $1,630;
real growth rate 8% 

Labor Force:
30,870,000; agriculture 62%, industry 13%, commerce 11%,
services (including government) 14% 
Industrial Production:
Growth rate 14% ; accounts for about 25% of GDP 

Imports:

$39.0 billion; commodities: machinery and manufactures 67%,
chemicals l0%, fuels 9%, crude materials 6%; partners: Japan
30.2%, US 12%, Singapore 6.9%, Taiwan 5%, Germany 4.8%,
China 3.2%, South Korea, Malaysia, UK 

Exports:
$27.5 billion; commodities: machinery and manufactures 62%,
food 28%, crude materials 7%; partners: US 23.4%, Japan
17.2%, Singapore 7.3%, Germany 5.3%, Hong Kong 4.8%, UK
4.4%, Netherlands 4.3%, Malaysia, France, China 

Budget:
Revenues $17.9 billion; expenditures $17.9 billion,
including capital expenditures of $5.0 billion 

Inflation Rate:
4.1%
Unemployment Rate:
4.10% 

External Debt:
$25.1 billion 

Current Balance of Payments:
-9.1% of GDP
Consumption:
69% of GDP

Investment:
36.8% of GDP

Electricity Production:
7,400,000 kW capacity; 37,500 million kWh produced, 660 kWh
per capita 

Energy Consumption:
748,000 metric tons of coal equivalent per capita

Industries:
Tourism is the largest source of foreign exchange; textiles
and garments, agricultural processing, beverages, tobacco,
cement, other light manufacturing, such as jewelry; electric
appliances and components, integrated circuits, furniture,
plast 

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 

Forest products imported (US $):
1,210,073,000 

Forest products exported (US $):
135,512,000 

Patents Granted, 1992:
2 
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 

 Exchange Rates:
Baht (B) per US$1 -36-37 April '97 - August 99) 

25.614 (March 1992), 25.517 (1991),
25.585 (1990), 25.702 (1989), 25.294 (1988), 25.723 (1987) 
Illicit Drug Production:
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

Agriculture of Thailand

Land in Agriculture:                44.8% of land
Agricultural production % of GDP:   12%
Agriculture Workers, Total:         19,129,000 
Agriculture Workers:                63.6% of economically active
                                    population

Food & Agricultural Imports (US $): 717,830,000 
Food & Agricultural Exports (US $): 4,612,660,000 
Milking Machines in use:            540

Agricultural Products of Thailand

Buffaloes:                 4,793,000 head
Cattle:                    6,820,000 head
Goats:                     144,000 head
Horses:                    18,000 head
Mules:                     188,000 head
Pigs:                      5,100,000 head
Sheep:                     153,000 head
Chickens:                  136,000,000 head
Ducks:                     17,000,000 head
Poultry Meat:              768,000 metric tons
Hen Eggs:                  448,500 metric tons
Fish Catches:              2,650,000 metric tons
Bananas:                   1,630,000 metric tons
Fruits:                    5,750,000 metric tons
Lemons:                    1,000 metric tons
Oranges:                   57,000 metric tons
Papayas:                   542,000 metric tons
Barley:                    21,130,000 metric tons
Cocoa Beans:               86,000 metric tons
Coffee:                    3,610,000 metric tons
Corn:                      322,000 metric tons
Dry Peas:                  164,000 metric tons
Olives:                    12,000 metric tons
Potatoes:                  18,500,000 metric tons
Rye:                       480,000 metric tons
Sunflower Seeds:           142,000 metric tons
Tea:                       2,518,000 metric tons
Yams:                      192,000 metric tons
Beef and Veal:             63,000 metric tons
Cheese:                    200,000 metric tons
Dry Whole Milk:            14,825 metric tons
Goat Milk:                 3,000 metric tons
Horse Meat:                1,000 metric tons
Mutton and Lamb:           342,000 metric tons
Sheep Milk:                1,367,000 metric tons
Total Meat:                29,037,000 metric tons

Cereals:                   43,000 metric tons
Cotton:                    2,300 metric tons
Honey:                     161,000 metric tons
Jute:                      1,300 metric tons
Sisal:                     0 metric tons
Sugar Cane:                95,000 metric tons
Industrial Products of Thailand  

Beer:                      2,635,000 hectoliters
Cement:                    18,040,000 metric tons
Cigarettes:                38,316 million
Crude Petroleum:           1,829,000 metric tons of coal equivalent
Iron-bearing Ores:         75,000 metric tons
Motor Gasoline:            3,372,000 metric tons of coal equivalent
Natural Gas:               6,990,000 metric tons of coal equivalent
Phosphate Rock:            10,000 metric tons
Pig Iron:                  0 metric tons
Crude steel:               685,000 metric tons
Radio Production:          1,105,000 
Rubber:                    1531 metric tons
Television Production:     1,105,000 thousand
Tin, Production:           15,512 metric tons
Tires:                     4,183,000 
Paper and Paperboard:      1,208,000 metric tons
Particle Board:            9,000 cubic meters
Plywood:                   122,000 cubic meters
Sawnwood:                  939,000 cubic meters
Merchant Ships Launched:   2 
Merchant Ships Launched:   400 gross tonnage
Merchant Ships Registered: 3 
Merchant Ships Registered: 2,400 gross tonnage

Transportation in Thailand

Overview:
Flights are available from the US to Bangkok via Tokyo and
Hong Kong. Principal cities within Thailand can be reached
by air, and many towns and cities are served by comfortable,
dependable trains. Buses, taxis, rental cars, and samlors
(three-wheeled motor vehicles) can be hired in Bangkok.
Agree on the fare before entering a taxi or samlor. Local
transportation in small towns is more often by pedicab than
by taxi. Highways vary in quality from modern divided
highways to unpaved, ungraded roads that may be impassable
in the rainy season. Traffic moves on the left. 

Automobiles in Use:
1,222,000 
Highways:
44,534 km (27,678 mi) total; 28,016 km (17,412 mi) paved,
5,132 km (3,190 mi) earth surface, 11,386 km (7,076 mi) 

Pipelines:
Natural gas 350 km (218 mi), petroleum products 67 km (42 mi) 
Railroads:
3,940 km (2,449 mi) 1.000-meter gauge, 99 km (62 mi) 
Rail Passengers:
11,612 million kilometers traveled
Rail Freight:
3,291 million ton-kilometers carried
Ship Cargo Entered:
24,486,000 net registered tons
Merchant Marine:
151 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 628,225 GRT/957,095
DWT; includes 1 short-sea passenger, 87 cargo, 11 container,
31 petroleum tanker, 9 liquefied gas, 2 chemical tanker, 3
bulk, 4 refrigerated cargo, 2 combination bulk, 1 passenger 
Inland Waterways:
3,999 km (2,485 mi) principal waterways; 3,701 km (2,300 mi) 
Ports:

Bangkok, Pattani, Phuket, Sattahip, Si Racha 

Civil Airports:
115 total, 97 usable; 50 with permanent-surface runways; 1
with runways over 3,659 m; 13 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 28
with runways 1,220-2,439 m 

Civil Air Traffic:
107,208,000 scheduled kilometers performed

Communication in Thailand

Telephones in use:                1,325,000 
Telephones per 100 persons:       2 
Televisions in use:               6,250,000 

Televisions per 1,000 persons:    112 
Radios in use:                    10,300,000 
Radios per 1,000 persons:         185 
Number of Daily Newspapers:       34 publications
Daily Newspaper Circulation:      4,000,000
Newspaper Circulation per capita: 72 per 1,000 population
Newsprint Consumption:            3,499 Kilograms per 1,000 population
FM Broadcast Stations:            100.00 
AM Broadcast Stations:            200.00 
Telecommunications:               Service to general public
                                  inadequate; bulk of service to

                                  government activities provided by
                                  multichannel cable and radio relay

                                  network; 739,500 telephones ;

                                  broadcast stations - over 200 AM,

                                  100 FM, and 11 TV in governmen

                                  controlled networks; satellite earth

                                stations -- 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT

                                  and 1 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT

                                 domestic satellite system being

                                  developed 

Country Telephone Code:           66

Travel in Thailand  

Tourist Arrivals:
5,087,000 visitors
Tourism Receipts (US $):
3,923,000,000 
Tourism Expenditures (US $):
1,266,000,000 
Visitors on Holiday:
4,509,000 visitors
Visitors on Business:
438,000 visitors
Outbound Trips:
1,014,000 
Number of Hotel Rooms:
190,453 
Entry Requirements:
Passport and onward/return ticket required. Visa not needed
for stay up to 30 days if arrive and depart from Don Muang
Airport in Bangkok.  
 
Currency:
Baht 
Electric Current:

220 Volt, 50 Cycles; adapter necessary. 

Time Zone (From GMT):
7 
Transportation:
Flights are available from the US to Bangkok via Tokyo and
Hong Kong. Principal cities within Thailand can be reached
by air, and many towns and cities are served by comfortable,
dependable trains. Buses, taxis, rental cars, and samlors
(three-wheeled motor vehicles) can be hired in Bangkok.
Agree on the fare before entering a taxi or samlor. Local
transportation in small towns is more often by pedicab than
by taxi. Highways vary in quality from modern divided
highways to unpaved, ungraded roads that may be impassable
in the rainy season. Traffic moves on the left. 
Health Conditions:
Hospitals are available for routine treatment. Mosquitoes
are plentiful, but malaria is not a problem in Bangkok.
Hepatitis is fairly common in Thailand. Avoid tapwater, raw
milk, ice cream, uncooked meats, and unwashed fruits and
vegetables. The incidence of AIDS is increasing, especially
among prostitutes and intravenous drug users. U.S. medical
insurance is not always valid outside the United States.
Supplemental medical insurance with specific overseas
coverage is available. Information subject to change.
Contact travel agent, State Department, or U.S. Embassy for
updates. 

Holidays:
New Year's Day - Jan 1; Makabucha Day - Feb 28; Chakri Day -
Apr 6; Songkran Day - Apr 12-14; Coronation Day - May 5;
Visakha Bucha Day - May 28; Buddhist Lent - Jul 27; Queen's
Birthday - Aug 12; Chulalongkorn Day - Oct 24; King's
Birthday - Dec 5; Constitution Day - Dec 10 
Tourist Attractions:
Bangkok offers its visitors the opportunity to visit many
royal and religious monuments, including the Grand Palace
compound and the temples of the Golden Buddha and the
Reclining Buddha. Outside the capital, the northern city of
Chiang Mai (644 km./ 386 mi. from Bangkok) is the gateway to
excursions into the villages of the Thai hill tribe peoples.
Ayutthaya, the old capital city, has many ancient temples.
Beach resorts include well-developed facilities in Pattaya
(80 km./48 mi. southeast of Bangkok) and Phuket (862 km./517
mi. southwest of Bangkok).