Branches:
Tanzanian People's Defense Force (TPDF; including Army, Navy, and Air
Force), paramilitary Police Field Force Unit, Militia
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49 6,011,564; fit for military service 3,480,179
Defense expenditures:
$NA, NA% of GDP
@Thailand, Geography
Location:
Southeastern Asia, bordering the Gulf of Thailand, between Burma and
Cambodia
Map references:
Asia, Southeast Asia, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
total area:
514,000 sq km
land area:
511,770 sq km
comparative area:
slightly more than twice the size of Wyoming
Land boundaries:
total 4,863 km, Burma 1,800 km, Cambodia 803 km, Laos 1,754 km,
Malaysia 506 km
Coastline:
3,219 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
territorial sea:
12 nm
International disputes:
boundary dispute with Laos; unresolved maritime boundary with Vietnam;
parts of border with Thailand in dispute; maritime boundary with
Thailand not clearly defined
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
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%
Irrigated land:
42,300 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:
current issues:
air pollution increasing from vehicle emissions; water pollution from
organic and factory wastes; deforestation; wildlife populations
threatened by illegal hunting
natural hazards:
land subsidence in Bangkok area resulting from the depletion of the
water table
international agreements:
party to - Endangered Species, Marine Life Conservaiton, Nuclear Test
Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber; signed, but not ratified
- Biodiversity, Climate Change, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea
Note:
controls only land route from Asia to Malaysia and Singapore
@Thailand, People
Population:
59,510,471 (July 1994 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.3% (1994 est.)
Birth rate:
19.43 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Death rate:
6.41 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
37.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
68.35 years
male:
64.99 years
female:
71.87 years (1994 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.1 children born/woman (1994 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Thai (singular and plural)
adjective:
Thai
Ethnic divisions:
Thai 75%, Chinese 14%, other 11%
Religions:
Buddhism 95%, Muslim 3.8%, Christianity 0.5%, Hinduism 0.1%, other
0.6% (1991)
Languages:
Thai, English the secondary language of the elite, ethnic and regional
dialects
Literacy:
age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)
total population:
93%
male:
96%
female:
90%
Labor force:
30.87 million
by occupation:
agriculture 62%, industry 13%, commerce 11%, services (including
government) 14% (1989 est.)
@Thailand, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
Kingdom of Thailand
conventional short form:
Thailand
Digraph:
TH
Type:
constitutional monarchy
Capital:
Bangkok
Administrative divisions:
73 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, Mukdahan, 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)
National holiday:
Birthday of His Majesty the King, 5 December (1927)
Constitution:
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
Suffrage:
21 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
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)
cabinet:
Council of Ministers
Privy Council:
NA
Legislative branch:
bicameral National Assembly (Rathasatha)
Senate (Vuthisatha):
consists of a 270-member appointed body
House of Representatives(Saphaphoothan-Rajsadhorn):
elections 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
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (Sarndika)
Political parties and leaders:
Democrat Party (DP), Chuan LIKPHAI; Thai Nation Pary (TNP or Chat Thai
Party), Banhan SINLAPA-ACHA; National Development Party (NDP or Chat
Phattana), Chatchai CHUNHAWAN; New Aspiration Party (NAP), 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
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, NAM (observer), PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR,
UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNTAC, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador PHIRAPHONG Kasemsi
chancery:
2300 Kalorama Road NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:
(202) 483-7200
FAX:
(202) 234-4498
consulate(s) 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(s) general:
Chiang Mai
consulate(s):
Udorn (Udon Thani)
Flag:
five horizontal bands of red (top), white, blue (double width), white,
and red
@Thailand, Economy
Overview: Thailand's economy recovered rapidly from the political unrest in May 1992 to post an impressive 7.5% growth rate for the year and 7.8% in 1993. One of the more advanced developing countries in Asia, Thailand 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 domestic capital. 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 - purchasing power equivalent - $323 billion (1993 est.) National product real growth rate: 7.8% (1993 est.) National product per capita: $5,500 (1993 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4.1% (1992 est.) Unemployment rate: 3.1% (1992 est.) Budget: revenues: $21.36 billion expenditures: $22.4 billion, including capital expenditures of $6.24 billion (1993 est.) Exports: $28.4 billion (f.o.b., 1992) commodities: machinery and manufactures 76.9%, agricultural products 14.9%, fisheries products 5.9% (1992) partners: US 22%, Japan 18%, Singapore 8%, Hong Kong 5%, Germany 4%, Netherlands 4%, UK 4%, Malaysia, France, China (1992) Imports: $37.6 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) External debt: $33.4 billion (1991) Industrial production: growth rate 9% (1992); accounts for about 26% of GDP Electricity: capacity: 10,000,000 kW production: 43.75 billion kWh consumption per capita: 760 kWh (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 of opium and marijuana; major illicit trafficker of heroin, particularly from Burma and Laos, 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: recipient: 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 - 25.446 (December 1993), 25.400 (1992), 25.517 (1991), 25.585 (1990), 25.702 (1989) Fiscal year: 1 October-30 September
@Thailand, Communications