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Background Note: Thailand
PROFILE
OFFICIAL NAME:
Kingdom of
Thailand
Geography
Area: 513,115 sq. km. (198,114 sq. mi.); equivalent to the size
of France, or slightly smaller than Texas.
Cities: Capital--Bangkok (population 9,668,854); Nakhon
Ratchasima (pop. 437,386 for Muang district and 2,565,685 for
the whole province), Chiang Mai (pop. 247,672 for Muang district
and 1,595,855 for the whole province).
Terrain: Densely populated central plain; northeastern plateau;
mountain range in the west; southern isthmus joins the land mass
with Malaysia.
Climate: Tropical monsoon.
People
Nationality: Noun and adjective--Thai.
Population (2005): 62.4 million.
Labor force (2005): 36.13 million.
Annual population growth rate (2006 est.): 0.68%.
Ethnic groups: Thai 89%, other 11%.
Religions: Buddhist 94-95%, Muslim 4-5%, Christian, Hindu,
Brahmin, other.
Languages: Thai (official language); English is the second
language of the elite; regional dialects.
Education: Years compulsory--12. Literacy--94.9%
male, 90.5% female.
Health (2006 est.): Infant mortality rate--19.5/1,000.
Life expectancy--68 years male, 75 years female.
Government
Type: Thailand remains a constitutional monarchy under an
interim constitution. Prime Minister, Cabinet, and National
Legislative Assembly were appointed by the leaders of a
September 19, 2006 coup d'etat. Military leaders constitute a
Council for National Security.
Constitution: Thailand currently operates under an interim
constitution issued by leaders of the September 19, 2006
military coup d'etat. According to the interim constitution, a
new constitution will be written and ratified within
approximately one year of the coup to replace the constitution
promulgated on October 11, 1997.
Independence: Never colonized; traditional founding date 1238.
Branches: Executive--King (chief of state), Prime
Minister (head of government). Legislative--National
Assembly (unicameral, appointed by the military leadership).
Judicial--composed of the Constitutional Tribunal, the
Courts of Justice, and the Administrative Courts.
Administrative subdivisions: 76 provinces, including Bangkok
municipality, subdivided into 796 districts, 81 subdistricts,
7,255 tambon administration, and 74,435 villages.
Political parties: Multi-party system; Communist Party is
prohibited.
Suffrage: Universal and compulsory at 18 years of age.
Economy
GDP (2005): $177.6 billion.
Annual GDP growth rate (2005): 4.5%.
Per capita income (2004): $2,742.
Unemployment rate (2005): 1.8% of total labor force.
Natural resources: Tin, rubber, natural gas, tungsten, tantalum,
timber, lead, fish, gypsum, lignite, fluorite.
Agriculture (8.8% of GDP): Products--rice, tapioca,
rubber, corn, sugarcane, coconuts, soybeans.
Industry: Types--tourism, textiles, garments,
agricultural processing, cement, integrated circuits, jewelry,
electronics, and auto assembly.
Trade (2005): Merchandise exports--$109.211 billion:
textiles and footwear, fishery products, computers and parts,
electronics, electrical appliances, jewelry, rice, tapioca
products, integrated circuits, rubber, automobiles. Major
markets--ASEAN, U.S., EU, Japan, China, and Hong Kong.
Merchandise imports--$117.788 billion: machinery and parts,
petroleum, iron and steel, chemicals, vehicles and parts,
jewelry, fish preparations, electrical appliances, fertilizers
and pesticides. Major suppliers--Japan, ASEAN, Middle
East, EU, China, and U.S.
PEOPLE
Thailand's population is relatively homogeneous. More than 85%
speak a dialect of Thai and share a common culture. This core
population includes the central Thai (33.7% of the population,
including Bangkok), Northeastern Thai (34.2%), northern Thai
(18.8%), and southern Thai (13.3%). |