THAILAND
GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 514,000 km2; land area: 511,770 km2
Comparative area: slightly more than twice the size of Wyoming
Land boundaries: 4,863 km total; 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
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%; includes irrigated 7%
Environment: air and water pollution; land subsidence in Bangkok
area
Note: controls only land route from Asia to Malaysia and
Singapore
PEOPLE
Population: 56,814,069 (July 1991), growth rate 1.4% (1991)
Birth rate: 20 births/1,000 population (1991)
Death rate: 6 deaths/1,000 population (1991)
Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1,000 population (1991)
Infant mortality rate: 37 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)
Life expectancy at birth: 66 years male, 71 years female (1991)
Total fertility rate: 2.2 children born/woman (1991)
Nationality: noun--Thai (sing. and pl.); adjective--Thai
Ethnic divisions: Thai 75%, Chinese 14%, other 11%
Religion: Buddhism 95%, Muslim 3.8%, Christianity 0.5%,
Hinduism 0.1%, other 0.5% (1991)
Language: Thai; English is the secondary language of the elite;
ethnic and regional dialects
Literacy: 93% (male 96%, female 90%) age 15 and over can
read and write (1990 est.)
Labor force: 30,870,000; agriculture 62%, industry 13%,
commerce 11%, services (including government) 14% (1989 est.)
Organized labor: 309,000 union members (1989)
GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Kingdom of Thailand; under martial law since
military takeover 23 February 1991
Type: constitutional monarchy; under martial law since
military coup of 23 February 1991
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, 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; interim constitution promulgated
by National Peace-Keeping Council on 1 March 1991
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)
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); following the
military coup of 23 February 1991 the National Assembly was dissolved
and a new interim National Legislative Assembly has been formed until
elections are held in April 1992
Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Sarndika)
Leaders:
Chief of State--King PHUMIPHON ADUNLAYADET (since 9 June 1946);
Heir Apparent Crown Prince WACHIRALONGKON (born 28 July 1952);
Head of Government--Interim Prime Minister ANAN Panyarachun
(since 4 March 1991);
Interim Deputy Prime Minister SANO Unakun (since 6 March 1991);
Interim Deputy Prime Minister Police Gen. PHAO Sarasin (since 6 March
1991);
Interim Deputy Prime Minister MICHAI Ruchupan (since 6 March 1991);
National Peace-Keeping Council (ruling junta)--Chairman
Gen. SUNTHON Khongsomphong;
Vice Chairman Gen. SUCHINDA Khraprayun;
Vice Chairman Adm. PRAPHAT Kritsanachan;
Vice Chairman Air Chief Mar. KASET Rotchananin;
Vice Chairman Police Gen. SAWAT Amonwiwat
Political parties and leaders: under martial law political
parties are prohibited from meeting; leaders of several parties have
resigned and other parties are fragmenting; it is unclear which of
the following parties functioning at the time of the military
coup will still be in existence by the time new elections are
held;
Thai Nation Party (TNP);
Solidarity Party;
Thai Citizens Party (TCP);
People's Party (Ratsadon);
Thai People's Party;
Social Action Party (SAP);
Democrat Party (DP);
Mass Party;
Force of Truth Party (Phalang Dharma);
People's Party (Prachachon);
New Aspiration Party;
United Democracy Party;
Liberal Party;
Social Democratic Force
Suffrage: universal at age 21
Elections:
House of Representatives--last held 24 July 1988 (next to be
held by April 1992 for a new National Legislative Assembly according
to the National Peace-Keeping Council);
results--TNP 27%, SAP 15%, DP 13%, TCP 9%, other 36%;
seats--(357 total) TNP 96, Solidarity 62, SAP 53, DP 48, TCP 31,
People's Party (Ratsadon) 21, Thai People's Party (Prachachon) 17,
Force of Truth Party (Phalang Dharma) 15, United Democracy Party 5,
Mass Party 5, Liberal 3, Social Democratic Force 1; note--the
House of Representatives was dissolved 23 February 1991; the
new interim National Legislative Assembly has 292 seats with 148 of
the seats held by active and retired military officers
Communists: illegal Communist party has 500 to 1,000 members;
armed Communist insurgents throughout Thailand total 300 to 500
(est.)
Member of: 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
Diplomatic representation: Ambassador-designate PHIRAPHONG
Kasemsi; Embassy at 2300 Kalorama Road NW, Washington DC 20008;
telephone (202) 483-7200; there are Thai Consulates General in Chicago,
Los Angeles, and New York;
US--Ambassador Daniel A. O'DONAHUE; Embassy at 95 Wireless Road,
Bangkok (mailing address is APO San Francisco 96346); telephone 66 (2)
252-504019; there is a US Consulate General in Chiang Mai and Consulates
in Songkhla and Udorn
Flag: five horizontal bands of red (top), white, blue (double
width), white, and red
ECONOMY
Overview: Thailand, one of the more advanced developing countries
in Asia, enjoyed a year of 9% growth in 1990, although down from the
double-digit rates of 1987-89. The increasingly sophisticated
manufacturing sector benefited from export-oriented investment, but
the agricultural sector contracted 2%, primarily because of weaker
demand in Thailand's major overseas markets for commodities such as
rice. The trade deficit almost doubled in 1990, to $9 billion, but
earnings from tourism ($4.7 billion), remittances, and net capital
inflows helped keep the balance of payments in surplus. The government
has followed fairly sound fiscal and monetary policies, aided by
increased tax receipts from the fast-moving economy. In 1990 the
government approved new projects--especially for telecommunications
and roads--needed to refurbish the country's now overtaxed
infrastructure. Although growth in 1991 will slow further, Thailand's
economic outlook remains good, assuming the continuation of prudent
government policies in the wake of the 23 February 1991 military coup.
GNP: $79 billion, per capita $1,400; real growth rate 10% (1990
est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 8% (1990 est.)
Unemployment rate: 4.9% (1990 est.)
Budget: revenues $15.2 billion; expenditures $15.2 billion,
including capital expenditures of $4.1 billion (FY91)
Exports: $23.0 billion (f.o.b., 1990 est.);
commodities--light manufactures 66%, fishery products 12%,
rice 8%, tapioca 8%, manufactured gas, corn, tin;
partners--US 22%, Japan 17%, Singapore 7%, Netherlands, FRG,
Hong Kong, UK, Malaysia, China (1989)
Imports: $32.0 billion (c.i.f., 1990 est.);
commodities--machinery and parts 23%, petroleum products 13%,
chemicals 11%, iron and steel, electrical appliances;
partners--Japan 30%, US 11%, Singapore 8%, FRG 5%, Taiwan,
South Korea, China, Malaysia, UK (1989)
External debt: $26.9 billion (end 1990 est.)
Industrial production: growth rate 14% (1990 est.); accounts for
almost 27% of GDP
Electricity: 7,270,000 kW capacity; 29,000 million kWh produced,
530 kWh per capita (1990)
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, plastics; world's
second-largest tungsten producer and third-largest tin producer
Agriculture: accounts for 15% of GNP and 62% 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; fish catch of 2.8 million tons (1989)
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
Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $870
million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
(1970-88), $8.1 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $19 million
Currency: baht (plural--baht); 1 baht (B) = 100 satang
Exchange rates: baht (B) per US$1--25.224 (January 1991), 25.585
(1990), 25.702 (1989), 25.294 (1988), 25.723 (1987), 26.299 (1986),
27.159 (1985)
Fiscal year: 1 October-30 September
COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: 3,940 km 1.000-meter gauge, 99 km double track
Highways: 44,534 km total; 28,016 km paved, 5,132 km earth surface,
11,386 km under development
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; refined products, 67 km
Ports: Bangkok, Pattani, Phuket, Sattahip, Si Racha
Merchant marine: 136 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 521,565
GRT/791,570 DWT; includes 2 short-sea passenger, 79 cargo,
9 container, 29 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker,
9 liquefied gas, 1 chemical tanker, 3 bulk, 3 refrigerated cargo,
1 combination bulk
Civil air: 41 (plus 2 leased) major transport aircraft
Airports: 127 total, 103 usable; 56 with permanent-surface runways;
1 with runways over 3,659 m; 12 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 28 with
runways 1,220-2,439 m
Telecommunications: service to general public inadequate; bulk of
service to government activities provided by multichannel cable and
radio relay network; 739,500 telephones (1987); 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
DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Royal Thai Army, Royal Thai Navy (including Royal Thai
Marine Corps), Royal Thai Air Force, Paramilitary Forces
Manpower availability: males 15-49, 16,028,159; 9,778,003 fit for
military service; 604,483 reach military age (18) annually
Defense expenditures: $2.4 billion, 3% of GNP (1990 est.)