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Communications

Airports [time series]

127 total, 103 usable; 56 with permanent-surface runways; 1 with runways over 3,659 m; 13 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 26 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Civil air [time series]

41 (plus 2 leased) major transport aircraft

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

44,534 km total; 28,016 km paved, 5,132 km earth surface, 11,386 km under development

Waterways (Inland waterways) [time series]

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

Merchant marine [time series]

122 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 483,688 GRT/730,750 DWT; includes 2 short-sea passenger, 70 cargo, 8 container, 27 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker, 8 liquefied gas, 1 chemical tanker, 3 bulk, 1 refrigerated cargo, 1 roll-on/roll-off, 1 combination bulk

Pipelines [time series]

natural gas, 350 km; refined products, 67 km

Ports [time series]

Bangkok, Pattani, Phuket, Sattahip, Si Racha

Railways (Railroads) [time series]

3,940 km 1.000-meter gauge, 99 km double track

Telecommunication systems (Telecommunications) [time series]

service to general public adequate; 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

Military and security forces (Branches) [time series]

Royal Thai Army, Royal Thai Navy (includes Royal Thai Marine Corps), Royal Thai Air Force; paramilitary forces include Border Patrol Police, Thahan Phran (irregular soldiers), Village Defense Forces

Military expenditures (Defense expenditures) [time series]

2.9% of GNP, or $1.9 billion (1989 est.)

Military manpower [time series]

males 15-49, 15,617,486; 9,543,119 fit for military service; 610,410 reach military age (18) annually

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture) [time series]

accounts for 16% of GNP and 73% 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 2.2 million tons (1987)

Aid [time series]

US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-88), $828 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-87), $7.0 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $19 million

Budget [time series]

revenues $12.1 billion; expenditures $9.7 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (FY89)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

baht (plural--baht); 1 baht (B) = 100 satang

Electricity [time series]

7,100,000 kW capacity; 28,000 million kWh produced, 500 kWh per capita (1989)

Exchange rates [time series]

baht (B) per US$1--25.726 (January 1990), 25.699 (1989), 25.294 (1988), 25.723 (1987), 26.299 (1986), 27.159 (1985)

Exports [time series]

$19.9 billion (f.o.b., 1989); commodities--textiles 12%, fishery products 12%, rice 8%, tapioca 8%, jewelry 6%, manufactured gas, corn, tin; partners--US 18%, Japan 14%, Singapore 9%, Netherlands, Malaysia, Hong Kong, China (1988)

Debt - external (External debt) [time series]

$18.5 billion (December 1989 est.)

Fiscal year [time series]

1 October-30 September

GNP [time series]

$64.5 billion, per capita $1,160; real growth rate 10.8% (1989 est.)

Illicit drugs [time series]

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, but unusually good weather boosted output in 1989

Imports [time series]

$25.1 billion (c.i.f., 1989); commodities--machinery and parts 23%, petroleum products 13%, chemicals 11%, iron and steel, electrical appliances; partners--Japan 26%, US 14%, Singapore 7%, FRG, Malaysia, UK (1987)

Industrial production growth rate (Industrial production) [time series]

growth rate 12.5% (1989)

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

5.4% (1989)

Economic overview (Overview) [time series]

Thailand, one of the more advanced developing countries in Asia, enjoyed its second straight exceptionally prosperous year in 1989. Real output again rose about 11%. The increasingly sophisticated manufacturing sector benefited from export-oriented investment, and agriculture grew by 4.0% because of improved weather. The trade deficit of $5.2 billion was more than offset by earnings from tourism ($3.9 billion), remittances, and net capital inflows. The government has followed a fairly sound fiscal and monetary policy, aided by increased tax receipts from the fast-moving economy. In 1989 the government approved new projects--roads, ports, electric power, communications--needed to refurbish the now overtaxed infrastructure. Although growth in 1990-91 must necessarily fall below the 1988-89 pace, Thailand's immediate economic outlook is good, assuming the continuation of prudent government policies in the context of a private-sector-oriented development strategy.

Unemployment rate [time series]

6% (1989 est.)

Geography

Climate [time series]

tropical; rainy, warm, cloudy southwest monsoon (mid-May to September); dry, cool northeast monsoon (November to mid-March); southern isthmus always hot and humid

Coastline [time series]

3,219 km

Area - comparative (Comparative area) [time series]

slightly more than twice the size of Wyoming

Continental shelf [time series]

not specific;

Disputes - international (Disputes) [time series]

boundary dispute with Laos

Environment - current issues (Environment) [time series]

air and water pollution; land subsidence in Bangkok area

Extended economic zone [time series]

200 nm;

Land boundaries [time series]

4,863 km total; Burma 1,800 km, Cambodia 803 km, Laos 1,754 km, Malaysia 506 km

Land use [time series]

34% arable land; 4% permanent crops; 1% meadows and pastures; 30% forest and woodland; 31% other; includes 7% irrigated

Natural resources [time series]

tin, rubber, natural gas, tungsten, tantalum, timber, lead, fish, gypsum, lignite, fluorite

Note [time series]

controls only land route from Asia to Malaysia and Singapore

Terrain [time series]

central plain; eastern plateau (Khorat); mountains elsewhere

Maritime claims (Territorial sea) [time series]

12 nm

Area (Total area) [time series]

514,000 km2; land area: 511,770 km2

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

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

Capital [time series]

Bangkok

Political parties (Communists) [time series]

illegal Communist party has 500 to 1,000 members (est.); armed Communist insurgents throughout Thailand total 300 to 500 (est.)

Constitution [time series]

22 December 1978

Diplomatic representation in the US (Diplomatic representation) [time series]

Ambassador VITTHYA VEJJAJIVA; 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 O'DONAHUE; Embassy at 95 Wireless Road, Bangkok (mailing address is APO San Francisco 96346); telephone [66] (2) 252-5040; there is a US Consulate General in Chiang Mai and Consulates in Songkhla and Udorn

Executive branch [time series]

monarch, prime minister, three deputy prime ministers, Council of Ministers (cabinet), Privy Council

Flag [time series]

five horizontal bands of red (top), white, blue (double width), white, and red

Independence [time series]

1238 (traditional founding date); never colonized

Judicial branch [time series]

Supreme Court (Sarn Dika) Chief of State--King BHUMIBOL ADULYADEJ (since 9 June 1946); Heir Apparent Crown Prince VAJIRALONGKORN (born 28 July 1952); Head of Government Prime Minister Maj. Gen. CHATCHAI CHUNHAWAN (since 9 August 1988); Deputy Prime Minister CHUAN LIKPHAI

Legal system [time series]

based on civil law system, with influences of common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Legislative branch [time series]

bicameral National Assembly (Ratha Satha) consists of an upper house or Senate (Woothi Satha) and a lower house or House of Representatives (Satha Poothan)

Country name (Long-form name) [time series]

Kingdom of Thailand

International organization participation (Member of) [time series]

ADB, ANRPC, ASEAN, ASPAC, Association of Tin Producing Countries, CCC, Colombo Plan, GATT, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, INRO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IPU, IRC, ITC, ITU, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WMO, WTO

National holiday [time series]

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

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

Democrat Party (DP), Social Action Party (SAP), Thai Nation Party (TNP), People's Party (Ratsadon), People's Party (Prachachon), Thai Citizens Party (TCP), United Democracy Party, Solidarity Party, Thai People's Party, Mass Party, Force of Truth Party (Phalang Dharma)

Suffrage [time series]

universal at age 21 House of Representatives--last held 24 July 1988 (next to be held within 90 days of July 1992); results--TNP 27%, SAP 15%, DP 13%, TCP 9%, others 36%; seats--(357 total) TNP 96, Solidarity 62, SAP 54, DP 48, TCP 31, People's Party (Ratsadon) 21, People's Party (Prachachon) 17, Force of Truth Party (Phalang Dharma) 14, United Democracy Party 5, Mass Party 5, others 4

Government type (Type) [time series]

constitutional monarchy

People

Birth rate [time series]

20 births/1,000 population (1990)

Death rate [time series]

7 deaths/1,000 population (1990)

Ethnic groups (Ethnic divisions) [time series]

75% Thai, 14% Chinese, 11% other

Infant mortality rate [time series]

34 deaths/1,000 live births (1990)

Labor force [time series]

26,000,000; 73% agriculture, 11% industry and commerce, 10% services, 6% government (1984)

Languages (Language) [time series]

Thai; English is the secondary language of the elite; ethnic and regional dialects

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

64 years male, 70 years female (1990)

Literacy [time series]

82%

Nationality [time series]

noun--Thai (sing. and pl.); adjective--Thai

Net migration rate [time series]

0 migrants/1,000 population (1990)

Organized labor [time series]

300,000 union members (1986)

Population [time series]

55,115,683 (July 1990), growth rate 1.3% (1990)

Religions (Religion) [time series]

95.5% Buddhist, 4% Muslim, 0.5% other

Total fertility rate [time series]

2.1 children born/woman (1990)