Thailand

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Thailand

General Information
Geography
Government
Economy
Population
Health
Communications and media
Chronology


GENERAL INFORMATION

National name Ratcha Anachak Thai/Kingdom of Thailand Area 513,115 sq km/198,113 sq mi Capital Bangkok (and chief port) Language Thai, Chinese (both official), English, Lao, Malay, Khmer Religion Buddhist 95%; Muslim 5% Time difference GMT +7 Major holidays 1 January, 6, 13 April, 1, 5 May, 1 July, 12 August, 23 October, 5, 10, 31 December; variable: end of Ramadan, Makha Bucha (February), Visakha Bucha (May), Buddhist Lent (July)


GEOGRAPHY

Major towns/cities Chiang Mai, Hat Yai, Khon Kaen, Songkhla, Nakhon Ratchasima, Nonthaburi, Udon Thani Major ports Nakhon Sawan Physical features mountainous, semi-arid plateau in northeast, fertile central region, tropical isthmus in south; rivers Chao Phraya, Mekong, and Salween Airports six principal international airports and domestic services to all major towns; total passengers carried: 16.6 million (2003 est) Railways total length: 4,623 km/2,873 mi; total passenger journeys: 55.2 million (1999) Roads total road network: 57,403 km/35,669 mi, of which 98.5 paved (2000 est); passenger cars: 110.4 per 1,000 people (2000 est)


GOVERNMENT

Head of state King Bhumibol Adulyadej from 1946 Head of government Surayud Chulanont from 2006 Political system emergent democracy Political executive parliamentary Administrative divisions 73 provinces Political parties Democrat Party (DP), left of centre; Thai Nation (Chart Thai), right wing, pro-private enterprise; New Aspiration Party (NAP), centrist; Palang Dharma Party (PDP), anticorruption, Buddhist; Social Action Party (SAP), moderate, conservative; Chart Pattana (National Development), conservative Death penalty retained and used for ordinary crimes Armed forces 306,600; plus 200,000 reservists and paramilitary forces of 113,700 (2006 est) Conscription two years Defence spend (% GDP) 1.2 (2005 est) Education spend (% GDP) 4.6 (2004 est) Health spend (% GDP) 2 (2004)


ECONOMY

Currency baht GDP (US$) 176.6 billion (2005 est) Real GDP growth (% change on previous year) 4.5 (2006 est) GNI (US$) 176.9 billion (2005 est) GNI per capita (PPP) (US$) 8,440 (2005 est) Consumer price inflation 4.9% (2006 est) Unemployment 1.5% (2003) Labour force 42.6% agriculture, 20.2% industry, 37.2% services (2005) Foreign debt (US$) 51.9 billion (2005 est) Major trading partners Japan, USA, China, Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, United Arab Emirates Resources tin ore, lignite, gypsum, antimony, manganese, copper, tungsten, lead, gold, zinc, silver, rubies, sapphires, natural gas, petroleum, fish Industries textiles and clothing, electronics, electrical goods, cement, petroleum refining, sugar refining, motor vehicles, agricultural products, beverages, tobacco, metals and metal products, plastics, furniture, tourism Exports machinery and mechanical appliances, textiles and clothing, electronic goods, rice, rubber, gemstones, sugar, cassava (tapioca), fish (especially prawns), chemicals. Principal market: USA 15.3% (2005) Imports petroleum and petroleum products, electrical machinery, chemicals, iron and steel, non-electronic machinery, consumer goods. Principal source: Japan 22% (2005) Arable land 27.5% (2006 est) Agricultural products rice, cassava, rubber, sugar cane, maize, kenat (a jute-like fibre), tobacco, coconuts; fishing (especially prawns) and livestock (mainly buffaloes, cattle, pigs, and poultry)


POPULATION

Population 64,762,400 (2006 est) Population growth rate 0.8% (2005–10) Population density (per sq km) 126 (2006 est) Urban population (% of total) 33 (2005 est) Age distribution (% of total population) 0–14 24%, 15–59 66%, 60+ 10% (2005 est) Ethnic groups 75% of the population is of Thai descent; 14% ethnic Chinese, one-third of whom live in Bangkok; Thai Malays constitute the next largest minority, followed by hill tribes; a substantial Kampuchean (Khmer) refugee community resides in border camps Life expectancy 69 (men); 75 (women) (2005–10) Child mortality rate (under 5, per 1,000 live births) 21 (2004) Education (compulsory years) 9 Literacy rate 95% (men); 91% (women) (2004 est)


HEALTH

Physicians (per 10,000 people) 3 (2004 est) Hospital beds (per 1,000 people) 2 (2002 est) HIV infection (% of population aged 15–49) 1.4 (2005 est) AIDS deaths 21,000 (2005 est) Access to drinking-water source (% of total population) 95 (urban); 80 (rural) (2002)


COMMUNICATIONS AND MEDIA

Landline telephones (per 100 people) 11 (2005 est) Mobile phone subscribers (per 100 people) 43 (2005 est) Radios (per 1,000 people) 235 (2001 est) TV sets (per 1,000 people) 285 (2004 est) Personal computer users (per 100 people) 5.8 (2005 est) Internet users (per 100 people) 11.9 (2005 est)


CHRONOLOGY

13th century Siamese (Thai) people migrated south and settled in valley of Chao Phraya River in Khmer Empire. 1238 Siamese ousted Khmer governors and formed new kingdom based at Sukhothai. 14th and 15th centuries Siamese expanded at expense of declining Khmer Empire. 1350 Siamese capital moved to Ayatthaya (which also became name of kingdom). 1511 Portuguese traders first reached Siam. 1569 Conquest of Ayatthaya by Burmese ended years of rivalry and conflict. 1589 Siamese regained independence under King Naresuan. 17th century Foreign trade under royal monopoly developed with Chinese, Japanese, and Europeans. 1690s Siam expelled European military advisers and missionaries and adopted policy of isolation. 1767 Burmese invaders destroyed city of Ayatthaya, massacred ruling families, and withdrew, leaving Siam in a state of anarchy. 1782 Reunification of Siam after civil war under Gen Phraya Chakri, who founded new capital at Bangkok and proclaimed himself King Rama I. 1824–51 King Rama III reopened Siam to European diplomats and missionaries. 1851–68 King Mongkut employed European advisers to help modernize the government, legal system, and army. 1856 Royal monopoly on foreign trade ended. 1868–1910 King Chulalongkorn continued modernization and developed railway network using Chinese immigrant labour; Siam became major exporter of rice. 1896 Anglo-French agreement recognized Siam as independent buffer state between British Burma and French Indo-China. 1932 Bloodless coup forced King Rama VII to grant a constitution with a mixed civilian-military government. 1939 Siam changed its name to Thailand (briefly reverting to Siam 1945–49). 1941 Japanese invaded; Thailand became puppet ally of Japan under Field Marshal Phibun Songkhram. 1945 Japanese withdrawal; Thailand compelled to return territory taken from Laos, Cambodia, and Malaya. 1947 Phibun regained power in military coup, reducing monarch to figurehead; Thailand adopted strongly pro-American foreign policy. 1955 Political parties and free speech introduced. 1957 State of emergency declared; Phibun deposed in bloodless coup; military dictatorship continued under Gen Sarit Thanarat (1957–63) and Gen Thanom Kittikachorn (1963–73). 1967–72 Thai troops fought in alliance with USA in Vietnam War. 1973 Military government overthrown by student riots. 1974 Adoption of democratic constitution, followed by civilian coalition government. 1976 Military reassumed control in response to mounting strikes and political violence. 1978 Gen Kriangsak Chomanan introduced constitution with mixed civilian–military government. 1980 Gen Prem Tinsulanonda assumed power. 1983 Prem relinquished army office to head civilian government; martial law maintained. 1988 Chatichai Choonhavan succeeded Prem as prime minister. 1991 Military coup imposed new military-oriented constitution despite mass protests. 1992 General election produced five-party coalition; riots forced Prime Minister Suchinda Kraprayoon to flee; Chuan Leekpai formed new coalition government. 1995–96 Ruling coalition collapsed. General election in 1996 resulted in new six-party coalition led by Chavalit Yongchaiyudh. 1997 Major financial crisis led to floating of currency. Austerity rescue plan agreed with International Monetary Fund (IMF). Chuan Leekpai re-elected prime minister. 1998 Repatriation of foreign workers commenced; economy contracted sharply due to rescue plan. Opposition Chart Patthana party brought into coalition government of Chuan Leekpai, increasing majority to push through economic reforms. 2001 Thai Rak Thai party won general elections; failed to achieve absolute majority. Thaksin Shinawatra became prime minister. 2002 Myanmar closed border with Thailand in May after Thai army shelled Myanmar during battle between Burmese army and ethnic Shan rebels. Border reopened in October. 2003 Controversial crackdown on drugs began. Government claimed more than 2,000 suspects killed by criminal gangs; human right groups claimed killings encouraged by authorities as extra-judicial punishments. 2004 Wave of attacks in Muslim south killed more than 100; government blamed Islamic militants and imposed martial law. More than 100 suspected Islamic rebels killed after launching attacks on police bases in south. Following violence at protest in south, 85 protesters died in custody; enquiry concluded they were not deliberately killed. Massive tidal waves devastated communities on southwest coast. 2005 Thai Rak Thai party won elections by landslide; Thaksin Shinaeatra began second term as prime minister. Violent unrest continued in the south; death toll between January 2004 and November 2005 topped 1,000. 2006 Mass rallies against prime minister; he called snap elections; boycotted by opposition; elections annulled. Political vacuum followed. Military leaders staged bloodless coup while Shinawatra attended UN General Assembly. Retired Gen Surayud Chulanont appointed interim prime minister. 2007 Martial law lifted in most of country. First draft of new constitution approved by committee appointed by military government. Thai Rak Thai party banned. New draft constitution approved in referendum.


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