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Economic data (see lower) updated October 2009.
Thailand is situated in South-East Asia, covering an area of nearly 513,115 square kilometres. It is roughly the size of France. It shares land borders with Myanmar (Burma) in the north and west, the Andaman Sea in the west, Laos in the north and north-east, Cambodia and the Gulf of Thailand in the east, and Malaysia in the south.
The shape of the country is similar to the profile of an elephant with a long trunk stretching down the peninsular. At school, students are taught that their country resembles the shape of an ancient axe with the peninsular being the handle. |
Geography :
Thailand covers a land area of 513,115 square kilometres (198,114 square miles), extends about 1,620 kilometres (1,007 miles) from north to south and 750 kilometres (482 miles) at its widest point from east to west, or approximately the same size as France, with a coastline of approximately 2,700 kilometres (1,143 miles) on the Gulf of Thailand and 865 kilometres (537 miles) along the Indian Ocean.
Lowest point: Gulf of Thailand 0 m
Highest point: Doi Inthanon 2,576 m
Geographic coordinates: 15 00 N, 100 00 E
Natural resources: tin, rubber, natural gas, tungsten, tantalum, timber, lead, fish, gypsum, lignite, fluorite
Climate: The climate is sub-tropical with long hours of sunshine and high humidity. There are three seasons. The hot season lasts from March to June. The rainy season, from July to October. The cool season from November to February. Average low temperature is 20c and high temperature is 37c. The geographic and climatic conditions make the country suitable for the cultivation of a wide range of tropical and semi-tropical agricultural crops.
Land use: arable land: 34%, permanent crops: 6%, permanent pastures: 2%, forests and woodland: 26%, other: 32%.
Irrigated land: 49,860 sq km (2003)
Thailand is divided into four geographical regions : Central Thailand (including Bangkok), Northern Thailand, Northeastern Thailand, and Southern Thailand. The country has also an Eastern Region which is often included into the Central Region.
People :
Population : About 65,905,410 people (2009 est.). Life expectancy at birth : male 70.8 years ; female : 75.5 years ; total population 73.1 years.
Infant mortality rate 17.63 deaths/1,000 live births ; total fertility rate 1.65 children born/woman (higher in provinces, lower in Bangkok, 2009). Birth rate 13.4/1000 population ; death rate 7.17/1000 population. All 2009 estimates. Infant mortality rate as well as birth rate declining steadily. See : Thailand's declining fertility rate.
Ethnic groups : Thai 75%, Chinese 14%, other 11%
Religions : Buddhism 95%, Muslim 3.8%, Christianity 0.5%, Hinduism 0.1%
Languages : Thai (English language and Chinese language newspapers available)
Literacy (age 15 and over who can read and write) : 92.6%
Government :
The conventional long name of the country : Kingdom of Thailand. Short name : Thailand, formerly named Siam.
Thailand has a constitutional monarchy. King Bhumibol Adulyadej is head of state. Bangkok is the capital of Thailand. The country has 76 provinces.
Recent political developments :
The government headed by Thaksin Shinawatra (Thai Rak Thai political party) was deposed in a bloodless military coup in september 2006.
A temporary government was headed by Khun Surayud Chulanont and prepared and wrote a new constitution (previous constitution dated from 1997). The Council for National Security (CNS), whose members headed the military coup, acted in the background. The main Thai Rak Thai party was disbanded, and some of its members disallowed from engaging in political activities for a period of 5 years.
Recent summary of political developments from 2006-2009 : prime ministers, political unrest.
The National Assembly (legislative branch) consists of the Senate (200 seats) and the House of Representatives (500 seats). Members to both are elected every four years.
Judiciary : Supreme Court or Sandika (judges appointed by H.M. the King)
Economy :
Thailand enjoyed very high growth rates between 1985 and 1995 (9% annually). A severe economic crisis followed in 1997. At the time the baht was allowed to float (before it was pegged to the dollar at about 25 baht for one dollar). After years of languishing at a low exchange rate, through 2007 the Thai Baht has been rising in value (mostly due to US dollar weakness) and the exchange rate now is about 33 baht for one dollar mid 2009. Under the government of Khun Thaksin Shinawatra, the economy recovered with growth rates between 5-7%. Growth rate in 2007 was 4.9% and growth for 2008 was 2.75%. The first 6 months of 2009 GDP was -6.0 % compared to the first 6 months of 2008, mirroring the global economic downturn.
Contribution to GDP (approximate 2008) : Agriculture 11.4 % (although a much larger proportion of the population is working in this sector) ; industry 44.5 %, services 44.1 %.
GDP Thailand 553.4 billion US Dollar (PPP) ; standard GDP 272.1 billion US Dollar.
Labour force by occupation : agriculture 43 %, industry 20 %, services 37 %.
GDP - per capita (purchasing power parity) : US$ 8,500 (much higher in Bangkok, much lower in many rural areas). [estimate 2008]
'Standard GDP' : 127,064 bath per year (est. for 2007).
See Graphs and Analysis of GDP Data for Thailand and its provinces.
Exports during 2007 and 2008 valued 150.05 and 175.3 US dollar respectively.
Imports during 2007 and 2008 valued 138.48 and 175.1 US dollar respectively.
[www.tradingeconomics.com]
Since the beginning of 2009 both exports and imports have slumped significantly.
The Balance of Trade though is positive, about 14,77 US Billion US Dollar in the period from Januari till August 2009.
Interestingly, newspapers articles often feature business and industry leaders complaining about the ever-strengthening Thai baht (that is, the weakening US dollar), since this would dramatically impair Thai exports.
The major bulk in value for exported goods come from the following : machinery, mechanical applicances (15%), electrical apparatus (10.6%), vehicles, parts and accessories (8.5%), electrical appliances (7.7%). Agricultural products (though growing now) only account for 9.2% of total export value, though a large proportion of the population is still working in that sector.
Total foreign currency reserves stand at 127.25 Billion US Dollar at the end of August 2009 (and rising).
After years of low inflation (around 2 %), the headline rate of inflation at the end of 2006 was 3%. End 2007 the core inflation (without raw food prices and energy) was 1.0%. The headline inflation was 2.2%. Headline inflation rose significantly during 2008, peaking around 8,9 % in July 2008 as compared to the previous year. Subjectively, we had the impression that prices were even rising faster, than the above official numbers indicate. From January till September 2009 inflation rates became negative, dipping to -4.4 % in July 2009, as compared to the previous year. In September 2009 inflation stood at -1%.
Interest rates have been lowered during 2008 and 2009. In 2009 they stand at 1.25 % and have been at that level in October 2009 for about half a year.
Important industries : Tourism, textiles and garments, agricultural products, beverages, tobacco, cement, jewelry, electric appliances and components, computer and computer accessories, integrated circuits, furniture, plastics, tin
Communications :
There are many Thai language T.V. stations. English-language programs are also widely available through cable TV (including BBC, CNN, NSBC etc.)
Mobile phone use is widespread, with 56.4 million phones (2008). There are many more mobile phones than fixed line phones.
Internet access is available throughout the country. Cities and towns in Thailand have Internet-Cafes with cheap rate of access (less than 1 dollar per hour usually). Broadband services are also available and are now being heavily promoted, though the country is lagging when compared to most of the rest of Asia.
Sources : National Statistical Office, Bank of Thailand ; NESDB ; World Bank ; CIA World Factbook ; Bangkok Post daily newspaper ; tradingeconomics.com
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