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Thailand Country Guide
Explore Thailand in Asia
The landscape offers central plain with Khorat Plateau in the east and mountains elsewhere. The average density of population is approximately 127 per km². The notable climate conditions in Thailand can be described as tropical with rainy, warm, cloudy southwest monsoon (mid-May to September), dry, cool northeast monsoon (November to mid-March) and southern isthmus always hot and humid. Potential threats by nature are land subsidence in Bangkok area resulting from the depletion of the water table or droughts.
To reach someone in Thailand dial +66 prior to a number. There are 7,024,000 installed telephones. And there are 83,057,000 registered mobile phones. The cellular networks commonly support frequencies of 900/1800/1900/3G MHz. Websites registered in this country end with the top level domain ".th". If you want to bring electric equipment on your trip (e.g. laptop power supply), note the local power outlet of 220V - 50Hz.
About the flag and history of Thailand
Five horizontal bands of red (top), white, blue (double width), white, and red; the red color symbolizes the nation and the blood of life; white represents religion and the purity of Buddhism; blue stands for the monarchy note: similar to the flag of Costa Rica but with the blue and red colors reversed.
A unified Thai kingdom was established in the mid-14th century. Known as Siam until 1939, Thailand is the only Southeast Asian country never to have been taken over by a European power. A bloodless revolution in 1932 led to a constitutional monarchy. In alliance with Japan during World War II, Thailand became a US treaty ally in 1954 after sending troops to Korea and later fighting alongside the United States in Vietnam. Thailand since 2005 has experienced several rounds of political turmoil including a military coup in 2006 that ousted then Prime Minister THAKSIN Chinnawat, followed by large-scale street protests by competing political factions in 2008, 2009, and 2010. Demonstrations in 2010 culminated with clashes between security forces and pro-THAKSIN protesters, elements of which were armed, and resulted in at least 92 deaths and an estimated $1.5 billion in arson-related property losses. THAKSIN's youngest sister, YINGLAK Chinnawat, in 2011 led the Puea Thai Party to an electoral win and assumed control of the government. YINGLAK''s leadership was almost immediately challenged by historic flooding in late 2011 that had large swathes of the country underwater and threatened to inundate Bangkok itself. Throughout 2012 the Puea Thai-led government struggled with the opposition Democrat Party to fulfill some of its main election promises, including constitutional reform and political reconciliation. Since January 2004, thousands have been killed and wounded in violence associated with the ethno-nationalist insurgency in Thailand''s southern Malay-Muslim majority provinces.
National administrative regions of Thailand
- Amnat Charoen
- Ang Thong
- Bangkok
- Buriram
- Chachoengsao
- Chai Nat
- Chaiyaphum
- Changwat Bueng Kan
- Chanthaburi
- Chiang Mai
- Chiang Rai
- Chon Buri
- Chumphon
- Kalasin
- Kamphaeng Phet
- Kanchanaburi
- Khon Kaen
- Krabi
- Lampang
- Lamphun
- Loei
- Lop Buri
- Mae Hong Son
- Maha Sarakham
- Mukdahan
- Nakhon Nayok
- Nakhon Pathom
- Nakhon Phanom
- Nakhon Ratchasima
- Nakhon Sawan
- Nakhon Si Thammarat
- Nan
- Narathiwat
- Nong Bua Lamphu
- Nong Khai
- Nonthaburi
- Pathum Thani
- Pattani
- Phangnga
- Phatthalung
- Phayao
- Phetchabun
- Phetchaburi
- Phichit
- Phitsanulok
- Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya
- Phrae
- Phuket Province
- Prachin Buri
- Prachuap Khiri Khan
- Ranong
- Ratchaburi
- Rayong
- Roi Et
- Sa Kaeo
- Sakon Nakhon
- Samut Prakan
- Samut Sakhon
- Samut Songkhram
- Sara Buri
- Satun
- Sing Buri
- Sisaket
- Songkhla
- Sukhothai
- Suphan Buri
- Surat Thani
- Surin
- Tak
- Thailand (general)
- Trang
- Trat
- Ubon Ratchathani
- Udon Thani
- Uthai Thani
- Uttaradit
- Yala
- Yasothon
Geography Quick-Facts
| Summary | Continent: Asia Neighbours: Laos, Myanmar, Cambodia, Malaysia Capital: Bangkok |
| Size | 514,000 square kilometers (km² or sqkm) or 198,456 square miles (mi² or sqmi) slightly more than twice the size of Wyoming |
| Population | 65,493,000 |
| Currency | Name Baht, Currency Code:THB |
| Country Top Level Domain (cTLD) | .th |
| Telephone Country Prefix | +66 |
| Mobile Phone Connections | 83,057,000 |
| Landline Phone Connections | 7,024,000 |
Country Position in World Rankings
Information about single country attributes and how these compare against the rest of the world. The information below is compiled with data from 2013. As such, it may differ a bit to the Information above in the text (which is from 2010).
Geography
| Value name | Value | World Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Area | 513,120 (sq km) | 51 |
People and Society
| Value name | Value | World Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 67,448,120 | 20 |
| Population growth rate | 0.52 (%) | 150 |
| Birth rate | 12.66 (births/1,000 population) | 156 |
| Death rate | 7.47 (deaths/1,000 population) | 115 |
| Maternal mortality rate | 48.00 (deaths/100,000 live births) | 110 |
| Infant mortality rate | 15.41 (deaths/1,000 live births) | 107 |
| Life expectancy at birth | 74.05 (years) | 115 |
| Total fertility rate | 1.66 (children born/woman) | 175 |
| Health expenditures | 3.90 (% of GDP) | 169 |
| HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate | 1.30 (%) | 39 |
| HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS | 530,000 | 15 |
| HIV/AIDS - deaths | 28,000 | 13 |
| Obesity - adult prevalence rate | 8.80 (%) | 135 |
| Children under the age of 5 years underweight | 7.00 (%) | 76 |
| Education expenditures | 3.80 (% of GDP) | 119 |
| Unemployment, youth ages 15-24 | 2.70 (%) | 140 |
Economy
| Value name | Value | World Rank |
|---|---|---|
| GDP (purchasing power parity) | 662,600,000,000 | 25 |
| GDP - real growth rate | 6.40 (%) | 38 |
| GDP - per capita (PPP) | 10,300 | 116 |
| Labor force | 39,770,000 | 16 |
| Unemployment rate | 0.60 (%) | 4 |
| Distribution of family income - Gini index | 53.60 | 12 |
| Investment (gross fixed) | 28.80 (% of GDP) | 25 |
| Taxes and other revenues | 17.40 (% of GDP) | 181 |
| Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) | -3.50 (% of GDP) | 123 |
| Public debt | 43.30 (% of GDP) | 82 |
| Inflation rate (consumer prices) | 3.00 (%) | 77 |
| Central bank discount rate | 3.25 (%) | 100 |
| Commercial bank prime lending rate | 7.25 (%) | 124 |
| Stock of narrow money | 52,210,000,000 | 47 |
| Stock of broad money | 488,700,000,000 | 22 |
| Stock of domestic credit | 420,400,000,000 | 28 |
| Market value of publicly traded shares | 230,900,000,000 | 32 |
| Industrial production growth rate | 2.50 (%) | 105 |
| Current account balance | -2,728,000,000 | 147 |
| Exports | 226,200,000,000 | 26 |
| Imports | 213,700,000,000 | 25 |
| Reserves of foreign exchange and gold | 181,600,000,000 | 15 |
| Debt - external | 133,700,000,000 | 41 |
| Stock of direct foreign investment - at home | 159,200,000,000 | 28 |
| Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad | 51,590,000,000 | 36 |
Energy
| Value name | Value | World Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Electricity - production | 173,300,000,000 (kWh) | 25 |
| Electricity - consumption | 169,400,000,000 (kWh) | 23 |
| Electricity - exports | 1,535,000,000 (kWh) | 47 |
| Electricity - imports | 9,575,000,000 (kWh) | 24 |
| Electricity - installed generating capacity | 32,600,000 (kW) | 26 |
| Electricity - from fossil fuels | 89.00 (% of total installed capacity) | 77 |
| Electricity - from hydroelectric plants | 10.90 (% of total installed capacity) | 114 |
| Electricity - from other renewable sources | 0.20 (% of total installed capacity) | 88 |
| Crude oil - production | 213,000 (bbl/day) | 40 |
| Crude oil - exports | 32,200 (bbl/day) | 51 |
| Crude oil - imports | 793,900 (bbl/day) | 15 |
| Crude oil - proved reserves | 442,000,000 (bbl) | 53 |
| Refined petroleum products - production | 913,600 (bbl/day) | 24 |
| Refined petroleum products - consumption | 721,100 (bbl/day) | 26 |
| Refined petroleum products - exports | 192,400 (bbl/day) | 34 |
| Refined petroleum products - imports | 41,700 (bbl/day) | 74 |
| Natural gas - production | 28,210,000,000 (cu m) | 31 |
| Natural gas - consumption | 45,080,000,000 (cu m) | 21 |
| Natural gas - imports | 8,810,000,000 (cu m) | 27 |
| Natural gas - proved reserves | 299,800,000,000 (cu m) | 40 |
| Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy | 278,500,000 (Mt) | 22 |
Communications
| Value name | Value | World Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Telephones - main lines in use | 6,661,000 | 28 |
| Telephones - mobile cellular | 77,605,000 | 18 |
| Internet hosts | 3,399,000 | 31 |
| Internet users | 17,483,000 | 23 |
Transportation
| Value name | Value | World Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Airports | 103 | 55 |
| Railways | 4,071 (km) | 42 |
| Roadways | 180,053 (km) | 27 |
| Waterways | 4,000 (km) | 27 |
| Merchant marine | 363 | 28 |
Military
| Value name | Value | World Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Military expenditures | 1.80 (% of GDP) | 77 |
Data based on CIA facts book 2010 & 2013, wikipedia, national statistical offices and their census releases
List of current world heritage sites
| Name | Since |
|---|---|
| Ban Chiang Archaeological Site Ban Chiang is considered the most important prehistoric settlement so far discovered in South-East Asia. It marks an important stage in human cultural, social and technological evolution. The site presents the earliest evidence of farming in the regi ... | 1992 |
| Dong Phayayen-Khao Yai Forest Complex The Dong Phayayen-Khao Yai Forest Complex spans 230 km between Ta Phraya National Park on the Cambodian border in the east, and Khao Yai National Park in the west. The site is home to more than 800 species of fauna, including 112 mammal species (amon ... | 2005 |
| Historic City of Ayutthaya Founded c. 1350, Ayutthaya became the second Siamese capital after Sukhothai. It was destroyed by the Burmese in the 18th century. Its remains, characterized by the prang (reliquary towers) and gigantic monasteries, give an idea of its past splendour ... | 1991 |
| Historic Town of Sukhothai and Associated Historic Towns Sukhothai was the capital of the first Kingdom of Siam in the 13th and 14th centuries. It has a number of fine monuments, illustrating the beginnings of Thai architecture. The great civilization which evolved in the Kingdom of Sukhothai absorbed nume ... | 1991 |
| Thungyai-Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuaries Stretching over more than 600,000 ha along the Myanmar border, the sanctuaries, which are relatively intact, contain examples of almost all the forest types of continental South-East Asia. They are home to a very diverse array of animals, including 7 ... | 1991 |