Introduction
Background
Two unified Thai kingdoms emerged in the mid-13th century. The Sukhothai, located in the south-central plains, gained its independence from the Khmer Empire to the east. By the late 13th century, Sukhothai’s territory extended into present-day Burma and Laos. Sukhothai lasted until the mid-15th century. The Thai Lan Na Kingdom was established in the north with its capital at Chang Mai. Lan Na was conquered by the Burmese in the 16th century. The Ayutthaya Kingdom (14th-18th centuries) succeeded the Sukhothai and would become known as the Siamese Kingdom. During the Ayutthaya period, the Thai/Siamese peoples consolidated their hold on what is present-day central and north-central Thailand. Following a military defeat at the hands of the Burmese in 1767, the Siamese Kingdom rose to new heights under the military ruler TAKSIN, who defeated the Burmese occupiers and expanded the kingdom’s territory into modern-day northern Thailand (formerly the Lan Na Kingdom), Cambodia, Laos, and the Malay Peninsula. The kingdom fought off additional Burmese invasions and raids in the late 1700s and early 1800s. In the mid-1800s, Western pressure led to Siam signing trade treaties that reduced the country’s sovereignty and independence. In the 1890s and 1900s, the British and French forced the kingdom to cede Cambodian, Laotian, and Malay territories that had been under Siamese control.
A bloodless revolution in 1932 led to the establishment of a constitutional monarchy. After the Japanese invaded Thailand in 1941, the government split into a pro-Japan faction and a pro-Allied faction backed by the king. Thailand became a US treaty ally in 1954 after sending troops to Korea and later fighting alongside the US 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. THAKSIN's youngest sister, YINGLAK Chinnawat, in 2011 led the Puea Thai Party to an electoral win and assumed control of the government.
In early May 2014, after months of large-scale anti-government protests in Bangkok beginning in November 2013, YINGLAK was removed from office by the Constitutional Court and in late May 2014 the Royal Thai Army, led by Gen. PRAYUT Chan-ocha, staged a coup against the caretaker government. The military-affiliated National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), led by PRAYUT as the appointed minister, ruled the country for more than four years, during which time the NCPO drafted a new constitution guaranteeing military sway over Thai politics in future elections by allowing the military to appoint the entire 250-member Senate and requiring a joint meeting of the House and Senate to select the prime minister, effectively giving the military a veto over the choice for the top executive. King PHUMIPHON Adunyadet passed away in October 2016 after 70 years on the throne; his only son, WACHIRALONGKON (aka King RAMA X), formally ascended the throne in December 2019. He signed the new constitution in April 2017. A long-delayed election in March 2019, disputed and widely viewed as skewed in favor of the party aligned with the military, allowed PRAYUT to continue his premiership. The country experienced large-scale anti-government protests in 2020.
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Geography
Location
Southeastern Asia, bordering the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand, southeast of Burma
Geographic coordinates
15 00 N, 100 00 E
Map references
Southeast Asia
Area - comparative
about three times the size of Florida; slightly more than twice the size of Wyoming
Land boundaries
total: 5,673 km
border countries (4): Burma 2,416 km; Cambodia 817 km; Laos 1,845 km; Malaysia 595 km
Coastline
3,219 km
Maritime claims
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
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; Khorat Plateau in the east; mountains elsewhere
Elevation
highest point: Doi Inthanon 2,565 m
lowest point: Gulf of Thailand 0 m
mean elevation: 287 m
Natural resources
tin, rubber, natural gas, tungsten, tantalum, timber, lead, fish, gypsum, lignite, fluorite, arable land
Land use
agricultural land: 41.2% (2018 est.)
arable land: 30.8% (2018 est.)
permanent crops: 8.8% (2018 est.)
permanent pasture: 1.6% (2018 est.)
forest: 37.2% (2018 est.)
other: 21.6% (2018 est.)
Irrigated land
64,150 sq km (2012)
Major lakes (area sq km)
salt water lake(s): Thalesap Songkhla - 1,290 sq km
Major rivers (by length in km)
Mae Nam Khong (Mekong) (shared with China [s], Burma, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam [m]) - 4,350 km; Salween (shared with China [s] and Burma [m]) - 3,060 km; Mun - 1,162 km
note – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Major watersheds (area sq km)
Indian Ocean drainage: Salween (271,914 sq km)
Pacific Ocean drainage: Mekong (805,604 sq km)
Population distribution
highest population density is found in and around Bangkok; significant population clusters found througout large parts of the country, particularly north and northeast of Bangkok and in the extreme southern region of the country
Natural hazards
land subsidence in Bangkok area resulting from the depletion of the water table; droughts
Geography - note
controls only land route from Asia to Malaysia and Singapore; ideas for the construction of a canal across the Kra Isthmus that would create a bypass to the Strait of Malacca and shorten shipping times around Asia continue to be discussed
People and Society
Nationality
noun: Thai (singular and plural)
adjective: Thai
Ethnic groups
Thai 97.5%, Burmese 1.3%, other 1.1%, unspecified <0.1% (2015 est.)
note: data represent population by nationality
Languages
Thai (official) only 90.7%, Thai and other languages 6.4%, only other languages 2.9% (includes Malay, Burmese); note - data represent population by language(s) spoken at home; English is a secondary language of the elite (2010 est.)
major-language sample(s):
สารานุกรมโลก - แหล่งข้อมูลพื้นฐานที่สำคัญ (Thai)
The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions
Buddhist 94.6%, Muslim 4.3%, Christian 1%, other <0.1%, none <0.1% (2015 est.)
Demographic profile
Thailand has experienced a substantial fertility decline since the 1960s largely due to the nationwide success of its voluntary family planning program. In just one generation, the total fertility rate (TFR) shrank from 6.5 children per woman in the 1960s to below the replacement level of 2.1 in the late 1980s. Reduced fertility occurred among all segments of the Thai population, despite disparities between urban and rural areas in terms of income, education, and access to public services. The country’s “reproductive revolution” gained momentum in the 1970s as a result of the government’s launch of an official population policy to reduce population growth, the introduction of new forms of birth control, and the assistance of foreign non-government organizations. Contraceptive use rapidly increased as new ways were developed to deliver family planning services to Thailand’s then overwhelmingly rural population. The contraceptive prevalence rate increased from just 14% in 1970 to 58% in 1981 and has remained about 80% since 2000.
Thailand’s receptiveness to family planning reflects the predominant faith, Theravada Buddhism, which emphasizes individualism, personal responsibility, and independent decision-making. Thai women have more independence and a higher status than women in many other developing countries and are not usually pressured by their husbands or other family members about family planning decisions. Thailand’s relatively egalitarian society also does not have the son preference found in a number of other Asian countries; most Thai ideally want one child of each sex.
Because of its low fertility rate, increasing life expectancy, and growing elderly population, Thailand has become an aging society that will face growing labor shortages. The proportion of the population under 15 years of age has shrunk dramatically, the proportion of working-age individuals has peaked and is starting to decrease, and the proportion of elderly is growing rapidly. In the short-term, Thailand will have to improve educational quality to increase the productivity of its workforce and to compete globally in skills-based industries. An increasing reliance on migrant workers will be necessary to mitigate labor shortfalls.
Thailand is a destination, transit, and source country for migrants. It has 3-4 million migrant workers as of 2017, mainly providing low-skilled labor in the construction, agriculture, manufacturing, services, and fishing and seafood processing sectors. Migrant workers from other Southeast Asian countries with lower wages – primarily Burma and, to a lesser extent, Laos and Cambodia – have been coming to Thailand for decades to work in labor-intensive industries. Many are undocumented and are vulnerable to human trafficking for forced labor, especially in the fisheries industry, or sexual exploitation. A July 2017 migrant worker law stiffening fines on undocumented workers and their employers, prompted tens of thousands of migrants to go home. Fearing a labor shortage, the Thai Government has postponed implementation of the law until January 2018 and is rapidly registering workers. Thailand has also hosted ethnic minority refugees from Burma for more than 30 years; as of 2016, approximately 105,000 mainly Karen refugees from Burma were living in nine camps along the Thailand-Burma border.
Thailand has a significant amount of internal migration, most often from rural areas to urban centers, where there are more job opportunities. Low- and semi-skilled Thais also go abroad to work, mainly in Asia and a smaller number in the Middle East and Africa, primarily to more economically developed countries where they can earn higher wages.
Age structure
0-14 years: 16% (male 5,720,842/female 5,443,981)
15-64 years: 69.53% (male 23,797,302/female 24,734,505)
65 years and over: 14.47% (2023 est.) (male 4,500,808/female 5,597,559)
Dependency ratios
total dependency ratio: 43.5
youth dependency ratio: 22.7
elderly dependency ratio: 18.4
potential support ratio: 4.8 (2021 est.)
Population distribution
highest population density is found in and around Bangkok; significant population clusters found througout large parts of the country, particularly north and northeast of Bangkok and in the extreme southern region of the country
Urbanization
urban population: 53.6% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 1.43% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population
11.070 million BANGKOK (capital), 1.454 Chon Buri, 1.359 million Samut Prakan, 1.213 million Chiang Mai, 1.005 million Songkla, 1.001 million Nothaburi (2023)
Sex ratio
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2023 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth
23.3 years (2009 est.)
Infant mortality rate
total: 6.36 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 6.99 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 5.71 deaths/1,000 live births (2023 est.)
comparison ranking: total 167
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 77.91 years
male: 74.92 years
female: 81.05 years (2023 est.)
comparison ranking: total population 87
Gross reproduction rate
0.75 (2023 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rate
73% (2019)
Drinking water source
improved: urban: 100% of population
rural: 100% of population
total: 100% of population
unimproved: urban: 0% of population
rural: 0% of population
total: 0% of population (2020 est.)
Current health expenditure
4.4% of GDP (2020)
Physicians density
0.95 physicians/1,000 population (2020)
Sanitation facility access
improved: urban: 99.9% of population
rural: 100% of population
total: 100% of population
unimproved: urban: 0.1% of population
rural: 0% of population
total: 0% of population (2020 est.)
Major infectious diseases
degree of risk: high (2023)
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea
vectorborne diseases: dengue fever, Japanese encephalitis, and malaria
Alcohol consumption per capita
total: 6.86 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
beer: 1.85 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
wine: 0.23 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
spirits: 4.78 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
comparison ranking: total 60
Tobacco use
total: 22.1% (2020 est.)
male: 41.3% (2020 est.)
female: 2.9% (2020 est.)
comparison ranking: total 71
Currently married women (ages 15-49)
60.8% (2023 est.)
Child marriage
women married by age 15: 3%
women married by age 18: 20.2%
men married by age 18: 9.8% (2019 est.)
Literacy
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 94.1%
male: 95.5%
female: 92.8% (2021)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)
total: 15 years
male: 15 years
female: 16 years (2016)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
total: 7%
male: 6.2%
female: 8.1% (2021 est.)
comparison ranking: total 179
Environment
Environment - current issues
air pollution from vehicle emissions; water pollution from organic and factory wastes; water scarcity; deforestation; soil erosion; wildlife populations threatened by illegal hunting; hazardous waste disposal
Environment - international agreements
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
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
Land use
agricultural land: 41.2% (2018 est.)
arable land: 30.8% (2018 est.)
permanent crops: 8.8% (2018 est.)
permanent pasture: 1.6% (2018 est.)
forest: 37.2% (2018 est.)
other: 21.6% (2018 est.)
Urbanization
urban population: 53.6% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 1.43% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Air pollutants
particulate matter emissions: 26.23 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.)
carbon dioxide emissions: 283.76 megatons (2016 est.)
methane emissions: 86.98 megatons (2020 est.)
Waste and recycling
municipal solid waste generated annually: 26,853,366 tons (2015 est.)
municipal solid waste recycled annually: 5,128,993 tons (2012 est.)
percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 19.1% (2012 est.)
Major lakes (area sq km)
salt water lake(s): Thalesap Songkhla - 1,290 sq km
Major rivers (by length in km)
Mae Nam Khong (Mekong) (shared with China [s], Burma, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam [m]) - 4,350 km; Salween (shared with China [s] and Burma [m]) - 3,060 km; Mun - 1,162 km
note – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Major watersheds (area sq km)
Indian Ocean drainage: Salween (271,914 sq km)
Pacific Ocean drainage: Mekong (805,604 sq km)
Total water withdrawal
municipal: 2.74 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)
industrial: 2.78 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)
agricultural: 51.79 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)
Total renewable water resources
438.61 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)
Government
Country name
conventional long form: Kingdom of Thailand
conventional short form: Thailand
local long form: Ratcha Anachak Thai
local short form: Prathet Thai
former: Siam
etymology: Land of the Tai [People]"; the meaning of "tai" is uncertain, but may originally have meant "human beings," "people," or "free people''
Government type
constitutional monarchy
Capital
name: Bangkok
geographic coordinates: 13 45 N, 100 31 E
time difference: UTC+7 (12 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
etymology: Bangkok was likely originally a colloquial name, but one that was widely adopted by foreign visitors; the name may derive from bang ko, where bang is the Thai word for "village on a stream" and ko means "island," both referencing the area's landscape, which was carved by rivers and canals; alternatively, the name may come from bang makok, where makok is the name of the Java plum, a plant bearing olive-like fruit; this possibility is supported by the former name of Wat Arun, a historic temple in the area, that used to be called Wat Makok;
Krung Thep Maha Nakhon, the city's Thai name, means "City of Angels, Great City" or simply "Great City of Angels" and is a shortening of the full ceremonial name: Krungthepmahanakhon Amonrattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilokphop Noppharatratchathaniburirom Udomratchaniwetmahasathan Amonphimanawatansathit Sakkathattiyawitsanukamprasit; translated the meaning is: "City of angels, great city of immortals, magnificent city of the nine gems, seat of the king, city of royal palaces, home of gods incarnate, erected by Vishvakarman at Indra's behest"; it holds the world's record as the longest place name (169 letters); Krung Thep is used colloquially
Administrative divisions
76 provinces (changwat, singular and plural) and 1 municipality* (maha nakhon); Amnat Charoen, Ang Thong, Bueng Kan, Buri Ram, Chachoengsao, Chai Nat, Chaiyaphum, Chanthaburi, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Chon Buri, Chumphon, Kalasin, Kamphaeng Phet, Kanchanaburi, Khon Kaen, Krabi, Krung Thep* (Bangkok), 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, Prachin Buri, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Ranong, Ratchaburi, Rayong, Roi Et, Sa Kaeo, Sakon Nakhon, Samut Prakan, Samut Sakhon, Samut Songkhram, Saraburi, Satun, Sing Buri, Si Sa Ket, 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)
National holiday
Birthday of King WACHIRALONGKON, 28 July (1952)
Constitution
history: many previous; latest drafted and presented 29 March 2016, approved by referendum 7 August 2016, signed into law by the king on 6 April 2017
amendments: amendments require a majority vote in a joint session of the House and Senate and further require at least one fifth of opposition House members and one third of the Senate vote in favor; a national referendum is additionally required for certain amendments; all amendments require signature by the king; Thailand's 2017 constitution was amended in November 2021 to increase the number of constituency members of parliament (MPs) from 350 to 400, reduce the number of party-list MPs from 150 to 100, and change the election to a two-ballot system
Legal system
civil law system with common law influences
International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
Citizenship
citizenship by birth: no
citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Thailand
dual citizenship recognized: no
residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch
chief of state: King WACHIRALONGKON, also spelled Vajiralongkorn (since 1 December 2016)
head of government: Prime Minister SETTHA Thawisin (since 5 September 2023)
cabinet: Council of Ministers nominated by the prime minister, appointed by the king; a Privy Council advises the king
elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; prime minister candidate approved by the House of Representatives and Senate and appointed by the king; starting in 2024, approval of prime minister needed only by the House of Representatives
note: PRAYUT Chan-ocha was appointed interim prime minister in August 2014, three months after he staged the coup that removed the previously elected government of Prime Minister YINGLAK Chinnawat; on 5 June 2019, PRAYUT (independent) approved as prime minister by the National Assembly; the Constitutional Court in September 2022 ruled that PRAYUT's term as prime minister began in April 2017 with the promulgation of Thailand's most recent constitution, meaning he will not reach the statutory 8-year limit until 2025
Legislative branch
description: bicameral National Assembly or Ratthasapha consists of:
Senate or Wuthisapha (currently 250 seats; members appointed by the National Council for Peace and Order to serve 5-year terms; the Senate appointed in 2024 will consist of 200 members elected from various groups of professionals for a 5-year term)
House of Representatives or Saphaphuthan Ratsadon (500 seats; 400 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote and 100 members elected in a single nationwide constituency by party-list proportional representation vote; members serve 4-year terms)
elections: Senate - last selections held on 14 May 2019 (next to be held in 2024)
House of Representatives - last held on 14 May 2023 (next to be held in May 2027)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; composition (248 members as of mid-2022) - men 222, women 26, percent of women 10.5%
House of Representatives - percent of vote by party in 2023 election - MFP 36.2%, PTP 27.7%, UTN 11.9%, PJT 2.9%, DP 2.3%, PPRP 1.4%, PCC 1.5%, other 16%; seats by party - MFP 152, PTP 141, PJT 70, PPRP 41, UTN 36, DP 24, PCC 9, CTP 10, Thai Sang Thai 6, other 11
House of Representatives - percent of vote by party in 2019 election- PPRP 23.7%, PTP 22.2%, FFP* 17.8%, DP 11.1%, PJT 10.5%, TLP 2.3%, CTP 2.2%, NEP 1.4%, PCC 1.4%, ACT 1.2%, PCP 1.2%, other 5.1%; seats by party - PTP 136, PPRP 116, FFP 81, DP 53, PJT 51, CTP 10, TLP 10, PCC 7, PCP 5, NEP 6, ACT 5, other 20; composition (489 members as of mid-2022) - men 412, women 77, percent of women 15.8%; note(s) - total National Assembly percent of women 14%
Judicial branch
highest court(s): Supreme Court of Justice (consists of the court president, 6 vice presidents, 60-70 judges, and organized into 10 divisions); Constitutional Court (consists of the court president and 8 judges); Supreme Administrative Court (number of judges determined by Judicial Commission of the Administrative Courts)
judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges selected by the Judicial Commission of the Courts of Justice and approved by the monarch; judge term determined by the monarch; Constitutional Court justices - 3 judges drawn from the Supreme Court, 2 judges drawn from the Administrative Court, and 4 judge candidates selected by the Selective Committee for Judges of the Constitutional Court, and confirmed by the Senate; judges appointed by the monarch serve single 9-year terms; Supreme Administrative Court judges selected by the Judicial Commission of the Administrative Courts and appointed by the monarch; judges serve for life
subordinate courts: courts of first instance and appeals courts within both the judicial and administrative systems; military courts
Political parties and leaders
Action Coalition Party or ACP [ANEK Laothammathast]
Bhumjaithai Party (aka Phumchai Thai Party or PJT; aka Thai Pride Party) or BJT [ANUTIN Chanwirakun]
Chat Phatthana Kla arty (National Development Party) [KON Chatikawanit]
Chat Thai Phatthana Party (Thai Nation Development Party) or CTP [VARAWUT Silpa-archa]
New Economics Party or NEP [MANUN Siwaphiromrat]
Move Forward Party or MFP [PHITHA Limcharoenrat]
Palang Pracharat Party (People's State Power Party) or PPRP [PRAWIT Wongsuwan]
Prachachat Party or PCC [WAN Muhamad NOOR Matha]
Prachathipat Party (Democrat Party) or DP [JURIN Laksanawisit]
Puea Chat Party (For Nation Party) or PCP [SARUNWUT Sarunket]
Puea Thai Party (For Thais Party) or PTP [CHONLANAN Sikaew]
Puea Tham Party (For Dharma Party) [NALINI Thawisin]
Seri Ruam Thai Party (Thai Liberal Party or TLP) [SERIPHISUT Temiyawet]
Thai Civilized Party or TCL [MONGKOLKIT Suksintharanon]
Thai Local Power Party or TLP [CHATCHAWAI Kong-udom]
Thai People Power Party or TLPT [NIKHOM Bunwiset]
Thai Sang Thai Party [SUDARAT Keyuraphan]
United Thai Nation (Ruam Thai Sang Chat) or UTN [PHIRAPHAN Saliratthawiphak]
International organization participation
ADB, APEC, ARF, ASEAN, BIMSTEC, BIS, CD, CICA, CP, EAS, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC (observer), OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE (partner), PCA, PIF (partner), UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMOGIP, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Tanee SANGRAT (since 12 December 2022)
chancery: 1024 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Suite 401, Washington, DC 20007
telephone: [1] (202) 944-3600
FAX: [1] (202) 944-3611
email address and website:
thai.wsn@thaiembdc.org
https://thaiembdc.org
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Robert F. GODEC (since 7 October 2022)
embassy: 95 Wireless Road, Bangkok 10330
mailing address: 7200 Bangkok Place, Washington DC 20521-7200
telephone: [66] 2-205-4000
FAX: [66] 2-205-4103
email address and website:
acsbkk@state.gov
https://th.usembassy.gov/
consulate(s) general: Chiang Mai
Flag description
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, and blue stands for the monarchy
note: similar to the flag of Costa Rica but with the blue and red colors reversed
National symbol(s)
garuda (mythical half-man, half-bird figure), elephant; national colors: red, white, blue
National anthem
name: "Phleng Chat Thai" (National Anthem of Thailand)
lyrics/music: Luang SARANUPRAPAN/Phra JENDURIYANG
note: music adopted 1932, lyrics adopted 1939; by law, people are required to stand for the national anthem at 0800 and 1800 every day; the anthem is played in schools, offices, theaters, and on television and radio during this time; "Phleng Sanlasoen Phra Barami" (A Salute to the Monarch) serves as the royal anthem and is played in the presence of the royal family and during certain state ceremonies
National heritage
total World Heritage Sites: 6 (3 cultural, 3 natural)
selected World Heritage Site locales: Historic City of Ayutthaya (c); Historic Sukhothai and Associated Historic Towns (c); Thungyai-Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuaries (n); Ban Chiang Archaeological Site (c); Dong Phayayen-Khao Yai Forest Complex (n); Kaeng Krachan Forest Complex (n)
Economy
Economic overview
upper middle-income Southeast Asian economy; substantial infrastructure; major electronics, food, and automobile parts exporter; globally used currency; extremely low unemployment, even amid COVID-19; ongoing Thailand 4.0 economic development
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$1.223 trillion (2021 est.)
$1.204 trillion (2020 est.)
$1.284 trillion (2019 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
comparison ranking: 22
Real GDP per capita
$17,100 (2021 est.)
$16,800 (2020 est.)
$18,000 (2019 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
comparison ranking: 101
GDP (official exchange rate)
$543.798 billion (2019 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
1.23% (2021 est.)
-0.85% (2020 est.)
0.71% (2019 est.)
comparison ranking: 191
Credit ratings
Fitch rating: BBB+ (2013)
Moody's rating: Baa1 (2003)
Standard & Poors rating: BBB+ (2004)
note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained.
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
agriculture: 8.2% (2017 est.)
industry: 36.2% (2017 est.)
services: 55.6% (2017 est.)
comparison rankings: services 153; industry 42; agriculture 99
GDP - composition, by end use
household consumption: 48.8% (2017 est.)
government consumption: 16.4% (2017 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 23.2% (2017 est.)
investment in inventories: -0.4% (2017 est.)
exports of goods and services: 68.2% (2017 est.)
imports of goods and services: -54.6% (2017 est.)
Agricultural products
sugar cane, cassava, rice, oil palm fruit, rubber, maize, tropical fruit, poultry, pineapples, mangoes/guavas
Industries
tourism, textiles and garments, agricultural processing, beverages, tobacco, cement, light manufacturing such as jewelry and electric appliances, computers and parts, integrated circuits, furniture, plastics, automobiles and automotive parts, agricultural machinery, air conditioning and refrigeration, ceramics, aluminum, chemical, environmental management, glass, granite and marble, leather, machinery and metal work, petrochemical, petroleum refining, pharmaceuticals, printing, pulp and paper, rubber, sugar, rice, fishing, cassava, world's second-largest tungsten producer and third-largest tin producer
Labor force - by occupation
agriculture: 31.8%
industry: 16.7%
services: 51.5% (2015 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
total: 7%
male: 6.2%
female: 8.1% (2021 est.)
comparison ranking: total 179
Population below poverty line
9.9% (2018 est.)
Average household expenditures
on food: 24.3% of household expenditures (2018 est.)
on alcohol and tobacco: 3.4% of household expenditures (2018 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: 2.8%
highest 10%: 31.5% (2009 est.)
Budget
revenues: $104.689 billion (2020 est.)
expenditures: $128.581 billion (2020 est.)
Public debt
50.4% of GDP (2020 est.)
40.13% of GDP (2019 est.)
39.25% of GDP (2018 est.)
note: data cover general government debt and include debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data include debt issued by subnational entities, as well as intragovernmental debt; intragovernmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as for retirement, medical care, and unemployment; debt instruments for the social funds are sold at public auctions
comparison ranking: 107
Fiscal year
1 October - 30 September
Current account balance
-$10.345 billion (2021 est.)
$21.058 billion (2020 est.)
$38.256 billion (2019 est.)
comparison ranking: 195
Exports
$296.002 billion (2021 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
$257.981 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
$323.878 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
comparison ranking: 26
Exports - partners
United States 13%, China 12%, Japan 10%, Vietnam 5% (2019)
Exports - commodities
office machinery/parts, cars and vehicle parts, integrated circuits, delivery trucks, gold (2019)
Imports
$295.78 billion (2021 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
$232.039 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
$272.831 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
comparison ranking: 25
Imports - partners
China 22%, Japan 14%, United States 7%, Malaysia 6% (2019)
Imports - commodities
crude petroleum, integrated circuits, natural gas, vehicle parts, gold (2019)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$246.025 billion (31 December 2021 est.)
$258.104 billion (31 December 2020 est.)
$224.356 billion (31 December 2019 est.)
comparison ranking: 14
Exchange rates
baht per US dollar -
Exchange rates:
31.977 (2021 est.)
31.294 (2020 est.)
31.048 (2019 est.)
32.31 (2018 est.)
33.94 (2017 est.)
Energy
Electricity access
electrification - total population: 100% (2021)
Electricity
installed generating capacity: 53.13 million kW (2020 est.)
consumption: 190,569,262,000 kWh (2019 est.)
exports: 2,617,583,000 kWh (2020 est.)
imports: 29,550,571,000 kWh (2020 est.)
transmission/distribution losses: 13.286 billion kWh (2019 est.)
comparison rankings: imports 4; exports 45; installed generating capacity 25; transmission/distribution losses 27; consumption 23
Electricity generation sources
fossil fuels: 83.3% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
solar: 2.8% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
wind: 1.7% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
hydroelectricity: 2.6% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
tide and wave: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
geothermal: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
biomass and waste: 9.6% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Coal
production: 13.251 million metric tons (2020 est.)
consumption: 35.761 million metric tons (2020 est.)
exports: 63,000 metric tons (2020 est.)
imports: 23.899 million metric tons (2020 est.)
proven reserves: 1.063 billion metric tons (2019 est.)
Petroleum
total petroleum production: 438,200 bbl/day (2021 est.)
refined petroleum consumption: 1,284,800 bbl/day (2019 est.)
crude oil and lease condensate exports: 28,600 bbl/day (2018 est.)
crude oil and lease condensate imports: 979,800 bbl/day (2018 est.)
crude oil estimated reserves: 252.8 million barrels (2021 est.)
Natural gas
production: 38,420,517,000 cubic meters (2019 est.)
consumption: 54,802,466,000 cubic meters (2019 est.)
exports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
imports: 14,944,842,000 cubic meters (2019 est.)
proven reserves: 138.243 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions
305.273 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
from coal and metallurgical coke: 58.78 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids: 146.172 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
from consumed natural gas: 100.321 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
comparison ranking: total emissions 20
Communications
Telephones - fixed lines
total subscriptions: 4.6 million (2021 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 7 (2021 est.)
comparison ranking: total subscriptions 31
Telephones - mobile cellular
total subscriptions: 120 million (2021 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 170 (2021 est.)
comparison ranking: total subscriptions 15
Telecommunication systems
general assessment: Thailand’s telecom sector is relatively mature and hosts a mix of public and private sector players; the mobile market is highly developed and has experienced strong growth over the last seven years; the market returned to growth in 2021 after it contracted in 2020 driven by the Covid-19 pandemic, and a steep decline in inbound tourism; it remains highly saturated, owing to overall maturity and the popularity of multiple SIM card use, which has resulted in a particularly high penetration rate; in general, the sector retains considerable potential given the impetus of 5G, the recent spectrum auctions, and continued network deployments by the country’s network operators; further auctions of spectrum in the 700MHz band (being repurposed from digital TV broadcasting), and in the 3.6GHz range will further improve network capacity; in the wire line segment, the decline in fixed-line penetration is expected to continue as subscribers migrate to mobile networks for voice and data services; the emphasis among operators has been to bolster their fiber footprints in key high-value areas; the transition to fiber from DSL and cable has also been facilitated by changes to the regulatory structure that have removed some barriers to investment; this is supporting the cannibalization of older copper-based DSL lines by fiber; the returns from this investment remain a long-term prospect as consumers still favor entry-level packages; there is also strong interest from the government, as well as private vendors, in establishing Thailand as a data center hub to serve the region; the size, capacity and spread of existing data centers in the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) outside of Thailand is small; Thailand retains some advantages to attract investment, including improved fiber connectivity and international bandwidth; increasing submarine capacity, such as the SJC2 cable to come online later in 2023, will considerably improve Thailand’s potential as a regional hub (2022)
domestic: fixed-line is 7 per 100 and mobile-cellular is 170 per 100 (2021)
international: country code - 66; landing points for the AAE-1, FEA, SeaMeWe-3,-4, APG, SJC2, TIS, MCT and AAG submarine cable systems providing links throughout Asia, Australia, Africa, Middle East, Europe, and US; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean, 1 Pacific Ocean) (2019)
Broadcast media
26 digital TV stations in Bangkok broadcast nationally, 6 terrestrial TV stations in Bangkok broadcast nationally via relay stations - 2 of the stations are owned by the military, the other 4 are government-owned or controlled, leased to private enterprise, and all are required to broadcast government-produced news programs twice a day; multi-channel satellite and cable TV subscription services are available; radio frequencies have been allotted for more than 500 government and commercial radio stations; many small community radio stations operate with low-power transmitters (2017)
Internet users
total: 61.2 million (2021 est.)
percent of population: 85% (2021 est.)
comparison ranking: total 17
Broadband - fixed subscriptions
total: 11,478,265 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 16 (2020 est.)
comparison ranking: total 18
Transportation
National air transport system
number of registered air carriers: 15 (2020)
inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 283
annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 76,053,042 (2018)
annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 2,666,260,000 (2018) mt-km
Airports - with paved runways
63
note: paved runways have a concrete or asphalt surface but not all have facilities for refueling, maintenance, or air traffic control; the length of a runway required for aircraft to safely operate depends on a number of factors including the type of aircraft, the takeoff weight (including passengers, cargo, and fuel), engine types, flap settings, landing speed, elevation of the airport, and average maximum daily air temperature; paved runways can reach a length of 5,000 m (16,000 ft.), but the “typical” length of a commercial airline runway is between 2,500-4,000 m (8,000-13,000 ft.)
Airports - with unpaved runways
38
note: unpaved runways have a surface composition such as grass or packed earth and are most suited to the operation of light aircraft; unpaved runways are usually short, often less than 1,000 m (3,280 ft.) in length; airports with unpaved runways often lack facilities for refueling, maintenance, or air traffic control
Heliports
7 (2021)
Pipelines
2 km condensate, 5,900 km gas, 85 km liquid petroleum gas, 1 km oil, 1,097 km refined products (2013)
Railways
total: 4,127 km (2017)
standard gauge: 84 km (2017) 1.435-m gauge (84 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 4,043 km (2017) 1.000-m gauge
comparison ranking: total 43
Waterways
4,000 km (2011) (3,701 km navigable by boats with drafts up to 0.9 m)
comparison ranking: 28
Merchant marine
total: 829
by type: bulk carrier 26, container ship 28, general cargo 91, oil tanker 246, other 438 (2022)
comparison ranking: total 29
Ports and terminals
major seaport(s): Bangkok, Laem Chabang, Map Ta Phut, Prachuap Port, Si Racha
container port(s) (TEUs): Laem Chabang (8,335,384) (2021)
LNG terminal(s) (import): Map Ta Phut
Military and Security
Military and security forces
Royal Thai Armed Forces (Kongthap Thai, RTARF): Royal Thai Army (Kongthap Bok Thai, RTA), Royal Thai Navy (Kongthap Ruea Thai, RTN; includes Royal Thai Marine Corps), Royal Thai Air Force (Kongthap Akaat Thai, RTAF)
Office of the Prime Minister: Royal Thai Police (2023)
note 1: the Thai Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC) oversees counter-insurgency operations, as well as countering terrorism, narcotics and weapons trafficking, and other internal security duties; it is primarily run by the Army
note 2: official paramilitary forces in Thailand include the Thai Rangers (Thahan Phran or "Hunter Soldiers") under the Army; the Paramilitary Marines under the Navy; the Border Patrol Police (BPP) under the Royal Thai Police; the Volunteer Defense Corps (VDC or O So) and National Defense Volunteers (NDV), both under the Ministry of Interior; there are also several government-backed volunteer militias created to provide village security against insurgents in the deep south or to assist the ISOC
Military expenditures
1.2% of GDP (2022 est.)
1.3% of GDP (2021)
1.4% of GDP (2020)
1.3% of GDP (2019)
1.3% of GDP (2018)
comparison ranking: 111
Military and security service personnel strengths
estimated 350,000 active-duty personnel (250,000 Army; 70,000 Navy; 30,000 Air Force); approximately 230,000 Royal Thai Police (2023)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
the RTARF has a diverse array of foreign-supplied weapons systems, including a considerable amount of older US equipment; over the past decade, Thailand has received arms from nearly 20 countries, with China, South Korea, Ukraine, and the US being among the leading suppliers; in recent years, Thailand has been making efforts to increase its domestic defense production capabilities in such areas as armored vehicles, unmanned aerial systems, and other military technologies (2023)
Military service age and obligation
18 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; 21 years of age for compulsory military service for men; men register at 18 years of age; volunteer service obligation may be as short as 6 or 12 months, depending on educational qualifications; conscript service obligation also varies by educational qualifications, but is typically 24 months (2023)
note 1: serving in the armed forces is a national duty of all Thai citizens; conscription was introduced in 1905; it includes women, however, only men over the age of 21 who have not gone through reserve training are conscripted; conscripts are chosen by lottery (on draft day, eligible draftees can request volunteer service, or they may choose to stay for the conscription lottery); approximately 75-100,000 men are drafted for military service each year and conscripts reportedly comprise as much as 50% of the armed forces
note 2: as of 2020, women comprised about 8% of active-duty military personnel
Military deployments
275 South Sudan (UNMISS) (2023)
Military - note
the RTARF’s missions include defending the country’s territory and sovereignty, protecting the monarchy, ensuring internal security, and responding to natural disasters; it also plays a large role in domestic politics and has attempted more than 20 coups since the fall of absolute monarchy in 1932, the most recent being in 2014; the Army, formed in 1874, is the dominant service and has 15 combat divisions spread across 4 military regions; ten of the divisions are infantry, while the others are armored/mechanized cavalry, special forces, and artillery; established in 1906, the Navy’s principal warships include a light aircraft/helicopter carrier, a landing platform dock (LPD) amphibious assault ship, and nearly 20 frigates, corvettes, and offshore patrol vessels; it also has a marine infantry division; the Air Force, established in 1913, is one of the oldest in Southeast Asia and has around 100 combat aircraft
since 2004, the military has fought against separatist insurgents in the southern provinces of Pattani, Yala, and Narathiwat, as well as parts of Songkhla; the insurgency is rooted in ethnic Malay nationalist resistance to Thai rule that followed the extension of Siamese sovereignty over the Patani Sultanate in the 18th century; the insurgency consists of several armed groups, the largest of which is the Barisan Revolusi Nasional-Koordinasi (BRN-C): since 2020, Thai officials have been negotiating with BRN, and has parallel talks with an umbrella organization, MARA Pattani, that claims to represent the insurgency groups; since 2004, violence associated with the insurgency has claimed more than 7,300 lives (as of 2023); the Thai Government has had as many as 100,000 military and paramilitary forces deployed in the south to combat the insurgency
Thailand has Major Non-NATO Ally (MNNA) status with the US, a designation under US law that provides foreign partners with certain benefits in the areas of defense trade and security cooperation; the Thai and US militaries host the annual "Cobra Gold" multinational military exercises in Thailand; the exercise is one of the largest multinational exercises in the Pacific region (2023)
Space
Space agency/agencies
Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA, under the Ministry of Science and Technology; created in 2000 from the Thailand Remote Sensing Center that was established in 1979); National Space Policy Committee (NSPC; advisory body to the prime minister) (2023)
Space launch site(s)
none, although as of 2023 the Thai Government was reviewing a proposal to build a spaceport (2023)
Space program overview
has an ambitious and growing space program focused on the acquisition and operation of satellites, as well as the development of related technologies; operates communications and remote sensing (RS) satellites; manufactures scientific/research/testing cube satellites and developing the capabilities to produce RS satellites (has historically built satellites with foreign assistance); cooperates with a range of foreign space agencies and industries, including those of other ASEAN countries, China, France, India, the Netherlands, Pakistan, Russia, South Korea, and the US; founding member of the China-led Asia-Pacific Space Cooperation Organization (APSCO); has a growing space industry, including Southeast Asia’s first dedicated satellite manufacturing facility, which opened in 2021 (2023)
note: further details about the key activities, programs, and milestones of the country’s space program, as well as government spending estimates on the space sector, appear in Appendix S
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international
Thailand-Burma: in 2016, Thailand expressed its interest in investing in Burma’s Hatgyi Dam project on the Salween River near the Thai-Burma border; the dam has the potential to supply electricity and water during the drought season; approximately 100,000 mostly Karen refugees fleeing civil strife, political upheaval, and economic stagnation in Burma live in nine remote camps in Thailand near the border
Thailand-Cambodia: Cambodia and Thailand dispute sections of their border; in 2011, Thailand and Cambodia resorted to arms in the dispute over the location of the boundary on the precipice surmounted by Preah Vihear temple ruins, awarded to Cambodia by ICJ decision in 1962 and part of a planned UN World Heritage site; in 2013, the International Court of Justice ruled that the land with the temple was Cambodian territory but that a nearby hill belonged to Thailand
Thailand-Laos: talks continue on completion of demarcation with Laos but disputes remain over several islands in the Mekong River
Thailand-Malaysia: separatist violence in Thailand's predominantly Malay-Muslim southern provinces prompt border closures and controls with Malaysia to stem insurgent activities; disputed areas are the Bukit Jeli area at the headwaters of the Golok River and the continental shelf boundary in the Gulf of Thailand
Refugees and internally displaced persons
refugees (country of origin): 90,617 (Burma) (refugees and asylum seekers) (2022)
IDPs: 41,000 (2022)
stateless persons: 566,900 (2022) (estimate represents stateless persons registered with the Thai Government; actual number may be as high as 3.5 million); note - about half of Thailand's northern hill tribe people do not have citizenship and make up the bulk of Thailand's stateless population; most lack documentation showing they or one of their parents were born in Thailand; children born to Burmese refugees are not eligible for Burmese or Thai citizenship and are stateless; most Chao Lay, maritime nomadic peoples, who travel from island to island in the Andaman Sea west of Thailand are also stateless; stateless Rohingya refugees from Burma are considered illegal migrants by Thai authorities and are detained in inhumane conditions or expelled; stateless persons are denied access to voting, property, education, employment, healthcare, and driving
note: Thai nationality was granted to more than 23,000 stateless persons between 2012 and 2016 and more than 18,000 between 2018 and 2021; in 2016, the Government of Thailand approved changes to its citizenship laws that could make 80,000 stateless persons eligible for citizenship, as part of its effort to achieve zero statelessness by 2024 (2021)
Illicit drugs
not a cultivator or producer of significant quantities of opiates, methamphetamine, or other illicit drugs; not a significant source or transit country for drugs entering the United States; drugs smuggled through Thailand heading for Indo-Pacific region markets; large influx of methamphetamine and heroin from neighboring Burma to other markets, but also consumed domestically, most of which transits through Thailand to other markets, but is also consumed domestically; a major source of precursor or essential chemicals used in the production of illicit narcotics