Thailand: Facts and Figures - Facts and Figures

Official name

Kingdom of Thailand

Capital

Bangkok

Area

513,115 sq km

198,115 sq mi

Administrative divisions (population)

Amnat Charoen

364,321 (1998 estimate)

Ang Thong

290,595 (1998 estimate)

Bangkok City

5,647,799 (1998 estimate)

Buriram

1,513,889 (1998 estimate)

Chachoengsao

636,323 (1998 estimate)

Chai Nat

353,749 (1998 estimate)

Chaiyaphum

1,124,447 (1998 estimate)

Chanthaburi

1,582,222 (1998 estimate)

Chiang Mai

809,185 (1998 estimate)

Chiang Rai

2,534,287 (1998 estimate)

Chon Buri

868,684 (1998 estimate)

Chumphon

1,507,882 (1998 estimate)

Kalasin

481,058 (1998 estimate)

Kamphaeng Phet

1,268,569 (1998 estimate)

Kanchanaburi

1,053,433 (1998 estimate)

Khon Kaen

454,170 (1998 estimate)

Krabi

982,951 (1998 estimate)

Lampang

770,667 (1998 estimate)

Lamphun

775,198 (1998 estimate)

Loei

1,738,532 (1998 estimate)

Lop Buri

351,548 (1998 estimate)

Mae Hong Son

409,091 (1998 estimate)

Maha Sarakham

635,845 (1998 estimate)

Mukdahan

759,446 (1998 estimate)

Nakhon Nayok

232,938 (1998 estimate)

Nakhon Pathom

936,490 (1998 estimate)

Nakhon Phanom

330,413 (1998 estimate)

Nakhon Ratchasima Province

243,275 (1998 estimate)

Nakhon Sawan

765,425 (1998 estimate)

Nakhon Si Thammarat

711,116 (1998 estimate)

Nan

1,137,945 (1998 estimate)

Narathiwat

1,521,057 (1998 estimate)

Nong Bua Lamphu

488,192 (1998 estimate)

Nong Khai

662,234 (1998 estimate)

Nonthaburi

491,217 (1998 estimate)

Pathum Thani

897,626 (1998 estimate)

Pattani

826,464 (1998 estimate)

Phangnga

616,636 (1998 estimate)

Phatthalung

599,219 (1998 estimate)

Phayao

231,649 (1998 estimate)

Phetchabun

502,709 (1998 estimate)

Phetchaburi

517,731 (1998 estimate)

Phichit

1,049,516 (1998 estimate)

Phitsanulok Province

456,527 (1998 estimate)

Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya

604,039 (1998 estimate)

Phrae

730,740 (1998 estimate)

Phuket

495,722 (1998 estimate)

Prachin Buri

231,206 (1998 estimate)

Prachuap Khiri Khan

441,343 (1998 estimate)

Ranong

473,335 (1998 estimate)

Ratchaburi

155,204 (1998 estimate)

Rayong

819,360 (1998 estimate)

Roi Et

515,008 (1998 estimate)

Sa Kaeo

1,321,035 (1998 estimate)

Sakon Nakhon

538,696 (1998 estimate)

Samut Prakan

1,090,190 (1998 estimate)

Samut Sakhon

969,321 (1998 estimate)

Samut Songkhram

416,393 (1998 estimate)

Sara Buri

208,408 (1998 estimate)

Satun

602,026 (1998 estimate)

Sisaket

256,800 (1998 estimate)

Sing Buri

1,440,947 (1998 estimate)

Songkhla

226,091 (1998 estimate)

Sukhothai

1,210,921 (1998 estimate)

Suphan Buri

630,292 (1998 estimate)

Surat Thani

858,750 (1998 estimate)

Surin

876,407 (1998 estimate)

Tak

1,382,274 (1998 estimate)

Trang

479,105 (1998 estimate)

Trat

584,154 (1998 estimate)

Ubon Ratchathani

221,904 (1998 estimate)

Udon Thani Province

1,754,910 (1998 estimate)

Uthai Thani

331,295 (1998 estimate)

Uttaradit

484,737 (1998 estimate)

Yala

429,501 (1998 estimate)

Yasothon

553,794 (1998 estimate)

Largest cities (population)

Bangkok

6,486,000 (2003 estimate)

Nonthaburi

291,307 (2000)

Songkhla

288,000 (1998 estimate)

Nakhon Ratchasima

204,391 (2000)

Chiang Mai

167,776 (2000)

Khon Kaen

141,034 (2000)

Population

65,905,410 (2009 estimate)

Population growth rate

0.62 per cent (2009 estimate)

Population density

129 persons per sq km (2009 estimate)

334 persons per sq mi (2009 estimate)

Urbanization

Per cent urban

32 per cent (2005 estimate)

Per cent rural

68 per cent (2005 estimate)

Life expectancy

Total

73.1 years (2009 estimate)

Female

75.5 years (2009 estimate)

Male

70.8 years (2009 estimate)

Infant mortality rate

18 deaths per 1,000 live births (2009 estimate)

Literacy rate

Total

94.1 per cent (2007 estimate)

Female

92.6 per cent (2007 estimate)

Male

95.9 per cent (2007 estimate)

Ethnic divisions

Thai

75 per cent

Chinese

14 per cent

Malay

3 per cent

Khmer, Miao, Karen, and other

8 per cent

Languages

Thai (official), Malay, Khmer, Min Nan Chinese, Karen, Kuy, Mon, Phuan

Religions

Buddhist (official), Muslim, other

Type of government

Constitutional monarchy

Independence

1238 (traditional founding date; never colonized)

Constitution

October 11, 1997

Voting rights

Universal at age 18

Gross domestic product (GDP) (US$)

245,351 million (2007)

GDP per capita (US$)

3,843.70 (2007)

GDP by economic sector

GDP, agriculture

11.4 per cent (2007)

GDP, industry

43.9 per cent (2007)

GDP, services

44.7 per cent (2007)

National budget (US$)

Total revenue

48,024 million (2007)

Total expenditure

43,520 million (2007)

Monetary unit

1 baht (B), consisting of 100 satangs

Exports

Machinery and manufactured goods, electronics, rice, fish products, tin, textiles, rubber, cassava, sugar, jewellery, clothing, handicrafts, footwear

Imports

Petroleum products, food and livestock, transport equipment, machinery, chemicals, iron and steel, consumer goods

Major trading partners for exports

United States, Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong SAR, Malaysia, United Kingdom

Major trading partners for imports

Japan, United States, Singapore, Taiwan, Germany, Malaysia

Industries

Tourism, textiles, clothing, agricultural processing, beverages, tobacco, cement, light manufacturing (jewelry, electric appliances, components), integrated circuits, furniture, plastics

Agriculture

Rice, cassava, rubber, maize, sugar cane, coconuts, soya beans

Natural resources

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

Basic Facts and People sections

Area data are from the statistical bureaus of individual countries. Population, population growth rate, and population projections are from the United States Census Bureau, International Programs Center, International Data Base (IDB) (www.census.gov). Urban and rural population data are from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations (UN), FAOSTAT database (www.fao.org). Largest cities population data and political divisions data are from the statistical bureaus of individual countries. Ethnic divisions and religion data are largely from the latest Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) World Factbook and from various country censuses and reports. Language data are largely from the Ethnologue, Languages of the World, Summer Institute of Linguistics International (www.sil.org).

Health and Education section

Life expectancy and infant mortality data are from the United States Census Bureau, International Programs Center, International database (IDB) (www.census.gov). Population per physician and population per hospital bed data are from the World Health Organization (WHO) (www.who.int). Education data are from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) database (www.unesco.org).

Government section

Government, independence, legislature, constitution, highest court, and voting qualifications data are largely from various government Web sites, the latest Europa World Yearbook, and the latest Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) World Factbook. The armed forces data are from Military Balance.

Economy section

Gross domestic product (GDP), GDP per capita, GDP by economic sectors, employment, and national budget data are from the World Bank database (www.worldbank.org). Monetary unit, agriculture, mining, manufacturing, exports, imports, and major trade partner information is from the latest Europa World Yearbook and various International Monetary Fund (IMF) publications.

Energy, Communication, and Transportation section

Electricity information is from the Energy Information Administration (EIA) database (www.eia.doe.gov). Radio, telephone, television, and newspaper information is from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) database (www.unesco.org). Internet hosts, motor vehicles, and road data are from the World Bank database (www.worldbank.org).

Note

Figures may not total 100 per cent due to rounding.