The Kingdom of Thailand

1UnclassifieUnclassifiedd

Col WichayuthCol Wichayuth J-6J-6

The The Kingdom of ThailandThe The Kingdom of Thailand


















Geography Geography Area: Area: • 513,115 sq.km. (198,114 sq.mi.)513,115 sq.km. (198,114 sq.mi.)• about the size of Texas.about the size of Texas.

Cities: Cities: • Capital: Bangkok (9 million est.). Capital: Bangkok (9 million est.). • Chiang Mai, Hat Yai, Nakon RatchasimaChiang Mai, Hat Yai, Nakon Ratchasima

Terrain: Terrain: • Densely populated central plainDensely populated central plain• Northeastern plateauNortheastern plateau• Mountain range in the westMountain range in the west• Southern isthmus joins land mass with Malaysia.Southern isthmus joins land mass with Malaysia.




• Situated on the Malay Peninsular and Gulf of Thailand Situated on the Malay Peninsular and Gulf of Thailand • Divides into four regions:Divides into four regions: North, Northeast, Central and South North, Northeast, Central and South • Sharing borders with:Sharing borders with:

• Malaysia on the southMalaysia on the south• Burma on the westBurma on the west• Lao on northeast and eastLao on northeast and east• Kampuchea on the east. Kampuchea on the east.

• 3 seasons: 3 seasons: • Rainy from July to OctoberRainy from July to October• Cool and dry from November to FebruaryCool and dry from November to February• Summer from March to June Summer from March to June




• Situated on the Malay Peninsular and Gulf of Thailand Situated on the Malay Peninsular and Gulf of Thailand • Divides into four regions:Divides into four regions: North, Northeast, Central and South North, Northeast, Central and South • Sharing borders with:Sharing borders with:

• Malaysia on the southMalaysia on the south• Burma on the westBurma on the west• Lao on northeast and eastLao on northeast and east• Kampuchea on the east. Kampuchea on the east.

• 3 seasons: 3 seasons: • Rainy from July to OctoberRainy from July to October• Cool and dry from November to FebruaryCool and dry from November to February• Summer from March to June Summer from March to June



Geography Geography

Climate: Tropical monsoon.Climate: Tropical monsoon.People:People:• Nationality: Thai(s)Nationality: Thai(s)• Population (1999): 62.7 million.Population (1999): 62.7 million.• Annual growth rate: 1.1%.Annual growth rate: 1.1%.• Ethnic groups: Thai 89%, other 11%.Ethnic groups: Thai 89%, other 11%.• Religions: Buddhist 95%, Muslim 4%, Christian, Religions: Buddhist 95%, Muslim 4%, Christian,

Hindu, other.Hindu, other.• Languages: Languages:

• Thai (official language); Thai (official language); • English is the second languageEnglish is the second language• Regional dialects.Regional dialects.



Geography Geography

Education: Education: • Years compulsory - 9 Years compulsory - 9 • Literacy--93%.Literacy--93%.• Health (1996): Health (1996):

• Infant mortality rate--6/1,000.Infant mortality rate--6/1,000.• Life expectancy--67.3 yrs. male, 71 yrs. female. Life expectancy--67.3 yrs. male, 71 yrs. female.



Geography Geography

Government :Government :• Type: Constitutional monarchyType: Constitutional monarchy• Constitution: Constitution:

• New constitution promulgated October 11, 1997.New constitution promulgated October 11, 1997.Independence: Never colonized; traditional founding date 1238.Independence: Never colonized; traditional founding date 1238.

• Branches: Branches: • Executive--king (chief of state)Executive--king (chief of state)• Prime minister (head of government)Prime minister (head of government)• Legislative--National Assembly (bicameral).Legislative--National Assembly (bicameral).• Judicial--three levels of courts; highest is Supreme Court Judicial--three levels of courts; highest is Supreme Court

(Sarndika).(Sarndika).• Administrative subdivisions: Administrative subdivisions:

• 76 provinces, including Bangkok municipality, subdivided into 794 76 provinces, including Bangkok municipality, subdivided into 794 districts.districts.



Geography Geography

Political parties: Political parties: • Multi-party systemMulti-party system

Suffrage: Suffrage: • Universal at 18 Universal at 18

Economic:Economic:• GDP (1998): $116 billion; (1999 projected): $119 billionGDP (1998): $116 billion; (1999 projected): $119 billion• Annual growth rate (1998): -9.4%; (1999, projected): Annual growth rate (1998): -9.4%; (1999, projected):

+2%+2%• Per capita income (1998): $1834Per capita income (1998): $1834• Natural resources: Natural resources:

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



Geography Geography

Agriculture (11% of GDP): Agriculture (11% of GDP): • Products--rice, tapioca, rubber, corn, sugarcane, Products--rice, tapioca, rubber, corn, sugarcane,

coconuts, soybeanscoconuts, soybeans

Industries: Industries: • Tourism, textiles, garments, agricultural Tourism, textiles, garments, agricultural

processing, cement, integrated circuits, jewelryprocessing, cement, integrated circuits, jewelry



Geography Geography

Trade (1998): Trade (1998): • Exports--$53 billion: Exports--$53 billion:

• textiles and footwear, fishery products, computers and textiles and footwear, fishery products, computers and parts, jewelry, rice, tapioca products, integrated parts, jewelry, rice, tapioca products, integrated circuits, rubbercircuits, rubber

• Major markets--U.S., Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong, Major markets--U.S., Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong, EUEU

• Imports--$41 billion: machinery and parts, Imports--$41 billion: machinery and parts, petroleum, iron and steel, chemicals, vehicles and petroleum, iron and steel, chemicals, vehicles and parts, jewelry, fish preparations, electrical parts, jewelry, fish preparations, electrical appliances, fertilizers and pesticides. appliances, fertilizers and pesticides. Major suppliers--Japan, U.S., Singapore, Taiwan, Major suppliers--Japan, U.S., Singapore, Taiwan, Germany, South Korea, EUGermany, South Korea, EU



Geography Geography

People: People: • Homogeneous :Homogeneous :• More than 85% speak Thai/common culture. More than 85% speak Thai/common culture. • Core population: Core population:

• Central Thai (36%), Thai-Lao (32%), Central Thai (36%), Thai-Lao (32%), • Northern Thai (8%), Southern Thai (8%)Northern Thai (8%), Southern Thai (8%)

• The largest minorities:The largest minorities:• Chinese (about 12% of the population) Chinese (about 12% of the population) • Malay-speaking Muslims of the south (3%)Malay-speaking Muslims of the south (3%)• Other groups: the Khmer, the Mon, the Vietnamese. Other groups: the Khmer, the Mon, the Vietnamese. • Smaller, predominantly mountain-dwelling tribes ; Smaller, predominantly mountain-dwelling tribes ;

Hmong, Karen, and Mein, number about 500,000. Hmong, Karen, and Mein, number about 500,000.



Geography Geography

People: People: • The population is mostly rural, concentrated in The population is mostly rural, concentrated in

the rice-growing areas of the central, the rice-growing areas of the central, northeastern, and northern regions. northeastern, and northern regions.

• Thailand continues to industrialize, its urban Thailand continues to industrialize, its urban population (18% of total population, principally population (18% of total population, principally in the Bangkok area), is growing. in the Bangkok area), is growing.

• Thailand's highly successful government-Thailand's highly successful government-sponsored family planning program has resulted sponsored family planning program has resulted in a dramatic decline in population growth from in a dramatic decline in population growth from 3.1% in 1960 to around 1.1% today3.1% in 1960 to around 1.1% today



Geography Geography

People: People: • Life expectancy has also risen/a positive Life expectancy has also risen/a positive

reflection of public health education. reflection of public health education. Education: Education: • Compulsory for a period of 9 years. Compulsory for a period of 9 years. • Education accounts for 16% GE Education accounts for 16% GE • 93% of the adult population is literate. 93% of the adult population is literate.

Religion:Religion:• Theravada Buddhism 90 % - official religion Theravada Buddhism 90 % - official religion • The government permits religious diversity, and The government permits religious diversity, and

other major religions are representedother major religions are represented




Documents

The Kingdom of Thailand