1. SeaTrans: Thailand Country Profile

2. A unified Thai kingdom was established in the mid-14th century; it was 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 ally following the conflict. A unified Thai kingdom was established in the mid-14th century; it was 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 ally following the conflict. Capital: Bangkok

3. Background Background Location: Southeastern Asia, bordering the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand, southeast of Burma Location: Southeastern Asia, bordering the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand, southeast of Burma Border countries: Burma 1,800 km, Cambodia 803 km, Laos 1,754 km, Malaysia 506 km Border countries: Burma 1,800 km, Cambodia 803 km, Laos 1,754 km, Malaysia 506 km Coastline: 3,219 km Coastline: 3,219 km Area: total: 514,000 sq km land: 511,770 sq km water: 2,230 sq km Area: total: 514,000 sq km land: 511,770 sq km water: 2,230 sq km

4. Background Background Climate: tropical; rainy, warm, cloudy southwest monsoon (mid-May to September); dry, cool northeast monsoon (November to mid- March); southern part always hot and humid Climate: tropical; rainy, warm, cloudy southwest monsoon (mid-May to September); dry, cool northeast monsoon (November to mid- March); southern part always hot and humid Terrain: central plain; Khorat Plateau in the east; mountains elsewhere Terrain: central plain; Khorat Plateau in the east; mountains elsewhere

5. Background Background Natural resources: tin, rubber, natural gas, tungsten, tantalum, timber, lead, fish, gypsum, lignite, fluorite, arable land Natural resources: tin, rubber, natural gas, tungsten, tantalum, timber, lead, fish, gypsum, lignite, fluorite, arable land Land use: Land use: arable land: 34% permanent crops: 6% permanent pastures: 2% forests and woodland:26% other: 32%

6. Government Government Government type: constitutional monarchy Government type: constitutional monarchy Administrative divisions: Administrative divisions: 76 provinces (changwat, singular and plural); Flag description: five horizontal bands of red (top), white, blue (double width), white, and red Flag description: five horizontal bands of red (top), white, blue (double width), white, and red

7. Environment Environment International agreements: party to: Climate Change, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands (signed, but not ratified: Biodiversity, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Law of the Sea) International agreements: party to: Climate Change, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands (signed, but not ratified: Biodiversity, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Law of the Sea)

8. People People Population: 61,797,751 note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2001 est.) Population: 61,797,751 note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2001 est.)

9. People People Population growth rate: 0.91% (2001 est.) Population growth rate: 0.91% (2001 est.) Life expectancy at birth: Life expectancy at birth: total population : 68.86 male: 65.64 years female: 72.24 years Ethnic groups: Thai 75%, Chinese 14%, other 11% Ethnic groups: Thai 75%, Chinese 14%, other 11% Religions: Buddhism 95%, Muslim 3.8%, Christianity 0.5%, Hinduism 0.1%, other 0.6% Religions: Buddhism 95%, Muslim 3.8%, Christianity 0.5%, Hinduism 0.1%, other 0.6%

10. Economy Economy Economy - overview: After enjoying the world's highest growth rate from 1985 to 1995 - averaging almost 9% annually - increased speculative pressure on Thailand's currency in 1997 led to a crisis that uncovered financial sector weaknesses and forced the government to float the baht. Long pegged at 25 to the dollar, the baht reached its lowest point of 56 to the dollar in January 1998 and the economy contracted by 10.2% that same year. Thailand entered a recovery stage in 1999, expanding 4.2% and grew about the same amount in 2000, largely due to strong exports - which increased about 20% in 2000. An ailing financial sector and the slow pace of corporate debt restructuring, combined with a softening of global demand, is likely to slow growth in 2001. Economy - overview: After enjoying the world's highest growth rate from 1985 to 1995 - averaging almost 9% annually - increased speculative pressure on Thailand's currency in 1997 led to a crisis that uncovered financial sector weaknesses and forced the government to float the baht. Long pegged at 25 to the dollar, the baht reached its lowest point of 56 to the dollar in January 1998 and the economy contracted by 10.2% that same year. Thailand entered a recovery stage in 1999, expanding 4.2% and grew about the same amount in 2000, largely due to strong exports - which increased about 20% in 2000. An ailing financial sector and the slow pace of corporate debt restructuring, combined with a softening of global demand, is likely to slow growth in 2001.

11. Economy Economy Currency: Currency: baht (THB) Exchange rates: Exchange rates: US dollar - 40.12 Euro - 40.10 Imports: Imports: $61.8 billion (f.o.b., 2000 est.) Exports: Exports: $68.2 billion (f.o.b., 2000 est.)

12. GDP GDP GDP: purchasing power parity - $413 billion (2000 est.) GDP: purchasing power parity - $413 billion (2000 est.) GDP - real growth rate: 4.2% (2000 est.) GDP - real growth rate: 4.2% (2000 est.) GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $6,700 (2000 est.) GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $6,700 (2000 est.)

13. GDP GDP composition by sector: (1999) composition by sector: (1999) agriculture: 13% industry: 40% services: 47%

14. Economic Indicators Economic Indicators Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.1% (2000 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.1% (2000 est.) Labor force: Labor force: 32.6 million (1997 est.) Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate: 3.7% (2000 est.) Industrial production growth rate: Industrial production growth rate: 3% (2000 est.)

15. Transnational Issues

16. International Dispute: parts of the border with Laos and Cambodia are indefinite; sporadic border hostilities with Burma over border alignment International Dispute: parts of the border with Laos and Cambodia are indefinite; sporadic border hostilities with Burma over border alignment Social Issue: illicit transit point for heroin en route to the international drug market from Burma and Laos; (opium, heroin, and marijuana) Social Issue: illicit transit point for heroin en route to the international drug market from Burma and Laos; (opium, heroin, and marijuana)

17. Macro Level Macro Level Environmental issues: air pollution from vehicle emissions; water pollution from organic and factory wastes; deforestation; soil erosion; wildlife populations threatened by illegal hunting Environmental issues: air pollution from vehicle emissions; water pollution from organic and factory wastes; deforestation; soil erosion; wildlife populations threatened by illegal hunting

18. Micro Level (rural fishing communities) Micro Level (rural fishing communities) Transformation from purely subsistence fishing to small and medium scale commercial fishing. Transformation from purely subsistence fishing to small and medium scale commercial fishing. Mangrove and beach forest have been cleared for settlement and aquaculture farms. Mangrove and beach forest have been cleared for settlement and aquaculture farms. More work diversification. More work diversification.

19. National MFA Thailand National MFA Thailand Full account based on official statistics for the period 1990 - 2000 Full account based on official statistics for the period 1990 - 2000 DE from 1985 - 2000 DE from 1985 - 2000 Additional estimates for grazing and for by- products from harvest 1985 - 2000 Additional estimates for grazing and for by- products from harvest 1985 - 2000 Future steps: additional estimates for subsistence production and construction mass minerals Future steps: additional estimates for subsistence production and construction mass minerals Full account from 1980 Full account from 1980

20. DE biomass DE biomass

21. DE Biomass per capita DE Biomass per capita

22. DE Thailand 1985-2000 DE Thailand 1985-2000

23. Thailand Imports Thailand Imports

24. Thailand Exports

25. Four Major Exports

26. Thailand DE, Import - Export

27. Thailand DMC Thailand DMC

28. Thailand DMI, DMC, DE per cap Thailand DMI, DMC, DE per cap

29. Thailand Indicators per GDP Thailand Indicators per GDP

30. DMI - EKC Thailand 1990-1999 EKC: Environmental Kuznet Curve