| Section 1 - Basic Biodata |
|
Official Name: Kingdom of Thailand
Political System: Constitutional Monarcy since 1932.
Head of State: King Bhumipol Adulyadej, Rama IX, from 1946.
Prime Minister: Pol.Lt.Col. Thaksin Shinawatra (26th PM)
Legislature: Bi-Cameral. Both Houses by election.
Government Parties: Thai Rak Thai, NAP & Chart Thai.
Land Area: 513,115 Square Kilometers.
Population: 62.5 Million
Labour Force: 33.5 Million
Capital City: Bangkok (Krung Thep)
Bangkok Population: 6.5 Million (+/- 1.5 Million Seasonal workers)
Time Difference: GMT +7hrs
Currency Unit: Thai Baht
Exchange Rate: Floating (40 -45 to US$ in Early 2002)
International Telephone Code: +66-
GDP: 4,901,000 Million
GDP Growth: 4.3%
Inflation: 1.6%
Unemployment Rate: 3.6%
Value of Exports: 2,777,700 Million Baht
Main Export Customers: USA (22%), Japan (14%), Singapore (9%).
Value of Imports: 2,494,200 Million Baht
Main Import Providers: Japan (25%), USA (13%), Singapore (6%)
Tourist Arrivals: 8.5 Million per year.
 *Note all figures are based on year to end official Thai Government statistics for the Yr 2000.
| Section 2 - Geography & Demography |
|
Land Area: 513,115 Square Kilometers
Dimensions: 1,640 Kms North-South, 800 Kms East-West
Population Yr. 2000: 62.5 Million
Ethnic Grouping: Tai 75%, Chinese 14%, Mons, Hill tribes, Malays.
Main Rivers: Chaopraya (Central) & Mekong (North border)
Natural Resources: Tin, Rubber, Natural Gas, Tungsten, Lignite.
Climate:
Hot Season: Feb-May, 30°-40°C & 75% humidity
Wet Season: June-Oct, 20°-35°C, 87% humidity, SW Monsoon.
Cool Season: Nov-Jan, 15°-30°C & 60% humidity, NE winds.
Elevations: Doi Inthanon near Chiang Mai 2,600 m., Korat Plateau 200m., Songkhla 4m., and Bangkok 2m. above sea level.
Provinces: 76 provinces
Land Utilisation: Forrest 25%, 42% Farmland, 33% unclassified.
Deforestation Rate: 0.7% per year. (E.G. In 1960 51% forested.)
Administrative Regions: North, North-East, South, East, West & Central (includes Bangkok)
Urban Population: 21.6% of total population lives in urban areas.
Labour Force: 36.5 Million
Agricultural Sector: 13% of GDP and 51% of labour force.
Manufacturing Sector: 53% of GDP and 18% of labour force.
Services Sector: 36% of GDP and 31% of the labour force.
Tourist Arrivals: 8.5 Million per year
Union Membership: 10% of Labour force.
Area & % of Population by Region:
North: 169,644 Sq.kms., 19.8%
North-East: 168,854 Sq.kms., 34.7%
South: 70,715 Sq.kms., 13.1%
West: 43,046 Sq.kms., 5.8%
East: 36,502 Sq.kms., 6.7%
Central 16,593 Sq.Kms., 4.8%
Bangkok & Vicinity: 7,765 Sq.kms., 15.1%
| Section 3 - Society & Culture |
|
Religion: 95% Buddhist, 4% Muslim & 1% Christian.
Thai Calendar: Days and Months as per Western practice (7 day week & 12 Month year). Years as per the Buddhist Era (BE) calendar, which began 543 years BC. (i.e. Yr 2000 is BE 2543).
Currency: Thai Baht divided into 100 Satang.
Measurement: Metric with some exceptions. 1 Wa = 2 meters.
Area Measurement: 1 Rai = 400 Talang Wa = 1,600 Square Meters.
Weights: Metric with 100 gms called 1 “Keet”. Also gold measured in “Baht”. 1
Literacy Rate: 93%
No of School Teachers: 570,000
No School Students: 12 Million (approx)
Secondary School rate: 56% of children attend High School.
University Graduates: 75,000 per year. (aprox)
Minimum Daily Wage:
Percentage of Cars, Motorcycles & Telephones by Region
North: 9.3%, 22.9%, 11.8%
North-East: 6.8%, 22.2%, 8.7%
South: 6.1%, 18.2%, 8.2%
West: 2.7%, 7.1%, 3.9%
East: 4.7%, 7.7%, 6.8%
Central 2.5%, 5.2%, 3.6%
Bangkok: 67.9%, 16.8%, 57.1%
Government Spending:
Education: 222,416 Million Baht
General Services: 109,531 Million Baht
Social welfare: 92,994 Million Baht
Defence: 88,690 Million Baht
Debt Services: 79,006 Million Baht
Agriculture: 67,008 Million Baht
Public Health: 65,744 Million Baht
Communications: 60,165 Million Baht
Total: 860,000 Million Baht
Public Holidays:
New Years Day: 1st January
Chinese New Year: Early to mid Feb
Mahabucha Day: mid Feb
Chakri Day: 6th April (Foundation day of current Chakri Dynasty)
Songkran: 12th - 14th April (Thai New Year)
Labour Day: 1st May
Coronation Day: 5th May
Visakabucha Day: May (Birthday/enlightenment of the Buddha)
Asalabucha Day: July (Marks the Buddha's first sermon)
Khao Phansar (Lent): July (A three month period of abstinence)
HM Queen Sirikit's Birthday: 12th August
Chulalongkorn Day: 23rd October ( In honour of King Rama V)
Loy Kratong: mid November (Candle light festival of the Water Spirits)
HM King Bhumiphol's Birthday: 5th December
Constitution Day: 10th December |
 |
|
