Thailand. What an awsome country.
If
you haven't discovered Thailand yet,
let us help you get to
know this incredible country.
Across
Thailand
Background: A unified Thai kingdom was
established in the mid-14th century. 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.
Thailand is currently facing armed violence in its three
Muslim-majority southernmost provinces.
Note: The Kingdom of Thailand draws more visitors than any other
country in
southeast Asia with its combination of natural beauty, temples,
hospitality, cuisine
and ruins of ancient kingdoms.
Thailand's border with Myanmar contains a volatile mixture of land
mines, bandits, smugglers and rebels, and is prone to occasional
low-level military stoushes. Check the latest consular information for
the most up-to-date information.
Area: 514,000
sq km
Thailand is approximately the size of
France
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
Population:
64,865,523 (July 2004 est.)
Age Structure:
0-14 years: 24.1%
15-64 years: 68.7%
65 years and over: 7.3%
Religious
affiliation:
Buddhism 95%, Muslim 3.8%,
Christianity 0.5%, Hinduism 0.1%, other 0.6% (1991)
Ethnic
Groups:
Thai 75%, Chinese 14%, other
11%
Languages:
Thai, English (secondary
language of the elite), ethnic and regional dialects
Economy: Thailand
has a free-enterprise economy and welcomes foreign investment.
Exports feature textiles and footwear, fishery products, rice, rubber,
jewelry, automobiles, computers and electrical appliances. Thailand has
recovered from the 1997-98 Asian Financial Crisis and was one of East
Asia's best performers in 2002. Increased consumption and investment
spending and strong export growth pushed GDP growth up to 6.3% in 2003
despite a sluggish global economy. The highly popular government has
pushed an expansionist policy, including major support of village
economic development.
Labor force by
occupation:
agriculture 49%, industry 14%,
services 37% (2000 est.)
Industries:
tourism, textiles and garments,
agricultural processing, beverages,
tobacco, cement, light manufacturing such as jewelry, electric
appliances and components, computers and parts, integrated circuits,
furniture, plastics, world's second-largest tungsten producer, and
third-largest tin producer
Natural Hazzards:
land subsidence in Bangkok
area resulting from the depletion of the water table; droughts
People living with HIV/AIDS:
570,000 (2003 est.)
Natural
Resources: tin, rubber, natural gas, tungsten,
tantalum, timber, lead, fish, gypsum, lignite, fluorite, arable land
Environmental
Issues: air pollution from vehicle emissions;
water pollution from organic and
factory wastes; deforestation; soil erosion; wildlife populations
threatened by illegal hunting
Export
Partners:
US 17%, Japan 14.2%, Singapore
7.3%, China 7.1%, Hong Kong 5.4%, Malaysia 4.8% (2003)
Import Parners:
Japan 24.1%, US 9.5%, China
8%, Malaysia 6%, Singapore 4.3%, Taiwan 4.2% (2003)
Communications:
Regular - 6.6 million (2003)
Mobile / Cell - 16.117 million (2002)
Radio Broadcasting Stations - AM 204, FM 334, shortwave 6 (1999)
Television Broadcasting Stations - 5 (all in Bangkok; plus 131
repeaters) (1997)
Internet Country Code - .th
Internet Users - 6,031,300 (2003)
