The country

surface: 513,115 km2

population: 64,6 million (2007)

density: 123 inhabitants/km2

demographic growth: 0,70%

religions: Buddhism (93%), Islam (5%), Christianity (1,5%), Hiduism(0,04%)

official language: Thai

capital: Bangkok (Krung Thep)

GDP per capita: circa 7,000 euros

economic growth: 4 to 7% (2000-07)

inflation: circa 5 %

literacy: 92,6%

Population

75 to 80% of the Thai people are ethnic Thais. They probably originated in Southwest China (Yunnan Province) and migrated to the south, but this theory is still hypothetical.

The Chinese are the most important minority group, constituting 11 % of the total population. Most are now second- or third-generation Chinese. Their immigration as traders or labour was tolerated or even sometimes encouraged in the past, and the Thai-Chinese enjoy a better relation with the local population than in any other country in Southeast Asia. Many economic and political leaders are Sino-Thai. Chinatowns are thriving in every sizeable city, especially in Bangkok. Chinese script is seen on many shop façades and Chinese languages are widely learned and spoken.

The south, especially the three most southern provinces, is populated by a majority of Muslims (almost 5% of the population). They are of Malay origin and speak a different language. Some extremists started an uprising and fight for an independent Muslim country. Many people died as a result of their attacks and the rebellion is a major political headache for the Thai government and a big security problem for the local population.

Although ethnic Thais abound also in this part of Thailand, the northern mountain area is a chess-board of various ethnic minorities, the so-called ‘hill-tribes’ (Karen, Hmong, Akha, Lahu, Lhisu, Yao….). They are of semi-nomadic origin and have their peers in Laos, Vietnam and Myanmar, but most of them nowadays adopt a more or less sedentary farmers’ life and are busy adapting to modern lifestyles. Opium growing and -consuming was widespread among them, but have largely decreased in recent times, mainly due to the results of royally sponsored agricultural projects. Many tourists and expats follow group tours organized by local travel agencies to visit – now rather commercialized! – hill-tribe communities.

There are also substantial numbers of legal or illegal Burmese workmen, as well as Vietnamese and Cambodian refugees.

Political organization

régime: constitutional monarchy

head of state: the king, actually King Bhumibol Adulyadej

prime minister (early 2008): Samak Sundaravej (PPP party)

national assembly: House of representatives or Lower House (500 representatives) and Senate or Upper House (200 senators)

president of the National Legislative Assembly (NLA, early 2008):

Economy

currency: the baht (floating currency)

exchange rate: early 2008: 1 euro = 48 to 49 baht

Repartition of GDP per economic sector

services: 46,2%

industry: 44,6%

agriculture: 9,2%

Agriculture

53% of the active population works in the agricultural sector. Thailand is the number one rice exporting country of the world (7,4 million tons in 2006).  Other export products are rubber, corn, cassava (manioc), cotton, tobacco, coffee and                   .

Fishing and seafood-farming are other key factors of the agricultural sector. Thailand stands among the most important exporting countries of frozen seafood products (shrimps, prawns, cuttlefish, crabs).

Tropical forests (covering circa 25% of the total surface) are natural sources of teakwood, rosewood and other precious woods. Rubber and palm plantations are widespread in the south.

Aviculture (chicken and duck farms) is spread all over the country. Thailand is the 5th world exporter of frozen chickens.

Energy and industries

15% of the population is active in these sectors, which constitute 44,6% of the country’s GDP. The main industrial products are textile, agricultural and agro-industrial products, electronics (computer components and integrated circuits) and car- and motor factories.

The most important mining industries produce lignite, followed by, zinc, tungsten and lead.

Thailand also produces off-shore oil and natural gas. The latter is in full development.

Services

About 46%of the total population is active in this sector, which comprises public and private transports and communication systems, the real estate and construction sector, and the banking and financial sector. All of them enjoyed strong growth figures during the last decennia (apart from the financial crisis of 1996-2000).

Another growing economic sector and important source of income is tourism, with 14 million arrivals in 2007.

Foreign trade (source: Bank of Thailand, 2005)

Principal importers from Thailand:

USA (15%)

Japan (12%)

China (8%)

Singapore (7%)

Hong Kong (6%)

Malaysia (5%)

Indonesia (4%)

Australia (3%)

 

The EU imports 14% of Thailand’s total export.

Principal suppliers of Thailand:

Japan (22%)

China (10%)

USA (7%)

Malaysia (7%)

UAE (United Arab Emirates, 5%)

Singapore (5%)

Taiwan (4%)

Saudi Arabia (3%)

 

The EU covers 9% of Thailand’s total import.