Thailand
| Capital: | Bangkok |
| Area size: | 510890 sq. km Slightly smaller than France |
| Time zone: | GMT +7 |
| Currency: | Baht |
| Area code: | (+) 66 |
| Driving: | Left |
| Climate description: | Equatorial climate in the south, tropical monsoon climate in the centre and north, with abundant rainfall throughout the country between June and October when it is warm, humid and cloudy. The November-to-April period is much drier, and the hottest months are April and May. Hot and humid for most of the year, particularly during the monsoon season between May and October. |
People
Standard of living
Economy & aid
Health
Disasters, conflict & migration
Language
The official national language is Thai or Siamese. Minority groups speak their own languages.
Source: New Internationalist World Guide
Population
Future population estimates
74.5 million (2050)
Source: U.N. DESA (2006)
Ethnic groups
The Thai ethnic group predominates. The largest minority groups are the Malay (13 percent) in the south and the Chinese (12 percent). Other groups include Khmer, Karen, Indians and Vietnamese.
Source: NI World Guide
Religion
Most (94 percent) practise Buddhism. Muslims make up about 4 percent of the population and are concentrated in the south. There is also a Christian minority.
Source: NI World Guide
Percentage urban population
Year women granted right to vote
1932
Source: U.N. Development Programme (UNDP) Human Development Report
Where two figures are shown, the first refers to a partial recognition of the right to vote and the second to the year women received the right to vote on a universal and equal basis.
Net percentage of girls enrolled in primary education
94 (2006)
Source: UNESCO
Percentage of population under 15
The official national language is Thai or Siamese. Minority groups speak their own languages.
Source: New Internationalist World Guide
Population
| 2007 | 64.1 million | U.N. Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) Population Division (2006) |
| 2006 | 63.5 million | U.N. DESA (2006) |
| 2005 | 63.0 million | U.N. DESA (2006) |
| 2004 | 62.6 million | U.N. DESA (2006) |
| 2003 | 62.1 million | U.N. DESA (2006) |
| 2002 | 61.7 million | U.N. DESA (2006) |
| 2001 | 61.2 million | U.N. DESA (2006) |
| 2000 | 60.7 million | U.N. DESA (2006) |
Future population estimates
74.5 million (2050)
Source: U.N. DESA (2006)
Ethnic groups
The Thai ethnic group predominates. The largest minority groups are the Malay (13 percent) in the south and the Chinese (12 percent). Other groups include Khmer, Karen, Indians and Vietnamese.
Source: NI World Guide
Religion
Most (94 percent) practise Buddhism. Muslims make up about 4 percent of the population and are concentrated in the south. There is also a Christian minority.
Source: NI World Guide
Percentage urban population
| 2007 | 32.9 percent | U.N. DESA - World Urbanisation Prospects 2005 |
| 2006 | 32.6 percent | U.N. DESA (2005) |
| 2005 | 32.3 percent | U.N. DESA (2005) |
| 2004 | 32.0 percent | U.N. DESA (2005) |
| 2003 | 31.8 percent | U.N. DESA (2005) |
| 2002 | 31.5 percent | U.N. DESA (2005) |
| 2001 | 31.3 percent | U.N. DESA (2005) |
| 2000 | 31.1 percent | U.N. DESA (2005) |
Year women granted right to vote
1932
Source: U.N. Development Programme (UNDP) Human Development Report
Where two figures are shown, the first refers to a partial recognition of the right to vote and the second to the year women received the right to vote on a universal and equal basis.
Net percentage of girls enrolled in primary education
94 (2006)
Source: UNESCO
Percentage of population under 15
| 2005 | 21.7 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008 |
| 2004 | 24.1 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2006 |
| 2003 | 24.5 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2005 |
| 2002 | 25.6 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2004 |
| 2001 | 25.9 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2003 |
| 2000 | 26.7 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2002 |
Average life expectancy
Life expectancy - male
Life expectancy - female
Infant mortality
Child mortality - deaths before the age of five
Births attended by skilled personnel
Maternal mortality
Human development index (HDI rank)
Percentage of children under weight for age (under age 5)
Percentage of undernourished population
Food intake falls below the minimum requirement.
Population with access to improved water
Population with access to improved sanitation
Literacy - average
Literacy - male
Literacy - female
Landlines telephones
Cellular telephone subscribers
Internet users
Transparency International corruption ranking (1=least corrupt, 179=most corrupt)
Signatory of International Convention on the Prevention and Punishment for the crime of Genocide
No (1948)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report
Signatory of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
No (1984)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report
Signatory of the Convention on the Rights of the Child
Yes (1989)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report
| 2005 | 69.6 years | UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008 |
| 2004 | 70.3 years | UNDP - Human Development Report 2006 |
| 2003 | 70.0 years | UNDP - Human Development Report 2005 |
| 2002 | 69.1 years | UNDP - Human Development Report 2004 |
| 2001 | 68.9 years | UNDP - Human Development Report 2003 |
| 2000 | 70.2 years | UNDP - Human Development Report 2002 |
Life expectancy - male
| 2005 | 65.0 years | UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008 |
| 2004 | 66.7 years | UNDP - Human Development Report 2006 |
| 2003 | 66.3 years | UNDP - Human Development Report 2005 |
| 2002 | 65.2 years | UNDP - Human Development Report 2004 |
| 2001 | 64.9 years | UNDP - Human Development Report 2003 |
| 2000 | 67.3 years | UNDP - Human Development Report 2002 |
Life expectancy - female
| 2005 | 74.5 years | UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008 |
| 2004 | 74.0 years | UNDP - Human Development Report 2006 |
| 2003 | 73.8 years | UNDP - Human Development Report 2005 |
| 2002 | 73.4 years | UNDP - Human Development Report 2004 |
| 2001 | 73.2 years | UNDP - Human Development Report 2003 |
| 2000 | 73.2 years | UNDP - Human Development Report 2002 |
Infant mortality
| 2006 | 7 per 1,000 live births | UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2008 |
| 2005 | 18 per 1,000 live births | U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2007 |
| 2004 | 18 per 1,000 live births | UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2006 |
| 2003 | 23 per 1,000 live births | UNDP - Human Development Report 2005 |
| 2002 | 24 per 1,000 live births | UNDP - Human Development Report 2004 |
| 2001 | 24 per 1,000 live births | UNDP - Human Development Report 2003 |
| 2000 | 25 per 1,000 live births | UNDP - Human Development Report 2002 |
Child mortality - deaths before the age of five
| 2006 | 8 per 1,000 live births | UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2008 |
| 2005 | 21 per 1,000 live births | UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2007 |
| 2004 | 21 per 1,000 live births | UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2006 |
| 2003 | 26 per 1,000 live births | UNDP - Human Development Report 2005 |
| 2002 | 28 per 1,000 live births | UNDP - Human Development Report 2004 |
| 2000 | 29 per 1,000 live births | UNDP - Human Development Report 2002 |
Births attended by skilled personnel
| 1997-2005 | 99 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008 |
| 1996-2004 | 99 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2006 |
| 1995-2003 | 99 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2005 |
| 1995-2002 | 99 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2004 |
| 1995-2001 | 85 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2003 |
| 1995-2000 | 85 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2002 |
Maternal mortality
| 2005 | 110 per 100,000 live births | UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008 |
| 2000 | 44 per 100,000 live births | UNDP - Human Development Report 2006 |
Human development index (HDI rank)
Percentage of children under weight for age (under age 5)
| 2000-2006 | 9 percent | UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2008 |
| 1996-2005 | 18 percent | UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2007 |
| 1996-2004 | No data available percent | |
| 1995-2003 | No data available percent | |
| 1995-2002 | No data available percent | |
| 1995-2001 | 19 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2003 |
| 1995-2000 | 21 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2002 |
Percentage of undernourished population
| 2002-2004 average | 22 percent | U.N. Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) 2006 |
| 2001-2003average | 21 percent | FAO 2006 |
Food intake falls below the minimum requirement.
Population with access to improved water
| 2006 | 98 percent | UNICEF and WHO 2008 |
| 2004 | 99 percent | UNICEF and World Health Organisation (WHO) 2006 |
| 2002 | 85 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2005 |
| 2000 | 84 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2004 |
Population with access to improved sanitation
| 2006 | 96 percent | UNICEF and WHO 2008 |
| 2004 | 99 percent | UNICEF and WHO 2006 |
| 2002 | 99 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2005 |
| 2000 | 96 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2004 |
Literacy - average
| 2004 | 92.6 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2006 |
| 2003 | 92.6 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2005 |
| 2002 | 92.6 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2004 |
| 2001 | 95.7 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2003 |
| 2000 | 95.5 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2002 |
Literacy - male
| 2004 | 94.9 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2006 |
| 2003 | 94.9 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2005 |
| 2002 | 94.9 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2004 |
| 2001 | 97.3 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2003 |
| 2000 | 97.1 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2002 |
Literacy - female
| 2004 | 90.5 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2006 |
| 2003 | 90.5 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2005 |
| 2002 | 90.5 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2004 |
| 2001 | 94.1 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2003 |
| 2000 | 93.9 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2002 |
Landlines telephones
| 2007 | 110 per 1,000 people | International Telecommunication Union (ITU) 2008 |
| 2006 | 109 per 1,000 people | ITU 2008 |
| 2005 | 110 per 1,000 people | ITU 2008 |
| 2004 | 107 per 1,000 people | ITU 2008 |
| 2003 | 105 per 1,000 people | ITU 2008 |
| 2002 | 105 per 1,000 people | ITU 2008 |
| 2001 | 98 per 1,000 people | ITU 2008 |
| 2000 | 91 per 1,000 people | ITU 2008 |
Cellular telephone subscribers
| 2007 | 1238 per 1,000 people | ITU 2008 |
| 2006 | 629 per 1,000 people | ITU 2008 |
| 2005 | 485 per 1,000 people | ITU 2008 |
| 2004 | 430 per 1,000 people | ITU 2008 |
| 2003 | 346 per 1,000 people | ITU 2008 |
| 2002 | 163 per 1,000 people | ITU 2008 |
| 2001 | 122 per 1,000 people | ITU 2008 |
| 2000 | 50 per 1,000 people | ITU 2008 |
Internet users
| 2007 | 210 per 1,000 people | ITU 2008 |
| 2006 | 176 per 1,000 people | ITU 2008 |
| 2005 | 154 per 1,000 people | ITU 2008 |
| 2004 | 109 per 1,000 people | ITU 2008 |
| 2003 | 95 per 1,000 people | ITU 2008 |
| 2002 | 77 per 1,000 people | ITU 2008 |
| 2001 | 56 per 1,000 people | ITU 2008 |
| 2000 | 37 per 1,000 people | ITU 2008 |
Transparency International corruption ranking (1=least corrupt, 179=most corrupt)
| 2008 | 80 (joint) | Transparency International 2008 |
| 2007 | 84 (joint) | Transparency International 2007 |
| 2006 | Not ranked | |
| 2005 | 59 (joint) | Transparency International |
| 2004 | 64 (joint) | Transparency International |
| 2003 | 70 (joint) | Transparency International |
| 2002 | 64 (joint) | Transparency International |
| 2001 | 61 (joint) | Transparency International |
| 2000 | 60 (joint) | Transparency International |
Signatory of International Convention on the Prevention and Punishment for the crime of Genocide
No (1948)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report
Signatory of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
No (1984)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report
Signatory of the Convention on the Rights of the Child
Yes (1989)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report
International humanitarian aid flows
Access the Financial Tracking Service, a global real-time database which records all reported humanitarian aid - including that for NGOs, the Red Cross/Crescent Movement, bilateral aid, in-kind aid and private donations - searchable by country.
Source: Financial Tracking Service, ReliefWeb
Percentage of population living on less than US$1 a day
GNI per capita, Atlas method
The purpose of the Atlas conversion factor is to reduce the impact of exchange rate fluctuations in a cross-country comparison of national incomes. The Atlas conversion factor for any year is the average of a country’s exchange rate (or alternative conversion factor) for that year and its exchange rates for the two preceding years.
GDP
Annual GDP growth
Annual inflation
Share of income or consumption (poorest 10 percent)
2.7 (latest available year)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
Share of income or consumption (richest 10 percent)
33.4 (latest available year)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
| 1990-2005 | 2.0 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008 |
| 1990-2004 | 2.0 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2006 |
| 1990-2003 | <2 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2005 |
| 1990-2002 | <2 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2004 |
| 1990-2001 | <2 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2003 |
GNI per capita, Atlas method
| 2006 | 3050 current US$ | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008 |
| 2005 | 2770 current US$ | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008 |
| 2004 | 2530 current US$ | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008 |
| 2003 | 2190 current US$ | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008 |
| 2002 | 2000 current US$ | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008 |
| 2001 | 1980 current US$ | |
| 2000 | 2010 current US$ | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008 |
The purpose of the Atlas conversion factor is to reduce the impact of exchange rate fluctuations in a cross-country comparison of national incomes. The Atlas conversion factor for any year is the average of a country’s exchange rate (or alternative conversion factor) for that year and its exchange rates for the two preceding years.
GDP
| 2006 | 206.3 current US$ billions | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008 |
| 2005 | 176.2 current US$ billions | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008 |
| 2004 | 161.3 current US$ billions | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008 |
| 2003 | 142.6 current US$ billions | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008 |
| 2002 | 126.9 current US$ billions | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008 |
| 2001 | 115.5 current US$ billions | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008 |
| 2000 | 122.7 current US$ billions | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008 |
Annual GDP growth
| 2006 | 5.0 percent | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008 |
| 2005 | 4.5 percent | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008 |
| 2004 | 6.3 percent | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008 |
| 2003 | 7.1 percent | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008 |
| 2002 | 5.3 percent | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008 |
| 2001 | 2.2 percent | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008 |
| 2000 | 4.8 percent | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008 |
Annual inflation
| 2006 | 5.0 percent | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008 |
| 2005 | 4.5 percent | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008 |
| 2004 | 3.2 percent | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008 |
| 2003 | 1.3 percent | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008 |
| 2002 | 0.8 percent | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008 |
| 2001 | 2.1 percent | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008 |
| 2000 | 1.3 percent | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008 |
Share of income or consumption (poorest 10 percent)
2.7 (latest available year)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
Share of income or consumption (richest 10 percent)
33.4 (latest available year)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
Physicians
Percentage HIV+ (adults aged 15-49)
Malaria
Risk throughout the year in rural, forested and hilly areas in the whole country. There is no risk in cities and the main tourist resorts (Bangkok, Chiangnmai, Pattaya, Phuket, Samui). P.falciparum resistant to chloroquine and sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine reported and resistance to mefloquine and quinine reported in areas near the borders with Cambodia and Myanmar.
Source: WHO
TB cases
| 2000-2004 | 37 per 100,000 people | UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008 |
| 1990-2004 | 37 per 100,000 people | UNDP - Human Development Report 2006 |
| 1990-2003 | 30 per 100,000 people | UNDP - Human Development Report 2004 |
| 1990-2002 | 24 per 100,000 people | UNDP - Human Development Report 2003 |
Percentage HIV+ (adults aged 15-49)
| 2007 | 1.4 percent | U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008 |
| 2006 | 1.4 percent | U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008 |
| 2005 | 1.5 percent | U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008 |
| 2004 | 1.5 percent | U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008 |
| 2003 | 1.5 percent | U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008 |
Malaria
Risk throughout the year in rural, forested and hilly areas in the whole country. There is no risk in cities and the main tourist resorts (Bangkok, Chiangnmai, Pattaya, Phuket, Samui). P.falciparum resistant to chloroquine and sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine reported and resistance to mefloquine and quinine reported in areas near the borders with Cambodia and Myanmar.
Source: WHO
TB cases
| 2006 | 142 per 100,000 people | WHO 2008 |
| 2005 | 142 per 100,000 people | WHO 2008 |
| 2004 | 142 per 100,000 people | WHO 2008 |
| 2003 | 142 per 100,000 people | WHO 2008 |
| 2002 | 142 per 100,000 people | WHO 2008 |
| 2001 | 142 per 100,000 people | WHO 2008 |
| 2000 | 142 per 100,000 people | WHO 2008 |
Chronology of natural disasters
Access EM-DAT, a database of natural disasters from 1900 to the present - death tolls and numbers of affected people - searchable by country.
Source: Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters, Catholic University of Louvain, Belgium
Number of refugees originating here
Number of refugees residing here
Number of internally displaced people\Estimate
Landmine casualties per year
Casualty figures may include both civilians and military personnel injured or killed by landmines and unexploded ordnance.
Signatory to landmine convention?
Yes (1997 )
Source: Landmine Monitor Report
Percentage of GDP spent on military
Percentage of GDP spent on education
Percentage of GDP spent on health
| 2007 | 2313 | UNHCR |
| 2006 | 3325 | Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) |
| 2005 | 424 | UNHCR |
| 2004 | 319 | UNHCR |
| 2003 | 296 | UNHCR |
| 2002 | 344 | UNHCR |
| 2001 | 94 | UNHCR |
| 2000 | 217 | UNHCR |
Number of refugees residing here
| 2007 | 125643 | UNHCR |
| 2006 | 133117 | UNHCR |
| 2005 | 117053 | UNHCR |
| 2004 | 121139 | UNHCR |
| 2003 | 119053 | UNHCR |
| 2002 | 112614 | UNHCR |
| 2001 | 110711 | UNHCR |
| 2000 | 104965 | UNHCR |
Number of internally displaced people\Estimate
| No data available | |||
Landmine casualties per year
| 2004 | 24 | Landmine Monitor Report 2005 |
| 2003 | 29 | Landmine Monitor Report 2004 |
Casualty figures may include both civilians and military personnel injured or killed by landmines and unexploded ordnance.
Signatory to landmine convention?
Yes (1997 )
Source: Landmine Monitor Report
Percentage of GDP spent on military
| 2005 | 1.1 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008 |
| 2004 | 1.2 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2006 |
| 2003 | 1.3 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2005 |
Percentage of GDP spent on education
| 2002-2005 | 4.2 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008 |
| 2002-2004 | 4.2 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2006 |
| 2000-2002 | 5.2 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2005 |
| 1999-2001 | 5.0 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2004 |
| 1998-2000 | 5.4 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2003 |
Percentage of GDP spent on health
| 2004 | 2.3 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008 |
| 2003-2004 | 2.0 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2006 |
| 2002 | 3.1 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2005 |
| 2001 | 2.1 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2004 |
| 2000 | 2.1 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2003 |
AlertNet makes every effort to ensure statistics are updated from the relevant sources as soon as they are available.
Unlike some other content on this website, the written content in this article may be republished or redistributed by any means free of charge. Any use of photographs and graphics on this website is expressly prohibited. You must check whether written content contained in other articles on this website may be republished or redistributed without the express permission of Reuters or the relevant third party provider.
Related articles
Breaking stories
Asia
Grenade wounds 8 Thai protesters ahead of Sunday rally
Asia
Thai police brace for violence at Sunday rally
AlertNet insight
Asia
East Asian cities urged to get ready for climate change
Aid agency news feed
Asia
ADRA Attends Anti-Human Trafficking Forum to Discuss Solutions
Blogs
Asia
Dancing, DIY saunas help Thai elderly cope with AIDS
Maps
Asia
Tropical storm Noul
More briefings