Thailand

Geography

Location: South-eastern Asia, border­ing the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand, south-east of Myanmar. Area: 514,000 sq. km. Principal cit­ies: Bangkok, Nakhon Ratchasima, and Chiang Mai. Tourist attractions: Ancient City, Ao Phang-Nga National Marine Park, Jim Thompson's House, Sirinat National Marine Park, Wat Phra Kaew & Grand Palace, and Wat Traimit (Temple of the Golden Buddha). Time zone: GMT+7 hours.

People

Population: 65,068,149 (July 2007 est.). Population growth rate:
0.663% (2007 est.). Sex ratio: 0.979 male(s)/female (2007 est.). Religions: Buddhist, Muslim, Christian, Hindu, others. Languages: Thai, English (sec­ondary language of the elite), ethnic and regional dialects. Literacy rate: Total 96%, Male 97.5%, Female 94.6% (2003 est.). Infant mortality fate: 18.85 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.). Life expectancy: Total 72.55 years, Male 70.24 years, Female 74.98 years (2007 est.).

Government

Capital: Bangkok. National flag: Five horizontal bands of red, white, blue (double width), white and red. Na­tional anthem: Phleng chat. Govern­ment type: Constitutional monarchy. Independence: 1238 (traditional founding date). Legal system: Based on civil law system, with influences of common law. Executive branch: Chief of state: King Bhumibol Adulyadej (since 9 June 1946). Head of government: Interim Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont (since I October 2006). Elections and election results: None, the monarchy is hereditary. The prime minister is designated from among the members of the House of Representatives. Legislative branch: Thailand has a bicameral National Assembly or Rathasapha that consists of the Senate or Wuthisapha (200 seats, whose members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) and the House of Representatives or Sapha Phuthaen Ratsadon (500 seats whose members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms). Judicial branch: Supreme Court or Sandika.

Economy

Currency: Bah:. Currency conver­sion: Thai Baht per Indian rupee— 0.7769 (June 2007 est.). GDP: Purchasing power parity—$596.5 billion (2006 est.). GDP—real growth rate: 4.8% (2006 est.). GDP—per capita: Purchasing power parity—$9,200 (2006 est.). Inflation rate: 5.1% (2006 est.). Population below poverty line: 10% (2004 est.). Unemployment: rate: 2.1% (2006 est.). Exports: $123.5 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.). Imports: $119.3 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.). External debt: $57.83 billion (2007 est.).

Transport and Communications

Railways: 4,071 km. Roads: 57,403 km. Airports: Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang International Airports. Tele­phones: 7.035 million (2005). Mobile cellular: 27.379 million (2005). Internet users: 6,971,500 (2003). Internet country code: .th. ISD code: 66.