country comparison to the world: 88
$50.77 billion (2007 est.)
$47.38 billion (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$20.67 billion (2008 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
7.1% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 36
7.1% (2007 est.)
6.7% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$1,400 (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 201
$1,300 (2007 est.)
$1,200 (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 27.1%
industry: 22.5%
services: 50.4% (2008 est.)
Labor force:
21.06 million (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 30
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 80%
industry and services: 20% (2002 est.)
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Population below poverty line:
36% (2002 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.9%
highest 10%: 26.9% (2000)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
34.6 (2000)
country comparison to the world: 89
38.2 (1993)
Investment (gross fixed):
22.6% of GDP (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 74
Budget:
revenues: $4.099 billion
expenditures: $4.517 billion (2008 est.)
Public debt:
23.2% of GDP (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 87
5% of GDP (2004 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
10.3% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 149
7% (2007 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
15.99% (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 11
16.4% (31 December 2007)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
14.98% (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 36
16.03% (31 December 2007)
Stock of money:
$2.464 billion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 66
$2.285 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of quasi money:
$3.362 billion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 79
$3.212 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:
$3.297 billion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 88
$2.501 billion (31 December 2007)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA (31 December 2008)
$NA (31 December 2007)
$541.1 million (31 December 2006)
Agriculture - products:
coffee, sisal, tea, cotton, pyrethrum (insecticide made from
chrysanthemums), cashew nuts, tobacco, cloves, corn, wheat, cassava
(tapioca), bananas, fruits, vegetables; cattle, sheep, goats
Industries:
agricultural processing (sugar, beer, cigarettes, sisal twine);
diamond, gold, and iron mining, salt, soda ash; cement, oil
refining, shoes, apparel, wood products, fertilizer
Industrial production growth rate:
9.1% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 16
Electricity - production:
3.786 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 119
Electricity - consumption:
3.182 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 123
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
200 million kWh (2007 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 127
Oil - consumption:
32,000 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 111
Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 161
Oil - imports:
28,070 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 104
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 123
Natural gas - production:
560.7 million cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 67
Natural gas - consumption:
560.7 million cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 93
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008)
country comparison to the world: 98
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 122
Natural gas - proved reserves:
6.513 billion cu m (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 85
Current account balance:
-$3.536 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 152
-$1.856 billion (2007 est.)
Exports:
$2.413 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 129
$2.227 billion (2007 est.)
Exports - commodities:
gold, coffee, cashew nuts, manufactures, cotton
Exports - partners:
India 8.1%, Japan 6.5%, China 6.3%, UAE 5.7%, Netherlands 5.6%,
Germany 5.1% (2008)
Imports:
$7.08 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 104
$4.861 billion (2007 est.)
Imports - commodities:
consumer goods, machinery and transportation equipment, industrial
raw materials, crude oil
Imports - partners:
China 14.4%, India 9%, South Africa 7.7%, Kenya 6.9%, UAE 5.9% (2008)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$2.869 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 95
$2.91 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Debt - external:
$6.195 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 100
$4.382 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$NA
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$NA
Exchange rates:
Tanzanian shillings (TZS) per US dollar - 1,178.1 (2008 est.), 1,255
(2007), 1,251.9 (2006), 1,128.93 (2005), 1,089.33 (2004)
Communications ::Tanzania
Telephones - main lines in use:
179,849 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 126
Telephones - mobile cellular:
14.723 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 46
Telephone system:
general assessment: telecommunications services are inadequate;
system operating below capacity and being modernized for better
service; small aperture terminal (VSAT) system under construction
domestic: fixed-line telephone network inadequate with less than 1
connection per 100 persons; mobile-cellular service, aided by
multiple providers, is increasing rapidly; trunk service provided by
open-wire, microwave radio relay, tropospheric scatter, and
fiber-optic cable; some links being made digital
international: country code - 255; satellite earth stations - 2
Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean, 1 Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 12, FM 11, shortwave 2 (1998)
Television broadcast stations:
3 (1999)
Internet country code:
.tz
Internet hosts:
24,724 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 96
Internet users:
520,000 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 106
Transportation ::Tanzania
Airports:
125 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 47
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 9
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2009)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 116
1,524 to 2,437 m: 19
914 to 1,523 m: 63
under 914 m: 34 (2009)
Pipelines:
gas 253 km; oil 888 km; refined products 8 km (2008)
Railways:
total: 3,689 km
country comparison to the world: 46
narrow gauge: 969 km 1.067-m gauge; 2,720 km 1.000-m gauge (2008)
Roadways:
total: 78,891 km
country comparison to the world: 60
paved: 6,808 km
unpaved: 72,083 km (2003)
Waterways:
Lake Tanganyika, Lake Victoria, and Lake Nyasa principal avenues of
commerce with neighboring countries; rivers not navigable (2007)
Merchant marine:
total: 9
country comparison to the world: 117
by type: cargo 1, passenger/cargo 4, petroleum tanker 4
registered in other countries: 1 (Honduras 1) (2008)
Ports and terminals:
Dar es Salaam
Transportation - note:
the International Maritime Bureau reports the territorial and
offshore waters in the Indian Ocean are high risk for piracy and
armed robbery against ships; numerous commercial vessels have been
attacked and hijacked both at anchor and while underway; crews have
been robbed and stores or cargoes stolen
Military ::Tanzania
Military branches:
Tanzanian People's Defense Force (Jeshi la Wananchi la Tanzania,
JWTZ): Army, Naval Wing (includes Coast Guard), Air Defense Command
(includes Air Wing), National Service (2007)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for voluntary military service (2007)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 9,108,177 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 5,473,552
females age 16-49: 5,493,188 (2009 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 487,742
female: 489,462 (2009 est.)
Military expenditures:
0.2% of GDP (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 170
Transnational Issues ::Tanzania
Disputes - international:
Tanzania still hosts more than a half-million refugees, more than
any other African country, mainly from Burundi and the Democratic
Republic of the Congo, despite the international community's efforts
at repatriation; disputes with Malawi over the boundary in Lake
Nyasa (Lake Malawi) and the meandering Songwe River remain dormant
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
refugees (country of origin): 352,640 (Burundi); 127,973 (Democratic
Republic of the Congo) (2007)
Illicit drugs:
targeted by traffickers moving hashish, Afghan heroin, and South
American cocaine transported down the East African coastline,
through airports, or overland through Central Africa; Zanzibar
likely used by traffickers for drug smuggling; traffickers in the
past have recruited Tanzanian couriers to move drugs through Iran
into East Asia.
page last updated on November 11, 2009
======================================================================
@Thailand (East & Southeast Asia)
Introduction ::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 treaty
ally following the conflict. A military coup in September 2006
ousted then Prime Minister THAKSIN Chinnawat. The interim government
held elections in December 2007 that saw the former pro-THAKSIN
People's Power Party (PPP) emerge at the head of a coalition
government. The anti-THAKSIN People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD)
in May 2008 began street demonstrations against the new government,
eventually occupying the prime minister's office in August. Clashes
in October 2008 between PAD protesters blocking parliament and
police resulted in the death of at least two people. The PAD
occupied Bangkok's international airports briefly, ending their
protests in early December 2008 following a court ruling that
dissolved the ruling PPP and two other coalition parties for
election violations. The Democrat Party then formed a new coalition
government with the support of some of THAKSIN's former political
allies, and ABHISIT Wetchachiwa became prime minister. Since January
2004, thousands have been killed as separatists in Thailand's
southern ethnic Malay-Muslim provinces increased the violence
associated with their cause.
Geography ::Thailand
Location:
Southeastern Asia, bordering the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of
Thailand, southeast of Burma
Geographic coordinates:
15 00 N, 100 00 E
Map references:
Southeast Asia
Area:
total: 513,120 sq km
country comparison to the world: 50
land: 510,890 sq km
water: 2,230 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly more than twice the size of Wyoming
Land boundaries:
total: 4,863 km
border countries: Burma 1,800 km, Cambodia 803 km, Laos 1,754 km,
Malaysia 506 km
Coastline:
3,219 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation
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
Terrain:
central plain; Khorat Plateau in the east; mountains elsewhere
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Gulf of Thailand 0 m
highest point: Doi Inthanon 2,576 m
Natural resources:
tin, rubber, natural gas, tungsten, tantalum, timber, lead, fish,
gypsum, lignite, fluorite, arable land
Land use:
arable land: 27.54%
permanent crops: 6.93%
other: 65.53% (2005)
Irrigated land:
49,860 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
409.9 cu km (1999)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 82.75 cu km/yr (2%/2%/95%)
per capita: 1,288 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
land subsidence in Bangkok area resulting from the depletion of the
water table; droughts
Environment - current issues:
air pollution from vehicle emissions; water pollution from organic
and factory wastes; deforestation; soil erosion; wildlife
populations threatened by illegal hunting
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes,
Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber
83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Geography - note:
controls only land route from Asia to Malaysia and Singapore
People ::Thailand
Population:
65,905,410
country comparison to the world: 20
note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the
effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower
life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower
population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of
population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July
2009 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 20.8% (male 7,009,845/female 6,691,470)
15-64 years: 70.5% (male 22,977,945/female 23,512,538)
65 years and over: 8.7% (male 2,594,387/female 3,119,225) (2009 est.)
Median age:
total: 33.3 years
male: 32.4 years
female: 34.2 years (2009 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.615% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 148
Birth rate:
13.4 births/1,000 population (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 155
Death rate:
7.25 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 126
Net migration rate:
NA (2009 est.)
Urbanization:
urban population: 33% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 1.7% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.83 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2009 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 17.63 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 117
male: 18.9 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 16.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 73.1 years
country comparison to the world: 110
male: 70.77 years
female: 75.55 years (2009 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.65 children born/woman (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 178
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
1.4% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 46
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
610,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 18
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
30,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 17
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea
vectorborne diseases: dengue fever, Japanese encephalitis, and
malaria
animal contact disease: rabies
water contact disease: leptospirosis
note: highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified in
this country; it poses a negligible risk with extremely rare cases
possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds (2009)
Nationality:
noun: Thai (singular and plural)
adjective: Thai
Ethnic groups:
Thai 75%, Chinese 14%, other 11%
Religions:
Buddhist 94.6%, Muslim 4.6%, Christian 0.7%, other 0.1% (2000 census)
Languages:
Thai, English (secondary language of the elite), ethnic and regional
dialects
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 92.6%
male: 94.9%
female: 90.5% (2000 census)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 14 years
male: 13 years
female: 14 years (2006)
Education expenditures:
4.2% of GDP (2005)
country comparison to the world: 99
Government ::Thailand
Country name:
conventional long form: Kingdom of Thailand
conventional short form: Thailand
local long form: Ratcha Anachak Thai
local short form: Prathet Thai
former: Siam
Government type:
constitutional monarchy
Capital:
name: Bangkok
geographic coordinates: 13 45 N, 100 31 E
time difference: UTC+7 (12 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
76 provinces (changwat, singular and plural); Amnat Charoen, Ang
Thong, Buriram, Chachoengsao, Chai Nat, Chaiyaphum, Chanthaburi,
Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Chon Buri, Chumphon, Kalasin, Kamphaeng
Phet, Kanchanaburi, Khon Kaen, Krabi, Krung Thep Mahanakhon
(Bangkok), Lampang, Lamphun, Loei, Lop Buri, Mae Hong Son, Maha
Sarakham, Mukdahan, Nakhon Nayok, Nakhon Pathom, Nakhon Phanom,
Nakhon Ratchasima, Nakhon Sawan, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Nan,
Narathiwat, Nong Bua Lamphu, Nong Khai, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani,
Pattani, Phangnga, Phatthalung, Phayao, Phetchabun, Phetchaburi,
Phichit, Phitsanulok, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Phrae, Phuket,
Prachin Buri, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Ranong, Ratchaburi, Rayong, Roi
Et, Sa Kaeo, Sakon Nakhon, Samut Prakan, Samut Sakhon, Samut
Songkhram, Sara Buri, Satun, Sing Buri, Sisaket, Songkhla,
Sukhothai, Suphan Buri, Surat Thani, Surin, Tak, Trang, Trat, Ubon
Ratchathani, Udon Thani, Uthai Thani, Uttaradit, Yala, Yasothon
Independence:
1238 (traditional founding date; never colonized)
National holiday:
Birthday of King PHUMIPHON (BHUMIBOL), 5 December (1927)
Constitution:
24 August 2007
Legal system:
based on civil law system with influences of common law; has not
accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch:
chief of state: King PHUMIPHON Adunyadet, also spelled BHUMIBOL
Adulyadej (since 9 June 1946)
head of government: Prime Minister ABHISIT Wetchachiwa, also spelled
ABHISIT Vejjajiva (since 17 December 2008); Deputy Prime Minister
KORBSAK Saphawasu, also spelled KORBSAK Sabhavasu (since 22 December
2008); Deputy Prime Minister SANAN Kachornprasat, also spelled SANAN
Kachornparsart (since 7 February 2008); Deputy Prime Minister SUTHEP
Thueaksuban, also spelled SUTHEP Thaugsuban (since 22 December 2008)
cabinet: Council of Ministers
note: there is also a Privy Council advising the king
elections: monarch is hereditary; according to 2007 constitution,
prime minister is elected from among members of House of
Representatives; following national elections for House of
Representatives, leader of party that could organize a majority
coalition usually was appointed prime minister by king; prime
minister is limited to two 4-year terms
Legislative branch:
bicameral National Assembly or Rathasapha consisted of the Senate or
Wuthisapha (150 seats; 76 members elected by popular vote
representing 76 provinces, 74 appointed by judges and independent
government bodies; all serve six-year terms) and the House of
Representatives or Sapha Phuthaen Ratsadon (480 seats; 400 members
elected from 157 multi-seat constituencies and 80 elected on
proportional party-list basis of 10 per eight zones or groupings of
provinces; all serve four-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held on 2 March 2008 (next to be held in
March 2014); House of Representatives - last election held on 23
December 2007 (next to be held by December 2011)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by
party - NA; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party -
NA; seats by party - PPP 233, DP 164, TNP 34, Motherland 24, Middle
Way 11, Unity 9, Royalist People's 5
note: 74 senators were appointed on 19 February 2008 by a
seven-member committee headed by the chief of the Constitutional
Court; 76 senators were elected on 2 March 2008; elections to the
Senate are non-partisan; registered political party members are
disqualified from being senators
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court or Sandika (judges appointed by the monarch)
Political parties and leaders:
Chat Thai Phattana Party or CP (Thai Nation Development Party)
[CHUMPON Silpa-archa]; Democrat Party or DP (Prachathipat Party)
[ABHISIT Wetchachiwa, also spelled ABHISIT Vejjajiva]; Motherland
Party (Phuea Phaendin Party) [CHANCHAI Chairungrueang]; Phuea Thai
Party (For Thais Party) or PTP [CHAVALIT Yongchaiyudh]; Phumchai
(Bhumjai) Thai Party or PCT (Thai Pride) [CHAVARAT Charnvirakul];
Royalist People's Party (Pracharaj) [SANOH Thienthong]; Ruam Jai
Thai Party (Thai Unity Party) [WANNARAT Channukul]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
People's Alliance for Democracy or PAD; United Front for Democracy
Against Dictatorship
International organization participation:
ADB, APEC, APT, ARF, ASEAN, BIMSTEC, BIS, CP, EAS, FAO, G-77, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO,
ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC,
MIGA, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC (observer), OIF (observer), OPCW,
OSCE (partner), PCA, PIF (partner), UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMIS, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador DON Pramudwinai
chancery: 1024 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Suite 401, Washington, DC 20007
telephone: [1] (202) 944-3600
FAX: [1] (202) 944-3611
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Eric G. JOHN
embassy: 120-122 Wireless Road, Bangkok 10330
mailing address: APO AP 96546
telephone: [66] (2) 205-4000
FAX: [66] (2) 254-2990, 205-4131
consulate(s) general: Chiang Mai
Flag description:
five horizontal bands of red (top), white, blue (double width),
white, and red
Economy ::Thailand
Economy - overview:
With a well-developed infrastructure, a free-enterprise economy, and
generally pro-investment policies, Thailand was one of East Asia's
best performers from 2002-04, averaging more than 6% annual real GDP
growth. However, overall economic growth has fallen sharply -
averaging 4.9% from 2005 to 2007 - as persistent political crisis
stalled infrastructure mega-projects, eroded investor and consumer
confidence, and damaged the country's international image. The
growth rate fell to 2.6% in 2008. Exports were the key economic
driver as foreign investment and consumer demand stalled. Export
growth from January 2005 to November 2008 averaged 17.5% annually.
Business uncertainty escalated, however, following the September
2006 coup when the military-installed government imposed capital
controls and considered far-reaching changes to foreign investment
rules and other business legislation. Although controversial capital
controls have since been lifted and business rules largely remain
unchanged, investor sentiment has not recovered. Moreover, the 2008
global financial crisis further darkened Thailand's economic
horizon. Continued political uncertainty will hamper resumption of
infrastructure mega-projects.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$548.7 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 25
$534.8 billion (2007 est.)
$509.8 billion (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$273.3 billion (2008 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
2.6% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 137
4.9% (2007 est.)
5.2% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$8,400 (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 118
$8,200 (2007 est.)
$7,900 (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 11.6%
industry: 45.1%
services: 43.3% (2008 est.)
Labor force:
37.78 million (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 16
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 42.6%
industry: 20.2%
services: 37.1% (2005 est.)
Unemployment rate:
1.4% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 8
1.4% (2007 est.)
Population below poverty line:
10% (2004 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.6%
highest 10%: 33.7% (2004)