2020 Edition

Background

Two unified Thai kingdoms emerged in the mid-13th century. The Sukhothai Kingdom, located in the south-central plains, gained its independence from the Khmer Empire to the east. By the late 13th century, Sukhothai’s territory extended into present-day Burma and Laos. Sukhothai lasted until the mid-15th century. The Thai Lan Na Kingdom was established in the north with its capital at Chang Mai; the Burmese conquered Lan Na in the 16th century. The Ayutthaya Kingdom (14th-18th centuries) succeeded the Sukhothai and would become known as the Siamese Kingdom. During the Ayutthaya period, the Thai/Siamese peoples consolidated their hold on what is present-day central and north-central Thailand. Following a military defeat at the hands of the Burmese in 1767, the Siamese Kingdom rose to new heights under the military ruler TAKSIN, who defeated the Burmese occupiers and expanded the kingdom’s territory into modern-day northern Thailand (formerly the Lan Na Kingdom), Cambodia, Laos, and the Malay Peninsula. In the mid-1800s, Western pressure led to Siam signing trade treaties that reduced the country’s sovereignty and independence. In the 1890s and 1900s, the British and French forced the kingdom to cede Cambodian, Laotian, and Malay territories that had been under Siamese control. Following a bloodless revolution in 1932 that led to the establishment of a constitutional monarchy, Thailand's political history was marked by a series of mostly bloodless coups with power concentrated among military and bureaucratic elites. Periods of civilian rule were unstable. The Cold War era saw a communist insurgency and the rise of strongman leaders. Thailand became a US treaty ally in 1954 after sending troops to Korea and later fighting alongside the US in Vietnam. In the 21st century, Thailand has experienced additional turmoil, including a military coup in 2006 that ousted then Prime Minister THAKSIN Chinnawat and large-scale street protests led by competing political factions in 2008-2010. In 2011, THAKSIN's youngest sister, YINGLAK Chinnawat, led the Puea Thai Party to an electoral win and assumed control of the government. In 2014, after months of major anti-government protests in Bangkok, the Constitutional Court removed YINGLAK from office, and the Army, led by Gen. PRAYUT Chan-ocha, then staged a coup against the caretaker government. The military-affiliated National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) ruled the country under PRAYUT for more than four years, drafting a new constitution that allowed the military to appoint the entire 250-member Senate and required a joint meeting of the House and Senate to select the prime minister -- which effectively gave the military a veto on the selection. King PHUMIPHON Adunyadet passed away in 2016 after 70 years on the throne; his only son, WACHIRALONGKON (aka King RAMA X), formally ascended the throne in 2019. The same year, a long-delayed election allowed PRAYUT to continue his premiership, although the results were disputed and widely viewed as skewed in favor of the party aligned with the military. The country again experienced major anti-government protests in 2020. The reformist Move Forward Party won the most seats in the 2023 election but was unable to form a government, and Srettha THRAVISIN from the Pheu Thai Party replaced PRAYUT as prime minister after forming a coalition of moderate and conservative parties.

Area

land

510,890 sq km

total

513,120 sq km

water

2,230 sq km

Area - comparative

about three times the size of Florida; slightly more than twice the size of Wyoming

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

Coastline

3,219 km

Elevation

highest point

Doi Inthanon 2,565 m

lowest point

Gulf of Thailand 0 m

mean elevation

287 m

Geographic coordinates

15 00 N, 100 00 E

Geography - note

controls only land route from Asia to Malaysia and Singapore

Irrigated land

64,150 sq km (2012)

Land boundaries

border countries

Burma 2,416 km; Cambodia 817 km; Laos 1,845 km; Malaysia 595 km

total

5,673 km

Land use

agricultural land

43.8% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 31% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 11.2% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 1.6% (2023 est.)

forest

39% (2023 est.)

other

17.2% (2023 est.)

Location

Southeastern Asia, bordering the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand, southeast of Burma

Major lakes (area sq km)

salt water lake(s)

Thalesap Songkhla - 1,290 sq km

Major rivers (by length in km)

Mae Nam Khong (Mekong) (shared with China [s], Burma, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam [m]) - 4,350 km; Salween (shared with China [s] and Burma [m]) - 3,060 km; Mun - 1,162 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth

Major watersheds (area sq km)

Indian Ocean drainage

Salween (271,914 sq km)

Pacific Ocean drainage

Mekong (805,604 sq km)

Map references

Southeast Asia

Maritime claims

continental shelf

200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

exclusive economic zone

200 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

Natural hazards

land subsidence in Bangkok area resulting from the depletion of the water table; droughts

Natural resources

tin, rubber, natural gas, tungsten, tantalum, timber, lead, fish, gypsum, lignite, fluorite, arable land

Population distribution

highest population density is found in and around Bangkok; significant population clusters throughout large parts of the country, particularly north and northeast of Bangkok and in the extreme southern region of the country

Terrain

central plain; Khorat Plateau in the east; mountains elsewhere

Age structure

0-14 years

15.8% (male 5,669,592/female 5,394,398)

15-64 years

69% (male 23,681,528/female 24,597,535)

65 years and over

15.1% (2024 est.) (male 4,714,191/female 5,863,754)

Alcohol consumption per capita

beer

1.85 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

other alcohols

0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

spirits

4.78 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

total

6.86 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

wine

0.23 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Birth rate

9.82 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Child marriage

men married by age 18

5.8% (2022)

women married by age 15

5.5% (2022)

women married by age 18

17% (2022)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

6.7% (2022 est.)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

52.4% (2022 est.)

Death rate

8.08 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

23.1 (2025 est.)

potential support ratio

4.3 (2025 est.)

total dependency ratio

45.9 (2025 est.)

youth dependency ratio

22.9 (2025 est.)

Drinking water source

improved: rural

rural: 100% of population (2022 est.)

improved: total

total: 100% of population (2022 est.)

improved: urban

urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: rural

rural: 0% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: total

total: 0% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)

Education expenditure

Education expenditure (% GDP)

2.5% of GDP (2023 est.)

Education expenditure (% national budget)

12.6% national budget (2025 est.)

Ethnic groups

Thai 97.5%, Burmese 1.3%, other 1.1%, unspecified <0.1% (2015 est.)

Gross reproduction rate

0.75 (2025 est.)

Health expenditure

Health expenditure (as % of GDP)

5.2% of GDP (2021)

Health expenditure (as % of national budget)

16.1% of national budget (2022 est.)

Hospital bed density

2.3 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)

Infant mortality rate

female

5.6 deaths/1,000 live births

male

6.9 deaths/1,000 live births

total

6.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)

Languages

Languages

Thai (official) only 90.7%, Thai and other languages 6.4%, only other languages 2.9% (includes Malay, Burmese); English is a secondary language among the elite (2010 est.)

major-language sample(s)

สารานุกรมโลก - แหล่งข้อมูลพื้นฐานที่สำคัญ (Thai) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

Life expectancy at birth

female

81.3 years

male

75.2 years

total population

78.2 years (2024 est.)

Literacy

female

91.5% (2022 est.)

male

90.7% (2022 est.)

total population

91.1% (2022 est.)

Major urban areas - population

11.070 million BANGKOK (capital), 1.454 Chon Buri, 1.359 million Samut Prakan, 1.213 million Chiang Mai, 1.005 million Songkla, 1.001 million Nothaburi (2023)

Maternal mortality ratio

34 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Median age

female

42.7 years

male

40.2 years

total

41.9 years (2025 est.)

Mother's mean age at first birth

23.3 years (2009 est.)

Nationality

adjective

Thai

noun

Thai (singular and plural)

Net migration rate

-0.41 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

10% (2016)

Physician density

0.54 physicians/1,000 population (2021)

Population

female

35,924,232

male

34,101,016

total

70,025,248 (2025 est.)

Population growth rate

0.13% (2025 est.)

Religions

Buddhist 92.5%, Muslim 5.4%, Christian 1.2%, other 0.9% (includes animist, Confucian, Hindu, Jewish, Sikh, and Taoist) (2021 est.)

Sanitation facility access

improved: rural

rural: 100% of population (2022 est.)

improved: total

total: 100% of population (2022 est.)

improved: urban

urban: 99.9% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: rural

rural: 0% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: total

total: 0% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 0.1% of population (2022 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

16 years (2023 est.)

male

16 years (2023 est.)

total

16 years (2023 est.)

Sex ratio

0-14 years

1.05 male(s)/female

15-64 years

0.96 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.8 male(s)/female

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

0.95 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Tobacco use

female

1.6% (2025 est.)

male

36.1% (2025 est.)

total

18.1% (2025 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.55 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

1.43% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

53.6% of total population (2023)

Administrative divisions

76 provinces (changwat, singular and plural) and 1 municipality* (maha nakhon); Amnat Charoen, Ang Thong, Bueng Kan, Buri Ram, Chachoengsao, Chai Nat, Chaiyaphum, Chanthaburi, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Chon Buri, Chumphon, Kalasin, Kamphaeng Phet, Kanchanaburi, Khon Kaen, Krabi, Krung Thep* (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, Saraburi, Satun, Sing Buri, Si Sa Ket, Songkhla, Sukhothai, Suphan Buri, Surat Thani, Surin, Tak, Trang, Trat, Ubon Ratchathani, Udon Thani, Uthai Thani, Uttaradit, Yala, Yasothon

Capital

etymology

the name is from the Thai words bang (region) and kok (olive trees); the city's full ceremonial name holds the world record for longest place name, Krungthepmahanakhon amonrattanakosin mahintharayutthaya mahadilokphop noppharatratchathaniburirom udomratchaniwetmahasathan amonphimanawatansathit sakkathattiyawitsanukamprasit, which means "City of angels, great city of immortals, magnificent city of the nine gems, seat of the king, city of royal palaces, home of gods incarnate, erected by Vishvakarman at Indra's behest"

geographic coordinates

13 45 N, 100 31 E

name

Bangkok

time difference

UTC+7 (12 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Citizenship

citizenship by birth

no

citizenship by descent only

at least one parent must be a citizen of Thailand

dual citizenship recognized

no

residency requirement for naturalization

5 years

Constitution

amendment process

amendments require a majority vote in a joint session of the House and Senate and further require at least one fifth of opposition House members and one third of the Senate vote in favor; a national referendum is additionally required for certain amendments; all amendments require signature by the king

history

many previous; latest drafted and presented 29 March 2016, approved by referendum 7 August 2016, signed into law by the king on 6 April 2017

Country name

conventional long form

Kingdom of Thailand

conventional short form

Thailand

etymology

the name means "Land of the Thai," referring to the local population; the people's name comes from the Thai word tha, meaning "to be free;" the former name of Siam comes from the Sanskrit word syama, meaning "dark"

former

Siam

local long form

Ratcha Anachak Thai

local short form

Prathet Thai

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador-designate Sean O'NEILL (since 16 December 2025)

consulate(s) general

Chiang Mai

email address and website

acsbkk@state.gov https://th.usembassy.gov/

embassy

95 Wireless Road, Bangkok 10330

FAX

[66] 2-205-4103

mailing address

7200 Bangkok Place, Washington DC 20521-7200

telephone

[66] 2-205-4000

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

1024 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Suite 401, Washington, DC 20007

chief of mission

Ambassador Dr. SURIYA Chindawongse (since 17 June 2024)

consulate(s) general

Chicago, Los Angeles, New York

email address and website

thai.wsn@thaiembdc.org https://washingtondc.thaiembassy.org/en/index

FAX

[1] (202) 944-3611

telephone

[1] (202) 944-3600

Executive branch

cabinet

Council of Ministers nominated by the prime minister, appointed by the king; a Privy Council advises the king

chief of state

King WACHIRALONGKON; also spelled Vajiralongkorn (since 1 December 2016)

election/appointment process

the monarchy is hereditary; prime minister candidate approved by House of Representatives and appointed by the king

head of government

Prime Minister ANUTIN Charnvirakul (since 5 Sep 2025)

Flag

description: five horizontal bands of red (top), white, blue (double-width), white, and red meaning: red stands for the nation and the blood of life, white for religion and the purity of Buddhism, and blue for the monarchy

Government type

constitutional monarchy

Independence

1238 (traditional founding date; never colonized)

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

International organization participation

ADB, APEC, ARF, ASEAN, BIMSTEC, BIS, CD, CICA, CP, EAS, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC (observer), OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE (partner), PCA, PIF (partner), UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMOGIP, UNOOSA, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Judicial branch

highest court(s)

Supreme Court of Justice (consists of the court president, 6 vice presidents, 60-70 judges, and organized into 10 divisions); Constitutional Court (consists of the court president and 8 judges); Supreme Administrative Court (number of judges determined by Judicial Commission of the Administrative Courts)

judge selection and term of office

Supreme Court judges selected by the Judicial Commission of the Courts of Justice and approved by the monarch; judge term determined by the monarch; Constitutional Court justices - 3 judges drawn from the Supreme Court, 2 judges drawn from the Administrative Court, and 4 judge candidates selected by the Selective Committee for Judges of the Constitutional Court, and confirmed by the Senate; judges appointed by the monarch serve single 9-year terms; Supreme Administrative Court judges selected by the Judicial Commission of the Administrative Courts and appointed by the monarch; judges serve for life

subordinate courts

courts of first instance and appeals courts within both the judicial and administrative systems; military courts

Legal system

civil law system with common law influences

Legislative branch

legislative structure

bicameral

legislature name

National Assembly (Rathhasapha)

Legislative branch - lower chamber

chamber name

House of Representatives (Saphaphuthan Ratsadon)

electoral system

mixed system

expected date of next election

8 February 2026

most recent election date

5/14/2023 (House of Representatives dissolved on 12 December 2025)

number of seats

500 (all directly elected)

parties elected and seats per party

Move Forward (151); Pheu Thai (141); Bhumjaithai (71); Palang Pracharath (40); United Thai Nation (36); Democrat Party (25); Other (36)

percentage of women in chamber

19.6%

scope of elections

full renewal

term in office

4 years

Legislative branch - upper chamber

chamber name

Senate (Wuthisapha)

expected date of next election

June 2029

most recent election date

6/9/2024 to 6/26/2024

number of seats

200 (all indirectly elected)

percentage of women in chamber

22.5%

scope of elections

full renewal

term in office

5 years

National anthem(s)

history

royal anthem, played in the presence of the royal family and during certain state ceremonies

lyrics/music

Narisara NUWATTIWONG and King VAJIRAVUDH/Pyotr SHCHUROVSKY

title

"Phleng Sanlasoen Phra Barami" (A Salute to the Monarch)

National coat of arms

in 1911, King Vajiravudh (Rama VI) of Thailand officially adopted the Garuda as the national coat of arms and emblem; this mythological half-man, half-bird figure from the Hindu and Buddhist traditions is considered the vahana (vehicle) of the god Vishnu (Narayana) and was a symbol of royalty in Thailand for centuries

National color(s)

red, white, blue

National heritage

selected World Heritage Site locales

Historic City of Ayutthaya (c); Historic Sukhothai and Associated Historic Towns (c); Thungyai-Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuaries (n); Ban Chiang Archaeological Site (c); Dong Phayayen-Khao Yai Forest Complex (n); Kaeng Krachan Forest Complex (n); The Ancient Town of Si Thep and its Associated Dvaravati Monuments (n); Phu Phrabat, a testimony to the Sīma stone tradition of the Dvaravati period (c)

total World Heritage Sites

8 (5 cultural, 3 natural)

National holiday

Birthday of King WACHIRALONGKON, 28 July (1952)

National symbol(s)

garuda (mythical half-man, half-bird figure), elephant

Political parties

Bhumjaithai Party or BJT (aka Phumchai Thai Party or PJT; aka Thai Pride Party)  Chat Thai Phatthana Party (Thai Nation Development Party) or CTP Democrat Party  Move Forward Party or MFP (dissolved by order of the Constitutional Court, August 2024) Palang Pracharat Party (People's State Power Party) or PPRP  Pheu (Puea) Thai Party (For Thais Party) or PTP Prachachat Party or PCC  Prachathipat Party (Democrat Party) or DP  Thai Sang Thai Party  United Thai Nation (Ruam Thai Sang Chat) or UTN

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Agricultural products

sugarcane, rice, cassava, oil palm fruit, maize, rubber, tropical fruits, chicken, mangoes/guavas, fruits (2023)

Average household expenditures

on alcohol and tobacco

3% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

on food

25.9% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$114.521 billion (2023 est.)

revenues

$102.84 billion (2023 est.)

Current account balance

Current account balance 2022

-$17.162 billion (2022 est.)

Current account balance 2023

$7.412 billion (2023 est.)

Current account balance 2024

$11.089 billion (2024 est.)

Debt - external

Debt - external 2023

$37.065 billion (2023 est.)

Economic overview

upper middle-income Southeast Asian economy; substantial infrastructure; major electronics, food, and automobile parts exporter; globally used currency; extremely low unemployment; ongoing Thailand 4.0 economic development

Exchange rates

Currency

baht per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2020

31.294 (2020 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

31.977 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates 2022

35.061 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates 2023

34.802 (2023 est.)

Exchange rates 2024

35.294 (2024 est.)

Exports

Exports 2022

$324.111 billion (2022 est.)

Exports 2023

$337.45 billion (2023 est.)

Exports 2024

$369.191 billion (2024 est.)

Exports - commodities

machine parts, integrated circuits, trucks, cars, broadcasting equipment (2023)

Exports - partners

USA 18%, China 13%, Japan 7%, Australia 4%, Singapore 4% (2023)

GDP - composition, by end use

exports of goods and services

70.1% (2024 est.)

government consumption

16.7% (2024 est.)

household consumption

58.2% (2024 est.)

imports of goods and services

-66.7% (2024 est.)

investment in fixed capital

22.2% (2024 est.)

investment in inventories

-0.6% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

8.7% (2024 est.)

industry

32.1% (2024 est.)

services

59.2% (2024 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$526.411 billion (2024 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2023

33.5 (2023 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

26.1% (2023 est.)

lowest 10%

3.4% (2023 est.)

Imports

Imports 2022

$334.44 billion (2022 est.)

Imports 2023

$327.008 billion (2023 est.)

Imports 2024

$351.419 billion (2024 est.)

Imports - commodities

crude petroleum, integrated circuits, natural gas, gold, vehicle parts/accessories (2023)

Imports - partners

China 26%, Japan 11%, USA 7%, UAE 6%, Taiwan 5% (2023)

Industrial production growth rate

0.9% (2024 est.)

Industries

tourism, textiles and garments, agricultural processing, beverages, tobacco, cement, light manufacturing such as jewelry and electric appliances, computers and parts, integrated circuits, furniture, plastics, automobiles and automotive parts, agricultural machinery, air conditioning and refrigeration, ceramics, aluminum, chemical, environmental management, glass, granite and marble, leather, machinery and metal work, petrochemical, petroleum refining, pharmaceuticals, printing, pulp and paper, rubber, sugar, rice, fishing, cassava, world's second-largest tungsten producer and third-largest tin producer

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

-1.6% (2022 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023

8.5% (2023 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024

1.4% (2024 est.)

Labor force

40.623 million (2024 est.)

Population below poverty line

5.4% (2022 est.)

Public debt

Public debt 2023

61.1% of GDP (2023 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

$1.489 trillion (2022 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

$1.519 trillion (2023 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024

$1.558 trillion (2024 est.)

Real GDP growth rate

Real GDP growth rate 2022

2.6% (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2023

2% (2023 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2024

2.5% (2024 est.)

Real GDP per capita

Real GDP per capita 2022

$20,800 (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2023

$21,200 (2023 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2024

$21,700 (2024 est.)

Remittances

Remittances 2022

1.8% of GDP (2022 est.)

Remittances 2023

1.9% of GDP (2023 est.)

Remittances 2024

1.8% of GDP (2024 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022

$216.501 billion (2022 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023

$224.47 billion (2023 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024

$236.934 billion (2024 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

15.4% (of GDP) (2023 est.)

Unemployment rate

Unemployment rate 2022

1% (2022 est.)

Unemployment rate 2023

0.8% (2023 est.)

Unemployment rate 2024

0.7% (2024 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

female

6% (2024 est.)

male

3.1% (2024 est.)

total

4.3% (2024 est.)

Coal

consumption

42.371 million metric tons (2023 est.)

exports

65,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

imports

29.757 million metric tons (2023 est.)

production

12.812 million metric tons (2023 est.)

proven reserves

1.063 billion metric tons (2023 est.)

Electricity

consumption

215.281 billion kWh (2023 est.)

exports

2.256 billion kWh (2023 est.)

imports

35.805 billion kWh (2023 est.)

installed generating capacity

55.971 million kW (2023 est.)

transmission/distribution losses

14.44 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity access

electrification - rural areas

100%

electrification - total population

99.9% (2022 est.)

electrification - urban areas

100%

Electricity generation sources

biomass and waste

10.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

fossil fuels

81.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

hydroelectricity

3.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

solar

2.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

wind

1.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Energy consumption per capita

Total energy consumption per capita 2023

80.602 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Natural gas

consumption

52.351 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

imports

22.738 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

production

29.614 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

proven reserves

138.243 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)

Petroleum

crude oil estimated reserves

252.75 million barrels (2021 est.)

refined petroleum consumption

1.397 million bbl/day (2023 est.)

total petroleum production

386,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

16 (2023 est.)

total

11.5 million (2023 est.)

Broadcast media

26 digital TV stations and 6 terrestrial TV stations broadcast nationally via relay stations, with 2 of the terrestrial stations military-owned and the other 4 state-owned or state-controlled; some leased to private enterprise; all required to broadcast government-produced news; multi-channel satellite and cable TV subscriptions available; radio frequencies allotted for over 500 government and commercial radio stations; many small community radio stations operate with low-power transmitters (2017)

Internet country code

.th

Internet users

percent of population

90% (2023 est.)

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

6 (2023 est.)

total subscriptions

4.087 million (2023 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

161 (2024 est.)

total subscriptions

115 million (2024 est.)

Airports

105 (2025)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

HS

Heliports

5 (2025)

Merchant marine

by type

bulk carrier 28, container ship 28, general cargo 88, oil tanker 251, other 489

total

884 (2023)

Ports

key ports

Bangkok, Laem Chabang, Pattani, Phuket, Sattahip, Si Racha

large

1

medium

2

ports with oil terminals

14

small

3

total ports

21 (2024)

very small

15

Railways

narrow gauge

4,043 km (2017) 1.000-m gauge

standard gauge

84 km (2017) 1.435-m gauge (84 km electrified)

total

4,127 km (2017)

Military - note

the missions of the Royal Thai Armed Forces (RTARF) include defending the country’s territory and sovereignty, protecting the monarchy, ensuring internal security, and responding to natural disasters; key areas of emphasis are disputed international borders and a low-level insurgency in the country's south; the military has historically had a large role in domestic politics and has attempted as many as 20 coups since the fall of absolute monarchy in 1932, the most recent being in 2014 in July 2025, following months of rising tensions, the RTARF and Cambodian military forces clashed in multiple locations along their disputed border; both sides blamed the other for provoking the five-day conflict, which included cross-border artillery shelling by both sides and air attacks by RTARF fighter aircraft and drones; since 2004, the RTARF and Thai paramilitary forces have combated a separatist insurgency in the southern Thailand provinces of Pattani, Yala, and Narathiwat, as well as parts of Songkhla; the insurgency is rooted in ethnic Malay nationalist resistance to Thai rule that followed the extension of Siamese sovereignty over the Patani Sultanate in the 18th century; the insurgency consists of several armed groups, the largest of which is the Barisan Revolusi Nasional-Koordinasi (BRN-C): insurgent attacks have largely involved bombings; since 2020, Thai officials have been negotiating with BRN, and has parallel talks with an umbrella organization, MARA Pattani, that claims to represent the insurgency groups (2025)

Military and security forces

Royal Thai Armed Forces (RTARF): Royal Thai Army (RTA), Royal Thai Navy (RTN; includes Royal Thai Marine Corps), Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) Office of the Prime Minister: Royal Thai Police (2025)

Military and security service personnel strengths

estimated 350,000 active-duty Armed Forces (250,000 Army; 70,000 Navy; 30,000 Air Force) (2025)

Military deployments

280 South Sudan (UNMISS) (2025)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

the RTARF has a diverse array of foreign-supplied armaments, as well as some domestically produced items; its imported weapons and equipment are from a variety of suppliers, including China, several European countries, Israel, Russia, South Korea, and the US; Thailand's domestic defense industry produces such items as armored vehicles, artillery systems, naval vessels, unmanned aerial vehicles, and other military technologies (2025)

Military expenditures

Military Expenditures 2020

1.4% of GDP (2020 est.)

Military Expenditures 2021

1.3% of GDP (2021 est.)

Military Expenditures 2022

1.3% of GDP (2022 est.)

Military Expenditures 2023

1.3% of GDP (2023 est.)

Military Expenditures 2024

1.1% of GDP (2024 est.)

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; all men register at 17 years of age and are subject to selective compulsory military service at 21; volunteer service obligation may be as short as 6-18 months, depending on educational qualifications; conscript service obligation also varies by educational qualifications, but is typically 24 months (2025)

Illicit drugs

USG identification

major precursor-chemical producer (2025)

Refugees and internally displaced persons

IDPs

19 (2023 est.)

refugees

87,025 (2024 est.)

stateless persons

612,524 (2024 est.)

Key space-program milestones

1982 - established first satellite ground station 1993 - first foreign-built commercial communications satellite (Thaicom-1) launched on European rocket 2008 - first remote sensing satellite (Theos-1; aka Thaichote) co-developed with France and launched by Russia  2018 - first domestically produced scientific/research satellite (KNACKSAT) launched by US 2024 - signed memorandum of understanding with China for cooperation on Beijing's lunar research station project and space exploration; signed US-led Artemis Accords 

Space agency/agencies

Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA; created in 2000 from the Thailand Remote Sensing Center that was established in 1979); National Space Policy Committee (NSPC) (2025)

Space launch site(s)

none; in 2023, announced intentions to build a spaceport with South Korean assistance (2025)

Space program overview

has an ambitious national space program focused on the acquisition, production, and operation of satellites, as well as research and development of related infrastructure, sciences, and technologies; operates communications and remote sensing (RS) satellites; manufactures scientific/research/testing cube satellites and is developing the capabilities to produce RS satellites (has historically built satellites with foreign assistance); works with a range of foreign space agencies and industries, including those of China, France, India, the Netherlands, Pakistan, Russia, South Korea, and the US; founding member of the China-led Asia-Pacific Space Cooperation Organization (APSCO); has a commercial space industry, including Southeast Asia&rsquo;s first dedicated satellite manufacturing facility, which opened in 2021 (2025)

Carbon dioxide emissions

from coal and metallurgical coke

79.928 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

from consumed natural gas

95.834 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

from petroleum and other liquids

160.931 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

total emissions

336.693 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Environmental issues

air pollution from vehicle emissions; water pollution from organic and factory wastes; water scarcity; deforestation; soil erosion; illegal hunting; hazardous waste disposal

Geoparks

global geoparks and regional networks

Khorat; Satun (2023)

total global geoparks and regional networks

2

International environmental agreements

party to

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified

none of the selected agreements

Methane emissions

agriculture

2,109.9 kt (2019-2021 est.)

energy

708.8 kt (2022-2024 est.)

other

57.9 kt (2019-2021 est.)

waste

635.8 kt (2019-2021 est.)

Particulate matter emissions

26.3 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Total renewable water resources

438.61 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Total water withdrawal

agricultural

51.79 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

industrial

2.777 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

municipal

2.739 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually

26.853 million tons (2024 est.)

percent of municipal solid waste recycled

40% (2022 est.)