Head of state: Prime minister - elect : Yingluck Shinawatra
Population
4,366,266
67,091,089
Life Expectancy
55.270 years
73.830 years
Capital City
Bangkok
Largest city
Brazzaville (population: 1,284,610)
Bangkok (population: 5,104,480)
Human Development Index
NA
0.786
GDP per capita
$9,500 US
Literacy Rate
83.8%
92.6%
Corruption Perception Index
1.9
3.5
Percentage of Women in Parliament
NA
12.7%
Wealthiest Citizens
NA
Chaleo Yoovidhya ($3.7bn US)
Unemployment Rate
0.700%
Death Penalty
Abolished in practice
Legal
Political System
republic
constitutional monarchy
Independence date
1238 (traditional founding date; never colonized)
Religions
Christian 50%, animist 48%, Muslim 2%
Buddhist 94.6%, Muslim 4.6%, Christian 0.7%, other 0.1% (2000 census)
Languages
French (official), Lingala and Monokutuba (lingua franca trade languages), many local languages and dialects (of which Kikongo is the most widespread)
Thai, English (secondary language of the elite), ethnic and regional dialects
Exports
textiles and footwear, fishery products, rice, rubber, jewelry, automobiles, computers and electrical appliances
External Debt
$115,600,000,000 US
Exchange Rate
baht per US dollar - 33.37 (2008 est.), 34.52 (2007), 37.882 (2006), 40.22 (2005), 40.222 (2004)
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
1.800%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
0
4
Location
Western Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Angola and Gabon
Southeastern Asia, bordering the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand, southeast of Burma
Area
342,000 km sq
513,120 km sq
Coastline
169 km
3,219 km
Climate
tropical; rainy season (March to June); dry season (June to October); persistent high temperatures and humidity; particularly enervating climate astride the Equator
tropical; rainy, warm, cloudy southwest monsoon (mid-May to September); dry, cool northeast monsoon (November to mid-March); southern isthmus always hot and humid
