With over 71 million people calling it home, Thailand is a nation of captivating contrasts, where ancient temples share skyline with modern cities and where serene beaches meet bustling metropolises.
Key Takeaways
- Thailand's total population as of July 2023 was estimated at 71,801,279 people, making it the 20th most populous country globally.
- The population density of Thailand stands at 137 people per square kilometer as of 2023.
- Urban population in Thailand accounts for 52.6% of the total population, equating to approximately 37.8 million urban dwellers in 2023.
- Thailand's nominal GDP in 2023 was 514.8 billion USD, ranking 8th in Asia and 25th globally.
- GDP per capita (nominal) in Thailand reached 7,172 USD in 2023.
- Real GDP growth rate for Thailand was 1.9% in 2023.
- Thailand's total land area is 513,120 square kilometers, ranking 50th globally.
- Thailand's coastline stretches 3,219 kilometers along the Gulf of Thailand and Andaman Sea.
- The highest point in Thailand is Doi Inthanon at 2,565 meters above sea level.
- Thailand's literacy rate for adults aged 15+ is 94.1% as of 2023.
- Tertiary education enrollment rate is 49.2% gross in Thailand for 2023.
- Thailand has 156 universities and higher education institutions serving 2.3 million students.
- Thailand is a constitutional monarchy with King Maha Vajiralongkorn as head of state since 2016.
- Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin leads the government as of 2023.
- National Assembly has 500 House members and 250 Senate members.
Thailand is a populous, aging country with strong cultural and economic ties to tourism.
Demographics
- Thailand's total population as of July 2023 was estimated at 71,801,279 people, making it the 20th most populous country globally.
- The population density of Thailand stands at 137 people per square kilometer as of 2023.
- Urban population in Thailand accounts for 52.6% of the total population, equating to approximately 37.8 million urban dwellers in 2023.
- Thailand's median age is 40.1 years as of 2023, reflecting an aging population trend.
- Life expectancy at birth in Thailand is 79.4 years overall, with 81.9 years for females and 77.0 years for males in 2023.
- Thailand's total fertility rate is 1.33 children per woman as of 2023, below the replacement level of 2.1.
- Net migration rate for Thailand is -0.1 migrants per 1,000 population annually as of 2023.
- Ethnic Thais constitute 97.5% of the population, followed by Burmese at 1.3% and others at 1.2% in 2023 estimates.
- The Thai language is spoken by 90.7% of the population as the official language, with regional dialects prevalent.
- Buddhism is the religion of 92.5% of Thais, with Islam at 5.1%, Christianity at 1.2%, and others at 1.2% as of 2023.
- Thailand's age structure shows 17.4% under 15 years, 69.5% aged 15-64, and 13.1% over 65 in 2023.
- Bangkok, the capital, has a population of 10,899,529 in its metropolitan area as of 2023.
- Thailand's population growth rate is 0.23% annually as of 2023.
- There are approximately 7.2 million foreign residents in Thailand, including expatriates and migrant workers from neighboring countries in 2023.
- Women make up 51.27% of Thailand's population, totaling around 36.8 million females in 2023.
- The youth dependency ratio in Thailand is 23.4% as of 2023.
- Thailand has 76 provinces, with the highest population in Bangkok province at over 1.5 million in 2023 census data.
- Literacy rate for population aged 15+ in Thailand is 94.1% overall, 95.5% for males and 92.8% for females in 2023.
- Thailand's infant mortality rate is 6.5 deaths per 1,000 live births as of 2023.
- Maternal mortality ratio is 29 deaths per 100,000 live births in Thailand for 2023 estimates.
- Thailand's sex ratio at birth is 105.5 males per 100 females as of 2023.
- The working-age population (15-64) numbers about 49.9 million in Thailand in 2023.
- Thailand ranks 96th in population size globally with 71.8 million inhabitants in 2023.
- Overseas Thai diaspora totals around 7 million people worldwide as of 2023.
- Northern Thailand has a population of about 11.6 million, with higher ethnic diversity including hill tribes.
- Southern Thailand population is approximately 9.4 million, with significant Malay Muslim communities.
- Central Thailand, including Bangkok, hosts 23.5 million people, the economic heartland in 2023.
- Northeastern Thailand (Isan) has 22.2 million residents, the largest regional population.
- Thailand's population pyramid shows a constrictive shape due to low fertility and increasing elderly.
- HIV prevalence among adults aged 15-49 in Thailand is 0.96% as of 2023.
Demographics Interpretation
Thailand is a land of graceful aging, where nine out of ten people speak Thai, almost all are Buddhists, and a remarkably low birth rate means the bustling cities are steadily filling with more elders than children.
Economy
- Thailand's nominal GDP in 2023 was 514.8 billion USD, ranking 8th in Asia and 25th globally.
- GDP per capita (nominal) in Thailand reached 7,172 USD in 2023.
- Real GDP growth rate for Thailand was 1.9% in 2023.
- Inflation rate (CPI) averaged 1.2% in Thailand during 2023.
- Unemployment rate in Thailand was 1.1% in 2023, one of the lowest in the region.
- Thailand's public debt-to-GDP ratio stood at 61.9% in 2023.
- Exports of goods and services accounted for 58.8% of GDP in 2023.
- Major exports include electronics (15.8% of total), machinery (12.5%), and vehicles (10.2%) in 2023.
- Tourism contributed 11.5% to GDP pre-COVID, recovering to 7.2% or 37 billion USD in 2023.
- Thailand's stock market capitalization was 581 billion USD as of end-2023.
- Foreign direct investment inflows reached 11.2 billion USD in 2023.
- Agriculture employs 30.4% of the workforce but contributes only 8.8% to GDP in 2023.
- Industry sector contributes 35.2% to GDP, services 56.0% in 2023.
- Thailand is the world's 2nd largest exporter of rice, with 7.5 million tons exported in 2023.
- Rubber production totaled 4.8 million tons in 2023, making Thailand the global leader.
- Thailand's current account balance showed a surplus of 1.6% of GDP in 2023.
- Minimum wage varies by province, averaging 331 THB per day (9.4 USD) in 2023.
- Thailand's labor force totals 40.5 million, with 58% in services, 32% industry in 2023.
- Remittances received amounted to 9.1 billion USD in 2023.
- Thailand ranks 21st in the Global Innovation Index 2023 with a score of 35.6.
- Corporate tax rate in Thailand is 20% for resident companies in 2023.
- Thailand's ease of doing business rank improved to 21st globally in 2023 metrics.
- Automobile production reached 1.84 million units in 2023, 12th worldwide.
- Thailand's foreign exchange reserves were 220.3 billion USD as of end-2023.
- Gini coefficient for income inequality is 35.7 in Thailand (2023 data).
Economy Interpretation
Thailand presents a portrait of a robust, mid-tier economic engine: globally competitive in exports and manufacturing, remarkably stable with low unemployment and inflation, yet gently sputtering on growth while carrying a manageable debt and wrestling with the classic divide between a massive agricultural workforce and its modest GDP contribution.
Geography and Environment
- Thailand's total land area is 513,120 square kilometers, ranking 50th globally.
- Thailand's coastline stretches 3,219 kilometers along the Gulf of Thailand and Andaman Sea.
- The highest point in Thailand is Doi Inthanon at 2,565 meters above sea level.
- Thailand borders Myanmar (2,416 km), Laos (1,845 km), Cambodia (817 km), and Malaysia (595 km).
- The Chao Phraya River, Thailand's longest, spans 365 kilometers.
- Forest cover in Thailand is 46.7% of land area, about 240,000 square km in 2023.
- Annual deforestation rate in Thailand was 0.2% between 2015-2020, totaling 1,200 sq km loss.
- Thailand has 25 national parks covering 22,236 square kilometers, 4.3% of land area.
- Average annual rainfall is 1,694 mm, with monsoon season from May to October.
- Thailand is in the tropical monsoon climate zone, with temperatures averaging 28°C yearly.
- Freshwater withdrawal is 79.35 billion cubic meters per year, 84% for agriculture.
- Thailand has over 4,000 islands, with Phuket being the largest at 543 sq km.
- Earthquake risk is low, but Thailand lies on the Sunda Plate with occasional tremors.
- Coral reef coverage totals 1,000 sq km, but 40% degraded due to bleaching in recent years.
- Air pollution PM2.5 annual average in Bangkok is 25.8 micrograms per cubic meter in 2023.
- Thailand's renewable energy share in electricity is 20.2% as of 2023.
- Protected areas cover 21.3% of Thailand's land and sea territory in 2023.
- Flood-prone areas affect 37 million people annually due to monsoon flooding.
- Mangrove forests span 247,840 hectares, vital for coastal protection.
- Thailand's biodiversity includes 11,688 plant species and 1,083 bird species.
- Annual mean temperature has risen 0.9°C since 1960 due to climate change.
- Drought frequency increased by 20% in the last decade, affecting 10 provinces.
- Elevation extremes range from sea level to 2,565 m (Doi Inthanon).
- Irrigated land covers 64,150 square kilometers, 12.8% of agricultural land.
- Thailand ranks 5th globally in marine fish catch with 1.4 million tons in 2023.
- Carbon dioxide emissions totaled 285 million metric tons in 2023.
- Endangered species number 211 mammals, 181 birds, and 143 reptiles in Thailand.
Geography and Environment Interpretation
Thailand is a geographically blessed nation where the bounty of sun, sea, and soil is both its crown and its cross to bear, hosting vibrant life from misty mountain peaks to coral reefs while battling the slow creep of deforestation, pollution, and a warming climate that threatens to dampen its golden shores.
Government and Health
- Thailand is a constitutional monarchy with King Maha Vajiralongkorn as head of state since 2016.
- Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin leads the government as of 2023.
- National Assembly has 500 House members and 250 Senate members.
- Military expenditure is 1.4% of GDP, totaling 7.2 billion USD in 2023.
- Thailand ranks 60th in Corruption Perceptions Index 2023 with score 35/100.
- Universal healthcare covers 99.5% of population via three schemes in 2023.
- Physicians density is 0.8 per 1,000 people in Thailand 2023.
- Hospital beds total 2.1 per 1,000 population, 150,000 beds nationwide.
- Government health expenditure is 4.4% of GDP in 2023.
- Last general election held May 14, 2023, with Pheu Thai party winning 141 seats.
- Thailand has 76 provinces administered by governors appointed by the Interior Ministry.
- Active military personnel number 360,850, reserves 200,000 in 2023.
- Immunization coverage for DTP3 vaccine is 99% among 1-year-olds in 2023.
- Tuberculosis incidence rate is 135 per 100,000 population annually.
- Government budget balance was -3.5% of GDP in fiscal year 2023.
- Tax revenue is 19.2% of GDP, VAT at 7% standard rate.
- Thailand joined ASEAN in 1967, founding member, and CPTPP in 2023 negotiations.
- Human Rights Watch notes ongoing issues with lèse-majesté laws, 172 cases in 2023.
- Malaria incidence dropped to 0.08 per 1,000 at risk population in 2023.
- Road network totals 194,407 km paved, plus 53,153 km unpaved in 2023.
- Airports number 101, with Suvarnabhumi handling 65 million passengers pre-COVID.
- Railways span 4,127 km, mostly metre gauge operated by State Railway.
Government and Health Interpretation
Thailand's strong healthcare and high vaccination rates suggest a nation caring for its people's bodies, even as its lèse-majesté prosecutions and corruption score reveal a continuing struggle for the body politic's full health.
Society and Culture
- Thailand's literacy rate for adults aged 15+ is 94.1% as of 2023.
- Tertiary education enrollment rate is 49.2% gross in Thailand for 2023.
- Thailand has 156 universities and higher education institutions serving 2.3 million students.
- Internet penetration rate reached 85.8% of the population, or 61.6 million users in 2023.
- Mobile phone subscriptions total 96.5 million, 134 per 100 inhabitants in 2023.
- Thailand ranks 63rd in the World Press Freedom Index 2023 with a score of 57.7.
- Songkran (Thai New Year) festival attracts 1.5 million domestic travelers annually.
- Thai cuisine features over 200 regional dishes, with Tom Yum Kung as national soup.
- Muay Thai is the national sport, with over 10,000 professional bouts yearly.
- Loy Krathong festival involves floating 1 million krathongs nationwide each November.
- Thailand has 37 UNESCO tentative list sites, including ancient Ayutthaya.
- Social media users total 53.6 million, 74.8% of population in 2023.
- Divorce rate is 1.7 per 1,000 population, with 230,000 divorces in 2023.
- Average household size is 3.5 persons in urban areas, 3.8 in rural.
- Film industry produces 100+ movies yearly, with "Bad Genius" grossing 100 million THB.
- Thailand hosts 2.5 million international students annually pre-COVID levels.
- Crime rate is 2.1 homicides per 100,000, lower than global average.
- Gender parity index in primary education is 0.99 in Thailand 2023.
- Suicide rate is 8.1 per 100,000, higher among males at 12.5.
- Public holidays total 19 days annually, including King's Birthday and Father's Day.
- Thai literature boasts classics like "Khun Chang Khun Phaen" epic.
- Road traffic death rate is 32.2 per 100,000, improved from 38.1 in 2013.
- Alcohol consumption averages 7.1 liters pure alcohol per capita yearly.
- Obesity rate among adults is 10.0%, overweight 28.7% in 2023.
- Newspaper circulation totals 10 million copies daily across 300 titles.
- Vegetarian population is 5-10%, boosted by festivals like The Vegetarian Festival.
Society and Culture Interpretation
Thailand presents a complex portrait: a nation with near-universal literacy and booming digital connectivity that still grapples with profound cultural paradoxes, where vibrant traditions like floating a million krathongs coexist with modern struggles like press freedom rankings and road safety, all while seasoning life with more than 200 regional dishes and a penchant for having, on average, more mobile phones than people.
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