Thailand:
Economy

Pages for other countries and territories

Other pages in this profile of Thailand:
Geography, People, Government, Communications & Transportation, Military & Transnational Issues.


Economy - overview	Definition With a well-developed infrastructure, a free-enterprise economy, and generally pro-investment policies, Thailand appears to have fully recovered from the 1997-98 Asian Financial Crisis. The country was one of East Asia's best performers from 2002-04. Boosted by strong export growth, the Thai economy grew 4.5% in 2007. Bangkok has pursued preferential trade agreements with a variety of partners in an effort to boost exports and to maintain high growth. By 2007, the tourism sector had largely recovered from the major 2004 tsunami. Following the military coup in September 2006, investment and consumer confidence stagnated due to the uncertain political climate that lasted through the December 2007 elections. Foreign investor sentiment was further tempered by a 30% reserve requirement on capital inflows instituted in December 2006, and discussion of amending Thailand's rules governing foreign-owned businesses. Economic growth in 2007 was due almost entirely to robust export performance - despite the pressure of an appreciating currency. Exports have performed at record levels, rising nearly 17% in 2006 and 12% in 2007. Export-oriented manufacturing - in particular automobile production - and farm output are driving these gains.
GDP (purchasing power parity)	Definition - World rank and map $519.4 billion (2007 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate)	Definition $245.7 billion (2007 est.)
GDP - real growth rate	Definition - World rank and map 4.8% (2007 est.)
GDP - per capita	Definition - World rank and map $7,900 (2007 est.)
GDP - composition by sector	Definition agriculture: 11.4% industry: 43.9% services: 44.7% (2007 est.)
Labor force	Definition 36.9 million (2007 est.)
Labor force - by occupation	Definition agriculture: 49% industry: 14% services: 37% (2000 est.)
Unemployment rate	Definition - World rank and map 1.4% (2007 est.)
Population below poverty line	Definition 10% (2004 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share	Definition lowest 10%: 2.7% highest 10%: 33.4% (2002)
Distribution of family income - Gini index	Definition - World rank and map 42 (2002)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)	Definition - World rank and map 2.2% (2007 est.)
Investment (gross fixed)	Definition - World rank and map 26.8% of GDP (2007 est.)
Budget	Definition revenues: $44.09 billion expenditures: $49.84 billion (2007 est.)
Public debt	Definition - World rank and map 37.9% of GDP (2007 est.)
Agriculture - products	Definition rice, cassava (tapioca), rubber, corn, sugarcane, coconuts, soybeans
Industries	Definition 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; world's second-largest tungsten producer and third-largest tin producer
Industrial production growth rate	Definition - World rank and map 5.4% (2007 est.)
Electricity - production	Definition - World rank and map 124.6 billion kWh (2005)
Electricity - consumption	Definition - World rank and map 117.7 billion kWh (2005)
Electricity - consumption per capita	Definition - World rank and map 1,797.2 kWh (2005)
Electricity - exports	Definition 642 million kWh (2005)
Electricity - imports	Definition 4.419 billion kWh (2005)
Oil - production	Definition - World rank and map 310,900 bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - consumption	Definition - World rank and map 929,000 bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - consumption per 1,000 people	Definition - World rank and map 14.2 bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - exports	Definition - World rank and map 225,700 bbl/day (2004)
Oil - imports	Definition - World rank and map 893,400 bbl/day (2004)
Oil - proved reserves	Definition - World rank and map 291 million bbl (1 January 2006 est.)
Natural gas - production	Definition - World rank and map 22.73 billion cu m (2005 est.)
Natural gas - consumption	Definition - World rank and map 31.23 billion cu m (2005 est.)
Natural gas - consumption per capita	Definition - World rank and map 477 cu m (2005 est.)
Natural gas - exports	Definition - World rank and map 0 cu m (2005 est.)
Natural gas - imports	Definition - World rank and map 8.497 billion cu m (2005)
Natural gas - proved reserves	Definition - World rank and map 400.7 billion cu m (1 January 2006 est.)
Current account balance	Definition - World rank and map $14.92 billion (2007 est.)
Exports	Definition - World rank and map $151 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)
Exports - commodities	Definition textiles and footwear, fishery products, rice, rubber, jewelry, automobiles, computers and electrical appliances
Exports - partners	Definition US 12.6%, Japan 11.9%, China 9.7%, Singapore 6.3%, Hong Kong 5.7%, Malaysia 5.1% (2006)
Imports	Definition - World rank and map $125 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)
Imports - commodities	Definition capital goods, intermediate goods and raw materials, consumer goods, fuels
Imports - partners	Definition Japan 20.3%, China 11.6%, US 6.8%, Malaysia 6.2%, UAE 4.9%, Singapore 4.5%, Taiwan 4.1% (2006)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold	Definition - World rank and map $87.46 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Debt - external	Definition - World rank and map $58.5 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home	Definition $80.84 billion (2007 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad	Definition $7.017 billion (2007 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares	Definition $139.6 billion (2006)
Economic aid - recipient	Definition $171.1 million (2005)
Currency (code)	Definition baht (THB)
Exchange rates	Definition baht per US dollar - 33.599 (2007), 37.882 (2006), 40.22 (2005), 40.222 (2004), 41.485 (2003)
Fiscal year	Definition 1 October - 30 September

Thailand: Economy

Thailand:
Economy