Thailand:

Region: South-Eastern Asia

Capital: Bangkok

Official Language/s: Thai

Population: 62833000

Currency: Baht

Government: Constitutional Monarchy

Education: Thailand boasts a high level of literacy due to an efficient system of kindergartens, primary and upper secondary schools along with numerous vocational colleges and universities. The private education sector is well developed and is a main provider of education where the government cannot provide public education. Education is compulsory only until Grade 9 however the government provides free education through to Grade 12.

Economy: Thailand is an emerging economy however an extremely high growth rate has increased pressure on Thailand’s currency. After a crisis in 1997 uncovered financial sector weaknesses the government was forced to float the currency. In 1998 the Thai economy contracted by 10.8% which prompted the Asian financial crisis. Thailand’s major exports include rice, textiles and footwear, fishery products, rubber, jewellery, automobiles, computers and electrical appliances. Thailand is the world’s no.1 exporter of rice with more than 6.5 million tons of rice exported every year.

Religion: Approximately 95% of Thai people are Buddhists with Muslims standing at 4.6%. The southernmost provinces of Thailand have dominant Muslim populations, consisting of ethnic Thai and Malay people. A small, influential community of Sikhs in Thailand and Hindus also live in the major cities, engaging in retail commerce. Muslim activists have commonly been described as terrorists due to their rallies against the central government’s alleged corruption and ethnic bias.

Culture: The culture of Thailand consists of a mix of influences from India, China, Cambodia and its other Southeast Asian neighbours. Contemporary Thai identity and belief is tied up with the main theology of Theravada Buddhism. Despite strong Thai cultural influence the many different marginalized ethnic groups have managed to maintain a traditional way of life.As in most Asian cultures, respect for family is a vital component of Thai spiritual tradition. Thai people have a great sense of social hierarchy with elders traditionally heading family decisions or ceremonies.

Health: In 1995 there were only 0.3 physicians and 1.9 hospital beds per 1,000 people with HIV/AIDS remaining a serious problem in Thailand. Since then national adult HIV prevalence has decreased to an estimated 1.8 percent of the total population due to an increase in government support. Major infectious diseases in Thailand also include bacterial diarrhoea, hepatitis and dengue fever. In 2001 Thailand introduced universal health coverage reforms becoming one of only a few lower-middle income countries to do so.

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