Country Profile: Thailand

Thailand, located in Southeast Asia, is a country rich in history and culture, characterized by a diverse geography that includes mountains, plains, and coastlines along the Andaman Sea and Gulf of Thailand. With a projected population of over 70 million in 2025, the nation boasts a vibrant economy that ranks as an upper-middle income and is heavily reliant on exports in electronics, food, and automobiles. Governed as a constitutional monarchy, Thailand has experienced a tumultuous political landscape with various military coups influencing its governance.

Geography

Thailand is situated in Southeastern Asia, sharing borders with Burma, Cambodia, Laos, and Malaysia. The country covers a total area of 513,120 sq km, comprising mostly land and a small portion of water. Its extensive coastline measures 3,219 km. The terrain features a central plain and mountains, with a tropical climate that sees heavy monsoons. Major rivers include the Mekong, which is one of the longest rivers in the world.

Elevation: Highest point at 2,565 m (Doi Inthanon).
Natural resources: Includes tin, rubber, natural gas, and timber.
Land use: Approximately 43.8% of land is used for agriculture (2023).
Major lakes: Thalesap Songkhla with an area of 1,290 sq km.

People and Society

Thailand's population is estimated at 70,025,248 in 2025, predominantly ethnically Thai (97.5%), with a rich mix of cultures and languages. The official language is Thai, and Buddhism is the principal religion, practiced by 92.5% of the population. The life expectancy at birth is 78.2 years.

Urbanization: Approximately 53.6% of the population resides in urban areas (2023).
Literacy Rate: 91.1% of the total population (2022).
Median Age: The median age is 41.9 years (2025).
Population growth rate: Minimal growth at 0.13% (2025).

Economy

Thailand has an upper-middle-income economy noted for its substantial infrastructure and industry. The GDP (PPP) is projected at $1.558 trillion in 2024, with a growth rate of 2.5%. The economy is diversified, with services contributing 59.2%, followed by industry (32.1%) and agriculture (8.7%).

Unemployment Rate: Extremely low at 0.7% (2024).
Exports: Estimated at $369.191 billion (2024).
Imports: Estimated at $351.419 billion (2024).
Public Debt: Stands at 61.1% of GDP (2023).

Government

Thailand is ruled as a constitutional monarchy with a history marked by multiple coups. The current king is WACHIRALONGKON, and the Prime Minister is ANUTIN Charnvirakul, who took office in September 2025. The legislative body is bicameral, comprising the House of Representatives and the Senate.

Administrative Divisions: Comprises 76 provinces and 1 municipality (Bangkok).
Suffrage: Universal suffrage at 18 years.
Constitution: The latest constitution was approved in 2016.

Military and Security

The Royal Thai Armed Forces, comprising the Army, Navy, and Air Force, plays a significant role in both defense and domestic politics. Military expenditures account for 1.1% of GDP (2024).

Active Personnel: Approximately 350,000 active-duty forces (2025).
Military Service Age: Voluntary service begins at 18 years.
Recent Deployments: Involved in peacekeeping missions, e.g., 280 personnel in South Sudan (2025).

Energy

Thailand's energy sector is primarily reliant on fossil fuels, which make up 81.9% of total installed capacity. The country has made strides in electrification, achieving 99.9% access across the population.

Electricity Consumption: Approximately 215.281 billion kWh in 2023.
Installed Capacity: Stands at 55.971 million kW (2023).
Natural Gas Consumption: Estimated at 52.351 billion cubic meters (2023).

Environment

Thailand faces various environmental challenges, including air and water pollution, deforestation, and soil erosion. The country is active in international environmental agreements.

Forest Cover: Approximately 39% of land area (2023).
Waste Generation: Generates about 26.853 million tons of municipal solid waste annually (2024).
Carbon Dioxide Emissions: Total emissions estimated at 336.693 million metric tonnes (2023).

Transportation

Thailand's transportation network includes extensive railways and a significant number of airports, facilitating domestic and international travel.

Airports: Total of 105 airports (2025).
Railway Length: Measures 4,127 km (2017).
Merchant Marine: Comprises 884 vessels (2023).

Communications

With a high level of connectivity, 90% of the population were internet users as of 2023. The communication infrastructure is robust, with numerous mobile and fixed-line subscriptions.

Mobile Subscriptions: Over 115 million (2024).
Broadband Subscriptions: About 11.5 million (2023).

Key Metrics

Metric	Value	Note
Population	70,025,248 (2025 est.)
Area	513,120 sq km
GDP (PPP)	$1.558 trillion (2024)
Unemployment Rate	0.7% (2024 est.)
Life Expectancy	78.2 years (2024 est.)
Literacy Rate	91.1% (2022 est.)
Urban Population	53.6% (2023)
Electricity Access	99.9% (2022 est.)
Military Expenditures	1.1% of GDP (2024 est.)
Major Agricultural Products	Sugarcane, Rice, Rubber	Top products by tonnage