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Compare British Indian Ocean Territory (2002) - Thailand (2006)

Compare British Indian Ocean Territory (2002) z Thailand (2006)

 British Indian Ocean Territory (2002)Thailand (2006)
 British Indian Ocean TerritoryThailand
Administrative divisions - 76 provinces (changwat, singular and plural); Amnat Charoen, Ang Thong, Buriram, Chachoengsao, Chai Nat, Chaiyaphum, Chanthaburi, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Chon Buri, Chumphon, Kalasin, Kamphaeng Phet, Kanchanaburi, Khon Kaen, Krabi, Krung Thep Mahanakhon (Bangkok), Lampang, Lamphun, Loei, Lop Buri, Mae Hong Son, Maha Sarakham, Mukdahan, Nakhon Nayok, Nakhon Pathom, Nakhon Phanom, Nakhon Ratchasima, Nakhon Sawan, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Nan, Narathiwat, Nong Bua Lamphu, Nong Khai, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, Pattani, Phangnga, Phatthalung, Phayao, Phetchabun, Phetchaburi, Phichit, Phitsanulok, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Phrae, Phuket, Prachin Buri, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Ranong, Ratchaburi, Rayong, Roi Et, Sa Kaeo, Sakon Nakhon, Samut Prakan, Samut Sakhon, Samut Songkhram, Sara Buri, Satun, Sing Buri, Sisaket, Songkhla, Sukhothai, Suphan Buri, Surat Thani, Surin, Tak, Trang, Trat, Ubon Ratchathani, Udon Thani, Uthai Thani, Uttaradit, Yala, Yasothon
Age structure - 0-14 years: 22% (male 7,284,068/female 6,958,632)


15-64 years: 70% (male 22,331,312/female 22,880,588)


65 years and over: 8% (male 2,355,190/female 2,821,805) (2006 est.)
Agriculture - products - rice, cassava (tapioca), rubber, corn, sugarcane, coconuts, soybeans
Airports 1 (2001) 108 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways total: 1


over 3,047 m: 1 (2002)
total: 66


over 3,047 m: 8


2,438 to 3,047 m: 11


1,524 to 2,437 m: 22


914 to 1,523 m: 20


under 914 m: 5 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways - total: 42


1,524 to 2,437 m: 1


914 to 1,523 m: 15


under 914 m: 26 (2006)
Area total: 60 sq km


land: 60 sq km


water: 0 sq km


note: includes the entire Chagos Archipelago
total: 514,000 sq km


land: 511,770 sq km


water: 2,230 sq km
Area - comparative about 0.3 times the size of Washington, DC slightly more than twice the size of Wyoming
Background Established as a territory of the UK in 1965, a number of the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) islands were transferred to the Seychelles when it attained independence in 1976. Subsequently, BIOT has consisted only of the six main island groups comprising the Chagos Archipelago. The largest and most southerly of the islands, Diego Garcia, contains a joint UK-US naval support facility. All of the remaining islands are uninhabited. Former agricultural workers, earlier residents in the islands, were relocated primarily to Mauritius but also to the Seychelles, between 1967 and 1973. In 2000, a British High Court ruling invalidated the local immigration order which had excluded them from the archipelago, but upheld the special military status of Diego Garcia. A unified Thai kingdom was established in the mid-14th century. Known as Siam until 1939, Thailand is the only Southeast Asian country never to have been taken over by a European power. A bloodless revolution in 1932 led to a constitutional monarchy. In alliance with Japan during World War II, Thailand became a US ally following the conflict. Thailand is currently facing armed violence in its three Muslim-majority southernmost provinces.
Birth rate - 13.87 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Budget - revenues: $30.64 billion


expenditures: $31.76 billion; including capital expenditures of $5 billion (2005 est.)
Capital - name: Bangkok


geographic coordinates: 13 45 N, 100 31 E


time difference: UTC+7 (12 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Climate tropical marine; hot, humid, moderated by trade winds tropical; rainy, warm, cloudy southwest monsoon (mid-May to September); dry, cool northeast monsoon (November to mid-March); southern isthmus always hot and humid
Coastline 698 km 3,219 km
Constitution - constitution signed by King PHUMIPHON on 11 October 1997; abrogated on 19 September 2006 after coup; interim constitution promulgated on 1 October 2006; junta has promised new constitution by October 2007
Country name conventional long form: British Indian Ocean Territory


conventional short form: none


abbreviation: BIOT
conventional long form: Kingdom of Thailand


conventional short form: Thailand


local long form: Ratcha Anachak Thai


local short form: Prathet Thai


former: Siam
Death rate - 7.04 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Debt - external - $52.46 billion (2005 est.)
Dependency status overseas territory of the UK; administered by a commissioner, resident in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London -
Diplomatic representation from the US none (overseas territory of the UK) chief of mission: Ambassador Ralph L. BOYCE


embassy: 120-122 Wireless Road, Bangkok 10330


mailing address: APO AP 96546


telephone: [66] (2) 205-4000


FAX: [66] (2) 254-2990, 205-4131


consulate(s) general: Chiang Mai
Diplomatic representation in the US none (overseas territory of the UK) chief of mission: Ambassador Virasakdi FUTRAKUL


chancery: 1024 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Suite 401, Washington, DC 20007-3681


telephone: [1] (202) 944-3600


FAX: [1] (202) 944-3611


consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, New York
Disputes - international Mauritius and Seychelles claim the Chagos Archipelago and its former inhabitants, who reside chiefly in Mauritius, but in 2001 were granted UK citizenship and the right to repatriation since eviction in 1965; repatriation is complicated by the US military lease of Diego Garcia, the largest island in the chain separatist violence in Thailand's predominantly Muslim southern provinces prompt border closures and controls with Malaysia to stem terrorist activities; southeast Asian states have enhanced border surveillance to check the spread of avian flu; talks continue on completion of demarcation with Thailand but disputes remain over several areas along Mekong River and Thai squatters; despite continuing border committee talks, significant differences remain with Burma over boundary alignment and the handling of ethnic rebels, refugees, and illegal cross-border activities; Cambodia and Thailand dispute sections of boundary with missing boundary markers; Cambodia claims Thai encroachments into Cambodian territory and obstructing access to Preah Vihear temple ruins awarded to Cambodia by ICJ decision in 1962; ethnic Karens from Burma flee into Thailand - to escape fighting between Karen rebels and Burmese troops - resulting in Thailand sheltering about 120,000 Burmese refugees in 2005; Karens also protest Thai support for a Burmese hydroelectric dam construction on the Salween River near the border; environmentalists in Burma and Thailand remain concerned about China's construction of hydroelectric dams upstream on the Nujiang/Salween River in Yunnan Province
Economic aid - recipient - $72 million (2002)
Economy - overview All economic activity is concentrated on the largest island of Diego Garcia, where joint UK-US defense facilities are located. Construction projects and various services needed to support the military installations are done by military and contract employees from the UK, Mauritius, the Philippines, and the US. There are no industrial or agricultural activities on the islands. When the Ilois return, they plan to reestablish sugarcane production and fishing. With a well-developed infrastructure, a free-enterprise economy, and 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 in 2002-04. Boosted by increased consumption and strong export growth, the Thai economy grew 6.9% in 2003 and 6.1% in 2004 despite a sluggish global economy. Bangkok has pursued preferential trade agreements with a variety of partners in an effort to boost exports and to maintain high growth. In 2004, Thailand and the US began negotiations on a Free Trade Agreement. In late December 2004, a major tsunami took 8,500 lives in Thailand and caused massive destruction of property in the southern provinces of Krabi, Phangnga, and Phuket. Growth slowed to 4.4% in 2005. The downturn can be attributed to high oil prices, weaker demand from Western markets, severe drought in rural regions, tsunami-related declines in tourism, and lower consumer confidence. Moreover, the THAKSIN administration's expansionist economic policies, including plans for multi-billion-dollar mega-projects in infrastructure and social development, has raised concerns about fiscal discipline and the health of financial institutions. On the positive side, the Thai economy performed well beginning in the third quarter of 2005. Export-oriented manufacturing - in particular automobile production - and farm output are driving these gains. In 2006, the economy should benefit from an influx of investment and a revived tourism sector; however, a possible avian flu epidemic could significantly harm economic prospects throughout the region.
Electricity - consumption NA kWh 107.3 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - exports - 315 million kWh (2003)
Electricity - imports - 980 million kWh (2003)
Electricity - production NA kWh; note - electricity supplied by the US military 114.7 billion kWh (2003)
Elevation extremes lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m


highest point: unnamed location on Diego Garcia 15 m
lowest point: Gulf of Thailand 0 m


highest point: Doi Inthanon 2,576 m
Environment - current issues NA air pollution from vehicle emissions; water pollution from organic and factory wastes; deforestation; soil erosion; wildlife populations threatened by illegal hunting
Environment - international agreements - party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands


signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Ethnic groups - Thai 75%, Chinese 14%, other 11%
Exchange rates - baht per US dollar - 40.22 (2005), 40.222 (2004), 41.485 (2003), 42.96 (2002), 44.432 (2001)
Executive branch chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)


head of government: Commissioner Alan HUCKLE (since 2001); Administrator Louise SAVILL (since NA); note - both reside in the UK


cabinet: NA


elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; commissioner and administrator appointed by the monarch
chief of state: King PHUMIPHON Adunyadet (since 9 June 1946)


head of government: Interim Prime Minister SURAYUT Chulanon (since 1 October 2006); Interim Deputy Prime Ministers KHOSIT Panpiamrat (since 9 October 2006); PRIDIYATHON Thewakun (since 9 October 2006)


note: Prime Minister THAKSIN Chinnawat was overthrown on 19 September 2006 in a coup led by General SONTHI Boonyaratglin


cabinet: Council of Ministers


note: there is also a Privy Council


elections: none; monarch is hereditary; according to 1997 constitution, prime minister was designated from among members of House of Representatives; following national elections for House of Representatives, leader of party that could organize a majority coalition usually was appointed prime minister by king
Exports - NA bbl/day
Exports - commodities - textiles and footwear, fishery products, rice, rubber, jewelry, automobiles, computers and electrical appliances
Exports - partners - US 15.5%, Japan 13.7%, China 8.3%, Singapore 6.8%, Hong Kong 5.6%, Malaysia 5.2% (2005)
Fiscal year - 1 October - 30 September
Flag description white with six blue wavy horizontal stripes; the flag of the UK is in the upper hoist-side quadrant; the striped section bears a palm tree and yellow crown centered on the outer half of the flag five horizontal bands of red (top), white, blue (double width), white, and red
GDP - composition by sector - agriculture: 9.9%


industry: 44.1%


services: 46% (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate - 4.5% (2005 est.)
Geographic coordinates 6 00 S, 71 30 E 15 00 N, 100 00 E
Geography - note archipelago of 2,300 islands; Diego Garcia, largest and southernmost island, occupies strategic location in central Indian Ocean; island is site of joint US-UK military facility controls only land route from Asia to Malaysia and Singapore
Heliports - 3 (2006)
Highways total: NA km


paved: short stretch of paved road of NA km between port and airfield on Diego Garcia


unpaved: NA km
-
Household income or consumption by percentage share - lowest 10%: 2.8%


highest 10%: 32.4% (1998)
Illicit drugs - a minor producer of opium, heroin, and marijuana; illicit transit point for heroin en route to the international drug market from Burma and Laos; eradication efforts have reduced the area of cannabis cultivation and shifted some production to neighboring countries; opium poppy cultivation has been reduced by eradication efforts; also a drug money-laundering center; minor role in methamphetamine production for regional consumption; major consumer of methamphetamine since the 1990s
Imports - NA bbl/day
Imports - commodities - capital goods, intermediate goods and raw materials, consumer goods, fuels
Imports - partners - Japan 22%, China 9.4%, US 7.4%, Malaysia 6.8%, UAE 4.8%, Singapore 4.5% (2005)
Independence - 1238 (traditional founding date; never colonized)
Industrial production growth rate - 9.1% (2005 est.)
Industries - 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
Infant mortality rate - total: 19.49 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 20.77 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 18.15 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) - 4.5% (2005 est.)
International organization participation - APEC, APT, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN, BIMSTEC, BIS, CP, EAS, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC (observer), ONUB, OPCW, OSCE (partner), PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIS, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) 1 (2000) -
Irrigated land 0 sq km (1998 est.) 49,860 sq km (2003)
Judicial branch - Supreme Court or Sandika (judges appointed by the monarch)
Labor force - 35.36 million (2005 est.)
Labor force - by occupation - agriculture: 49%


industry: 14%


services: 37% (2000 est.)
Land boundaries 0 km total: 4,863 km


border countries: Burma 1,800 km, Cambodia 803 km, Laos 1,754 km, Malaysia 506 km
Land use arable land: NEGL


permanent crops: 0%


other: 100% (1998 est.)
arable land: 27.54%


permanent crops: 6.93%


other: 65.53% (2005)
Languages - Thai, English (secondary language of the elite), ethnic and regional dialects
Legal system the laws of the UK, where applicable, apply based on civil law system, with influences of common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Legislative branch - bicameral National Assembly or Rathasapha consisted of the Senate or Wuthisapha (200 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms) and the House of Representatives or Sapha Phuthaen Ratsadon (500 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms); after coup in September 2006, junta appointed an interim National Assembly with 250 members to act as Senate and House of Representatives; body has no vote on government matters


elections: Senate - last held 19 April 2006; House of Representatives - last held 6 February 2005; junta scheduled next general election by October 2007


election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; House of Representatives - (2005 election) percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - TRT 376, DP 97, TNP 25, PP 2
Life expectancy at birth - total population: 72.25 years


male: 69.95 years


female: 74.68 years (2006 est.)
Literacy - definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 92.6%


male: 94.9%


female: 90.5% (2002)
Location Southern Asia, archipelago in the Indian Ocean, about one-half the way from Africa to Indonesia Southeastern Asia, bordering the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand, southeast of Burma
Map references Political Map of the World Southeast Asia
Maritime claims exclusive fishing zone: 200 NM


territorial sea: 3 NM
territorial sea: 12 nm


exclusive economic zone: 200 nm


continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Merchant marine - total: 400 ships (1000 GRT or over) 2,808,509 GRT/4,317,320 DWT


by type: bulk carrier 60, cargo 145, chemical tanker 14, container 21, liquefied gas 29, passenger 1, passenger/cargo 6, petroleum tanker 91, refrigerated cargo 32, specialized tanker 1


foreign-owned: 45 (China 1, Egypt 1, Indonesia 1, Japan 4, Norway 30, Singapore 6, UK 2)


registered in other countries: 34 (Bahamas 1, Mongolia 1, Panama 9, Singapore 22, Tuvalu 1) (2006)
Military - note defense is the responsibility of the UK; the US lease on Diego Garcia expires in 2016 -
Military branches - Royal Thai Army (RTA), Royal Thai Navy (RTN, includes Royal Thai Marine Corps), Royal Thai Air Force (Knogtap Agard Thai, RTAF) (2006)
Military expenditures - dollar figure - $1.775 billion (FY00)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP - 1.8% (2003)
National holiday - Birthday of King PHUMIPHON, 5 December (1927)
Nationality - noun: Thai (singular and plural)


adjective: Thai
Natural hazards NA land subsidence in Bangkok area resulting from the depletion of the water table; droughts
Natural resources coconuts, fish, sugarcane tin, rubber, natural gas, tungsten, tantalum, timber, lead, fish, gypsum, lignite, fluorite, arable land
Net migration rate - 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Pipelines - gas 3,760 km; refined products 379 km (2006)
Political parties and leaders - Democrat Party or DP (Prachathipat Party) [ABHISIT Wetchachiwa]; People's Party or PP (Mahachon Party) [ANEK Laothamatas]; Thai Nation Party or TNP (Chat Thai Party) [BARNHARN SILPA-ARCHA]; Thai Rak Thai Party or TRT [CHATURON Chaisang]
Political pressure groups and leaders - NA
Population no indigenous inhabitants


note: approximately 1,200 former agricultural workers resident in the Chagos Archipelago, often referred to as Chagossians or Ilois, were relocated to Mauritius and the Seychelles around the time of the construction of UK-US military facilities; in 2001, there were approximately 1,500 UK and US military personnel and 2,000 civilian contractors living on the island of Diego Garcia (July 2002 est.)
64,631,595


note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2006 est.)
Population below poverty line - 10% (2004 est.)
Population growth rate - 0.68% (2006 est.)
Ports and harbors Diego Garcia -
Radio broadcast stations AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 0 (1998) AM 204, FM 334, shortwave 6 (1999)
Radios NA -
Railways - total: 4,071 km


narrow gauge: 4,071 km 1.000-m gauge (2005)
Religions - Buddhist 94.6%, Muslim 4.6%, Christian 0.7%, other 0.1% (2000 census)
Sex ratio - at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 0.84 male(s)/female


total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Suffrage - 18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Telephone system general assessment: separate facilities for military and public needs are available


domestic: all commercial telephone services are available, including connection to the Internet


international: international telephone service is carried by satellite (2000)
general assessment: high quality system, especially in urban areas like Bangkok; WTO requirement for privatization of telecom sector is planned to be complete by 2006


domestic: fixed line system provided by both a government owned and commercial provider; wireless service expanding rapidly and outpacing fixed lines


international: country code - 66; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Pacific Ocean); landing country for APCN submarine cable
Telephones - main lines in use NA 7.035 million (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular - 27.379 million (2005)
Television broadcast stations 1 (1997) 111 (2006)
Terrain flat and low (most areas do not exceed four meters in elevation) central plain; Khorat Plateau in the east; mountains elsewhere
Total fertility rate - 1.64 children born/woman (2006 est.)
Unemployment rate - 1.8% (2005 est.)
Waterways none 4,000 km


note: 3,701 km navigable by boats with drafts up to 0.9 m (2005)
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