VIETNAM

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The conquest of Vietnam by France began in 1858 and was completed by 1884. It became part of French Indochina in 1887. Vietnam declared independence after World War II, but France continued to rule until its 1954 defeat by Communist forces under Ho Chi MINH. Under the Geneva Accords of 1954, Vietnam was divided into the Communist North and anti-Communist South. US economic and military aid to South Vietnam grew through the 1960s in an attempt to bolster the government, but US armed forces were withdrawn following a cease-fire agreement in 1973. Two years later, North Vietnamese forces overran the South reuniting the country under Communist rule. Despite the return of peace, for over a decade the country experienced little economic growth because of conservative leadership policies, the persecution and mass exodus of individuals - many of them successful South Vietnamese merchants - and growing international isolation. However, since the enactment of Vietnam's "doi moi" (renovation) policy in 1986, Vietnamese authorities have committed to increased economic liberalization and enacted structural reforms needed to modernize the economy and to produce more competitive, export-driven industries. The Communist leaders, however, maintain control on political expression and have resisted outside calls to improve human rights. The country continues to experience small-scale protests from various groups - the vast majority connected to land-use issues, calls for increased political space, and the lack of equitable mechanisms for resolving disputes. Various ethnic minorities, such as the Montagnards of the Central Highlands and the Khmer Krom in the southern delta region, have also held protests.

Geography
Extending 1,650 km north to south, the country is only 50 km across at its narrowest point
Location: Southeastern Asia, bordering the Gulf of Thailand, Gulf of Tonkin, and South China Sea, as well as China, Laos, and Cambodia
Geographic coordinates: 16 10 N, 107 50 E
Area: total: 331,210 sq km land: 310,070 sq km water: 21,140 sq km

Size comparison: slightly larger than New Mexico
Land Boundaries: total: 4,639 km border countries: Cambodia 1,228 km, China 1,281 km, Laos 2,130 km
Coastline: 3,444 km (excludes islands)
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Climate: tropical in south; monsoonal in north with hot, rainy season (May to September) and warm, dry season (October to March)
Terrain: low, flat delta in south and north; central highlands; hilly, mountainous in far north and northwest
Elevation extremes: lowest point: South China Sea 0 m highest point: Fan Si Pan 3,144 m
Natural resources: phosphates, coal, manganese, rare earth elements, bauxite, chromate, offshore oil and gas deposits, timber, hydropower
Land use: arable land: 20.14% permanent crops: 6.93% other: 72.93% (2005)
Irrigated land: 46,000 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards: occasional typhoons (May to January) with extensive flooding, especially in the Mekong River delta
Current Environment Issues: logging and slash-and-burn agricultural practices contribute to deforestation and soil degradation; water pollution and overfishing threaten marine life populations; groundwater contamination limits potable water supply; growing urban industrialization and population migration are rapidly degrading environment in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City
International Environment Agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
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People
Population: 91,519,289 (July 2012 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 25.2% (male 11,945,354/female 10,868,610) 15-64 years: 69.3% (male 31,301,879/female 31,419,306) 65 years and over: 5.5% (male 1,921,652/female 3,092,589) (2011 est.)
Median age: total: 28.2 years male: 27.1 years female: 29.2 years (2012 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.054% (2012 est.)
Birth rate: 16.83 births/1,000 population (2012 est.)
Death rate: 5.95 deaths/1,000 population (July 2012 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.34 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2012 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.12 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.1 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.62 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (2011 est.)
Infant mortality rate: total: 20.24 deaths/1,000 live births male: 20.61 deaths/1,000 live births female: 19.83 deaths/1,000 live births (2012 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 72.41 years male: 69.95 years female: 75.16 years (2012 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.89 children born/woman (2012 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 0.4% (2009 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 280,000 (2009 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths: 14,000 (2009 est.)
Nationality: noun: Vietnamese (singular and plural) adjective: Vietnamese
Ethnic groups: Kinh (Viet) 85.7%, Tay 1.9%, Thai 1.8%, Muong 1.5%, Khmer 1.5%, Mong 1.2%, Nung 1.1%, others 5.3% (1999 census)
Religions: Buddhist 9.3%, Catholic 6.7%, Hoa Hao 1.5%, Cao Dai 1.1%, Protestant 0.5%, Muslim 0.1%, none 80.8% (1999 census)
Languages: Vietnamese (official), English (increasingly favored as a second language), some French, Chinese, and Khmer, mountain area languages (Mon-Khmer and Malayo-Polynesian)
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 94% male: 96.1% female: 92% (2002 est.)
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Government
Country name: conventional long form: Socialist Republic of Vietnam conventional short form: Vietnam local long form: Cong Hoa Xa Hoi Chu Nghia Viet Nam local short form: Viet Nam abbreviation: SRV
Government type: Communist state
Capital: name: Hanoi (Ha Noi) geographic coordinates: 21 02 N, 105 51 E time difference: UTC+7 (12 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions: 58 provinces (tinh, singular and plural) and 5 municipalities (thanh pho, singular and plural) provinces: An Giang, Bac Giang, Bac Kan, Bac Lieu, Bac Ninh, Ba Ria-Vung Tau, Ben Tre, Binh Dinh, Binh Duong, Binh Phuoc, Binh Thuan, Ca Mau, Cao Bang, Dak Lak, Dak Nong, Dien Bien, Dong Nai, Dong Thap, Gia Lai, Ha Giang, Ha Nam, Ha Tinh, Hai Duong, Hau Giang, Hoa Binh, Hung Yen, Khanh Hoa, Kien Giang, Kon Tum, Lai Chau, Lam Dong, Lang Son, Lao Cai, Long An, Nam Dinh, Nghe An, Ninh Binh, Ninh Thuan, Phu Tho, Phu Yen, Quang Binh, Quang Nam, Quang Ngai, Quang Ninh, Quang Tri, Soc Trang, Son La, Tay Ninh, Thai Binh, Thai Nguyen, Thanh Hoa, Thua Thien-Hue, Tien Giang, Tra Vinh, Tuyen Quang, Vinh Long, Vinh Phuc, Yen Bai municipalities: Can Tho, Da Nang, Ha Noi, Hai Phong, Ho Chi Minh City
Independence: 2 September 1945 (from France)
National holiday:
Constitution: 15 April 1992
Legal system: civil law system; note - the civil code of 2005 reflects a European-style civil law
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Truong Tan SANG (since 25 July 2011); Vice President Nguyen Thi DOAN (25 July 2007) head of government: Prime Minister Nguyen Tan DUNG (since 27 June 2006); Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung HAI (since 2 August 2007), Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien NHAN (since 2 August 2007), Deputy Prime Minister Vu Van NINH (since 3 August 2011), and Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan PHUC (since 3 August 2011) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by president based on proposal of prime minister and confirmed by National Assembly (For more information visit the World Leaders website ) elections: president elected by the National Assembly from among its members for five-year term; last election held 25 July 2011 (next to be held in July 2016); prime minister appointed by the president from among the members of the National Assembly; deputy prime ministers appointed by the prime minister; appointment of prime minister and deputy prime ministers confirmed by National Assembly election results: Truong Tan SANG elected president; percent of National Assembly vote - 97%; Nguyen Tan DUNG elected prime minister; percent of National Assembly vote - 94%
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Quoc Hoi (500 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held on 22 May 2011 (next to be held in May 2016) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - CPV 458, non-party CPV-approved 38, self-nominated 4; note - 500 candidates were elected; the 496 CPV and non-party CPV-approved delegates were members of the Vietnamese Fatherland Front and were vetted prior to the election
Judicial branch: Supreme People's Court (chief justice is elected by the National Assembly on the recommendation of the president for a five-year term)
Political parties and leaders: Communist Party of Vietnam or CPV [Nguyen Phu TRONG]; other parties proscribed
Political pressure groups and leaders: 8406 Bloc; Democratic Party of Vietnam or DPV; People's Democratic Party Vietnam or PDP-VN; Alliance for Democracy note: these groups advocate democracy but are not recognized by the government
International organization participation: ADB, APEC, ARF, ASEAN, CICA, CP, EAS, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Nguyen Quoc CUONG chancery: 1233 20th Street NW, Suite 400, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: [1] (202) 861-0737 FAX: [1] (202) 861-0917 consulate(s) general: Houston, San Francisco consulate: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador David B. SHEAR embassy: 7 Lang Ha Street, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi mailing address: 4550 Hanoi Place, Washington, DC 20521-4550 telephone: [84] (4) 3850-5000 FAX: [84] (4) 3850-5010 consulate(s) general: Ho Chi Minh City
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Economy
Vietnam is a densely-populated developing country that in the last 30 years has had to recover from the ravages of war, the loss of financial support from the old Soviet Bloc, and the rigidities of a centrally-planned economy. While Vietnam's economy remains dominated by state-owned enterprises, which still produce about 40% of GDP, Vietnamese authorities have reaffirmed their commitment to economic liberalization and international integration. They have moved to implement the structural reforms needed to modernize the economy and to produce more competitive export-driven industries. Vietnam joined the World Trade Organization in January 2007 following more than a decade-long negotiation process. Vietnam became an official negotiating partner in the developing Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement in 2010. Agriculture's share of economic output has continued to shrink from about 25% in 2000 to about 22% in 2011, while industry's share increased from 36% to 40% in the same period. Deep poverty has declined significantly, and Vietnam is working to create jobs to meet the challenge of a labor force that is growing by more than one million people every year. The global recession has hurt Vietnam's export-oriented economy, with GDP in 2009-11 growing less than the 7% per annum average achieved during the last decade. In 2011, exports increased by more than 33%, year-on-year, and the trade deficit, while reduced from 2010, remained high, prompting the government to maintain administrative trade measures to limit the trade deficit. Vietnam's managed currency, the dong, continues to face downward pressure due to a persistent trade imbalance. Since 2008, the government devalued it in excess of 20% through a series of small devaluations. Foreign donors pledged nearly $8 billion in new development assistance for 2011. However, the government's strong growth-oriented economic policies have caused it to struggle to control one of the region's highest inflation rates, which reached as high as 23% in August 2011 and averaged 18% for the year. In February 2011, Vietnam shifted its focus away from economic growth to stabilizing its economy and tightened fiscal and monetary policies. In early 2012 Vietnam unveiled a broad "three pillar" economic reform program, proposing the restructuring of public investment, state-owned enterprises and the banking sector. Vietnam's economy continues to face challenges from low foreign exchange reserves, an undercapitalized banking sector, and high borrowing costs. The near-bankruptcy and subsequent default of the state-owned-enterprise Vinashin, a leading shipbuilder, led to a ratings downgrade of Vietnam's sovereign debt, exacerbating Vietnam's borrowing difficulties.
GDP (purchasing power parity): GDP (purchasing power parity): $303.8 billion (2011 est.) $286.9 billion (2010 est.) $268.7 billion (2009 est.) note: data are in 2011 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate): GDP (official exchange rate): $122.7 billion (2011 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 5.9% (2011 est.) 6.8% (2010 est.) 5.3% (2009 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP): GDP - per capita (PPP): $3,400 (2011 est.) $3,300 (2010 est.) $3,100 (2009 est.) note: data are in 2011 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 22% industry: 40.3% services: 37.7% (2011 est.)
Labor force: 46.48 million (2011 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 48% industry: 22.4% services: 29.6% (2011)
Unemployment rate: 2.3% (2011 est.) 2.9% (2010 est.)
Population below poverty line: 14.5% (2010 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 3.2% highest 10%: 30.2% (2008)
Distribution of family income - Gini index: 37.6 (2008) 36.1 (1998)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices): 18.7% (2011 est.) 10% (2010 est.)
Investment (gross fixed): Investment (gross fixed): 34.6% of GDP (2011 est.)
Budget: revenues: $32.8 billion expenditures: $35.7 billion (2011 est.)
Public debt: 57.3% of GDP (2011 est.) 57.1% of GDP (2010 est.) note: data cover general government debt, and excludes debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data include debt issued by subnational entities, as well as intra-governmental debt; intra-governmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as for retirement, medical care, and unemployment. Debt instruments for the social funds are not sold at public auctions.
Agriculture - products: paddy rice, coffee, rubber, tea, pepper, soybeans, cashews, sugar cane, peanuts, bananas; poultry; fish, seafood
Industries: food processing, garments, shoes, machine-building; mining, coal, steel; cement, chemical fertilizer, glass, tires, oil, mobile phones
Industrial production growth rate: 6% (2011 est.)
Electricity - production: 106 billion kWh (2011 est.)
Electricity - consumption: 101 billion kWh (2011 est.)
Electricity - exports: 535 million kWh (2009 est.)
Electricity - imports: 3.85 billion kWh (2009 est.)
Oil - production: 305,000 bbl/day (2011 est.)
Oil - consumption: 321,500 bbl/day (2011 est.)
Oil - exports: 210,500 bbl/day (2011 est.)
Oil - imports: 227,000 bbl/day (2011 est.)
Oil - proved reserves: 600 million bbl (1 January 2011 est.)
Natural gas - production: 8.5 billion cu m (2011 est.)
Natural gas - consumption: 9.5 billion cu m (2011 est.)
Natural gas - exports: 0 cu m (2011 est.)
Natural gas - imports: 1 billion cu m (2011 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves: 192.5 billion cu m (1 January 2011 est.)
Current account balance: -$1.896 billion (2011 est.) -$4.287 billion (2010 est.)
Exports: $95.32 billion (2011 est.) $72.19 billion (2010 est.)
Exports - commodities: clothes, shoes, marine products, crude oil, electronics, wooden products, rice, machinery
Exports - partners: US 18%, China 11%, Japan 11%, Germany 3.7% (2011 est.)
Imports: $97.83 billion (2011 est.) $77.34 billion (2010 est.)
Imports - commodities: machinery and equipment, petroleum products, steel products, raw materials for the clothing and shoe industries, electronics, plastics, automobiles
Imports - partners: China 22%, South Korea 13.2%, Japan 10.4%, Taiwan 8.6%, Thailand 6.4%, Singapore 6.4% (2011 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $17.67 billion (31 December 2011 est.) $12.93 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
Debt - external: $39.73 billion (31 December 2011 est.) $35.14 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home: $65.82 billion (31 December 2011 est.) $57.92 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad: $7.7 billion (31 December 2009 est.) $5.3 billion (31 December 2008)
Market value of publicly traded shares: $26 billion (31 December 2011 est.) $37 billion (31 December 2010) $35 billion (31 December 2009)
Exchange rates: dong (VND) per US dollar - 20,585.6 (2011 est.) 19,130.5 (2010 est.) 17,799.6 (2009) 16,548.3 (2008) 16,119 (2007)
Fiscal year: calendar year
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Communications
Telephones in use: 16.4 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 18
Cellular Phones in use: 154 million (2009)
Telephone system: general assessment: Vietnam is putting considerable effort into modernization and expansion of its telecommunication system domestic: all provincial exchanges are digitalized and connected to Hanoi, Da Nang, and Ho Chi Minh City by fiber-optic cable or microwave radio relay networks; main lines have been increased, and the use of mobile telephones is growing rapidly international: country code - 84; a landing point for the SEA-ME-WE-3, the C2C, and Thailand-Vietnam-Hong Kong submarine cable systems; the Asia-America Gateway submarine cable system, completed in 2009, provided new access links to Asia and the US; satellite earth stations - 2 Intersputnik (Indian Ocean region)
Radio broadcast stations:
Television broadcast stations:
Internet country code: .vn
Internet hosts: 175,612 (2010)
Internet users: 23.382 million (2009)
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Transportation
Airports: 44 (2012) country comparison to the world: 97
Airports (paved runways): total: 37 over 3,047 m: 9 2,438 to 3,047 m: 6 1,524 to 2,437 m: 13 914 to 1,523 m: 9 (2012)
Airports (unpaved runways): total: 7 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 3 (2012)
Heliports: 1 (2012)
Pipelines: condensate 28 km; condensate/gas 10 km; gas 216 km; refined products 206 km (2010)
Railways: total: 2,632 km standard gauge: 527 km 1.435-m gauge narrow gauge: 2,105 km 1.000-m gauge (2008)
Roadways: total: 180,549 km paved: 133,899 km unpaved: 46,650 km (2008)
Waterways: 17,702 km (5,000 km are navigable by vessels up to 1.8 m draft) (2011)
Merchant marine: total: 579 by type: barge carrier 1, bulk carrier 142, cargo 335, chemical tanker 23, container 19, liquefied gas 7, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 48, refrigerated cargo 1, roll on/roll off 1, specialized tanker 1 registered in other countries: 86 (Cambodia 1, Kiribati 2, Mongolia 33, Panama 43, Taiwan 1, Tuvalu 6) (2010)
Ports and terminals: Cam Pha Port, Da Nang, Hai Phong, Ho Chi Minh City, Phu My, Quy Nhon
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Military
Military branches: People's Armed Forces: People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN; includes People's Navy Command (with Naval Infantry, Coast Guard), Air and Air Defense Force (Khong Quan Nhan Dan), Border Defense Command), People's Public Security Forces, Militia Force, Self-Defense Forces (2010)
Military service age and obligation: 18 years of age for male compulsory military service; females may volunteer for active duty military service; conscript service obligation - 2 years (3 to 4 years in the navy); 18-45 years of age (male) or 18-40 years of age (female) for Militia Force or Self Defense Forces (2006)
Manpower available for military service: males age 16-49: 25,649,738 females age 16-49: 24,995,692 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service: males age 16-49: 20,405,847 females age 16-49: 21,098,102 (2010 est.)
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BRUNEI

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The Sultanate of Brunei's influence peaked between the 15th and 17th centuries when its control extended over coastal areas of northwest Borneo and the southern Philippines. Brunei subsequently entered a period of decline brought on by internal strife over royal succession, colonial expansion of European powers, and piracy. In 1888, Brunei became a British protectorate; independence was achieved in 1984. The same family has ruled Brunei for over six centuries. Brunei benefits from extensive petroleum and natural gas fields, the source of one of the highest per capita GDPs in Asia
Close to vital sea lanes through South China Sea linking Indian and Pacific Oceans; two parts physically separated by Malaysia; almost an enclave within Malaysia
Location: Southeastern Asia, bordering the South China Sea and Malaysia
Geographic coordinates: 4 30 N, 114 40 E
Area: total: 5,765 sq km land: 5,265 sq km water: 500 sq km

Size comparison: slightly smaller than Delaware
Land Boundaries: total: 381 km border countries: Malaysia 381 km
Coastline: 161 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm or to median line
Climate: tropical; hot, humid, rainy
Terrain: flat coastal plain rises to mountains in east; hilly lowland in west
Elevation extremes: lowest point: South China Sea 0 m highest point: Bukit Pagon 1,850 m
Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, timber
Land use: arable land: 2.08% permanent crops: 0.87% other: 97.05% (2005)
Irrigated land: 10 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards: typhoons, earthquakes, and severe flooding are rare
Current Environment Issues: seasonal smoke/haze resulting from forest fires in Indonesia
International Environment Agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
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People
Population: 408,786 (July 2012 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 25.5% (male 52,944/female 49,729) 15-64 years: 70.9% (male 141,121/female 143,977) 65 years and over: 3.5% (male 6,881/female 7,238) (2011 est.)
Median age: total: 28.7 years male: 28.5 years female: 28.9 years (2012 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.691% (2012 est.)
Birth rate: 17.74 births/1,000 population (2012 est.)
Death rate: 3.39 deaths/1,000 population (July 2012 est.)
Net migration rate: 2.55 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2012 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.95 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (2011 est.)
Infant mortality rate: total: 11.15 deaths/1,000 live births male: 13.31 deaths/1,000 live births female: 8.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2012 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 76.37 years male: 74.09 years female: 78.75 years (2012 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.85 children born/woman (2012 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: less than 0.1% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: fewer than 200 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths: fewer than 200 (2003 est.)
Nationality: noun: Bruneian(s) adjective: Bruneian
Ethnic groups: Malay 66.3%, Chinese 11.2%, indigenous 3.4%, other 19.1% (2004 est.)
Religions: Muslim (official) 67%, Buddhist 13%, Christian 10%, other (includes indigenous beliefs) 10%
Languages: Malay (official), English, Chinese
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 92.7% male: 95.2% female: 90.2% (2001 census)
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Government
Country name: conventional long form: Brunei Darussalam conventional short form: Brunei local long form: Negara Brunei Darussalam local short form: Brunei
Government type: constitutional sultanate (locally known as Malay Islamic Monarchy)
Capital: name: Bandar Seri Begawan geographic coordinates: 4 53 N, 114 56 E time difference: UTC+8 (13 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions: 4 districts (daerah-daerah, singular - daerah); Belait, Brunei-Muara, Temburong, Tutong
Independence: 1 January 1984 (from the UK)
National holiday: National Day, 23 February (1984); note - 1 January 1984 was the date of independence from the UK, 23 February 1984 was the date of independence from British protection
Constitution: 29 September 1959 (some provisions suspended under a State of Emergency since December 1962, others since independence on 1 January 1984)
Legal system: mixed legal system based on English common law and Islamic law
Suffrage: 18 years of age for village elections; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: Sultan and Prime Minister Sir HASSANAL Bolkiah (since 5 October 1967); note - the monarch is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: Sultan and Prime Minister Sir HASSANAL Bolkiah (since 5 October 1967) cabinet: Council of Cabinet Ministers appointed and presided over by the monarch; deals with executive matters; note - there is also a Religious Council (members appointed by the monarch) that advises on religious matters, a Privy Council (members appointed by the monarch) that deals with constitutional matters, and the Council of Succession (members appointed by the monarch) that determines the succession to the throne if the need arises (For more information visit the World Leaders website ) elections: none; the monarchy is hereditary
Legislative branch: the Sultan appointed a Legislative Council with 29 members in September 2005; he increased the size of the council to 33 members in June 2011; the council meets annually in March elections: last held in March 1962 (date of next election NA) note: the Legislative Council met on 25 September 2004 for first time in 20 years with 21 members appointed by the Sultan; it passed constitutional amendments calling for a 45-seat council with 15 elected members; no timeframe for an election was announced
Judicial branch: Supreme Court - chief justice and judges are sworn in by monarch for three-year terms; Judicial Committee of Privy Council in London is final court of appeal for civil cases; Sharia courts deal with Islamic laws (2006)
Political parties and leaders: National Development Party or NDP [YASSIN Affendi] note: Brunei National Solidarity Party or PPKB [Abdul LATIF bin Chuchu] and People's Awareness Party or PAKAR [Awang Haji MAIDIN bin Haji Ahmad] were deregistered in 2007; parties are small and have limited activity
Political pressure groups and leaders: NA
International organization participation: ADB, APEC, ARF, ASEAN, C, CP, EAS, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDB, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, NAM, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIFIL, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Yusoff Abd HAMID chancery: 3520 International Court NW #300, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 237-1838 FAX: [1] (202) 885-0560
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Daniel L. SHIELDS III embassy: Simpang 336-52-16-9, Jalan Kebangsaan, Bandar Seri Begawan, BC4115 mailing address: Unit 4280, Box 40, FPO AP 96507; P.O. Box 2991, Bandar Seri Begawan BS8675, Negara Brunei Darussalam telephone: [673] 238-4616 FAX: [673] 238-4604
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Economy
Brunei has a small well-to-do economy that encompasses a mixture of foreign and domestic entrepreneurship, government regulation, welfare measures, and village tradition. Crude oil and natural gas production account for just over half of GDP and more than 90% of exports. Per capita GDP is among the highest in Asia, and substantial income from overseas investment supplements income from domestic production. The government provides for all medical services and free education through the university level and subsidizes rice and housing. A new monetary authority was established in January 2011 with responsibilities that include monetary policy, monitoring of financial institutions, and currency trading activities.
GDP (purchasing power parity): GDP (purchasing power parity): $21.24 billion (2011 est.) $20.84 billion (2010 est.) $20.31 billion (2009 est.) note: data are in 2011 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate): GDP (official exchange rate): $15.53 billion (2011 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 1.9% (2011 est.) 2.6% (2010 est.) -1.8% (2009 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP): GDP - per capita (PPP): $50,000 (2011 est.) $50,300 (2010 est.) $50,000 (2009 est.) note: data are in 2011 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 0.8% industry: 66.7% services: 32.5% (2011 est.)
Labor force: 198,800 (2010 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 4.2% industry: 62.8% services: 33% (2008 est.)
Unemployment rate: 2.7% (2010) 3.7% (2008)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2% (2011 est.) 0.4% (2010 est.)
Budget: revenues: $5.485 billion expenditures: $5.803 billion (2011 est.)
Agriculture - products: rice, vegetables, fruits; chickens, water buffalo, cattle, goats, eggs
Industries: petroleum, petroleum refining, liquefied natural gas, construction
Industrial production growth rate: -5.4% (2008 est.)
Electricity - production: 3.218 billion kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - consumption: 3.054 billion kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (2009 est.)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (2009 est.)
Oil - production: 159,400 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Oil - consumption: 17,000 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Oil - exports: 153,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
Oil - imports: 138 bbl/day (2009 est.)
Oil - proved reserves: 1.1 billion bbl (1 January 2011 est.)
Natural gas - production: 11.5 billion cu m (2009 est.)
Natural gas - consumption: 2.69 billion cu m (2009 est.)
Natural gas - exports: 8.81 billion cu m (2009 est.)
Natural gas - imports: 0 cu m (2009 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves: 390.8 billion cu m (1 January 2011 est.)
Current account balance: $3.977 billion (2009 est.) $3.977 billion (2009 est.)
Exports: $10.67 billion (2008) $8.25 billion (2007)
Exports - commodities: crude oil, natural gas, garments
Exports - partners: Japan 45.6%, South Korea 16.5%, Australia 11.8%, Indonesia 8.4%, India 4.8%, China 4.6% (2011)
Imports: $2.61 billion (2008 est.) $2.055 billion (2007 est.)
Imports - commodities: machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, food, chemicals
Imports - partners: Singapore 33.2%, China 15.5%, South Korea 12.2%, Malaysia 10.7%, Germany 9.6% (2011)
Debt - external: $0 (2005)
Market value of publicly traded shares: $NA
Exchange rates: Bruneian dollars (BND) per US dollar - 1.24 (2011) 1.36 (2010 est.) 1.45 (2009)
Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March
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Communications
Telephones in use: 79,900 (2009) country comparison to the world: 152
Cellular Phones in use: 435,100 (2009)
Telephone system: general assessment: service throughout the country is good; international service is good to Southeast Asia, Middle East, Western Europe, and the US domestic: every service available international: country code - 673; landing point for the SEA-ME-WE-3 optical telecommunications submarine cable that provides links to Asia, the Middle East, and Europe; the Asia-America Gateway submarine cable network, scheduled for completion by late 2008, will provide new links to Asia and the US; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Pacific Ocean) (2009)
Radio broadcast stations:
Television broadcast stations:
Internet country code: .bn
Internet hosts: 49,403 (2010)
Internet users: 314,900 (2009)
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Transportation
Airports: 1 (2012) country comparison to the world: 213
Airports (paved runways): total: 1 over 3,047 m: 1 (2012)
Heliports: 3 (2012)
Pipelines: condensate 33 km; gas 37 km; oil 18 km (2010)
Roadways: total: 2,971 km paved: 2,411 km unpaved: 560 km (2008)
Waterways: 209 km (navigable by craft drawing less than 1.2 m; the Belait, Brunei, and Tutong rivers are major transport links) (2012)
Merchant marine: total: 9 by type: chemical tanker 1, liquefied gas 8 foreign-owned: 2 (UK 2) (2010)
Ports and terminals: Lumut, Muara, Seria
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Military
Military branches: Royal Brunei Armed Forces: Royal Brunei Land Forces, Royal Brunei Navy, Royal Brunei Air Force (Tentera Udara Diraja Brunei) (2012)
Military service age and obligation: 18 years of age (est.) for voluntary military service; non-Malays are ineligible to serve; recruits from the army, navy, and air force all undergo 43-week initial training (2012)
Manpower available for military service: males age 16-49: 112,688 females age 16-49: 117,536 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service: males age 16-49: 95,141 females age 16-49: 99,386 (2010 est.)
>BRUNEI RADIO

PHILIPPINES

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Background
The Philippine Islands became a Spanish colony during the 16th century; they were ceded to the US in 1898 following the Spanish-American War. In 1935 the Philippines became a self-governing commonwealth. Manuel QUEZON was elected president and was tasked with preparing the country for independence after a 10-year transition. In 1942 the islands fell under Japanese occupation during World War II, and US forces and Filipinos fought together during 1944-45 to regain control. On 4 July 1946 the Republic of the Philippines attained its independence. A 20-year rule by Ferdinand MARCOS ended in 1986, when a "people power" movement in Manila ("EDSA 1") forced him into exile and installed Corazon AQUINO as president. Her presidency was hampered by several coup attempts that prevented a return to full political stability and economic development. Fidel RAMOS was elected president in 1992. His administration was marked by increased stability and by progress on economic reforms. In 1992, the US closed its last military bases on the islands. Joseph ESTRADA was elected president in 1998. He was succeeded by his vice-president, Gloria MACAPAGAL-ARROYO, in January 2001 after ESTRADA's stormy impeachment trial on corruption charges broke down and another "people power" movement ("EDSA 2") demanded his resignation. MACAPAGAL-ARROYO was elected to a six-year term as president in May 2004. Her presidency was marred by several corruption allegations but the Philippine economy was one of the few to avoid contraction following the 2008 global financial crisis, expanding each year of her administration. Benigno AQUINO III was elected to a six-year term as president in May 2010. The Philippine Government faces threats from several groups, some of which are on the US Government's Foreign Terrorist Organization list. Manila has waged a decades-long struggle against ethnic Moro insurgencies in the southern Philippines, which has led to a peace accord with the Moro National Liberation Front and on-again/off-again peace talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. The decades-long Maoist-inspired New People's Army insurgency also operates through much of the country. The Philippines faces increased tension with China over disputed territorial claims in the South China Sea.
Geography
The Philippine archipelago is made up of 7,107 islands; favorably located in relation to many of Southeast Asia's main water bodies: the South China Sea, Philippine Sea, Sulu Sea, Celebes Sea, and Luzon Strait
Location: Southeastern Asia, archipelago between the Philippine Sea and the South China Sea, east of Vietnam
Geographic coordinates: 13 00 N, 122 00 E
Area: total: 300,000 sq km land: 298,170 sq km water: 1,830 sq km

Size comparison: slightly larger than Arizona
Land Boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 36,289 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: irregular polygon extending up to 100 nm from coastline as defined by 1898 treaty; since late 1970s has also claimed polygonal-shaped area in South China Sea up to 285 nm in breadth exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: to depth of exploitation
Climate: tropical marine; northeast monsoon (November to April); southwest monsoon (May to October)
Terrain: mostly mountains with narrow to extensive coastal lowlands
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Philippine Sea 0 m highest point: Mount Apo 2,954 m
Natural resources: timber, petroleum, nickel, cobalt, silver, gold, salt, copper
Land use: arable land: 19% permanent crops: 16.67% other: 64.33% (2005)
Irrigated land: 152,500 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards: astride typhoon belt, usually affected by 15 and struck by five to six cyclonic storms each year; landslides; active volcanoes; destructive earthquakes; tsunamis volcanism: significant volcanic activity; Taal (elev. 311 m), which has shown recent unrest and may erupt in the near future, has been deemed a "Decade Volcano" by the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior, worthy of study due to its explosive history and close proximity to human populations; Mayon (elev. 2,462 m), the country's most active volcano, erupted in 2009 forcing over 33,000 to be evacuated; other historically active volcanoes include Biliran, Babuyan Claro, Bulusan, Camiguin, Camiguin de Babuyanes, Didicas, Iraya, Jolo, Kanlaon, Makaturing, Musuan, Parker, Pinatubo and Ragang
Current Environment Issues: uncontrolled deforestation especially in watershed areas; soil erosion; air and water pollution in major urban centers; coral reef degradation; increasing pollution of coastal mangrove swamps that are important fish breeding grounds
International Environment Agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants
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People
Population: 103,775,002 (July 2012 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 34.6% (male 17,999,279/female 17,285,040) 15-64 years: 61.1% (male 31,103,967/female 31,097,203) 65 years and over: 4.3% (male 1,876,805/female 2,471,644) (2011 est.)
Median age: total: 23.1 years male: 22.6 years female: 23.6 years (2012 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.873% (2012 est.)
Birth rate: 24.98 births/1,000 population (2012 est.)
Death rate: 4.98 deaths/1,000 population (July 2012 est.)
Net migration rate: -1.27 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2012 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (2011 est.)
Infant mortality rate: total: 18.75 deaths/1,000 live births male: 21.21 deaths/1,000 live births female: 16.18 deaths/1,000 live births (2012 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 71.94 years male: 68.99 years female: 75.03 years (2012 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.15 children born/woman (2012 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: less than 0.1% (2009 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 8,700 (2009 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths: fewer than 200 (2009 est.)
Nationality: noun: Filipino(s) adjective: Philippine
Ethnic groups: Tagalog 28.1%, Cebuano 13.1%, Ilocano 9%, Bisaya/Binisaya 7.6%, Hiligaynon Ilonggo 7.5%, Bikol 6%, Waray 3.4%, other 25.3% (2000 census)
Religions: Catholic 82.9% (Roman Catholic 80.9%, Aglipayan 2%), Muslim 5%, Evangelical 2.8%, Iglesia ni Kristo 2.3%, other Christian 4.5%, other 1.8%, unspecified 0.6%, none 0.1% (2000 census)
Languages: Filipino (official; based on Tagalog) and English (official); eight major dialects - Tagalog, Cebuano, Ilocano, Hiligaynon or Ilonggo, Bicol, Waray, Pampango, and Pangasinan
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 92.6% male: 92.5% female: 92.7% (2000 census)
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Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of the Philippines conventional short form: Philippines local long form: Republika ng Pilipinas local short form: Pilipinas
Government type: republic
Capital: name: Manila geographic coordinates: 14 36 N, 120 58 E time difference: UTC+8 (13 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions: 80 provinces and 39 chartered cities provinces: Abra, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Aklan, Albay, Antique, Apayao, Aurora, Basilan, Bataan, Batanes, Batangas, Biliran, Benguet, Bohol, Bukidnon, Bulacan, Cagayan, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Camiguin, Capiz, Catanduanes, Cavite, Cebu, Compostela, Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, Davao Oriental, Dinagat Islands, Eastern Samar, Guimaras, Ifugao, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Iloilo, Isabela, Kalinga, Laguna, Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, La Union, Leyte, Maguindanao, Marinduque, Masbate, Mindoro Occidental, Mindoro Oriental, Misamis Occidental, Misamis Oriental, Mountain Province, Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, North Cotabato, Northern Samar, Nueva Ecija, Nueva Vizcaya, Palawan, Pampanga, Pangasinan, Quezon, Quirino, Rizal, Romblon, Samar, Sarangani, Siquijor, Sorsogon, South Cotabato, Southern Leyte, Sultan Kudarat, Sulu, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Tarlac, Tawi-Tawi, Zambales, Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga Sibugay chartered cities: Angeles, Antipolo, Bacolod, Baguio, Butuan, Cagayan de Oro, Caloocan, Cebu, Cotabato, Dagupan, Davao, General Santos, Iligan, Iloilo, Lapu-Lapu, Las Pinas, Lucena, Makati, Malabon, Mandaluyong, Mandaue, Manila, Marikina, Muntinlupa, Naga, Navotas, Olongapo, Ormoc, Paranaque, Pasay, Pasig, Puerto Princesa, Quezon, San Juan, Santiago, Tacloban, Taguig, Valenzuela, Zamboanga (2012)
Independence: 12 June 1898 (independence proclaimed from Spain); 4 July 1946 (from the US)
National holiday: Independence Day, 12 June (1898); note - 12 June 1898 was date of declaration of independence from Spain; 4 July 1946 was date of independence from US
Constitution: 2 February 1987, effective 11 February 1987
Legal system: mixed legal system of civil, common, Islamic, and customary law
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Benigno AQUINO (since 30 June 2010); Vice President Jejomar BINAY (since 30 June 2010); note - president is both chief of state and head of government head of government: President Benigno AQUINO (since 30 June 2010) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president with consent of Commission of Appointments (For more information visit the World Leaders website ) elections: president and vice president elected on separate tickets by popular vote for a single six-year term; election held on 10 May 2010 (next election to be held in May 2016) election results: Benigno AQUINO elected president; percent of vote - Benigno AQUINO 42.1%, Joseph ESTRADA 26.3%, seven others 31.6%; Jejomar BINAY elected vice president; percent of vote Jejomar BINAY 41.6%, Manuel ROXAS 39.6%, six others 18.8%
Legislative branch: bicameral Congress or Kongreso consists of the Senate or Senado (24 seats - one-half elected every three years; members elected at large by popular vote to serve six-year terms) and the House of Representatives or Kapulungan Ng Nga Kinatawan (287 seats - 230 members in one tier representing districts and 57 sectoral party-list members in a second tier representing special minorities elected on the basis of one seat for every 2% of the total vote but with each party limited to three seats); a party represented in one tier may not hold seats in the other tier; all House members are elected by popular vote to serve three-year terms note: the constitution limits the House of Representatives to 250 members; the number of members allowed was increased, however, through legislation when in April 2009 the Philippine Supreme Court ruled that additional party members could sit in the House of Representatives if they received the required number of votes elections: Senate - elections last held on 10 May 2010 (next to be held in May 2013); House of Representatives - elections last held on 10 May 2010 (next to be held in May 2013) election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Lakas-Kampi CMD 4, LP 4, NP 4, NPC 2, PMP 2, LDP 1, PRP 1, independents 5; note - there are 23 rather than 24 sitting senators because one senator was elected mayor of Manila; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - LP 119, Lakas-Kampi CMD 46, NPC 30, NP 22, others 10, independents 1, party-list 55; vacant seats - 1 district and 2 party-list
Judicial branch: Supreme Court (15 justices are appointed by the president on the recommendation of the Judicial and Bar Council and serve until 70 years of age); Court of Appeals; Sandigan-bayan (special court for hearing corruption cases of government officials)
Political parties and leaders: Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino (Struggle of Filipino Democrats) or LDP [Edgardo ANGARA]; Lakas ng EDSA-Christian Muslim Democrats or Lakas-CMD [Gloria MACAPAGAL-ARROYO]; Liberal Party or LP [Manuel ROXAS]; Nacionalista Party or NP [Manuel VILLAR]; Nationalist People's Coalition or NPC [Frisco SAN JUAN]; PDP-Laban [Aquilino PIMENTEL]; People's Reform Party [Miriam Defensor SANTIAGO]; Puwersa ng Masang Pilipino (Force of the Philippine Masses) or PMP [Joseph ESTRADA]
Political pressure groups and leaders: ABONO [Robert ESTRELLA]; AKBAYAN [Walden BELLO]; An Waray [Florencio NOEL]; Anak Mindanao [Mujiv HATAMIN]; ANAKPAWIS [Rafael MARIANO]; ARC [Narciso SANTIAGO III]; Association of Philippine Electric Cooperatives (APEC) [Ponciano PAYUYO]; A TEACHER [Mariano PIAMONTE]; BAGON HENERASYON [Bernadette HERRERA-DY]; Bayan Muna [Teodoro CASINO, Jr.]; Black and White Movement [Vicente ROMANO]; BUHAY [Rene VELARDE]; BUTIL [Leonila CHAVEZ]; CIBAC [Cinchoa CRUZ-GONZALES]; COOP-NATCO [Jose PING-AY]; GABRIELA [Luzviminda ILAGAN]; KABATAAN [Raymon PALATINO]; Kilosbayan [Jovito SALONGA]; YACAP [Carol LOPEZ]
International organization participation: ADB, APEC, APT, ARF, ASEAN, BIS, CD, CICA (observer), CP, EAS, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINUSTAH, NAM, OAS (observer), OPCW, PCA, PIF (partner), UN, UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNMIT, UNMOGIP, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Jose L. CUISIA Jr. chancery: 1600 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: [1] (202) 467-9300 FAX: [1] (202) 467-9417 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Honolulu, Los Angeles, New York, Saipan (Northern Mariana Islands), San Francisco, Tamuning (Guam)
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Harry K. THOMAS Jr. embassy: 1201 Roxas Boulevard, Ermita 1000, Manila mailing address: PSC 500, FPO AP 96515-1000 telephone: [63] (2) 301-2000 FAX: [63] (2) 301-2399
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Economy
Philippine GDP grew 7.6% in 2010, spurred by consumer demand, a rebound in exports and investments, and election-related spending, before cooling to 3.7% in 2011. The economy weathered the 2008-09 global recession better than its regional peers due to minimal exposure to troubled international securities, lower dependence on exports, relatively resilient domestic consumption, large remittances from four- to five-million overseas Filipino workers, and a growing business process outsourcing industry. Economic growth in the Philippines averaged 4.5% during the MACAPAGAL-ARROYO administration (January 2001 - June 2010). Despite this growth, however, poverty worsened during her presidency. The AQUINO administration is working to reduce the government deficit from 3.9% of GDP, when it took office, to 2% of GDP by 2013. The government has had little difficulty issuing debt, both locally and internationally, to finance the deficits. The AQUINO Administration reduced public debt to below 50% of GDP and obtained several ratings upgrades on sovereign debt so that the Philippines is now close to investment grade. However, the lack of government spending, especially on infrastructure, was one of several factors which slowed GDP growth in the second half of 2011, leading the government to announce a stimulus effort and increased public spending on infrastructure in 2012. AQUINO's first budget emphasized education, health, conditional cash transfers for the poor, and other social spending programs, relying mostly on the private sector to finance important infrastructure projects. Weak tax collection, exacerbated by new tax breaks and incentives, has limited the government's ability to address major challenges. The AQUINO administration has vowed to focus on improving tax collection efficiency, rather than imposing new taxes, as a part of its good governance platform. The economy still faces several long-term challenges, including reliance on energy imports and foreign demand for overseas Filipino workers.
GDP (purchasing power parity): GDP (purchasing power parity): $395.4 billion (2011 est.) $381.2 billion (2010 est.) $354.2 billion (2009 est.) note: data are in 2011 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate): GDP (official exchange rate): $213.1 billion (2011 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 3.7% (2011 est.) 7.6% (2010 est.) 1.1% (2009 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP): GDP - per capita (PPP): $4,100 (2011 est.) $4,100 (2010 est.) $3,800 (2009 est.) note: data are in 2011 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 12.8% industry: 31.5% services: 55.7% (2011 est.)
Labor force: 40 million (2011 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 33% industry: 15% services: 52% (2010 est.)
Unemployment rate: 7% (2011 est.) 7.3% (2010 est.)
Population below poverty line: 32.9% (2006 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.4% highest 10%: 31.2% (2006)
Distribution of family income - Gini index: 45.8 (2006) 46.6 (2003)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4.8% (2011 est.) 4.1% (2010 est.)
Investment (gross fixed): Investment (gross fixed): 19.3% of GDP (2011 est.)
Budget: revenues: $31.4 billion expenditures: $35.96 billion (2011 est.)
Public debt: 50.9% of GDP (2011 est.) 52.4% of GDP (2010 est.) note: data cover central government debt, and includes debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data include debt issued by subnational entities, as well as intra-governmental debt; intra-governmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as for retirement, medical care, and unemployment. Debt instruments for the social funds are not sold at public auctions.
Agriculture - products: sugarcane, coconuts, rice, corn, bananas, cassavas, pineapples, mangoes; pork, eggs, beef; fish
Industries: electronics assembly, garments, footwear, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, wood products, food processing, petroleum refining, fishing
Industrial production growth rate: 1.1% (2011 est.)
Electricity - production: 59.19 billion kWh (2009 est.)
Electricity - consumption: 54.4 billion kWh (2009 est.)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (2009 est.)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (2009 est.)
Oil - production: 33,110 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Oil - consumption: 310,000 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Oil - exports: 60,460 bbl/day (2009 est.)
Oil - imports: 338,400 bbl/day (September 2010 est.)
Oil - proved reserves: 138.5 million bbl (1 January 2011 est.)
Natural gas - production: 3.15 billion cu m (2009 est.)
Natural gas - consumption: 3.15 billion cu m (2009 est.)
Natural gas - exports: 0 cu m (2009 est.)
Natural gas - imports: 0 cu m (2009 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves: 98.54 billion cu m (1 January 2011 est.)
Current account balance: $7.078 billion (2011 est.) $8.924 billion (2010 est.)
Exports: $47.23 billion (2011 est.) $50.75 billion (2010 est.)
Exports - commodities: semiconductors and electronic products, transport equipment, garments, copper products, petroleum products, coconut oil, fruits
Exports - partners: China 21.3%, Japan 14.1%, US 13.9%, Singapore 8.9%, Hong Kong 7.5%, South Korea 4.7% (2009 est.)
Imports: $62.68 billion (2011 est.) $61.71 billion (2010 est.)
Imports - commodities: electronic products, mineral fuels, machinery and transport equipment, iron and steel, textile fabrics, grains, chemicals, plastic
Imports - partners: China 14.6%, Japan 12.3%, US 9.4%, South Korea 8.4%, Singapore 8%, Thailand 5.6%, Indonesia 4.1% (2009 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $75.3 billion (31 December 2011 est.) $62.37 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
Debt - external: $72.27 billion (31 December 2011 est.) $72.34 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home: $25.69 billion (31 December 2011 est.) $24.89 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad: $6.612 billion (31 December 2011 est.) $6.582 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares: $202.3 billion (31 December 2010) $130.5 billion (31 December 2009) $85.63 billion (31 December 2008)
Exchange rates: Philippine pesos (PHP) per US dollar - 43.44 (2011 est.) 45.11 (2010 est.) 47.68 (2009) 44.439 (2008) 46.148 (2007)
Fiscal year: calendar year
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Communications
Telephones in use: 6.783 million (2010) country comparison to the world: 29
Cellular Phones in use: 79.896 million (2010)
Telephone system: general assessment: good international radiotelephone and submarine cable services; domestic and interisland service adequate domestic: telecommunications infrastructure includes the following platforms: fixed line, mobile cellular, cable TV, over-the-air TV, radio and Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT), fiber optic cable, and satellite; mobile-cellular communications now dominate the industry international: country code - 63; a series of submarine cables together provide connectivity to Asia, US, the Middle East, and Europe; multiple international gateways (2010)
Radio broadcast stations:
Television broadcast stations:
Internet country code: .ph
Internet hosts: 452,050 (2010)
Internet users: 8.278 million (2009)
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Transportation
Airports: 247 (2012) country comparison to the world: 25
Airports (paved runways): total: 83 over 3,047 m: 4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 8 1,524 to 2,437 m: 31 914 to 1,523 m: 31 under 914 m: 9 (2012)
Airports (unpaved runways): total: 164 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 60 under 914 m: 101 (2012)
Heliports: 2 (2012)
Pipelines: gas 7 km; oil 107 km; refined products 181 km (2010)
Railways: total: 995 km narrow gauge: 995 km 1.067-m gauge (484 km are in operation) (2010)
Roadways: total: 213,151 km paved: 54,481 km unpaved: 158,670 km (2009)
Waterways: 3,219 km (limited to vessels with draft less than 1.5 m) (2011)
Merchant marine: total: 446 by type: bulk carrier 76, cargo 152, carrier 12, chemical tanker 27, container 17, liquefied gas 5, passenger 7, passenger/cargo 65, petroleum tanker 44, refrigerated cargo 20, roll on/roll off 11, vehicle carrier 10 foreign-owned: 159 (Bermuda 47, China 4, Denmark 2, Germany 2, Greece 5, Japan 77, Malaysia 1, Netherlands 17, Singapore 1, South Korea 1, Taiwan 1, UAE 1) registered in other countries: 7 (Cyprus 1, Panama 5, unknown 1) (2010)
Ports and terminals: Batangas, Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Davao, Liman, Manila
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Military
Military branches: Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP): Army, Navy (includes Marine Corps), Air Force (2011)
Military service age and obligation: 18-23 years of age (officers 20-24) for voluntary military service; applicants must be single male or female Philippine citizens with either 72 college credit hours (enlisted) or a baccalaureate degree (officers) (2012)
Manpower available for military service: males age 16-49: 25,614,135 females age 16-49: 25,035,061 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service: males age 16-49: 20,142,940 females age 16-49: 21,427,792 (2010 est.)
>PHILIPPINES RADIO

INDONESIA

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The Dutch began to colonize Indonesia in the early 17th century; Japan occupied the islands from 1942 to 1945. Indonesia declared its independence after Japan's surrender, but it required four years of intermittent negotiations, recurring hostilities, and UN mediation before the Netherlands agreed to transfer sovereignty in 1949. After decades of repressive rule, free and fair legislative elections took place in 1999. Indonesia is now the world's third most populous democracy, the world's largest archipelagic state, and home to the world's largest Muslim population. Current issues include: alleviating poverty, improving education, preventing terrorism, consolidating democracy after four decades of authoritarianism, implementing economic and financial reforms, stemming corruption, reforming the criminal justice system, holding the military and police accountable for human rights violations, addressing climate change, and controlling infectious diseases, particularly those of global and regional importance. In 2005, Indonesia reached a historic peace agreement with armed separatists in Aceh, which led to democratic elections in Aceh in December 2006. Indonesia continues to face low intensity armed resistance by the separatist Free Papua Movement.
Geography
Archipelago of 17,508 islands (6,000 inhabited); straddles equator; strategic location astride or along major sea lanes from Indian Ocean to Pacific Ocean
Location: Southeastern Asia, archipelago between the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean
Geographic coordinates: 5 00 S, 120 00 E
Area: total: 1,904,569 sq km land: 1,811,569 sq km water: 93,000 sq km

Size comparison: slightly less than three times the size of Texas
Land Boundaries: total: 2,830 km border countries: Timor-Leste 228 km, Malaysia 1,782 km, Papua New Guinea 820 km
Coastline: 54,716 km
Maritime claims: measured from claimed archipelagic straight baselines territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate: tropical; hot, humid; more moderate in highlands
Terrain: mostly coastal lowlands; larger islands have interior mountains
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Puncak Jaya 5,030 m
Natural resources: petroleum, tin, natural gas, nickel, timber, bauxite, copper, fertile soils, coal, gold, silver
Land use: arable land: 11.03% permanent crops: 7.04% other: 81.93% (2005)
Irrigated land: 67,220 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards: occasional floods; severe droughts; tsunamis; earthquakes; volcanoes; forest fires volcanism: Indonesia contains the most volcanoes of any country in the world - some 76 are historically active; significant volcanic activity occurs on Java, western Sumatra, the Sunda Islands, Halmahera Island, Sulawesi Island, Sangihe Island, and in the Banda Sea; Merapi (elev. 2,968 m), Indonesia's most active volcano and in eruption since 2010, has been deemed a "Decade Volcano" by the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior, worthy of study due to its explosive history and close proximity to human populations; other notable historically active volcanoes include Agung, Awu, Karangetang, Krakatau (Krakatoa), Makian, Raung, and Tambora
Current Environment Issues: deforestation; water pollution from industrial wastes, sewage; air pollution in urban areas; smoke and haze from forest fires
International Environment Agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation
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People
Population: 248,216,193 (July 2012 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 27.3% (male 34,165,213/female 32,978,841) 15-64 years: 66.5% (male 82,104,636/female 81,263,055) 65 years and over: 6.1% (male 6,654,695/female 8,446,603) (2011 est.)
Median age: total: 28.5 years male: 28 years female: 29.1 years (2012 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.04% (2012 est.)
Birth rate: 17.76 births/1,000 population (2012 est.)
Death rate: 6.28 deaths/1,000 population (July 2012 est.)
Net migration rate: -1.08 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2012 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (2011 est.)
Infant mortality rate: total: 26.99 deaths/1,000 live births male: 31.54 deaths/1,000 live births female: 22.21 deaths/1,000 live births (2012 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 71.62 years male: 69.07 years female: 74.29 years (2012 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.23 children born/woman (2012 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 0.2% (2009 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 310,000 (2009 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths: 8,300 (2009 est.)
Nationality: noun: Indonesian(s) adjective: Indonesian
Ethnic groups: Javanese 40.6%, Sundanese 15%, Madurese 3.3%, Minangkabau 2.7%, Betawi 2.4%, Bugis 2.4%, Banten 2%, Banjar 1.7%, other or unspecified 29.9% (2000 census)
Religions: Muslim 86.1%, Protestant 5.7%, Roman Catholic 3%, Hindu 1.8%, other or unspecified 3.4% (2000 census)
Languages: Bahasa Indonesia (official, modified form of Malay), English, Dutch, local dialects (of which the most widely spoken is Javanese)
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 90.4% male: 94% female: 86.8% (2004 est.)
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Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Indonesia conventional short form: Indonesia local long form: Republik Indonesia local short form: Indonesia former: Netherlands East Indies, Dutch East Indies
Government type: republic
Capital: name: Jakarta geographic coordinates: 6 10 S, 106 49 E time difference: UTC+7 (12 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) note: Indonesia is divided into three time zones
Administrative divisions: 30 provinces (provinsi-provinsi, singular - provinsi), 2 special regions* (daerah-daerah istimewa, singular - daerah istimewa), and 1 special capital city district** (daerah khusus ibukota); Aceh*, Bali, Banten, Bengkulu, Gorontalo, Jakarta Raya**, Jambi, Jawa Barat (West Java), Jawa Tengah (Central Java), Jawa Timur (East Java), Kalimantan Barat (West Kalimantan), Kalimantan Selatan (South Kalimantan), Kalimantan Tengah (Central Kalimantan), Kalimantan Timur (East Kalimantan), Kepulauan Bangka Belitung (Bangka Belitung Islands), Kepulauan Riau (Riau Islands), Lampung, Maluku, Maluku Utara (North Maluku), Nusa Tenggara Barat (West Nusa Tenggara), Nusa Tenggara Timur (East Nusa Tenggara), Papua, Papua Barat (West Papua), Riau, Sulawesi Barat (West Sulawesi), Sulawesi Selatan (South Sulawesi), Sulawesi Tengah (Central Sulawesi), Sulawesi Tenggara (Southeast Sulawesi), Sulawesi Utara (North Sulawesi), Sumatera Barat (West Sumatra), Sumatera Selatan (South Sumatra), Sumatera Utara (North Sumatra), Yogyakarta* note: following the implementation of decentralization beginning on 1 January 2001, regencies and municipalities have become the key administrative units responsible for providing most government services
Independence: 17 August 1945 (declared); 27 December 1949 (recognized by the Netherlands); note - in August 2005 the Netherlands announced that it had recognized de facto Indonesian independence on 17 August 1945
National holiday:
Constitution: August 1945; abrogated by Federal Constitution of 1949 and Provisional Constitution of 1950, restored 5 July 1959; series of amendments concluded in 2002
Legal system: civil law system based on the Roman-Dutch model and influenced by customary law
Suffrage: 17 years of age; universal and married persons regardless of age
Executive branch: chief of state: President Susilo Bambang YUDHOYONO (since 20 October 2004); Vice President BOEDIONO (since 20 October 2009); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Susilo Bambang YUDHOYONO (since 20 October 2004); Vice President BOEDIONO (since 20 October 2009) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president (For more information visit the World Leaders website ) elections: president and vice president elected for five-year terms (eligible for a second term) by direct vote of the citizenry; election last held on 8 July 2009 (next to be held in 2014) election results: Susilo Bambang YUDHOYONO elected president; percent of vote - Susilo Bambang YUDHOYONO 60.8%, MEGAWATI Sukarnoputri 26.8%, Jusuf KALLA 12.4%
Legislative branch: People's Consultative Assembly (Majelis Permusyawaratan Rakyat or MPR) is the upper house; it consists of members of the DPR and DPD and has role in inaugurating and impeaching the president and in amending the constitution but does not formulate national policy; House of Representatives or Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat (DPR) (560 seats, members elected to serve five-year terms), formulates and passes legislation at the national level; House of Regional Representatives (Dewan Perwakilan Daerah or DPD), constitutionally mandated role includes providing legislative input to DPR on issues affecting regions (132 members, four from each of Indonesia's 30 provinces, two special regions, and one special capital city district) elections: last held on 9 April 2009 (next to be held in 2014) election results: percent of vote by party - PD 20.9%, GOLKAR 14.5%, PDI-P 14.0%, PKS 7.9%, PAN 6.0%, PPP 5.3%, PKB 4.9%, GERINDRA 4.5%, HANURA 3.8%, others 18.2%; seats by party - PD 148, GOLKAR 107, PDI-P 94, PKS 57, PAN 46, PPP 37, PKB 28, GERINDRA 26, HANURA 17 note: 29 other parties received less than 2.5% of the vote so did not obtain any seats; because of election rules, the number of seats won does not always follow the percentage of votes received by parties
Judicial branch: Supreme Court or Mahkamah Agung is the final court of appeal but does not have the power of judicial review (justices are appointed by the president from a list of candidates selected by the legislature); in March 2004 the Supreme Court assumed administrative and financial responsibility for the lower court system from the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights; Constitutional Court or Mahkamah Konstitusi (invested by the president on 16 August 2003) has the power of judicial review, jurisdiction over the results of a general election, and reviews actions to dismiss a president from office; Labor Court under supervision of Supreme Court began functioning in January 2006; anti-corruption courts have jurisdiction over corruption cases brought by the independent Corruption Eradication Commission
Political parties and leaders: Democrat Party or PD [Anas URBANINGRUM]; Functional Groups Party or GOLKAR [Aburizal BAKRIE]; Great Indonesia Movement Party or GERINDRA [SUHARDI]; Indonesia Democratic Party-Struggle or PDI-P [MEGAWATI Sukarnoputri]; National Awakening Party or PKB [Muhaiman ISKANDAR]; National Mandate Party or PAN [Hatta RAJASA]; People's Conscience Party or HANURA [WIRANTO]; Prosperous Justice Party or PKS [Luthfi Hasan ISHAQ]; United Development Party or PPP [Suryadharma ALI]
Political pressure groups and leaders: Commission for the "Disappeared" and Victims of Violence or KontraS; Indonesia Corruption Watch or ICW; Indonesian Forum for the Environment or WALHI; Islamic Defenders Front or FPI; People's Democracy Fortress or Bendera
International organization participation: ADB, APEC, ARF, ASEAN, BIS, CICA (observer), CP, D-8, EAS, FAO, G-11, G-15, G-20, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MONUSCO, NAM, OECD (Enhanced Engagement, OIC, OPCW, PIF (partner), UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNMIL, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Dino Patti DJALAL chancery: 2020 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: [1] (202) 775-5200 FAX: [1] (202) 775-5365 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Scot A. MARCIEL embassy: Jalan Medan Merdeka Selatan 3-5, Jakarta 10110 mailing address: Unit 8129, Box 1, FPO AP 96520 telephone: [62] (21) 3435-9000 FAX: [62] (21) 385-7189 consulate general: Surabaya presence post: Medan consular agent: Bali
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Economy
Indonesia, a vast polyglot nation, grew an estimated 6.1% and 6.4% in 2010 and 2011, respectively. The government made economic advances under the first administration of President YUDHOYONO (2004-09), introducing significant reforms in the financial sector, including tax and customs reforms, the use of Treasury bills, and capital market development and supervision. During the global financial crisis, Indonesia outperformed its regional neighbors and joined China and India as the only G20 members posting growth in 2009. The government has promoted fiscally conservative policies, resulting in a debt-to-GDP ratio of less than 25%, a small current account surplus, a fiscal deficit below 2%, and historically low rates of inflation. Fitch and Moody's upgraded Indonesia's credit rating to investment grade in December 2011. Indonesia still struggles with poverty and unemployment, inadequate infrastructure, corruption, a complex regulatory environment, and unequal resource distribution among regions. The government in 2012 faces the ongoing challenge of improving Indonesia's insufficient infrastructure to remove impediments to economic growth, labor unrest over wages, and reducing its fuel subsidy program in the face of rising oil prices.
GDP (purchasing power parity): GDP (purchasing power parity): $1.139 trillion (2011 est.) $1.07 trillion (2010 est.) $1.008 trillion (2009 est.) note: data are in 2011 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate): GDP (official exchange rate): $845.7 billion (2011 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 6.5% (2011 est.) 6.2% (2010 est.) 4.6% (2009 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP): GDP - per capita (PPP): $4,700 (2011 est.) $4,500 (2010 est.) $4,300 (2009 est.) note: data are in 2011 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 14.7% industry: 47.2% services: 38.1% (2011 est.)
Labor force: 117.4 million (2011 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 38.3% industry: 12.8% services: 48.9% (2010 est.)
Unemployment rate: 6.6% (2011 est.) 7.1% (2010 est.)
Population below poverty line: 13.33% (2010)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 3.3% highest 10%: 29.9% (2009)
Distribution of family income - Gini index: 36.8 (2009) 39.4 (2005)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices): 5.4% (2011 est.) 5.1% (2010 est.)
Investment (gross fixed): Investment (gross fixed): 32% of GDP (2011 est.)
Budget: revenues: $134.2 billion expenditures: $144.1 billion (2011 est.)
Public debt: 24.4% of GDP (2011 est.) 25.7% of GDP (2010 est.)
Agriculture - products: rice, cassava (manioc), peanuts, rubber, cocoa, coffee, palm oil, copra; poultry, beef, pork, eggs
Industries: petroleum and natural gas, textiles, apparel, footwear, mining, cement, chemical fertilizers, plywood, rubber, food, tourism
Industrial production growth rate: 4.1% (2011 est.)
Electricity - production: 141.2 billion kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - consumption: 126.1 billion kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (2009 est.)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (2009 est.)
Oil - production: 1.03 million bbl/day (2010 est.)
Oil - consumption: 1.292 million bbl/day (2010 est.)
Oil - exports: 404,100 bbl/day (2009 est.)
Oil - imports: 767,400 bbl/day (2009 est.)
Oil - proved reserves: 3.99 billion bbl (1 January 2011 est.)
Natural gas - production: 82.8 billion cu m (2010 est.)
Natural gas - consumption: 40.47 billion cu m (2010 est.)
Natural gas - exports: 42.33 billion cu m (2010 est.)
Natural gas - imports: 0 cu m (2010 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves: 3.001 trillion cu m (1 January 2011 est.)
Current account balance: $2.069 billion (2011 est.) $5.146 billion (2010 est.)
Exports: $201.5 billion (2011 est.) $158.1 billion (2010 est.)
Exports - commodities: oil and gas, electrical appliances, plywood, textiles, rubber
Exports - partners: Japan 16.6%, China 11.3%, Singapore 9.1%, US 8.1%, South Korea 8.1%, India 6.6%, Malaysia 5.4% (2011)
Imports: $166.1 billion (2011 est.) $127.4 billion (2010 est.)
Imports - commodities: machinery and equipment, chemicals, fuels, foodstuffs
Imports - partners: China 14.8%, Singapore 14.6%, Japan 11%, South Korea 7.3%, US 6.1%, Thailand 5.9%, Malaysia 5.9% (2011)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $110.1 billion (31 December 2011 est.) $96.21 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
Debt - external: $186.9 billion (31 December 2011 est.) $179.1 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home: $104.8 billion (31 December 2011 est.) $86.61 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad: $40.57 billion (31 December 2011 est.) $32.85 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares: $390.1 billion (31 December 2011) $360.4 billion (31 December 2010) $178.2 billion (31 December 2009)
Exchange rates: Indonesian rupiah (IDR) per US dollar - 8,696.1 (2011 est.) 9,090.43 (2010 est.) 10,389.9 (2009) 9,698.9 (2008) 9,143 (2007)
Fiscal year: calendar year
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Communications
Telephones in use: 37.96 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 7
Cellular Phones in use: 220 million (2009)
Telephone system: general assessment: domestic service includes an interisland microwave system, an HF radio police net, and a domestic satellite communications system; international service good domestic: coverage provided by existing network has been expanded by use of over 200,000 telephone kiosks many located in remote areas; mobile-cellular subscribership growing rapidly international: country code - 62; landing point for both the SEA-ME-WE-3 and SEA-ME-WE-4 submarine cable networks that provide links throughout Asia, the Middle East, and Europe; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Pacific Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:
Television broadcast stations:
Internet country code: .id
Internet hosts: 1.342 million (2010)
Internet users: 20 million (2009)
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Transportation
Airports: 676 (2012) country comparison to the world: 10
Airports (paved runways): total: 185 over 3,047 m: 4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 22 1,524 to 2,437 m: 51 914 to 1,523 m: 71 under 914 m: 37 (2012)
Airports (unpaved runways): total: 491 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 24 under 914 m: 462 (2012)
Heliports: 76 (2012)
Pipelines: condensate 812 km; condensate/gas 73 km; gas 7,165 km; oil 5,984 km; oil/gas/water 12 km; refined products 617 km; water 44 km (2010)
Railways: total: 5,042 km narrow gauge: 5,042 km 1.067-m gauge (565 km electrified) (2008)
Roadways: total: 437,759 km paved: 258,744 km unpaved: 179,015 km (2008)
Waterways: 21,579 km (2011)
Merchant marine: total: 1,340 by type: bulk carrier 105, cargo 618, chemical tanker 69, container 120, liquefied gas 28, passenger 49, passenger/cargo 77, petroleum tanker 244, refrigerated cargo 6, roll on/roll off 12, specialized tanker 1, vehicle carrier 11 foreign-owned: 69 (China 1, France 1, Greece 1, Japan 8, Jordan 1, Malaysia 1, Norway 3, Singapore 46, South Korea 2, Taiwan 1, UK 2, US 2) registered in other countries: 95 (Bahamas 2, Cambodia 2, China 2, Hong Kong 10, Liberia 4, Marshall Islands 1, Mongolia 2, Panama 10, Singapore 60, Tuvalu 1, unknown 1) (2010)
Ports and terminals: Banjarmasin, Belawan, Kotabaru, Krueg Geukueh, Palembang, Panjang, Sungai Pakning, Tanjung Perak, Tanjung Priok
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Military
Military branches: Indonesian Armed Forces (Tentara Nasional Indonesia, TNI): Army (TNI-Angkatan Darat (TNI-AD)), Navy (TNI-Angkatan Laut (TNI-AL); includes marines (Korps Marinir, KorMar), naval air arm), Air Force (TNI-Angkatan Udara (TNI-AU)), National Air Defense Command (Kommando Pertahanan Udara Nasional (Kohanudnas)) (2011)
Military service age and obligation: 18 years of age for selective compulsory and voluntary military service; 2-year conscript service obligation, with reserve obligation to age 45 (officers); Indonesian citizens only (2008)
Manpower available for military service: males age 16-49: 65,847,171 females age 16-49: 63,228,017 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service: males age 16-49: 54,264,299 females age 16-49: 53,274,361 (2010 est.)

THAILAND

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Background
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 treaty ally in 1954 after sending troops to Korea and fighting alongside the US in Vietnam. A military coup in September 2006 ousted then Prime Minister THAKSIN Chinnawat. December 2007 elections saw the pro-THAKSIN People's Power Party (PPP) emerge at the head of a coalition government that took office in February 2008. The anti-THAKSIN People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD, aka yellow-shirts) in May 2008 began street demonstrations against the new government, eventually occupying the prime minister's office in August and Bangkok's two international airports in November. After an early December 2008 court ruling that dissolved the ruling PPP and two other coalition parties for election violations, the Democrat Party formed a new coalition government and ABHISIT Wetchachiwa became prime minister. In October 2008 THAKSIN fled abroad in advance of an abuse of power conviction and has agitated his followers from abroad since then. THAKSIN supporters under the banner of the United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD, aka red-shirts) rioted in April 2009, shutting down an ASEAN meeting in Pattaya. Following a February 2010 court verdict confiscating half of THAKSIN's frozen assets, the UDD staged large protests between March and May 2010, and occupied several blocks of downtown Bangkok. Clashes between security forces and protesters, elements of which were armed, resulted in at least 92 deaths and an estimated $1.5 billion in arson-related property losses. These protests exposed major cleavages in the Thai body politic that hampered the government and led to a general election in July 2011. THAKSIN's youngest sister, YINGLAK, led the Puea Thai party to an electoral win and assumed control of the government in August. YINGLAK's leadership was almost immediately challenged by historic flooding in late 2011 that had large swathes of the country underwater and threatened to inundate Bangkok itself. At the beginning of 2012 the Puea Thai-led government began fulfilling one of its main election promises, the pursuit of constitutional reform, which could lead to the nation's 19th Constitution since 1932. Since January 2004, thousands have been killed and wounded as separatists in Thailand's southern ethnic Malay-Muslim provinces continued the campaign of violence associated with their cause.
Geography
Controls only land route from Asia to Malaysia and Singapore
Location: Southeastern Asia, bordering the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand, southeast of Burma
Geographic coordinates: 15 00 N, 100 00 E
Area: total: 513,120 sq km land: 510,890 sq km water: 2,230 sq km

Size comparison: slightly more than twice the size of Wyoming
Land Boundaries: total: 4,863 km border countries: Burma 1,800 km, Cambodia 803 km, Laos 1,754 km, Malaysia 506 km
Coastline: 3,219 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Climate: tropical; rainy, warm, cloudy southwest monsoon (mid-May to September); dry, cool northeast monsoon (November to mid-March); southern isthmus always hot and humid
Terrain: central plain; Khorat Plateau in the east; mountains elsewhere
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Gulf of Thailand 0 m highest point: Doi Inthanon 2,576 m
Natural resources: tin, rubber, natural gas, tungsten, tantalum, timber, lead, fish, gypsum, lignite, fluorite, arable land
Land use: arable land: 27.54% permanent crops: 6.93% other: 65.53% (2005)
Irrigated land: 64,150 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards: land subsidence in Bangkok area resulting from the depletion of the water table; droughts
Current Environment Issues: air pollution from vehicle emissions; water pollution from organic and factory wastes; deforestation; soil erosion; wildlife populations threatened by illegal hunting
International Environment 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
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People
Population: 67,091,089 (July 2012 est.) 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, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected
Age structure: 0-14 years: 19.9% (male 6,779,723/female 6,466,625) 15-64 years: 70.9% (male 23,410,091/female 23,913,499) 65 years and over: 9.2% (male 2,778,012/female 3,372,203) (2011 est.)
Median age: total: 34.7 years male: 33.7 years female: 35.6 years (2012 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.543% (2012 est.)
Birth rate: 12.81 births/1,000 population (2012 est.)
Death rate: 7.38 deaths/1,000 population (July 2012 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2012 est.)
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: 0.82 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2011 est.)
Infant mortality rate: total: 15.9 deaths/1,000 live births male: 16.88 deaths/1,000 live births female: 14.86 deaths/1,000 live births (2012 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 73.83 years male: 71.45 years female: 76.33 years (2012 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.66 children born/woman (2012 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 1.3% (2009 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 530,000 (2009 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths: 28,000 (2009 est.)
Nationality: noun: Thai (singular and plural) adjective: Thai
Ethnic groups: Thai 75%, Chinese 14%, other 11%
Religions: Buddhist (official) 94.6%, Muslim 4.6%, Christian 0.7%, other 0.1% (2000 census)
Languages: Thai, English (secondary language of the elite), ethnic and regional dialects
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 92.6% male: 94.9% female: 90.5% (2000 census)
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Government
Country name: conventional long form: Kingdom of Thailand conventional short form: Thailand local long form: Ratcha Anachak Thai local short form: Prathet Thai former: Siam
Government type: constitutional monarchy
Capital: name: Bangkok geographic coordinates: 13 45 N, 100 31 E time difference: UTC+7 (12 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions: 77 provinces (changwat, singular and plural); Amnat Charoen, Ang Thong, Bueng Kan, 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
Independence: 1238 (traditional founding date; never colonized)
National holiday: Birthday of King PHUMIPHON (BHUMIBOL), 5 December (1927)
Constitution: 24 August 2007
Legal system: civil law system with common law influences
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch: chief of state: King PHUMIPHON Adunyadet, also spelled BHUMIBOL Adulyadej (since 9 June 1946) head of government: Prime Minister YINGLAK Chinnawat, also spelled YINGLUCK Shinawatra (since 8 August 2011); Deputy Prime Minister CHALOEM Yubamrung, also spelled CHALERM Yubamrung (since 10 August 2011); Deputy Prime Minister CHUMPHON Sinlapa-acha, also spelled CHUMPOL SILPA-archa (since 10 August 2011); Deputy Prime Minister KITTIRAT Na Ranong (since 10 August 2011); Deputy Prime Minister YONGYUT Wichaidit (10 August 2011); Deputy Prime Minister YUTHASAK Sasiprapha (since 18 January 2012) cabinet: Council of Ministers (For more information visit the World Leaders website ) note: there is also a Privy Council advising the king elections: the monarchy is hereditary; according to 2007 constitution, the prime minister is elected from among members of House of Representatives; following national elections for House of Representatives, the leader of the party positioned to organize a majority coalition usually becomes prime minister by appointment by the king; the prime minister is limited to two four-year terms
Legislative branch: bicameral National Assembly or Rathasapha consisted of the Senate or Wuthisapha (150 seats; 77 members elected by popular vote representing 77 provinces, 73 appointed by judges and independent government bodies; members serve six-year terms) and the House of Representatives or Sapha Phuthaen Ratsadon (500 seats; 375 members elected from 375 single-seat constituencies and 125 elected on proportional party-list basis; members serve four-year terms) elections: Senate - last held on 2 March 2008 (next to be held in March 2014); House of Representatives - last election held on 3 July 2011 (next to be held by July 2015) election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PTP 265, DP 159, PJT 34, CTP 19, others 15 note: 74 senators were appointed on 19 February 2008 by a seven-member committee headed by the chief of the Constitutional Court; 76 senators were elected on 2 March 2008; elections to the Senate are non-partisan; registered political party members are disqualified from being senators
Judicial branch: Constitutional Court, Supreme Court of Justice, and Supreme Administrative Court; all judges are appointed by the king; the king's appointments to the Constitutional Court are made upon the advice of the Senate; the nine Constitutional Court judges are drawn from the Supreme Court of Justice and Supreme Administrative Court as well as from among substantive experts in law and social sciences outside the judiciary
Political parties and leaders: Chat Pattana Party or CPN (Nation Development Party [WANNARAT Channukun]; Chat Thai Phattana Party or CTP (Thai Nation Development Party) [CHUMPON Silpa-archa]; Phalang Chon Party (People [Chonburi] Power Party) [CHAO Manivong]; Phumjai (Bhumjai) Thai Party or PJT (Thai Pride) [CHAWARAT Chanvirakun]; Prachathipat Party or DP (Democrat Party) [ABHISIT Wechachiwa, also spelled ABHISIT Vejjajiva]; Puea Thai Party (For Thais Party) or PTP [YONGYUT Wichaidit]; Rak Prathet Thai Party (Love Thailand Party) [CHUWIT Kamonwisit]
Political pressure groups and leaders: Multicolor Group; People's Alliance for Democracy or PAD; United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship or UDD
International organization participation: ADB, APEC, ARF, ASEAN, BIMSTEC, BIS, CICA, CP, EAS, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC (observer), OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE (partner), PCA, PIF (partner), UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador CHAIYONG Satchiphanon (also spelled CHAIYONG Satjipanon) chancery: 1024 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Suite 401, Washington, DC 20007 telephone: [1] (202) 944-3600 FAX: [1] (202) 944-3611 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Kristie A. KENNEY 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
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Economy
With a well-developed infrastructure, a free-enterprise economy, generally pro-investment policies, and strong export industries, Thailand enjoyed solid growth from 2000 to 2007 - averaging more than 4% per year - as it recovered from the Asian financial crisis of 1997-98. Thai exports - mostly machinery and electronic components, agricultural commodities, and jewelry - continue to drive the economy, accounting for more than half of GDP. The global financial crisis of 2008-09 severely cut Thailand's exports, with most sectors experiencing double-digit drops. In 2009, the economy contracted 2.3%. In 2010, Thailand's economy expanded 7.8%, its fastest pace since 1995, as exports rebounded from their depressed 2009 level. Steady economic growth at just below 4% during the first three quarters of 2011 was interrupted by historic flooding in October and November in the industrial areas north of Bangkok, crippling the manufacturing sector and leading to a revised growth rate of only 0.1% for the year. The industrial sector is poised to recover from the second quarter of 2012 onward, however, and the government anticipates the economy will probably grow between 5.5 and 6.5% for 2012, while private sector forecasts range between 3.8% and 5.7%.
GDP (purchasing power parity): GDP (purchasing power parity): $609.8 billion (2011 est.) $609.4 billion (2010 est.) $565.4 billion (2009 est.) note: data are in 2011 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate): GDP (official exchange rate): $345.6 billion (2011 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 0.1% (2011 est.) 7.8% (2010 est.) -2.3% (2009 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP): GDP - per capita (PPP): $9,500 (2011 est.) $9,500 (2010 est.) $8,900 (2009 est.) note: data are in 2011 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 13.3% industry: 34% services: 52.7% (2011 est.)
Labor force: 39.62 million (2011 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 40.7% industry: 13.2% services: 46.1% (2011 est.)
Unemployment rate: 0.7% (2011 est.) 0.5% (2010 est.)
Population below poverty line: 8.1% (2009 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 1.6% highest 10%: 42.6% (2009)
Distribution of family income - Gini index: 53.6 (2009) 42 (2002)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.8% (2011 est.) 3.3% (2010 est.)
Investment (gross fixed): Investment (gross fixed): 26.2% of GDP (2011 est.)
Budget: revenues: $66.21 billion expenditures: $70.3 billion (2011 est.)
Public debt: 40.5% of GDP (2011 est.) 43.1% of GDP (2010 est.) note: data cover general government debt, and includes debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data include debt issued by subnational entities, as well as intra-governmental debt; intra-governmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as for retirement, medical care, and unemployment. Debt instruments for the social funds are sold at public auctions.
Agriculture - products: rice, cassava (manioc), rubber, corn, sugarcane, coconuts, soybeans
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
Industrial production growth rate: -9.3% (2011 est.)
Electricity - production: 139 billion kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - consumption: 131.6 billion kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - exports: 1.979 billion kWh (2009 est.)
Electricity - imports: 2.313 billion kWh (2009 est.)
Oil - production: 406,800 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Oil - consumption: 988,000 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Oil - exports: 269,100 bbl/day (2009 est.)
Oil - imports: 807,100 bbl/day (2009 est.)
Oil - proved reserves: 435 million bbl (1 January 2011 est.)
Natural gas - production: 30.88 billion cu m (2009 est.)
Natural gas - consumption: 39.17 billion cu m (2009 est.)
Natural gas - exports: 0 cu m (2009 est.)
Natural gas - imports: 8.29 billion cu m (2009 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves: 312.2 billion cu m (1 January 2011 est.)
Current account balance: $11.9 billion (2011 est.) $13.1 billion (2010 est.)
Exports: $221.6 billion (2011 est.) $193.6 billion (2010 est.)
Exports - commodities: textiles and footwear, fishery products, rice, rubber, jewelry, automobiles, computers and electrical appliances
Exports - partners: China 12%, Japan 10.5%, US 9.6%, Hong Kong 7.2%, Malaysia 5.4%, Singapore 5%, Indonesia 4.4% (2009 est.)
Imports: $196.3 billion (2011 est.) $161.9 billion (2010 est.)
Imports - commodities: capital goods, intermediate goods and raw materials, consumer goods, fuels
Imports - partners: Japan 18.5%, China 13.4%, UAE 6.3%, US 5.9%, Malaysia 5.4%, South Korea 4% (2009 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $175.1 billion (31 December 2011 est.) $172.1 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
Debt - external: $115.6 billion (30 September 2011 est.) $100.6 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home: $140.7 billion (31 December 2011 est.) $137.2 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad: $30.51 billion (31 December 2011 est.) $24.17 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares: $268.5 billion (31 December 2011) $277.7 billion (31 December 2010) $138.2 billion (31 December 2009)
Exchange rates: baht per US dollar - 30.18 (2011 est.) 31.686 (2010 est.) 34.286 (2009) 33.37 (2008) 34.52 (2007)
Fiscal year: 1 October - 30 September
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Communications
Telephones in use: 7.009 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 27
Cellular Phones in use: 69.683 million (2009)
Telephone system: general assessment: high quality system, especially in urban areas like Bangkok domestic: fixed line system provided by both a government owned and commercial provider; wireless service expanding rapidly international: country code - 66; connected to major submarine cable systems providing links throughout Asia, Australia, Middle East, Europe, and US; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean, 1 Pacific Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:
Television broadcast stations:
Internet country code: .th
Internet hosts: 3.278 million (2010)
Internet users: 17.483 million (2009)
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Transportation
Airports: 103 (2012) country comparison to the world: 55
Airports (paved runways): total: 63 over 3,047 m: 8 2,438 to 3,047 m: 12 1,524 to 2,437 m: 23 914 to 1,523 m: 15 under 914 m: 5 (2012)
Airports (unpaved runways): total: 40 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 12 under 914 m: 27 (2012)
Heliports: 6 (2012)
Pipelines: gas 1,889 km; liquid petroleum gas 85 km; refined products 1,099 km (2010)
Railways: total: 4,071 km standard gauge: 29 km 1.435-m gauge (29 km electrified) narrow gauge: 4,042 km 1.000-m gauge (2008)
Roadways: total: 180,053 km (includes 450 km of expressways) (2006)
Waterways: 4,000 km (3,701 km navigable by boats with drafts up to 0.9 m) (2011)
Merchant marine: total: 363 by type: bulk carrier 31, cargo 99, chemical tanker 28, container 18, liquefied gas 36, passenger 1, passenger/cargo 10, petroleum tanker 114, refrigerated cargo 24, roll on/roll off 1, vehicle carrier 1 foreign-owned: 13 (China 1, Hong Kong 1, Malaysia 3, Singapore 1, Taiwan 1, UK 6) registered in other countries: 46 (Bahamas 4, Belize 1, Honduras 2, Panama 6, Singapore 33) (2010)
Ports and terminals: Bangkok, Laem Chabang, Map Ta Phut, Prachuap Port, Si Racha
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Military
Military branches: Royal Thai Army (Kongthap Bok Thai, RTA), Royal Thai Navy (Kongthap Ruea Thai, RTN, includes Royal Thai Marine Corps), Royal Thai Air Force (Kongthap Agard Thai, RTAF) (2010)
Military service age and obligation: 21 years of age for compulsory military service; 18 years of age for voluntary military service; males register at 18 years of age; 2-year conscript service obligation (2009)
Manpower available for military service: males age 16-49: 17,689,921 females age 16-49: 17,754,795 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service: males age 16-49: 13,308,372 females age 16-49: 14,182,567 (2010 est.)