Long-form name: Kingdom of Thailand

Type: constitutional monarchy

Capital: Bangkok

Administrative divisions: 73 provinces (changwat, singular and plural); Ang Thong, Buriram, Chachoengsao, Chai Nat, Chaiyaphum, Chanthaburi, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Chon Buri, Chumphon, Kalasin, Kamphaeng Phet, Kanchanaburi, Khon Kaen, Krabi, Krung Thep Mahanakhon, Lampang, Lamphun, Loei, Lop Buri, Mae Hong Son, Maha Sarakham, Nakhon Nayok, Nakhon Pathom, Nakhon Phanom, Nakhon Ratchasima, Nakhon Sawan, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Nan, Narathiwat, 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, 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

Constitution: 22 December 1978

Legal system: based on civil law system, with influences of common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

National holiday: Birthday of His Majesty the King, 5 December (1927)

Branches: king is head of state with nominal powers; bicameral legislature (National Assembly--Senate appointed by king, elected House of Representatives); judiciary relatively independent except in important political subversion cases

Leaders: BHUMIBOL ADULYADEJ, King (since June 1946); Maj. Gen. CHATICHAI CHOONHAVEN, Prime Minister (since August 1988)

Suffrage: universal at age 20

Elections: last held July 1988

Political parties: Democrat Party, Social Action Party, Thai Nation Party, People's Party (Ratsadon), Thai Citizens Party, United Democracy Party, People Party (Prachachon), Community Action Party, United Thai Party, Mass Party, Force of Truth Party (Phalang Dharma)

Voting strength: (July 1988 parliamentary election) total number of seats--357 lower house; Thai Nation Party 87 seats, Social Action Party 54 seats, Democrat Party 48 seats, United Thai Party 35 seats, Thai Citizens Party 31 seats, People's Party (Ratsadon) 21 seats, People Party (Prachachon) 19 seats, Force of Truth Party (Phalang Dharma) 14 seats, Community Action Party 9 seats, United Democracy Party 5 seats, Mass Party 5 seats, other 29 seats

Communists: illegal Communist party has 500 to 1,000 members (est.); armed Communist insurgents throughout Thailand total 300 to 500 (est.)

Member of: ADB, ANRPC, ASEAN, ASPAC, Association of Tin Producing Countries, CCC, Colombo Plan, GATT, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, INRO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IPU, IRC, ITC, ITU, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador VITTHYA VEJJAJIVA; Embassy at 2300 Kalorama Road NW, Washington DC 20008; telephone (202) 483-7200; there are Thai Consulates General in Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York; US--Ambassador Daniel O'DONAHUE; Embassy at 95 Wireless Road, Bangkok (mailing address is APO San Francisco 96346); telephone Õ66å (2) 252-5040; there is a US Consulate General in Chiang Mai and Consulates in Songkhla and Udorn

Flag: five horizontal bands of red (top), white, blue (double width), white, and red

NOTE: The information regarding Thailand on this page is re-published from the 1989 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Thailand Government 1989 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Thailand Government 1989 should be addressed to the CIA.