Economy of Thailand

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Economy of Thailand

Bangkok, the commercial hub of Thailand

Currency Thai baht (THB, ฿)

Fiscal year 1 October – 30 September

Trade WTO, APEC, IOR-ARC, ASEAN, RCEP
organisations

Country group Developing/Emerging

[1]

Upper-middle income economy[2]

Statistics

Population  69,950,844 (2021)[3]

GDP  $534.7 billion (nominal; 2022)[4]

 $1.479 trillion (PPP; 2022)[4]

GDP rank 27th (nominal; 2022)

24st (PPP; 2022)
GDP growth  1.5% (2021)[5]

 2.8% (2022f)[5]

 3.7% (2023f)[5]
GDP per capita  $7,630 (nominal; 2022)[4]

 $21,114 (PPP; 2022)[4]

GDP per capita 85th (nominal; 2022)
rank
73th (PPP; 2022)
GDP by sector Agriculture: 8.4%

Industry: 39.2%

Services: 52.4%
 (2012)[6]
Inflation (CPI) −1.1% (2020 est.)[7]
Population  9.9% (2018)[8]
below poverty
 8.6% on less than $5.50/day (2018)[9]
line
Gini coefficient  34.9 medium (2019, World Bank)[10]
Human  0.800 very high (2021)[11] (66th)
Development
 0.646 medium IHDI (2019)[12]
Index
Labour force  38,917,441 (2019)[13]

 67.3% employment rate (2018)[14]

Unemployment  1.1% (2020 est.)[7]

Main industries Automobiles and automotive parts (11%), financial services (9%),

electric appliances and components (8%), tourism (6%), cement,

auto manufacturing, heavy and light

industries, appliances, computers and

parts, furniture, plastics, textiles and garments, agricultural

processing, beverages, tobacco
Ease-of-doing-  21st (very easy, 2020)[15]
business rank

External

Exports $236.69 billion (2017)[16][17][18]

Export goods machinery (23%), electronics (19%), foods and wood

(14%), chemicals and plastics (14%), automobiles and automotive

parts (12%), stone and glass (7%), textiles and furniture (4%)
Main export United States 11.4%
partners
China 11%

European Union 10.3%

Japan 9.6%

Hong Kong 5.3%

Others 52.4%

(2016)[19]

Imports $222.76 billion (2017)[16][17][18]

Import goods Capital and intermediate goods, raw materials, consumer

goods, fuels
Main import China 21.6%
partners
Japan 15.8%
 European Union 9.3%

United States 6.2%

Malaysia 5.6%

Others 41.5%

(2016)[19]
FDI stock $205.5 billion (2017 est.)[20]
Gross external $163.402.95 billion (Q1 2019)[21]
debt

Public finances
Public debt 44.01% (May 2020)[22]

Revenues THB 2.563 trillion (FY2019)[23]

Expenses THB 2.788 trillion (FY2019)[24]

Economic aid None
Credit rating Standard & Poor's:[25][26]

A- (Domestic)

BBB+ (Foreign)

A (T&C Assessment)

Outlook: Stable

Moody's:[26]

Baa1

Outlook: Stable

Fitch:[27]

A- (Local Currency IDR)

BBB+ (Foreign Currency IDR)

A- (Country Ceiling)

Outlook: Stable

Japan Credit Rating Agency:[28]

A (Local Currency IDR)

A- (Foreign Currency IDR)

A+ (Country Ceiling)

Outlook: Stable
Foreign reserves US$266.09 billion (net amount, June 2020)[29]

Main data source: CIA World Fact Book

All values, unless otherwise stated, are in US dollars.

The economy of Thailand is dependent on exports, which accounted in 2019 for about

sixty per cent of the country's gross domestic product (GDP).[30] Thailand itself is a newly
industrialized country, with a GDP of 16.316 trillion baht (US$505 billion) in 2018, the
 8th largest economy of Asia, according to the World Bank.[31] As of 2018, Thailand has
an average inflation of 1.06%[32] and an account surplus of 7.5% of the country's GDP.
[33]
 The Thai economy was expected to post 3.8% growth in 2019. [34] Its currency, the Thai
Baht, ranked as the tenth most frequently used world payment currency in 2017. [35]
The industrial and service sectors are the main sectors in the Thai gross domestic
product, with the former accounting for 39.2 percent of GDP. Thailand's agricultural
sector produces 8.4 percent of GDP—lower than the trade and logistics and
communication sectors, which account for 13.4 percent and 9.8 percent of GDP
respectively. The construction and mining sector adds 4.3 percent to the country's gross
domestic product. Other service sectors (including the financial, education, and hotel
and restaurant sectors) account for 24.9 percent of the country's GDP.
[6]
 Telecommunications and trade in services are emerging as centers of industrial
expansion and economic competitiveness.[36]
Thailand is the second-largest economy in Southeast Asia, after Indonesia. Its per
capita GDP (US$7,273.56) in 2018,[31] however, ranks fourth in Southeast Asian per
capita GDP, after Singapore, Brunei, and Malaysia. In July 2018, Thailand held
US$237.5 billion in international reserves,[37] the second-largest in Southeast Asia (after
Singapore). Its surplus in the current account balance ranks tenth of the world, made
US$37.898 billion to the country in 2018.[38] Thailand ranks second in Southeast Asia in
external trade volume, after Singapore.[39]
The nation is recognized by the World Bank as "one of the great development success
stories" in social and development indicators. [40] Despite a low per capita gross national
income (GNI) of US$6,610[41] and ranking 83rd in the Human Development Index (HDI),
the percentage of people below the national poverty line decreased from 65.26 percent
in 1988 to 8.61 percent in 2016, according to the Office of the National Economic and
Social Development Council's (NESDC) new poverty baseline.[42]
Thailand is one of the countries with the lowest unemployment rates in the world,
reported as one percent for the first quarter of 2014. This is due to a large proportion of
the population working in subsistence agriculture or on other vulnerable employment
(own-account work and unpaid family work). [43]

Contents

 1Kingdom of Thailand budget

 2History
o 2.1Before 1945
o 2.2After 1945
 2.2.11945–1955
 2.2.21955–1985
 2.2.31985–1997
 2.2.41997–2000
o 2.3Recent economic history (2001-present)
 3Macroeconomic trends
 4Poverty and inequality
 5Industries
o 5.1SMEs
o 5.2Agriculture, forestry and fishing
o 5.3Industry and manufacturing
 5.3.1Electrical and electronics
 5.3.2Automotive
 5.3.3Gems and jewelry
o 5.4Energy
o 5.5Services
 5.5.1Banking and finance
 5.5.2Retail
 5.5.3Tourism
 6Labour
 7Foreign trade
o 7.1Major Trade Partners
 8Regional economies
o 8.1Isan
o 8.2Special Economic Zones (SEZ)
 9Shadow economy
 10See also
 11Further reading
 12References
 13External links

Kingdom of Thailand budget[edit]

The Kingdom of Thailand's FY2017 budget was 2,733,000 million baht.[44]: 62 
In May 2018, the Thai Cabinet approved a FY2019 budget of three trillion baht, up 3.4
percent—100 billion baht—from FY2018. Annual revenue is projected to reach 2.55
trillion baht, up 4.1 percent, or 100 billion baht. Overall, the national budget will face a
deficit of 450 billion baht. The cabinet also approved a budget deficit until 2022 in order
to drive the economy to a growth of 3.5–4.5 percent a year. [45]

History[edit]

Historical growth of Thailand's economy from 1961–2015

Development of real GDP per capita, 1890 to 2018

Before 1945[edit]
Thailand, formerly known as Siam, opened to foreign contact in the pre-industrial era.
Despite the scarcity of resources in Siam, coastal ports and cities and those at the river
mouth were early economic centers which welcomed merchants from Persia, the Arab
countries, India, and China. The rise of Ayutthaya during the 14th century was
connected to renewed Chinese commercial activity, and the kingdom became one of
the most prosperous trade centers in Asia.
When the capital of the kingdom moved to Bangkok during the 19th century, foreign
trade (particularly with China) became the focus of the government. Chinese merchants
came to trade; some settled in the country and received official positions. A number of
Chinese merchants and migrants became high dignitaries in the court.
From the mid-19th century onward, European merchants were increasingly active.
The Bowring Treaty, signed in 1855, guaranteed the privileges of British traders.
The Harris Treaty of 1856, which updated the Roberts Treaty of 1833, extended the
same guarantees to American traders.
The domestic market developed slowly, with serfdom a possible cause of domestic
stagnation. Most of the male population in Siam was in the service of court officials,
while their wives and daughters may have traded on a small scale in local markets.
Those who were heavily indebted might sell themselves as slaves. King Rama
V abolished serfdom and slavery in 1901 and 1905, respectively.
From the early 20th century to the end of World War II, Siam's economy gradually
became globalized. Major entrepreneurs were ethnic Chinese who became Siamese
nationals. Exports of agricultural products (especially rice) were very important and
Thailand has been among the top rice exporters in the world. The Siamese economy
suffered greatly from the Great Depression, a cause of the Siamese revolution of 1932.
[46]

Significant investment in education in the 1930s (and again in the 1950s) laid the basis
for economic growth, as did a liberal approach to trade and investment. [47]
After 1945[edit]
 Life in Thailand

 Cuisine
 Culture
 Dance
 Instruments
 Demographics
 Economy
 Education
 Film
 Holidays
 Languages
 Literature
 Media
 Monarchy
 Music
 Politics
 Religion
 Society
 Sport
 Tourism

 v
 t
 e

1945–1955[edit]
Postwar domestic and international politics played significant roles in Thai economic
development for most of the Cold War era. From 1945 to 1947 (when the Cold War had
not yet begun), the Thai economy suffered because of the Second World War. During
the war, the Thai government (led by Field Marshal Luang Phibulsongkram) allied with
Japan and declared war against the Allies. After the war, Thailand had to supply 1.5
million tons of rice to Western countries without charge, a burden on the country's
economic recovery. The government tried to solve the problem by establishing a rice
office to oversee the rice trade. During this period, a multiple-exchange-rate system was
introduced amid fiscal problems, and the kingdom experienced a shortage of consumer
goods.[48]
In November 1947, a brief democratic period was ended by a military coup and the Thai
economy regained its momentum. In his dissertation, Somsak Nilnopkoon considers the
period from 1947 to 1951 one of prosperity. [48] By April 1948, junta Phibulsongkram, the
wartime prime minister, returned to his previous office. He, however, was caught in a
power struggle between his subordinates. To preserve his power, Phibulsongkram
began an anti-communist campaign to seek support from the United States. [49] As a
result, from 1950 onward, Thailand received military and economic aid from the US. The
Phibulsongkram government established many state enterprises, which were seen as
economic nationalism. The state (and its bureaucrats) dominated capital allocation in
the kingdom. Ammar Siamwalla, one of Thailand's most prominent economists, calls it
the period of "bureaucratic capitalism". [49]
1955–1985[edit]
In 1955, Thailand began to see a change in its economy fueled by domestic and
international politics. The power struggle between the two main factions of the Phibul
regime—led by Police General Phao Sriyanond and General (later, Field Marshal) Sarit
Thanarat—increased, causing Sriyanonda to unsuccessfully seek support from the US
for a coup against Phibulsongkram regime. Luang Phibulsongkram attempted to
democratize his regime, seeking popular support by developing the economy. He again
turned to the US, asking for economic rather than military aid. The US responded with
unprecedented economic aid to the kingdom from 1955 to 1959. [49] The Phibulsongkram
government also made important changes to the country's fiscal policies, including
scrapping the multiple-exchange-rate system in favor of a fixed, unified system which
was in use until 1984. The government also neutralized trade and conducted secret
diplomacy with the People's Republic of China, displeasing the United States.
Despite his attempts to maintain power, Luang Phibulsongkram was deposed (with
Field Marshal Phin Choonhavan and Police General Phao Sriyanond) on 16 September
1957 in a coup led by Field Marshal Sarit Thanarat. The Thanarat regime (in power from
1957 to 1973) maintained the course set by the Phibulsongkram regime with US
support after severing all ties with the People's Republic of China and supporting US
operations in Indochina. It developed the country's infrastructure and privatized state
enterprises unrelated to that infrastructure. During this period, a number of economic
institutions were established, including the Bureau of Budget, the NESDC, and
the Thailand Board of Investment (BOI). The National Economic and Social
Development Plan was implemented in 1961. [50] During this period, the market-oriented
Import-Substituting Industrialization (ISI) led to economic expansion in the kingdom
during the 1960s.[51] According to former President Richard M. Nixon's 1967 Foreign
Affairs article, Thailand entered a period of rapid growth in 1958 (with an average
growth rate of seven percent a year).[52]
From the 1970s to 1984, Thailand suffered from many economic problems: decreasing
US investment, budget deficits, oil-price spikes, and inflation. Domestic politics were
also unstable. With the Vietnamese occupation of Cambodia on 25 December 1978,
Thailand became the front-line state in the struggle against communism, surrounded by
three communist countries and a socialist Burma under General Ne Win. Successive
governments tried to solve the economic problems by promoting exports and tourism,
still important for the Thai economy.[53]
One of the best-known measures to deal with the economic problems of that time was
implemented under General Prem Tinsulanonda's government, in power from 1980 to
1988. Between 1981 and 1984, the government devalued the national currency, the
Thai baht (THB), three times. On 12 May 1981, it was devalued by 1.07 percent, from
THB20.775/US$ to THB21/US$. On 15 July 1981, it was again devalued, this time by
8.7 percent (from THB21/US$ to THB23/US$). The third devaluation, on 5 November
1984, was the most significant: 15 percent, from THB23/US$ to THB27/US$. [54] The
government also replaced the country's fixed exchange rate (where it was pegged to the
US dollar) with a "multiple currency basket peg system" in which the US dollar bore 80
percent of the weight.[55] Calculated from the IMF's World Economic Outlook Database,
in the period 1980–1984, the Thai economy had an average GDP growth rate of 5.4
percent.[56]
1985–1997[edit]
Concurrent with the third devaluation of the Thai baht, on 22 September 1985, Japan,
the US, the United Kingdom, France, and West Germany signed the Plaza Accord to
depreciate the US dollar in relation to the yen and the Deutsche Mark. Since the dollar
accounted for 80 percent of the Thai currency basket, the baht was depreciated further,
making Thailand's exports more competitive and the country more attractive to foreign
direct investment (FDI) (especially from Japan, whose currency had appreciated since
1985). In 1988, Prem Tinsulanonda resigned and was succeeded by Chatichai
Choonhavan, the first democratically elected prime minister of Thailand since 1976.
The Cambodian-Vietnamese War was ending; Vietnam gradually retreated from
Cambodia by 1989, enhancing Thai economic development.
After the 1984 baht devaluation and the 1985 Plaza Accord, although the public sector
struggled due to fiscal constraints, the private sector grew. The country's improved
foreign trade and an influx of foreign direct investment (mainly from Japan) triggered an
economic boom from 1987 to 1996. Although Thailand had previously promoted its
exports, during this period the country shifted from import-substitution (ISI) to export-
oriented industrialization (EOI). During this decade the Thai GDP (calculated from the
IMF World Economic Outlook database) had an average growth rate of 9.5 percent per
year, with a peak of 13.3 percent in 1988.[56] In the same period, the volume of Thai
exports of goods and services had an average growth rate of 14.8 percent, with a peak
of 26.1 percent in 1988.[56]
Economic problems persisted. From 1987 to 1996, Thailand experienced a current
account deficit averaging −5.4 percent of GDP per year, and the deficit continued to
increase. In 1996, the current account deficit accounted for −7.887 percent of GDP
(US$14.351 billion).[56] A shortage of capital was another problem. The first Chuan
Leekpai government, in office from September 1992 to May 1995, tried to solve this
problem by granting Bangkok International Banking Facility (BIBF) licenses to Thai
banks in 1993. This allowed BIBF banks to benefit from Thailand's high-interest rate by
borrowing from foreign financial institutions at low interest and loaning to Thai
businesses. By 1997, foreign debt had risen to US$109,276 billion (65% of which was
short-term debt), while Thailand had US$38,700 billion in international reserves. [57] Many
loans were backed by real estate, creating an economic bubble. By late 1996, there was
a loss of confidence in the country's financial institutions; the government closed
18 trust companies and three commercial banks. The following year, 56 financial
institutions were closed by the government. [57]
Another problem was foreign speculation. Aware of Thailand's economic problems and
its currency basket exchange rate, foreign speculators (including hedge funds) were
certain that the government would again devalue the baht, under pressure on both
the spot and forward markets. In the spot market, to force devaluation, speculators took
out loans in baht and made loans in dollars. In the forward market, speculators
(believing that the baht would soon be devalued) bet against the currency by contracting
with dealers who would give dollars in return for an agreement to repay a specific
amount of baht several months in the future. [58]
In the government, there was a call from Virapong Ramangkul (one of Prime
Minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh's economic advisers) to devalue the baht, which was
supported by former Prime Minister Prem Tinsulanonda. [59] Yongchaiyudh ignored them,
relying on the Bank of Thailand (led by Governor Rerngchai Marakanond, who spent as
much as US$24,000 billion – about two-thirds of Thailand's international reserves) to
protect the baht. On 2 July 1997, Thailand had US$2,850 billion remaining in
international reserves,[57] and could no longer protect the baht. That day Marakanond
decided to float the baht, triggering the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis.
1997–2000[edit]

Countries affected by the Asian Financial Crisis

The Thai economy collapsed as a result of the 1997 Asian financial crisis. Within a few
months, the value of the baht floated from THB25/US$ (its lowest point) to THB56/US$.
The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) dropped from a peak of 1,753.73 in 1994 to a
low of 207.31 in 1998.[60] The country's GDP dropped from THB3.115  trillion at the end
of 1996 to THB2.749  trillion at the end of 1998. In dollar terms, it took Thailand as long
as 10 years to regain its 1996 GDP. The unemployment rate went up nearly threefold:
from 1.5 percent of the labor force in 1996 to 4.4 percent in 1998. [61]
A sharp decrease in the value of the baht abruptly increased foreign debt, undermining
financial institutions. Many were sold, in part, to foreign investors while others went
bankrupt. Due to low international reserves from the Bank of Thailand's currency-
protection measures, the government had to accept a loan from the International
Monetary Fund (IMF). Overall, Thailand received US$17.2 billion in aid.[62]
The crisis impacted Thai politics. One direct effect was that Prime Minister Chavalit
Yongchaiyudh resigned under pressure on 6 November 1997, succeeded by opposition
leader Chuan Leekpai. The second Leekpai government, in office from November 1997
to February 2001, tried to implement economic reforms based on IMF-guided neo-
liberal capitalism. It pursued strict fiscal policies (keeping interest rates high and cutting
government spending), enacting 11 laws it called "bitter medicine" and critics called "the
11 nation-selling laws". The Thai government and its supporters maintained that with
these measures, the Thai economy improved.
In 1999, Thailand had a positive GDP growth rate for the first time since the crisis. Many
critics, however, mistrusted the IMF and maintained that government-spending cuts
harmed the recovery. Unlike economic problems in Latin America and Africa, they
asserted, the Asian financial crisis was born in the private sector and the IMF measures
were inappropriate. The positive growth rate in 1999 was because the country's GDP
had gone down for two consecutive years, as much as −10.5 percent in 1998 alone. In
terms of the baht, it was not until 2002 (in dollar terms, not until 2006) that Thailand
would regain its 1996 GDP. An additional 1999 loan from the Miyazawa Plan made the
question of whether (or to what extent) the Leekpai government helped the Thai
economy controversial.
Recent economic history (2001-present)[edit]
An indirect effect of the financial crisis on Thai politics was the rise of Thaksin
Shinawatra. In reaction to the government's economic policies, Thaksin
Shinawatra's Thai Rak Thai Party won a landslide victory over Leekpai's Democrat
Party in the 2001 general election and took office in February 2001. Although weak
export demand held the GDP growth rate to 2.2 percent in the first year of his
administration, the first Thaksin Shinawatra government performed well from 2002 to
2004 with growth rates of 5.3, 7.1 and 6.3 percent respectively. His policy was later
called Thaksinomics. During Thaksin's first term, Thailand's economy regained
momentum and the country paid its IMF debt by July 2003 (two years ahead of
schedule). Despite criticism of Thaksinomics, Thaksin's party won another landslide
victory over the Democrat Party in the 2005 general election. The official economic data
related to Thanksinomics reveals that between 2001 and 2011, Isan's GDP per capita
more than doubled to US$1,475, while, over the same period, GDP in the Bangkok area
rose from US$7,900 to nearly US$13,000.[63]

Phuket in 2004. The Indian Ocean tsunami affected the economy

Thaksin's second term was less successful. On 26 December 2004, the Indian Ocean
tsunami occurred. In addition to the human toll, it impacted the first-quarter Thai GDP in
2005. The Yellow Shirts, a coalition of protesters against Thaksin, also emerged in
2005. In 2006, Thaksin dissolved the parliament and called for a general election.
The April 2006 general election was boycotted by the main opposition parties. Thaksin's
party won again, but the election was declared invalid by the Constitutional Court.
Another general election, scheduled for October 2006, was cancelled. On 19
September a group of soldiers calling themselves the Council for Democratic Reform
under the Constitutional Monarchy and led by Sonthi Boonyaratglin organized a coup,
ousting Thaksin while he was in New York preparing for a speech at the United Nations
General Assembly. During the last year of the second Thaksin government, the Thai
GDP grew by 5.1 percent. Under his governments, Thailand's overall ranking in the IMD
Global Competitiveness Scoreboard rose from 31st in 2002 to 25th in 2005 before
falling to 29th in 2006.[64]
After the coup, Thailand's economy again suffered. From the last quarter of 2006
through 2007, the country was ruled by a military junta led by General Surayud
Chulanont, who was appointed prime minister in October 2006. The 2006 GDP growth
rate slowed from 6.1, 5.1 and 4.8 percent year-over-year in the first three-quarters to 4.4
percent (YoY) in Q4.[65] Thailand's ranking on the IMD Global Competitiveness
Scoreboard fell from 26th in 2005 to 29th in 2006 and 33rd in 2007. [64] Thaksin's plan for
massive infrastructure investments was unmentioned until 2011, when his younger
sister Yingluck Shinawatra entered office. In 2007, the Thai economy grew by 5 percent.
On 23 December 2007, the military government held a general election. The pro-
Thaksin People's Power Party, led by Samak Sundaravej, won a landslide victory
over Abhisit Vejjajiva's Democrat Party.
Under the People's Power Party-led government the country fell into political turmoil.
This, combined with the financial crisis of 2007–2008 cut the 2008 Thai GDP growth
rate to 2.5%.[65] Before the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) and the Yellow Shirts
reconvened in March 2008, the GDP grew by 6.5 percent (YoY) in the first quarter of the
year.[65] Thailand's ranking on the IMD World Competitiveness Scoreboard rose from
33rd in 2007 to 27th in 2008. The Yellow Shirts occupied the Government House of
Thailand in August 2008, and on 9 September the Constitutional Court delivered a
decision removing Samak Sundaravej from the prime ministership.
Somchai Wongsawat, Thaksin's brother-in-law, succeeded Samak Sundaravej as prime
minister on 18 September. In the US the financial crisis reached its peak while the
Yellow Shirts were still in Government House, impeding government operations. GDP
growth dropped from 5.2 percent (YoY) in Q2 2008 to 3.1 percent (YoY) and −4.1
percent (YoY) in Q3 and Q4. From 25 November to 3 December 2008 the Yellow Shirts,
protesting Somchai Wongsawat's prime ministership, seized the two Bangkok airports,
(Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang), and damaged Thailand's image and economy. On 2
December the Thai Constitutional Court issued a decision dissolving the People's
Power Party, ousting Somchai Wongsawat as prime minister.
A coalition government under Abhisit Vejjajiva was formed in 2008

By the end of 2008, a coalition government led by Abhisit Vejjajiva's Democrat Party
was formed: "[The] legitimacy of the Abhisit government has been questioned since the
first day that the Democrat party took the office in 2008 as it was allegedly formed by
the military in a military camp".[66] The government was under pressure from the US
financial crisis and the Red Shirts, who refused to acknowledge Abhisit Vejjajiva's prime
ministry and called for new elections as soon as possible. However, Abhisit rejected the
call until he dissolved the parliament for a new election in May 2011. In 2009, his first
year in office, Thailand experienced a negative growth rate for the first time since the
1997 financial crisis: a GDP of −2.3 percent. [65]
In 2010, the country's growth rate increased to 7.8 percent. However, with the instability
surrounding the major 2010 protests, the GDP growth of Thailand settled at around 4–5
percent from highs of 5–7 percent under the previous civilian administration—political
uncertainty was identified as the primary cause of a decline in investor and consumer
confidence. The IMF predicted that the Thai economy would rebound strongly from the
low 0.1 percent GDP growth in 2011, to 5.5 percent in 2012 and then 7.5 percent in
2013, due to the accommodating monetary policy of the Bank of Thailand, as well as a
package of fiscal stimulus measures introduced by the incumbent Yingluck
Shinawatra government.[67]
In the first two-quarters of 2011, when the political situation was relatively calm, the Thai
GDP grew by 3.2 and 2.7 percent (YoY).[65] Under Abhisit's administration, Thailand's
ranking fell from 26 in 2009, to 27 in 2010 and 2011, [64] and the country's infrastructure
declined since 2009.[64]
In the 2011 general election, the pro-Thaksin Pheu Thai Party again won a decisive
victory over the Democrat Party, and Thaksin's youngest sister, Yingluck Shinawatra,
succeeded Abhisit as prime minister. Elected in July, the Pheu Thai Party-led
government began its administration in late-August, and when Yingluck entered office,
the 2011 Thailand floods threatened the country—from 25 July 2011 to 16 January
2012, flood waters covered 65 of the country's 76 provinces. The World Bank assessed
the total damage in December 2011 and reported a cost of THB1.425 trillion (about
US$45.7 billion).[68]
The 2011 GDP growth rate fell to 0.1 percent, with a contraction of 8.9 percent (YoY) in
Q4 alone.[69] The country's overall competitiveness ranking, according to the IMD World
Competitiveness Scoreboard, fell from 27 in 2011 to 30 in 2012. [70]
In 2012, Thailand was recovering from the previous year's severe flood. The Yingluck
government planned to develop the country's infrastructure, ranging from a long-term
water-management system to logistics. The Eurozone crisis reportedly harmed
Thailand's economic growth in 2012, directly and indirectly affecting the country's
exports. Thailand's GDP grew by 6.5 percent, with a headline inflation rate of 3.02
percent, and a current account surplus of 0.7 percent of the country's GDP. [31]

The Thai baht depreciated during the 2013 Thai protests

On 23 December 2013, the Thai baht dropped to a three-year low due to the political
unrest during the preceding months. According to Bloomberg, the Thai currency lost 4.6
percent over November and December, while the main stock index also dropped (9.1
percent).[71]
Following the Thai military coup in May 2014, Agence France Presse (AFP) published
an article that claimed that the nation was on the "verge of recession". Published on 17
June 2014, the article's main subject is the departure of nearly 180,000 Cambodians
from Thailand due to fears of an immigration "clampdown", but concluded with
information on the Thai economy's contraction of 2.1 percent quarter-on-quarter, from
January to the end of March 2014.[72]
Since the cessation of the curfew that was enacted by the military in May 2014, the
Federation of Thai Industries (FTI)'s chairman, Supant Mongkolsuthree, said that he
projects growth of 2.5–3 percent for the Thai economy in 2014, as well as a
revitalisation of the Thai tourist industry in the second half of 2014. Furthermore, Supant
also cited the Board of Investment's future consideration of a backlog of investment
projects, estimated at about 700 billion baht, as an economically beneficial process that
would occur around October 2014.[73]
Thailand's economy suffered a slowdown around the mid-2010s under the helm of Prime Minister Chan-ocha

Thailand's flagging economic performance led, at the end of 2015, to increased criticism
of the National Council for Peace and Order's (NCPO) handling of the economy, both at
home and in influential Western media.[74][75] The country's economic growth of 2.8% in
the first quarter of 2019 was recorded to be the slowest since 2014. [76]
The military government unveiled its newest economic initiative, "Thailand 4.0", in 2016.
Thailand 4.0 is the "...master plan to free Thailand from the middle-income trap, making
it a high-income nation in five years."[77]
The government narrative describes Thailand 1.0 as the agrarian economy of Thailand
decades ago. Thailand 1.0 gave way to Thailand 2.0, when the nation's economy
moved on to light industry, textiles, and food processing. Thailand 3.0 describes the
present day, with heavy industry and energy accounting for up to 70 percent of the Thai
GDP.[77] Thailand 4.0 is described as an economy driven by high-tech industries and
innovation that will lead to the production of value-added products and services.
According to General Prayut Chan-o-cha, the prime minister, Thailand 4.0 is composed
of three elements: 1. Make Thailand a high-income nation, 2. Make Thailand a more
inclusive society, and 3. Focus on sustainable growth and development. [78]
Critics of Thailand 4.0 point out that Thailand lacks the specialists and experts,
especially in high-technology, needed to modernise Thai industry. "...the government
will have to allow the import of foreign specialists to help bring forward Thailand 4.0,"
said Somchai Jitsuchon, research director for inclusive development at the Thailand
Development Research Institute (TDRI). "...that won't be easy as local professional
associations will oppose the idea as they want to reserve those professional careers for
Thais only".[77] He went on to point out that only 56 percent of Thailand's population has
access to the Internet, an obstacle to the creation of a high-tech workforce. A major
thrust of Thailand 4.0 is encouraging a move to robotic manufacturing. But Thailand's
membership in the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC), makes cheap workers from
neighbouring countries even more readily available, which will make it harder to make
the economic case to switch to robots. Somchai also pointed out that the bureaucratic
nature of the Thai government will make realisation of Thailand 4.0 difficult. Every action
plan calls for results from several ministries, "all of which are big, clumsily-run
organisations" slow to perform.[77]
In September 2020, World Bank forecast that Thai economy would contract 8.9% by the
end of the year due to COVID-19 pandemic.[79] The Thai government cut jet fuel
tax since February 2020.[80]

Macroeconomic trends[edit]
The following table shows the main economic indicators in 1980–2021 (with IMF staff
estimates in 2022–2027). Inflation under 5% is in green. [81]
GDP GDP
GDP Inflation Unemploymen Government
GDP per GDP per
growth rate t debt
Year capita (in Bil.
capita
(in Bil. US$nominal) (in
(in US$ (in US$ (real) (in Percent) (in % of GDP)
US$PPP) Percent)
PPP) nominal)

1980 74.7 1,576.1 33.4 705.5 4.6% 19.7% n/a n/a

1,791.
1981 86.6 36.0 744.9 5.9% 12.7% n/a n/a
2
1,965.
1982 96.8 37.8 767.4 5.4% 5.3% n/a n/a
9
2,117.
1983 106.2 41.4 824.4 5.6% 3.7% n/a n/a
4
2,278.
1984 116.4 43.2 845.1 5.8% 0.8% n/a n/a
4
2,415.
1985 125.7 40.2 772.4 4.6% 2.4% n/a n/a
5
2,553.
1986 135.3 44.5 840.3 5.5% 1.8% n/a n/a
7
2,814.
1987 151.8 52.2 967.7 9.5% 2.5% n/a n/a
7
3,244. 1,160. 13.3
1988 178.1 63.7 3.9% n/a n/a
3 5 %
3,722. 1,338. 12.2
1989 207.6 74.6 5.4% n/a n/a
9 3 %
4,251. 1,564. 11.6
1990 240.4 88.5 5.8% n/a n/a
2 2 %
4,708. 1,769.
1991 269.5 101.2 8.4% 5.7% n/a n/a
1 0
5,207. 1,999.
1992 301.0 115.6 9.2% 4.1% n/a n/a
2 2
 5,740. 2,209.
1993 334.9 128.9 8.7% 3.3% n/a n/a
8 4
6,274. 2,491.
1994 369.4 146.7 8.0% 5.1% n/a n/a
5 4
6,857. 2,846.
1995 407.8 169.3 8.1% 5.8% n/a n/a
3 6
7,296. 3,044.
1996 438.7 183.0 5.7% 5.8% n/a 15.2%
2 0
7,132. 2,468.
1997 434.0 150.2 -2.8% 5.6% n/a 40.5%
7 2
6,582. 1,845.
1998 405.4 113.7 -7.6% 8.0% n/a 49.9%
4 8
6,900. 2,031.
1999 429.9 126.5 4.6% 0.2% n/a 56.6%
4 2
7,294. 2,003.
2000 459.2 126.1 4.5% 1.7% n/a 57.8%
6 6
7,644. 1,890.
2001 485.7 120.1 3.4% 1.6% 3.3% 57.5%
6 3
8,173. 2,094.
2002 523.6 134.2 6.1% 0.7% 2.4% 54.9%
0 3
8,866. 2,357.
2003 572.4 152.1 7.2% 1.8% 2.2% 47.5%
9 0
9,611. 2,657.
2004 624.7 172.8 6.3% 2.8% 2.1% 46.3%
3 9
10,261 2,890.
2005 671.3 189.1 4.2% 4.5% 1.9% 45.5%
.3 5
11,036 3,366.
2006 726.3 221.6 5.0% 4.7% 1.5% 39.2%
.6 8
11,884 3,974.
2007 786.5 263.0 5.4% 2.2% 1.4% 36.0%
.2 0
12,256 4,373.
2008 815.4 291.0 1.7% 5.5% 1.4% 34.9%
.5 5
12,188 4,208.
2009 815.0 281.4 -0.7% -0.9% 1.5% 42.4%
.3 4
13,196 5,073.
2010 886.8 340.9 7.5% 3.3% 1.1% 39.8%
.8 7
13,519 5,493.
2011 912.8 370.9 0.8% 3.8% 0.7% 39.1%
.1 7
1,008. 14,871 5,863.
2012 397.7 7.2% 3.0% 0.7% 41.9%
8 .0 0
2013 1,049. 15,407 420.4 6,168. 2.7% 2.2% 0.7% 42.2%
 9 .7 7
1,059. 15,480 5,952.
2014 407.4 1.0% 1.9% 0.8% 43.3%
4 .2 4
1,087. 15,822 5,837.
2015 401.1 3.1% -0.9% 0.9% 42.6%
2 .4 8
1,146. 16,616 5,995.
2016 413.5 3.4% 0.2% 1.0% 41.7%
0 .2 2
1,205. 17,423 6,596.
2017 456.5 4.2% 0.7% 1.2% 41.8%
8 .0 2
1,286. 18,533 7,296.
2018 506.5 4.2% 1.1% 1.1% 41.9%
8 .9 0
1,338. 19,216 7,813.
2019 544.0 2.2% 0.7% 1.0% 41.1%
0 .9 6
1,270. 18,197 7,159.
2020 499.8 -6.2% -0.8% 2.0% 49.5%
2 .9 7
1,343. 19,203 7,232.
2021 505.9 1.5% 1.2% 1.5% 58.4%
3 .3 3
1,479. 21,114 7,630.
2022 534.8 2.8% 6.3% 1.0% 61.5%
6 .2 9
1,589. 22,644 8,273.
2023 580.7 3.7% 2.8% 1.0% 61.4%
3 .8 9
1,680. 23,912 8,504.
2024 597.6 3.6% 1.5% 1.0% 61.3%
3 .8 4
1,768. 25,142 9,103.
2025 640.2 3.3% 2.3% 1.0% 60.9%
3 .7 0
1,859. 26,424 9,562.
2026 673.0 3.2% 2.0% 1.0% 59.3%
5 .0 9
1,953. 27,743 10,401
2027 732.2 3.0% 2.0% 1.0% 59.5%
0 .5 .9

Over the past 32 years, the economy of Thailand has expanded. The GDP at current
prices shows that from 1980 to 2012 the Thai economy has expanded nearly sixteen-
fold when measured in baht, or nearly eleven-fold when measured in dollars. This
makes Thailand the 32nd-biggest economy in the world, according to the IMF. With
regard to GDP, Thailand has undergone five periods of economic growth. From 1980 to
1984, the economy has grown by an average of 5.4 percent per year. Regional
businesses account for 70 percent of GDP, with Bangkok contributing 30 percent. [82]
After the 1984 baht devaluation and the 1985 Plaza Accord, a significant amount of
foreign direct investment (mainly from Japan) raised the average growth rate per year to
8.8 percent from 1985 to 1996 before slumping to −5.9 percent per year from 1997 to
1998. From 1999 to 2006, Thailand averaged a growth rate of 5.0 percent per year.
Since 2007, the country has faced a number of challenges: a military coup in late 2006,
political turmoil from 2008 to 2011, the US financial crisis reaching its peak from 2008 to
2009, floods in 2010 and 2011, and the 2012 Eurozone crisis. As a result, from 2007 to
2012 the average GDP growth rate was 3.25 percent per year.
Thailand suffers by comparison with neighboring countries in terms of GDP per capita.
In 2011, China's nominal GDP per capita surpassed Thailand's, giving the latter the
lowest nominal GDP per capita of its peers. According to the IMF, in 2012 Thailand
ranked 92nd in the world in its nominal GDP per capita.

Poverty and inequality[edit]

The number of Thailand's poor declined from 7.1 million people in 2014, 10.5 percent of
the population, to 4.9 million people in 2015, or 7.2 percent of the population. Thailand's
2014 poverty line was defined as an income of 2,647 baht per month. For 2015 it was
2,644 baht per month. According to the NESDC in a report entitled, Poverty and
Inequality in Thailand, the country's growth in 2014 was 0.8 percent and 2.8 percent in
2015. NESDC Secretary-General Porametee Vimolsiri said that the growth was due to
the effect of governmental policies. The report also noted that 10 percent of the Thai
population earned 35 percent of Thailand's aggregate income and owned 61.5 percent
of its land.[83]
Thailand was ranked as the world's third most unequal nation, behind Russia and India,
in the Credit Suisse Global Wealth Databook 2016 (companion volume to the Global
Wealth Report 2016[84][failed verification]), with one percent of the Thai population estimated to own
58 percent of Thailand's wealth.[85][86]

Industries[edit]
SMEs[edit]
Virtually all of Thailand's firms, 99.7 percent, or 2.7 million enterprises, are classed as
being small or medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). As of 2017, SMEs account for 80.3
percent (13 million) of Thailand's total employment. In sheer numbers SMEs
predominate, but their contribution to the nation's GDP decreased from 41.3 percent of
GDP in 2002 to 37.4 percent in 2013. Their declining contribution is reflected in their
turnover rate: seventy percent fail within "...a few years". [87]: 47 
Agriculture, forestry and fishing[edit]
Main article: Agriculture in Thailand

Thailand has been the largest rice exporter in the world. Forty-nine percent of Thailand's labor force is
employed in agriculture.[88]
Developments in agriculture since the 1960s have supported Thailand's transition to an
industrialised economy.[88] As recently as 1980, agriculture supplied 70 percent of
employment.[88] In 2008, agriculture, forestry and fishing contributed 8.4 percent to GDP;
in rural areas, farm jobs supply half of employment. [88] Rice is the most important crop in
the country and Thailand had long been the world's number one exporter of rice, until
recently falling behind both India and Vietnam. [89] It is a major exporter of shrimp. Other
crops include coconuts, corn, rubber, soybeans, sugarcane and tapioca.[90]
Thailand is the world's third-largest seafood exporter. Overall fish exports were worth
around US$3 billion in 2014, according to the Thai Frozen Foods Association.
Thailand's fishing industry employs more than 300,000 persons. [91]
In 1985, Thailand designated 25 percent of its land area for forest protection and 15
percent for timber production. Forests have been set aside for conservation and
recreation, and timber forests are available for the forestry industry. Between 1992 and
2001, exports of logs and sawn timber increased from 50,000 to 2,000,000 cubic meters
per year.
The regional avian-flu outbreak contracted Thailand's agricultural sector in 2004, and
the tsunami of 26 December devastated the Andaman Sea fishing industry. In 2005 and
2006, agricultural GDP was reported to have contracted by 10 percent. [92]
Thailand is the world's second-largest exporter of gypsum (after Canada), although
government policy limits gypsum exports to support prices. In 2003 Thailand produced
more than 40 different minerals, with an annual value of about US$740 million. In
September 2003, to encourage foreign investment in mining the government relaxed its
restrictions on mining by foreign companies and reduced mineral royalties owed to the
state.[92]
Industry and manufacturing[edit]

Production-line workers at a factory in Chachoengsao.

In 2007 industry contributed 43.9 percent of GDP, employing 14 percent of the

workforce. Industry expanded at an average annual rate of 3.4 percent from 1995 to
2005. The most important sub-sector of industry is manufacturing, which accounted for
34.5 percent of GDP in 2004.
Electrical and electronics[edit]
Electrical and electronics (E&E) equipment is Thailand's largest export sector,
amounting to about 15 percent of total exports. In 2014 Thailand's E&E exports totalled
US$55 billion.[93]: 28  The E&E sector employed approximately 780,000 workers in 2015,
representing 12.2 per cent of the total employment in manufacturing. [93]: 27 
As of 2020, Thailand is the largest exporter of computers and computer components in
ASEAN. Thailand is the world's second-biggest maker of hard disk drives (HDDs) after
China, with Western Digital and Seagate Technology among the biggest producers. [94]
[95]
 But problems may loom for Thailand's high-tech sector. In January 2015, the
country's manufacturing index fell for the 22nd consecutive month, with production of
goods like televisions and radios down 38 percent year-on-year. Manufacturers are
relocating to nations where labour is cheaper than Thailand. In April 2015, production
will cease at an LG Electronics factory in Rayong Province.[96] Production is being moved
to Vietnam, where labour costs per day are US$6.35 versus US$9.14 in Thailand.
Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. will site two large smartphone factories in Vietnam. It
made around US$11 billion worth of investment pledges to the Vietnamese economy in
2014. As technologies evolve, e.g., as HDDs are replaced by solid-state drives (SSDs),
manufacturers are reexamining where best to produce these latest technologies. [95] In
addition, 74 percent of salaried workers in the sector face a high risk of being replaced
by robots, as these positions consist of "repetitive, non-cognitive tasks". [93]: 39 
Automotive[edit]
Main article: Automotive industry in Thailand
Thailand is the ASEAN leader in automotive production and sales. The sector employed
approximately 417,000 workers in 2015, representing 6.5 per cent of total employment
across all manufacturing industries and accounting for roughly 10 percent of the
country's GDP. In 2014, Thailand exported US$25.8 billion in automotive goods. [93]: 12–13  As
many as 73 percent of automotive sector workers in Thailand face a high risk of job loss
due to automation.[93]: xix 

Cars, motorbikes, parts and components export of Thailand

Year Value (THB billion) as % of GDP

2011 566.355 5.37%

2012 751.132 6.08%

2013 812.085 6.29%

2014 832.750 6.31%

2015 892.623 6.53%

2016 944.434 6.58%

2017 881.380 5.90%

2018 882.083 n/a

Car production in Thailand

Production for Export value

Export value
Year Units as %
(THB billion)
Domestic Export of GDP

2005  1,125,316 690,409 434,907 203.025 2.86%

2006  1,188,044 646,838 541,206 240.764 3.07%

2007  1,287,379 598,287 689,092 306.595 3.60%

2008  1,394,029 610,317 783,712 351.326 3.78%

2009  999,378 447,318 552,060 251.342 2.78%

2010  1,645,304 750,614 894,690 404.659 4.00%

2011 1,457,795 723,845 733,950 343.383 3.26%

1,432,05
2012  2,453,717 1,021,665 490.134 3.97%
2

1,335,78
2013  2,457,086 1,121,303 512.186 3.97%
3

2014  1,880,007 757,853 1,122,154 527.423 3.99%

2015  1,913,002 712,028 1,200,974 592.550 4.33%

2016  1,944,417 776,843 1,167,574 631.845 4.40%

2017  1,988,823 862,391 1,126,432 603.037 4.04%

1,024,96
2018  2,167,694 1,142,733 594.809 n/a
1

Source: Federation of Thai Industries

Gems and jewelry[edit]
Gem and jewelry exports are Thailand's third-largest export category by value, trailing
automotive and parts and computer components. In 2019, gem and jewelry exports,
including gold, exceeded US$15.7 billion, up 30.3% from 2018 (486 billion baht, up
26.6%). Key export markets included ASEAN, India, the Middle East, and Hong Kong.
The industry employs more than 700,000 workers according to the Gem and Jewelry
Institute of Thailand (GIT).[97]
Energy[edit]
Further information: Energy in Thailand
Thailand's 2004 energy consumption was estimated at 3.4 quadrillion British thermal
units, representing about 0.7 percent of total world energy consumption. Thailand is a
net importer of oil and natural gas; however, the government is promoting ethanol to
reduce imports of petroleum and the gasoline additive methyl tertiary butyl ether.
In 2005 Thailand's daily oil consumption of 838,000 barrels per day (133,200 m3/d)
exceeded its production of 306,000 barrels per day (48,700 m3/d). Thailand's four oil
refineries have a combined capacity of 703,100 barrels per day (111,780 m3/d). The
government is considering a regional oil-processing and transportation hub serving
south-central China. In 2004, Thailand's natural-gas consumption of 1,055 billion cubic
feet (2.99×1010 m3) exceeded its production of 790 billion cubic feet (2.2×1010 m3).
Thailand's 2004 estimated coal consumption of 30.4 million short tons exceeded its
production of 22.1 million. As of January 2007, proven oil reserves totaled 290 million
barrels (46,000,000 m3) and proven natural-gas reserves were 14.8 trillion cubic feet
(420 km3). In 2003, recoverable coal reserves totalled 1,493 million short tons.[92]
In 2005, Thailand used about 118 billion kilowatt hours of electricity. Consumption rose
by 4.7 percent in 2006, to 133 billion kWh. According to the Electricity Generating
Authority of Thailand (the national electricity utility), power consumption by residential
users is increasing due to more favorable rates for residential customers than for the
industry and business sectors. Thailand's electric utility and petroleum companies (also
state-controlled) are being restructured.
Services[edit]
In 2007 the service sector (which includes tourism, banking and finance), contributed
44.7 percent of GDP and employed 37 percent of the workforce. [92] Thailand's service
industry is competitive, contributing to its export growth. [citation needed]
Banking and finance[edit]
See also: List of banks in Thailand
Dangerous levels of non-performing assets at Thai banks helped trigger an attack on
the baht by currency speculators which led to the Asian financial crisis in 1997–1998.
By 2003, nonperforming assets had been cut in half (to about 30 percent).
Despite a return to profitability, Thailand's banks continue to struggle with unrealized
losses and inadequate capital. The government is considering reforms, including an
integrated financial regulatory agency which would enable the Bank of Thailand to focus
on monetary policy. In addition, the government is attempting to strengthen the financial
sector through the consolidation of commercial, state- and foreign-owned institutions.
The 2004 Financial Sector Reform Master Plan provides tax breaks to financial
institutions engaging in mergers and acquisitions. The reform program has been
deemed successful by outside experts. In 2007 there were three state-owned
commercial banks, five state-owned specialized banks, fifteen Thai commercial banks,
and seventeen foreign banks in Thailand.[92]
The Bank of Thailand sought to stem the flow of foreign funds into the country in
December 2006, leading to the largest one-day drop in stock prices on the Stock
Exchange of Thailand since the 1997 Asian financial crisis. The sell-off by foreign
investors amounted to more than US$708 million.[92]
In 2019, the Bank of Thailand kept its benchmark interest rate unchanged for a fourth
straight meeting, with the concerns of high household debt and financial stability risks. [98]

One Baht note

Retail[edit]
Retail employs more than six million Thai workers. Most are employed by small
businesses. Large multinational and national retail players (such as Tesco Lotus, 7-
Eleven, Siam Makro, Big C, Villa Market, Central Group and Mall Group) are estimated
to employ fewer than 400,000 workers. This accounts for less than seven percent of
Thailand's total employment in retail.[93]: 70 
Tourism[edit]
Main article: Tourism in Thailand
In 2016, tourism revenue, 2.53 trillion baht, accounted for 17.7 percent of Thailand's
GDP, up from 16.7 percent in 2015. It is expected to generate 2.71 trillion baht in 2017.
The global average for GDP contribution from tourism is nine percent. [99]
Cryptocurrencies
Thailand's Ministry of Finance approved four licensed brokers and dealers of
cryptocurrencies in the country: Bx, Bitkub, Coins and Satang Pro. The country still did
not elaborated regulation for ICOs, though it announced in late 2018 to loosen the rules.
[100]

Labour[edit]
See also: Thai labour law
Thailand's labour force has been estimated at from 36.8 million employed (of 55.6
million adults of working age)[101] to 38.3 million (1Q2016).[102] About 49 percent were
employed in agriculture, 37 percent in the service sector and 14 percent in industry. In
2005 women constituted 48 percent of the labour force, and held an increased share of
professional jobs. Thailand's unemployment rate was 0.9 percent as of 2014, down from
two percent in 2004.[43] A World Bank survey showed that 83.5 percent of the Thai
workforce is unskilled.[101]
A joint study by the Quality Learning Foundation (QLF), Dhurakij Pundit
University (DPU), and the World Bank suggests that 12 million Thais may lose their jobs
to automation over the next 20 years, wiping out one-third of the positions in the
workforce.[101] The World Bank estimates that Thai workers are two times and five times
less productive than Malaysian and Singaporean workers respectively. The report
assesses the average output of Thai workers at US$25,000 (879,200 baht) in 2014
compared to Malaysia's US$50,000 and US$122,000 for Singapore. [101] A 2016 report by
the International Labor Office (ILO) estimates that over 70 percent of Thai workers are
in danger of being displaced by automation.[93]: xviii  Factories in Thailand are estimated to
be adding from 2,500–4,500 industrial robots per year. [103]: 18 
In fiscal year 2015, 71,000 Thais worked abroad in foreign countries. Taiwan employed
the most Thai employees overall with 59,220 persons, followed by South Korea at
24,228, Israel at 23,479, Singapore at 20,000, and the UAE at 14,000. Most employees
work in metal production, agriculture, textile manufacturing, and electronic part
manufacturing fields.[104] As of 2020, Thai migrant labourers overseas generate
remittances worth 140 billion baht.[105]
The number of migrant workers in Thailand is unknown. The official number—1,339,834
registered migrant workers from Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar—reported by the Office
of Foreign Workers Administration under the Ministry of Labour, represents only legal
migrant workers. Many more are presumed to be non-registered or illegal migrants.
The Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI) estimates that there may yet be
more illegal migrant workers than legal ones in Thailand. [106]

Foreign trade[edit]
Thailand Exports by Product (2014) from Harvard Atlas of Economic Complexity

Thai export destinations, 2006.

China has replaced the United States as Thailand's largest export market while the
latter still holds its position as its second-largest supplier (after Japan). While Thailand's
traditional major markets have been North America, Japan, and Europe, economic
recovery in Thailand's regional trading partners has helped Thai export growth.
Recovery from financial crisis depended heavily on increased exports to the rest
of Asia and the United States. Since 2005 the increase in export of automobiles from
Japanese manufacturers (particularly Toyota, Nissan and Isuzu) has helped improve
the trade balance, with over one million cars produced annually since then. Thailand
has joined the ranks of the world's top ten automobile-exporting nations. [107]
Machinery and parts, vehicles, integrated circuits, chemicals, crude oil,
fuels, iron and steel are among Thailand's principal imports. The increase in imports
reflects a need to fuel production of high-tech items and vehicles.
Thailand is a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO), the Cairns Group of
agricultural exporters and the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA), and has pursued free-
trade agreements. A China-Thailand Free Trade Agreement (FTA) began in October
2003. This agreement was limited to agricultural products, with a more comprehensive
FTA planned to be signed by 2010. Thailand also has a limited free-trade agreement
with India (since 2003) and a comprehensive Australia-Thailand Free Trade Agreement,
which began on 1 January 2005.
Thailand began free trade negotiations with Japan in February 2004, and an in-principle
agreement was agreed to in September 2005. Negotiations for a US-Thailand free trade
agreement have been underway, with a fifth round of meetings held in November 2005.
Several industries are restricted to foreign investment by the 1999 Foreign Business
Act. These industries include media, agriculture, distribution of land, professional
services, tourism, hotels, and construction. Share ownership of companies engaged in
these activities must be limited to a 49 percent minority stake. The 1966 US-Thailand
Treaty of Amity and Economic Relations provides exemption of these restrictions for
shareholders with United States citizenship. [108]
The Bangkok area is one of the most prosperous parts of Thailand and heavily
dominates the national economy, with the infertile northeast being the poorest. A
concern of successive Thai governments, and a focus of the recently ousted Thaksin
government, has been to reduce the regional disparities which have been exacerbated
by rapid economic growth in Bangkok and financial crisis.
Although little economic investment reaches other parts of the country except for tourist
zones, the government has stimulated provincial economic growth in the eastern
seaboard and the Chiang Mai area. Despite talk of other regional development, these
three regions and other tourist zones still dominate the national economy.
Although some US rights holders report good cooperation with Thai enforcement
authorities (including the Royal Thai Police and Royal Thai Customs), Thailand
remained on the priority watch list in 2012. The United States is encouraged that
Thailand's government has affirmed its commitment to improving IPR protection and
enforcement, but more must be done for Thailand to be removed from the list. [109]
Although the economy has grown moderately since 1999, future performance depends
on continued reform of the financial sector, corporate-debt restructuring,
attracting foreign investment and increasing exports. Telecommunications,
roads, electricity generation and ports showed increasing strain during the period of
sustained economic growth. Thailand is experiencing a growing shortage of engineers
and skilled technical personnel.
Major Trade Partners[edit]
The following table shows the largest trading partners for Thailand in 2021 by total trade
value in billions of USD.[110]

Country Total Trade Value Import Value Export Value Balance

 China 128.24 66.43 61.82 -4.61

 Country Total Trade Value Import Value Export Value Balance

 United States 65 14.58 50.43 35.85

 Japan 61.92 35.57 26.35 -9.22

 Malaysia 23.05 12.05 11 -1.05

 Australia 17.99 6.42 11.57 5.15

 Indonesia 17.37 8.22 9.15 0.93

 Singapore 17.15 7.34 9.81 2.46

 South Korea 16.9 9.9 7.01 -2.89

 Hong Kong 16.51 2.84 13.67 10.84

 India 15.08 6.41 8.67 2.26

Regional economies[edit]
Isan[edit]
Further information: Economy of Isan
The economy of Isan is dominated by agriculture, although output is poor and this
sector is decreasing in importance at the expense of trade and the service sector. Most
of the population is poor and badly educated. Many labourers have been driven
by poverty to seek work in other parts of Thailand or abroad.
Although Isan accounts for around a third of Thailand's population and a third of its
area, it produces only 8.9 percent of GDP. Its economy grew at 6.2 percent per annum
during the 1990s.
In 1995, 28 percent of the population was classed as below the poverty line, compared
to just 7 percent in central Thailand. In 2000, per capita income was 26,317 baht,
compared to 208,434 in Bangkok. Even within Isan, there is a rural/urban divide. In
1995, all of Thailand's ten poorest provinces were in Isan, the poorest being Sisaket.
However, most wealth and investment is concentrated in the four major cities
of Khorat, Ubon, Udon, and Khon Kaen. These four provinces account for 40 percent of
the region's population.
Special Economic Zones (SEZ)[edit]
In his televised national address on 23 January 2015 in the program "Return Happiness
to the People", Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha addressed the government's policy on
the establishment of special economic zones.[111]
He said that the policy would promote connectivity and regional economic development
on a sustainable basis. There are currently 10 SEZs in Thailand, with trade and
investment valued at almost 800 billion baht a year.
In 2014, the government launched a pilot project to set up six special economic zones in
five provinces: Tak, Mukdahan, Sa Kaeo, Songkhla, and Trat. In the second phase,
which is expected to begin in 2016, seven special economic zones will be established in
another five provinces: Chiang Rai, Kanchanaburi, Nong Khai, Nakhon Phanom,
and Narathiwat.[111]
In early 2015, the government approved an infrastructure development plan in special
economic zones. In 2015, the plan includes 45 projects, budgeted at 2.6 billion baht.
Another 79 projects, worth 7.9 billion baht, will be carried out in 2016. Relying on a mix
of government revenue, bond sales, and other funding, Prayut plans to spend US$83
billion over seven years on new railways, roads, and customs posts to establish cross-
border trade routes. The idea is to link some 2.4 billion consumers in China and India
with Asia's newest economic grouping, the ASEAN Economic Community, of which
Thailand is a member.[112]
Critics of the SEZs maintain that free trade agreements and SEZs are incompatible with
the principles of the late-King Bhumibol's sufficiency economy,[113] claimed by the
government to be the inspiration for governmental economic and social policies. [114]

Shadow economy[edit]
"Thailand's shadow economy ranks globally among the highest," according to Friedrich
Schneider, an economist at Johannes Kepler University of Linz in Austria, author
of Hiding in the Shadows: The Growth of the Underground Economy.[115] He estimates
Thailand's shadow economy was 40.9 percent of real GDP in 2014,
including gambling and small weapons, but largely excluding drugs.[116] Schneider
defines the "shadow economy" as including all market-based legal production of goods
and services that are deliberately concealed from public authorities for the following
reasons: (1) to avoid payment of income, value added or other taxes, (2) to avoid
payment of social security contributions, (3) to avoid having to meet certain legal labor
market standards, such as minimum wages, maximum working hours, or safety
standards, and (4) to avoid complying with certain administrative procedures, such as
completing statistical questionnaires or other administrative forms. It does not deal with
typical underground, economic (classical crime) activities, which are all illegal actions
that fits the characteristics of classical crimes like burglary, robbery, or drug dealing.
[117]
 The shadow economy also includes loan sharking. According to estimates, there are
about 200,000 "informal lenders" in the country, many of whom charge exorbitant
interest rates, creating an often insurmountable burden for low-income borrowers. [118]

See also[edit]
 Stock Exchange of Thailand
 Foreign aid to Thailand
 Thailand and the International Monetary Fund
 List of Thai provinces by GPP

Further reading[edit]
 The economic history of Siam from the 16th to the 19th century, together with
factors affecting the economic outlook for the twentieth, are presented in Wright,
Arnold; et al. (2008) [1908]. Wright, Arnold; Breakspear, Oliver T (eds.). Twentieth
century impressions of Siam (PDF). London: Lloyds Greater Britain Publishing
Company. Retrieved 7 October 2011.
 Porphant Ouyyanont. 2017. A Regional Economic History of Thailand. ISEAS–Yusof
Ishak Institute.
 Pasuk Phongpaichit and Chris Baker. “A History of Thailand”. Cambridge University
Press.
 Pasuk Phongpaichit and Chris Baker. “A History of Ayutthaya.”
 Sompop Manarungsan. “Economic Development of Thailand: 1850-1950”
 David Feeny. “Political Economy of Productivity”
 Tomas Larsson. “Land and Loyalty.”
 James Ingram. “Economic Change in Thailand: 1850-1970.”
 William Skinner. “Chinese Society in Thailand: An Analytical History.” Cornell
University Press
 Jessica Vechbanyongratana and Thanyaporn Chankrajang: “A Brief Economic
History of Land Rights in Thailand.”
 Panarat Anamwathana and Jessica Vechbanyongratana. 2021. "The economic
history of Thailand: Old debates, recent advances, and future prospects."
 Suehiro, Akira (1996). Capital Accumulation in Thailand 1855-1985. Chiang Mai:
Silkworm Books. ISBN 9789743900051. Retrieved 27 April 2020.
 Hewison, Kevin (1989). Bankers and Bureaucrats Capital and the Role of the State
in Thailand (PDF). New Haven: Yale University Southeast Asia Studies. ISBN 0-
938692-41-0. Retrieved 27 April 2020.