Country Profile

Thailand is the 20th most populous nation in the world, with a 2015 estimate of 67,959,000 inhabitants, making it the third most populous in ASEAN, after Indonesia and Vietnam. Following a period of economic decline in 2013 and 2014, estimated growth in 2015 was back at around 2.5%, with the Thai private sector driving the economy forward despite challenging conditions. Thailand is currently ruled by the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), whose stated goals are to restore stability and to enact reforms. In February 2016 the council thus announced that it was in the process of drafting a new constitution, with elections scheduled for 2017. This chapter contains viewpoints from His Majesty Bhumbiol Adulyadej, King of Thailand; and Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha.