Agriculture has always been the main employer in Thailand, but during the boom years many people left the land to work in the expanding industrial and services sectors.
The large-scale sex industry which flourishes in Bangkok has boosted the HIV & AIDS epidemic. Thailand has taken a lead in distributing cheaper generic drugs for people with the disease.
Awareness campaigns are credited with reducing the number of new infections.
ActionAid in Thailand
ActionAid has been active in Thailand since 1990, supporting local organisations working on food rights and sustainable development. Since 2000, ActionAid's Asia Regional Office has been based in Bangkok.
ActionAid Thailand aims to mobilise public support for just and sustainable development. We believe that public understanding and public commitment will lead to solutions for social problems both at the community and national levels.
We are working with partner groups and youth to develop public campaigns and public education on food security and the rights of workers in the informal sector.
Food rights are a core focus. The shift from sustainable agriculture to cash crop farming has made farmers more dependent on new technologies and expensive chemical inputs. This, combined with the low prices paid for farm products is driving many farmers off the land.
Another priority area is assisting those affected by the tsunami of December 2004. We provide boats and fishing gear for poor fisher-people, as well as psycho-social support and skills training.
ActionAid Thailand is providing new education materials to replace those lost, and monitoring the effectiveness of state assistance.
Essential Stats
| Thailand | Australia | |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 67.06 million (2009) | 21.7 million (2009) |
| Area | 513,120 km2 | 7,703,581 km2 |
| Gross Domestic Product (GDP) | $344.97 billion (2009) | $970.6 billion (2009) |
| GDP per capita | $5,143 (2009) | $44,598 (2009) |
| Human Development Index | 0.781 (2006) | 0.965 (2006) |
| Life expectancy (male/female) | 66/75 (2005-2010) | 79/84 (2005-2010) |
| Adult literacy (%) | 92.6 (1995-2005) | 99 (1995-2005) |
Sources: IMF, UN data, Human Development Index, UN statistics
