I just wanted to share some information about the nation of Thailand and the town of Phuket
The location and national flag of Thailand…
The information below about Thailand is from CIA World Factbook.
History: Began as unified kingdom called Siam formed in mid 14th century. It is the only southeast Asian country never to conquered by a European power. Fought with Japan during World War 2 then with USA in Korea.
Economy: Well developed infrastructure. Free enterprise.
Problems: Seperatist violence in mostly Muslim southern provinces. Transit point for heroin going to international market. Drug money laundering center.
Capital: Bangkok, population 6.9 million (2009)
Area: 197,255 square miles, twice the size of Wyoming
Ethnic Groups​: Thai – 75%, Chinese – 14%, Other – 11%
Languages: Thai, English
Religions: Buddhist – 94.6%, Muslim – 4.6%, Christian – 0.7%, Other – 0.1% (2000)
Population: just under 67.1 million (July 2012 estimate), 21.9% below poverty line (2010 estimate)
Age Structure: 0-14 – 19.5%, 15-64 – 71%, > 65 – 9.5%
Median Age: 35 (Male – 34, Female – 36)
Urbanization: 34% (2010)
Growth Rate: 0.5% (2012 estimate)
Infant Mortality: 15.9 per 1,000 live births
Life Expectancy: 74 (Male – 71, Female – 76)
Literacy Rate: 92.6%
Unemployment rate: 0.7% (2011 estimate)
Governemt Type: Constitutional monarchy
Suffrage: 18, universal and compulsory
Gross Domestic Product Per Capita: $9,400 (2011 estimate)
Inflation: 3.8% (2011 estimate)
Currency: Baht (30.5/US$1)
Our ministry host for the month is Mark Biddell, founder of SHE [Self Help and Empowerment] Ministries in the town of Phuket. This month is unique because the squad will be split into 1 team all men and 3 teams of all women. The women will be teaching english to university students, serving coffee to local residents and working in the bars building relationships with women involved in the sex trade and human trafficking. The men and I will be working to help construct a new vocational training and housing facility for the women coming out of this industry.
