Firearms proliferation in Thailand is exhibited by the number of guns held by civilians being estimated at 10,000,000 firearms, which puts the country at eleventh in world rankings for number of guns held. Out of these 10,000,000 guns, only 3,870,000 of them are registered, leaving over 6,000,000 under illegal possession. As of July 2011, Thailand has a population of 66,720,153 and a GDP (PPP) of $586.9 billion (2010 est.).
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In 2000, it was reported that there were 20,032 of firearms homicide cases, one of the highest in the world.
Ownership of firearms is particularly high in the Southern provinces of Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat that have witnessed significant insurgency and rebellion since 2004.
Casualty Rates
Although Thailand’s total homicide rate has decreased from 10.0 to 5.9 per 100,000 population from 2003 to 2008, it was reported in 2010 that in the last 6 years, deaths due to armed conflicts in this area has resulted in more than 4,000 deaths. Additionally, it has been reported that between 2004 and 2008, there has been approximately 6892 related casualties.
Socio-Economic Effects
The Geneva Declaration, in its Global Burden of Armed Violence 2008, reported that the aggregate loss in GDP due to violent deaths is estimated to be US$5,503million in Thailand. Correspondingly, the direct medical costs of interpersonal violence in 2005 amounted to approximately US$40.3 million (THB 1.3 billion). Indirect medical costs were an order of magnitude higher at $432.7 (THB 14.4 billion).
Current Efforts
Thailand has committed itself to the decision of adopting, supporting and implementing the United Nation’s Programme of Action to combat, prevent and eradicate illicit trade in small arms and light weapons (SALW). Nonviolence International South East Asia (NVISEA), a not-for-profit Non Governmental Organisation, is currently operating its Ending Armed Violence Program in the country.