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| Provinces of Thailand | |
|---|---|
| |
| Category | Unitary state |
| Location | Kingdom of Thailand |
| Number | 76 provinces + 1 special administrative area (Bangkok) |
| Populations | 187,000 (Samut Songkhram) – 5,456,000 (Bangkok) (2024)[1] |
| Areas | 414 km2 (160 sq mi)Samut Songkhram – 22,311 km2 (8,614 sq mi)Chiang Mai[2][3] |
| Government | |
| Subdivisions | |
Theprovinces of Thailand are administrative divisions of thegovernment of Thailand.[4] The country is divided into 76provinces (Thai:จังหวัด,RTGS: changwat,pronounced[tɕāŋ.wàt]) proper, with one additional special administrative area (the capital, Bangkok).[5][6] They are the primary local government units and act asjuristic persons. They are divided intoamphoe (districts) which are further divided intotambon (sub districts), the next lower level of local government.
All provinces form part of the partially devolved central government, or the regional government (ราชการส่วนภูมิภาคratchakan suan phumiphak). Majority of public services, including police, prison, transport, public relation and others are still overseen and managed by the province on behalf of the central government. In 1938–1996, the Royal Thai Government proposed that each province should have a council, elected from people resided within that province. The council acts as an advisory and auditing body to the governor (ผู้ว่าราชการจังหวัดphu wa ratchakan changwat), who is appointed by the central government. In 1997, each province has its ownprovincial administrative organization (องค์การบริหารส่วนจังหวัดongkan borihan suan changwat), presided over by the president. The PAO manages some public services related to the province. It was expected that the PAO president will become the elected governor (instead of a centrally-appointed one), but the full devolution of the government has not happened. The PAO as well as othermunicipalities form part of the local self-governing government (ราชการส่วนท้องถิ่นratchakan suan thongthin).
Bangkok, the sole special administrative area, combines the tasks of the provinces with that of amunicipality, including having an elected governor. The average area of the 76 provinces of Thailand plus Bangkok is about 6,663.89 km2 (2,572.94 sq mi), while its average population of all 77 divisions of Thailand is about 908,064 people.
| Seal | Name | Name (in Thai) | Population (December 2024)[1] | Area (km2)[2] | Population density | Capital | HS[7] | ISO[8] | FIPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
.svg) |  Bangkok(special administrative area) | กรุงเทพมหานคร | 5,456,000 | 1,564 | 3,488 | Bangkok | BKK | TH-10 | TH40 |
 |  Amnat Charoen | อำนาจเจริญ | 372,000 | 3,290 | 113 | Amnat Charoen | ACR | TH-37 | TH77 |
 |  Ang Thong | อ่างทอง | 269,000 | 950 | 283 | Ang Thong | ATG | TH-15 | TH35 |
 |  Bueng Kan | บึงกาฬ | 419,000 | 4,003 | 105 | Bueng Kan | BKN | TH-38 | TH81 |
 |  Buriram | บุรีรัมย์ | 1,566,000 | 10,080 | 155 | Buriram | BRM | TH-31 | TH28 |
 |  Chachoengsao | ฉะเชิงเทรา | 733,000 | 5,169 | 142 | Chachoengsao | CCO | TH-24 | TH44 |
 |  Chai Nat | ชัยนาท | 314,000 | 2,506 | 131 | Chai Nat | CNT | TH-18 | TH32 |
 |  Chaiyaphum | ชัยภูมิ | 1,106,000 | 12,698 | 88 | Chaiyaphum | CPM | TH-36 | TH26 |
.svg) |  Chanthaburi | จันทบุรี | 536,000 | 6,415 | 83 | Chanthaburi | CTI | TH-22 | TH48 |
 |  Chiang Mai | เชียงใหม่ | 1,799,000 | 22,311 | 79 | Chiang Mai | CMI | TH-50 | TH02 |
 |  Chiang Rai | เชียงราย | 1,298,000 | 11,503 | 112 | Chiang Rai | CRI | TH-57 | TH03 |
 |  Chonburi | ชลบุรี | 1,636,000 | 4,508 | 363 | Chonburi | CBI | TH-20 | TH46 |
 |  Chumphon | ชุมพร | 508,000 | 5,998 | 84 | Chumphon | CPN | TH-86 | TH58 |
 |  Kalasin | กาฬสินธุ์ | 962,000 | 6,936 | 139 | Kalasin | KSN | TH-46 | TH23 |
 |  Kamphaeng Phet | กำแพงเพชร | 701,000 | 8,512 | 82 | Kamphaeng Phet | KPT | TH-62 | TH11 |
 |  Kanchanaburi | กาญจนบุรี | 896,000 | 19,385 | 46 | Kanchanaburi | KRI | TH-71 | TH50 |
 |  Khon Kaen | ขอนแก่น | 1,772,000 | 10,659 | 166 | Khon Kaen | KKN | TH-40 | TH22 |
 |  Krabi | กระบี่ | 484,000 | 5,323 | 91 | Krabi | KBI | TH-81 | TH63 |
 |  Lampang | ลำปาง | 704,000 | 12,488 | 56 | Lampang | LPG | TH-52 | TH06 |
 |  Lamphun | ลำพูน | 397,000 | 4,478 | 89 | Lamphun | LPN | TH-51 | TH05 |
 |  Loei | เลย | 632,000 | 10,500 | 60 | Loei | LEI | TH-42 | TH18 |
 |  Lopburi | ลพบุรี | 725,000 | 6,493 | 111 | Lopburi | LRI | TH-16 | TH34 |
 |  Mae Hong Son | แม่ฮ่องสอน | 288,000 | 12,765 | 23 | Mae Hong Son | MSN | TH-58 | TH01 |
 |  Maha Sarakham | มหาสารคาม | 930,000 | 5,607 | 165 | Maha Sarakham | MKM | TH-44 | TH24 |
 |  Mukdahan | มุกดาหาร | 351,000 | 4,126 | 85 | Mukdahan | MDH | TH-49 | TH78 |
 |  Nakhon Nayok | นครนายก | 260,000 | 2,141 | 121 | Nakhon Nayok | NYK | TH-26 | TH43 |
 |  Nakhon Pathom | นครปฐม | 926,000 | 2,142 | 432 | Mueang Nakhon Pathom | NPT | TH-73 | TH53 |
.svg) |  Nakhon Phanom | นครพนม | 711,000 | 5,637 | 125 | Nakhon Phanom | NPM | TH-48 | TH73 |
 |  Nakhon Ratchasima | นครราชสีมา | 2,620,000 | 20,736 | 126 | Nakhon Ratchasima | NMA | TH-30 | TH27 |
 |  Nakhon Sawan | นครสวรรค์ | 1,014,000 | 9,526 | 106 | Nakhon Sawan | NSN | TH-60 | TH16 |
 |  Nakhon Si Thammarat | นครศรีธรรมราช | 1,535,000 | 9,885 | 154 | Nakhon Si Thammarat | NRT | TH-80 | TH64 |
.svg) |  Nan | น่าน | 471,000 | 12,130 | 39 | Nan | NAN | TH-55 | TH04 |
 |  Narathiwat | นราธิวาส | 824,000 | 4,491 | 183 | Narathiwat | NWT | TH-96 | TH31 |
 |  Nong Bua Lamphu | หนองบัวลำภู | 504,000 | 4,099 | 123 | Nong Bua Lam Phu | NBP | TH-39 | TH79 |
 |  Nong Khai | หนองคาย | 512,000 | 3,275 | 156 | Nong Khai | NKI | TH-43 | TH17 |
 |  Nonthaburi | นนทบุรี | 1,318,000 | 637 | 2,069 | Nonthaburi | NBI | TH-12 | TH38 |
 |  Pathum Thani | ปทุมธานี | 1,236,000 | 1,520 | 813 | Pathum Thani | PTE | TH-13 | TH39 |
 |  Pattani | ปัตตานี | 741,000 | 1,977 | 375 | Pattani | PTN | TH-94 | TH69 |
 |  Phang Nga | พังงา | 266,000 | 5,495 | 49 | Phang Nga | PNA | TH-82 | TH61 |
 |  Phatthalung | พัทลุง | 519,000 | 3,861 | 135 | Phatthalung | PLG | TH-93 | TH66 |
 |  Phayao | พะเยา | 455,000 | 6,189 | 74 | Phayao | PYO | TH-56 | TH41 |
 |  Phetchabun | เพชรบูรณ์ | 961,000 | 12,340 | 75 | Phetchabun | PNB | TH-67 | TH14 |
 |  Phetchaburi | เพชรบุรี | 484,100 | 6,172 | 76 | Phetchaburi | PBI | TH-76 | TH56 |
 |  Phichit | พิจิตร | 517,000 | 4,319 | 120 | Phichit | PCT | TH-66 | TH13 |
 |  Phitsanulok | พิษณุโลก | 839,000 | 10,589 | 78 | Phitsanulok | PLK | TH-65 | TH12 |
.svg) |  Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya | พระนครศรีอยุธยา | 823,000 | 2,548 | 323 | Ayutthaya | AYA | TH-14 | TH36 |
.svg) |  Phrae | แพร่ | 422,000 | 6,483 | 65 | Phrae | PRE | TH-54 | TH07 |
.png) |  Phuket | ภูเก็ต | 430,000 | 547 | 786 | Phuket City | PKT | TH-83 | TH62 |
 |  Prachinburi | ปราจีนบุรี | 501,000 | 5,026 | 100 | Prachinburi | PRI | TH-25 | TH74 |
 |  Prachuap Khiri Khan | ประจวบคีรีขันธ์ | 552,000 | 6,414 | 87 | Prachuap Khiri Khan | PKN | TH-77 | TH57 |
 |  Ranong | ระนอง | 193,000 | 3,230 | 59 | Ranong | RNG | TH-85 | TH59 |
 |  Ratchaburi | ราชบุรี | 864,000 | 5,189 | 167 | Ratchaburi | RBR | TH-70 | TH52 |
 |  Rayong | ระยอง | 782,000 | 3,666 | 213 | Rayong | RYG | TH-21 | TH47 |
 |  Roi Et | ร้อยเอ็ด | 1,276,000 | 7,873 | 162 | Roi Et | RET | TH-45 | TH25 |
 |  Sa Kaeo | สระแก้ว | 562,000 | 6,831 | 80 | Sa Kaeo | SKW | TH-27 | TH80 |
 |  Sakon Nakhon | สกลนคร | 1,138,000 | 9,580 | 118 | Sakon Nakhon | SNK | TH-47 | TH20 |
 |  Samut Prakan | สมุทรปราการ | 1,381,000 | 947 | 1,458 | Mueang Samut Prakan | SPK | TH-11 | TH42 |
 |  Samut Sakhon | สมุทรสาคร | 591,000 | 866 | 682 | Mueang Samut Sakhon | SKN | TH-74 | TH55 |
 |  Samut Songkhram | สมุทรสงคราม | 187,000 | 414 | 452 | Samut Songkhram | SKM | TH-75 | TH54 |
.png) |  Saraburi | สระบุรี | 639,000 | 3,499 | 182 | Saraburi | SRI | TH-19 | TH37 |
 |  Satun | สตูล | 325,000 | 3,019 | 108 | Satun | STN | TH-91 | TH67 |
 |  Sing Buri | สิงห์บุรี | 200,000 | 817 | 245 | Sing Buri | SBR | TH-17 | TH33 |
 |  Sisaket | ศรีสะเกษ | 1,442,000 | 8,936 | 161 | Sisaket | SSK | TH-33 | TH30 |
 |  Songkhla | สงขลา | 1,431,000 | 7,741 | 185 | Songkhla | SKA | TH-90 | TH68 |
.svg) |  Sukhothai | สุโขทัย | 573,000 | 6,671 | 86 | Sukhothai Thani | STI | TH-64 | TH09 |
 |  Suphan Buri | สุพรรณบุรี | 822,000 | 5,410 | 152 | Suphan Buri | SPB | TH-72 | TH51 |
 |  Surat Thani | สุราษฎร์ธานี | 1,077,000 | 13,079 | 81 | Surat Thani | SNI | TH-84 | TH60 |
 |  Surin | สุรินทร์ | 1,360,000 | 8,854 | 153 | Surin | SRN | TH-32 | TH29 |
 |  Tak | ตาก | 699,000 | 17,303 | 40 | Tak | TAK | TH-63 | TH08 |
 |  Trang | ตรัง | 635,000 | 4,726 | 134 | Trang | TRG | TH-92 | TH65 |
 |  Trat | ตราด | 227,000 | 2,866 | 77 | Trat | TRT | TH-23 | TH49 |
 |  Ubon Ratchathani | อุบลราชธานี | 1,868,000 | 15,626 | 119 | Mueang Ubon Ratchathani | UBN | TH-34 | TH75 |
 |  Udon Thani | อุดรธานี | 1,552,000 | 11,072 | 140 | Udon Thani | UDN | TH-41 | TH76 |
 |  Uthai Thani | อุทัยธานี | 320,000 | 6,647 | 48 | Uthai Thani | UTI | TH-61 | TH15 |
 |  Uttaradit | อุตรดิตถ์ | 436,000 | 7,906 | 55 | Uttaradit | UTD | TH-53 | TH10 |
 |  Yala | ยะลา | 553,000 | 4,476 | 124 | Yala | YLA | TH-95 | TH70 |
 |  Yasothon | ยโสธร | 525,000 | 4,131 | 127 | Yasothon | YST | TH-35 | TH72 |
| Administrative divisions of Thailand | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Provincial divisions | ||||||||
| ||||||||
| Local divisions | ||||||||
| ||||||||
| Note:† Special administrative area | ||||||||
Thailand's national government organisation is divided into three types: central government (ministries, bureaus and departments), provincial government (provinces anddistricts) and local government (Bangkok,Pattaya, provincial administrative organisations, etc.).
A province, as part of the provincial government, is administered by a governor (ผู้ว่าราชการจังหวัด) who is appointed by the Minister of Interior. Bangkok, as part of the local government, is administered by a corporation calledBangkok Metropolitan Administration. The corporation is led by the Governor of Bangkok (ผู้ว่าราชการกรุงเทพมหานคร) who is directly elected by the citizens of Bangkok.
The provinces are named after their original main city, which may not necessarily still be the most populous city within the province today. Also, in several provinces the administration has been moved into a new building outside the city.
Many provinces date back to semi-independent local chiefdoms or kingdoms, which made up theAyutthaya Kingdom. The provinces were created around a capital city (mueang), and included surrounding villages or satellite towns. The provinces were administered either by a governor, who was appointed by the king or by a local ruling family, who were descendants of the old kings and princes of that area and had been given this privilege by the central king. De facto the king did not have much choice but to choose someone from the local nobility or an economically strong man, as against these local power groups the administration would have become impossible. The governor was not paid by the king, but instead financed himself and his administration by imposing local taxes himself. Every province was required to send an annual tribute to Bangkok.
The provinces were divided into four different classes. The first-class were the border provinces. The second-class were those that once had their own princely house. Third-class were provinces that were created by splitting them from other provinces. Fourth-class were provinces near the capital. Additionally tributary states like the principalities ofLan Na, theLaotian kingdoms ofVientiane andLuang Prabang,Cambodia, or theMalay sultanateKedah were also part of the country, but with more autonomy than the provinces. In thisMandala system the semi-independent countries sometimes were tributary to more than one country.
New provinces were created when the population of an area outgrew the administration, but also for political reasons. If a governor became too dominant in a region former satellite cities were elevated to provincial status, as was the case withMaha Sarakham province.
Reforms of the provincial administration started in the 1870s under increased pressure from thecolonial states of theUnited Kingdom andFrance. Agents were sent, especially to border areas, to impose more control on the provinces or tributary states.
At the end of the 19th century KingChulalongkorn reformed the central government. In 1892 the ministry, which previously had many overlapping responsibilities, was reorganized with clear missions as in Western administrations. PrinceDamrong Rajanubhab became minister of the Ministry of the North (Mahatthai), originally responsible for the northern administration. When the Ministry of the South (Kalahom) was dissolved in 1894, Prince Damrong became Minister of the Interior, responsible for the provincial administration of the whole country.
Starting in 1893 the already existing commissionaireships in some parts of the country were renamed "superintendent commissioner" (khaluang Thesaphiban), and their area of responsibility was called amonthon. In strategically important areas the monthon were created first, while in other areas the provinces kept their independence a bit longer. Several smaller provinces were reduced in status to anamphoe (district) or even lower to atambon (sub-district) and included in a neighboring province, sometimes for administrative reasons, but sometimes to remove an uncooperative governor.
In some regions rebellions broke out against the new administrative system, usually induced by the local nobility fearing their loss of power. The most notable was theHoly Man Rebellion in 1902 inIsan. It was initially a messianic doomsday sect, but it also attacked government representatives in the northeast. The provincial townKhemarat was even burned by the rebels. After a few months the rebellion was beaten back.[9]
After 1916, the wordchangwat became common to use for the provinces, partly to distinguish them from the provincial capital city (mueang oramphoe mueang), but also to stress the new administrative structure of the provinces.[10]
When Prince Damrong resigned in 1915, the whole country was divided into 19 monthon (including the area around Bangkok, which was under the responsibility of another ministry until 1922), with 72 provinces.
In December 1915 KingVajiravudh announced the creation of regions (phak), each administered by a viceroy (upparat), to cover several monthon. Until 1922 four regions were established; however, in 1925 they were dissolved again. At the same time several monthon were merged, in an attempt to streamline administration and reduce costs.
The monthons were dissolved when Thailand transformed from an absolute monarchy into a constitutional monarchy in 1932, making the provinces the top level administrative division again. Several smaller provinces were also abolished at that time. During World War II, several provinces around Bangkok were merged. These changes were undone after the war. Also the occupied area from French Indochina was organized into four provinces:Phra Tabong,Phibunsongkhram,Nakhon Champasak andLan Chang. The current province of Sukhothai was at first known as Sawankhalok. It was renamed Sukhothai in 1939 (which is why the railway system goes to Sawankhalok city and not Sukhothai city). The province, Kalasin, was reestablished in 1947 after having been dissolved in 1932.
In 1972 Phra Nakhon and Thonburi provinces were merged to form the special administrative area of Bangkok, which combines the tasks of the provinces with that of amunicipality, including having an elected governor.
Starting in the second half of the 20th century some provinces were newly created by splitting them off from bigger provinces. In 1975, Yasothon province was split off from Ubon Ratchathani. In 1977, Phayao province was created from districts formerly part of Chiang Rai. In 1982, Mukdahan was split off from Nakhon Phanom. In 1993 three provinces were created:Sa Kaeo (split from Prachinburi),Nong Bua Lamphu province (split from Udon Thani), andAmnat Charoen (split from Ubon Ratchathani). The newest province isBueng Kan, which was split off from Nong Khai effective 23 March 2011.
| Province | Capital | Merged in | Fate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kabin Buri | Kabin Buri | 1926[12] | Merged intoPrachinburi province |
| Sukhothai (before 1932) | Sukhothai Thani | 1932[13] | Merged into Sawankhalok province. However, the province's name and location of capital was changed back to Sukhothai in 1938. |
| Lom Sak | Lom Sak | Merged intoPhetchabun province | |
| Thanyaburi | Thanyaburi | Merged intoPathum Thani province | |
| Kalasin | Kalasin | Merged intoMaha Sarakham province, Split out again in 1947 | |
| Lang Suan | Lang Suan | Merged intoChumphon province | |
| Takua Pa | Takua Pa | Merged intoPhang Nga province | |
| Sai Buri | Sai Buri | Merged intoPattani province (exceptBacho District which was merged intoNarathiwat province) | |
| Phra Pradaeng | Phra Pradaeng | Merged intoSamut Prakan province (exceptRat Burana District which was merged intoThonburi province) | |
| Min Buri | Min Buri | Merged into Phra Nakhon province (Nong Chok District was merged intoChachoengsao province first then reallocated back in 1933) | |
| Samut Prakan (before 1943) | Samut Prakan | 1943[14] | Merged into Phra Nakhon province (exceptKo Sichang District which was merged intoChonburi province). The part of Phra Nakhon was split out again in 1946 |
| Nakhon Nayok | Nakhon Nayok | Merged intoPrachinburi province (exceptBan Na District which was merged intoSaraburi province). Split out again in 1946 | |
| Samut Sakhon | Samut Sakhon | Merged intoThonburi province. Split out again in 1946 | |
| Nonthaburi | Nonthaburi | Merged intoPhra Nakhon province (exceptBang Kruai District,Bang Yai District,Bang Bua Thong District which was merged intoThonburi province). Split out again in 1946 | |
| Phra Nakhon | Phra Nakhon | 1971[15] | Merged to form the currentBangkok |
| Thonburi | Thonburi |
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