The Government Ministries of Thailand (Thai: กระทรวง: Krasuang) are the government agencies that compose the executive branch of the Government of Thailand. Each ministry is headed by a minister of state (Thai: รัฐมนตรีว่าการกระทรวง,) and, depending on the prime minister, several deputy ministers (Thai: รัฐมนตรีช่วยว่าการกระทรวง) . The combined heads of these agencies form the Cabinet of Thailand. There are 19 ministries.[1] The combined employees of these departments make up the civil service of Thailand.
| Ministry Name | Location | Created | Minister | Seal | Website[2] | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| English | Thai | Image | Name | ||||||
| Office of the Prime Minister | สำนักนายกรัฐมนตรี | Dusit, Bangkok | 1933 | Jakkapong Sangmanee | Seal of Rajasiha and Gajasiha, the Protectors of the Constitution | https://www.thaigov.go.th/ | |||
| Jiraporn Sindhuprai | |||||||||
| Ministry of Defence(MOD) | กระทรวงกลาโหม | Phra Nakhon District, Bangkok | 1887 | Sutin Klungsang | Seal of the Thai Armed Forces | https://www.mod.go.th/ | |||
| Ministry of Finance(MOF) | กระทรวงการคลัง | Phaya Thai District, Bangkok | 1875 | Pichai Chunhavajira | Seal of the Bird of Paradise | https://www.mof.go.th/ | |||
| Ministry of Foreign Affairs(MFA) | กระทรวงการต่างประเทศ | Ratchathewi, Bangkok | 1840 | Maris Sangiampongsa | Seal of the Crystal Lotus | https://www.mfa.go.th/ | |||
| Ministry of Tourism and Sports(MOTS) | กระทรวงการท่องเที่ยวและกีฬา | Pom Prap Sattru Phai, Bangkok | 2002 | Sermsak Pongpanich | Seal of the Lord of Strength riding Airavata above the royal barge Suphannahong | https://www.mots.go.th/ | |||
| Ministry of Social Development and Human Security(MSDHS) | กระทรวงการพัฒนาสังคมและความมั่นคงของมนุษย์ | Pom Prap Sattru Phai, Bangkok | 2002 | Varawut Silpa-archa | Seal of the Lord of Creatures | https://www.m-society.go.th/home.php | |||
| Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation(MHESI) | กระทรวงการอุดมศึกษา วิทยาศาสตร์ วิจัยและนวัตกรรม | Ratchathewi, Bangkok | 2019 | Supamas Issaraphakdee | Seal of the Vajra | https://www.mhesi.go.th/ | |||
| Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives(MOAC) | กระทรวงเกษตรและสหกรณ์ | Ratchathewi, Bangkok | 1892 | Thamanat Prompow | Seal of Varuna on Naga's Back | https://www.moac.go.th/site-home | |||
| Ministry of Transport(MOT) | กระทรวงคมนาคม | Pom Prap Sattru Phai, Bangkok | 1912 | Suriya Juangroongruangkit | Seal of Rama on the Chariot | https://www.mot.go.th/ | |||
| Ministry of Digital Economy and Society(MDES) | กระทรวงดิจิทัลเพื่อเศรษฐกิจและสังคม | Chaeng Watthana Government Complex, Building B, Chaeng Watthana Road, Lak Si, Bangkok | 2016 | Prasert Chanthararuangthong | Seal of Budha | https://www.mdes.go.th/ | |||
| Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment(MNRE) | กระทรวงทรัพยากรธรรมชาติและสิ่งแวดล้อม | Phaya Thai District, Bangkok | 2002 | Patcharawat Wongsuwan | Seal of the Shield of Nature | http://www.mnre.go.th/ | |||
| Ministry of Energy(MOE) | กระทรวงพลังงาน | Chatuchak, Bangkok | 2002 | Peeraphan Salirathaviphak | Seal of Lokuttara | https://energy.go.th/2015/ | |||
| Ministry of Commerce(MOC) | กระทรวงพาณิชย์ | Mueang Nonthaburi, Nonthaburi | 1892 | Phumitham Wechayachai | Seal of Vishvakarma | https://www.moc.go.th/ | |||
| Ministry of Interior(MOI) | กระทรวงมหาดไทย | Phra Nakhon District, Bangkok | 1892 | Anutin Charnvirakul | Seal of the Lion | https://edw-webmoi.moi.go.th/moi/ | |||
| Ministry of Justice(MOJ) | กระทรวงยุติธรรม | Lak Si, Bangkok | 1891 | Thawee Sodsong | Seal of the Scales of Justice | https://www.moj.go.th/index.php | |||
| Ministry of Labour(MOL) | กระทรวงแรงงาน | Din Daeng, Bangkok | 1993 | Pipat Ratchakitprakarn | Seal of the Three Deities | https://www.mol.go.th/ | |||
| Ministry of Culture | กระทรวงวัฒนธรรม | Huai Khwang, Bangkok | 2002 | Sudawan Wangsuphakitkoson | Seal of the Illumed Baldachin | https://www.m-culture.go.th/th/index.php | |||
| Ministry of Education(MOE) | กระทรวงศึกษาธิการ | Dusit, Bangkok | 1892 | Permpoon Chidchob | Seal of the Wheel of Law on the boundary stone | http://www.moe.go.th/ | |||
| Ministry of Public Health(MOPH) | กระทรวงสาธารณสุข | Mueang Nonthaburi, Nonthaburi | 1942 | Somsak Thepsutin | Seal of Caduceus(Renew Seal Design in 2016) | https://www.moph.go.th/index.php | |||
| Ministry of Industry | กระทรวงอุตสาหกรรม | Ratchathewi District, Bangkok | 1942 | Phimphatra Wichaikul | Seal of Narayana Churning the Ocean of Milk | https://www.industry.go.th/ | |||
During the Rattanakosin Period, the kingdom's administration was similar to that of the Ayutthaya Period. There were two chief ministers (Thai: อัครมหาเสนาบดี: Akkhramahasenabodi): the first running military affairs or samuhakalahom (Thai: สมุหกลาโหม), and the second Samuhanayok (Thai: สมุหนายก) for civilian affairs. The civilian ministry was divided further into four kroms (Thai: กรม), headed by a senabodi (Thai: เสนาบดี) or 'minister'. This type of administration was called the Chatusadom (Thai: จตุสดมภ์) :
| Ministries | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Thai Name | Head | Purpose |
| Krom Nakhonban or Kromma Wiang | กรมนครบาล หรือ กรมเวียง | Senabodi | Cities and local administration |
| Kromma Wang | กรมวัง | Senabodi | Palace affairs |
| Kromma Khlang | กรมคลัง | Senabodi | Treasury and trade |
| Kromma Na | กรมนา | Senabodi | Agriculture and land |
King Chulalongkorn (Rama V), who had received a European education and traveled widely, reformed the administration of the state. In 1875, he issued a royal decree to bring about this reform, dividing and creating many departments, and thereby preventing the archaic system from collapsing.
The administrative reforms of Chulalongkorn created six ministries (Thai: กระทรวง: krasuang), each headed by a minister of state or (Thai: รัฐมนตรี,):
| Ministries | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Thai Name | RTGS | Head | Purpose |
| Ministry of Interior | กระทรวงมหาดไทย | Krasuang Mahatthai | Minister | Local administration and the north |
| Ministry of War | กระทรวงยุทธนาการ | Krasuang Yuttana Thikarn | Military and the south | |
| Ministry of Metropolitan | กระทรวงนครบาล | Krasuang Nakhonban | Bangkok and surrounding area | |
| Ministry of the Royal Household | กระทรวงวัง | Krasuang Wang | Palace affairs | |
| Ministry of Finance | กระทรวงการคลัง | Krasuang Kan Khlang | Finance and commerce | |
| Ministry of Agriculture | กระทรวงเกษตราธิการ | Krasuang Kasettrathikarn | Agriculture and land | |
A further four were soon added:
| Ministries | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Thai Name | Head | Purpose |
| Ministry of Foreign Affairs | กระทรวงการต่างประเทศ | Minister | Foreign affairs and relations |
| Ministry of Justice | กระทรวงยุติธรรม | Minister | Justice and the judiciary |
| Ministry of Transport and Communication | กระทรวงโยธาธิการ | Minister | Transport and communication (railways and telegrams) |
| Ministry of Education | กระทรวงธรรมการ | Minister | Education |
By 1900 the entire structure was formed. The ten ministries became the center of Siamese government and rule. After the 1932 Revolution, most of the ministries were retained by the Khana Ratsadon, however from then on the ministers were chosen by the prime minister and not the king.