| Provinces of Thailand | |
| Alt Name: | (Thai: จังหวัด) |
| Category: | Unitary state |
| Territory: | Kingdom of Thailand |
| Current Number: | 76 provinces + 1 special administrative area (Bangkok) |
| Population Range: | 174,000 (Mae Hong Son) – 5,702,000 (Bangkok) (2022)[1] |
| Area Range: | 414km² Samut Songkhram – 20736km² Nakhon Ratchasima[2] |
| Government: | Provincial/Special Administrative Divisional government |
| Subdivision: | Districts |
The provinces of Thailand are administrative divisions of the government of Thailand.[3] The country is divided into 76 provinces (Thai: [[:wikt:จังหวัด|จังหวัด]],, in Thai pronounced as /t͡ɕāŋ.wàt̚/) proper, with one additional special administrative area (the capital, Bangkok).[4] [5] [6] They are the primary local government units and act as juristic persons. They are divided into amphoe (districts) which are further divided into tambon (sub districts), the next lower level of local government.
All provinces form part of the partially devolved central government, or the regional government (ราชการส่วนภูมิภาค ratchakan 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 (ผู้ว่าราชการจังหวัด phu wa ratchakan changwat), who is appointed by the central government. In 1997, each province has its own provincial administrative organization (องค์การบริหารส่วนจังหวัด ongkan 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 other municipalities form part of the local self-governing government (ราชการส่วนท้องถิ่น ratchakan suan thongthin).
Bangkok, the sole special administrative area, combines the tasks of the provinces with that of a municipality, including having an elected governor. The average area of the 76 provinces of Thailand plus Bangkok is about, while its average population of all 77 divisions of Thailand is about 908,064 people.
| class=unsortable | Seal | Name | Name (in Thai) | Population (December 2022) | Area (km2) | Population density | Capital | HS[7] | ISO[8] | FIPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (special administrative area) | Thai: กรุงเทพมหานคร | 5,702,000 | 1,564 | 3,623 | Bangkok | BKK | TH-10 | TH40 | ||
| Thai: อำนาจเจริญ | 402,000 | 3,290 | 115 | Amnat Charoen | ACR | TH-37 | TH77 | |||
| Thai: อ่างทอง | 301,000 | 950 | 294 | Ang Thong | ATG | TH-15 | TH35 | |||
| Thai: บึงกาฬ | 450,000 | 4,003 | 106 | Bueng Kan | BKN | TH-38 | TH81 | |||
| Thai: บุรีรัมย์ | 1,623,000 | 10,080 | 159 | Buriram | BRM | TH-31 | TH28 | |||
| Thai: ฉะเชิงเทรา | 754,000 | 5,169 | 139 | Chachoengsao | CCO | TH-24 | TH44 | |||
| Thai: ชัยนาท | 331,000 | 2,506 | 131 | Chai Nat | CNT | TH-18 | TH32 | |||
| Thai: ชัยภูมิ | 1,156,000 | 12,698 | 91 | Chaiyaphum | CPM | TH-36 | TH26 | |||
| Thai: จันทบุรี | 572,000 | 6,415 | 84 | Chanthaburi | CTI | TH-22 | TH48 | |||
| Thai: เชียงใหม่ | 1,820,000 | 22,436 | 79 | Chiang Mai | CMI | TH-50 | TH02 | |||
| Thai: เชียงราย | 1,315,000 | 11,503 | 113 | Chiang Rai | CRI | TH-57 | TH03 | |||
| Thai: ชลบุรี | 1,603,000 | 4,508 | 346 | Chonburi | CBI | TH-20 | TH46 | |||
| Thai: ชุมพร | 524,000 | 5,998 | 85 | Chumphon | CPN | TH-86 | TH58 | |||
| Thai: กาฬสินธุ์ | 1,010,000 | 6,936 | 142 | Kalasin | KSN | TH-46 | TH23 | |||
| Thai: กำแพงเพชร | 748,000 | 8,512 | 86 | Kamphaeng Phet | KPT | TH-62 | TH11 | |||
| Thai: กาญจนบุรี | 914,000 | 19,385 | 46 | Kanchanaburi | KRI | TH-71 | TH50 | |||
| Thai: ขอนแก่น | 1,826,000 | 10,659 | 169 | Khon Kaen | KKN | TH-40 | TH22 | |||
| Thai: กระบี่ | 500,000 | 5,323 | 90 | Krabi | KBI | TH-81 | TH63 | |||
| Thai: ลำปาง | 762,000 | 12,488 | 59 | Lampang | LPG | TH-52 | TH06 | |||
| Thai: ลำพูน | 421,000 | 4,478 | 92 | Lamphun | LPN | TH-51 | TH05 | |||
| Thai: เลย | 656,000 | 10,500 | 61 | Loei | LEI | TH-42 | TH18 | |||
| Thai: ลพบุรี | 779,000 | 6,493 | 116 | Lopburi | LRI | TH-16 | TH34 | |||
| Thai: แม่ฮ่องสอน | 174,000 | 12,765 | 23 | Mae Hong Son | MSN | TH-58 | TH01 | |||
| Thai: มหาสารคาม | 1,000,000 | 5,607 | 172 | Maha Sarakham | MKM | TH-44 | TH24 | |||
| Thai: มุกดาหาร | 338,000 | 4,126 | 87 | Mukdahan | MDH | TH-49 | TH78 | |||
| Thai: นครนายก | 224,000 | 2,141 | 122 | Nakhon Nayok City | NYK | TH-26 | TH43 | |||
| Thai: นครปฐม | 955,000 | 2,142 | 430 | Mueang Nakhon Pathom | NPT | TH-73 | TH53 | |||
| Thai: นครพนม | 698,000 | 5,637 | 127 | Nakhon Phanom | NPM | TH-48 | TH73 | |||
| Thai: นครราชสีมา | 2,703,000 | 20,736 | 128 | Nakhon Ratchasima | NMA | TH-30 | TH27 | |||
| Thai: นครสวรรค์ | 997,000 | 9,526 | 111 | Nakhon Sawan | NSN | TH-60 | TH16 | |||
| Thai: นครศรีธรรมราช | 1,602,000 | 9,885 | 158 | Nakhon Si Thammarat | NRT | TH-80 | TH64 | |||
| Thai: น่าน | 492,000 | 12,130 | 40 | Nan | NAN | TH-55 | TH04 | |||
| Thai: นราธิวาส | 847,000 | 4,491 | 180 | Narathiwat | NWT | TH-96 | TH31 | |||
| Thai: หนองบัวลำภู | 481,000 | 4,099 | 125 | Nong Bua Lam Phu | NBP | TH-39 | TH79 | |||
| Thai: หนองคาย | 536,000 | 3,275 | 160 | Nong Khai | NKI | TH-43 | TH17 | |||
| Thai: นนทบุรี | 1,335,000 | 637 | 1,986 | Nonthaburi | NBI | TH-12 | TH38 | |||
| Thai: ปทุมธานี | 1,142,000 | 1,520 | 766 | Pathum Thani | PTE | TH-13 | TH39 | |||
| Thai: ปัตตานี | 756,000 | 1,977 | 367 | Pattani | PTN | TH-94 | TH69 | |||
| Thai: พังงา | 243,000 | 5,495 | 49 | Phang Nga | PNA | TH-82 | TH61 | |||
| Thai: พัทลุง | 567,000 | 3,861 | 135 | Phatthalung | PLG | TH-93 | TH66 | |||
| Thai: พะเยา | 489,000 | 6,189 | 76 | Phayao | PYO | TH-56 | TH41 | |||
| Thai: เพชรบูรณ์ | 1,034,000 | 12,340 | 80 | Phetchabun | PNB | TH-67 | TH14 | |||
| Thai: เพชรบุรี | 469,000 | 6,172 | 77 | Phetchaburi | PBI | TH-76 | TH56 | |||
| Thai: พิจิตร | 578,000 | 4,319 | 124 | Phichit | PCT | TH-66 | TH13 | |||
| Thai: พิษณุโลก | 900,000 | 10,589 | 82 | Phitsanulok | PLK | TH-65 | TH12 | |||
| Thai: พระนครศรีอยุธยา | 812,000 | 2,548 | 322 | Ayutthaya | AYA | TH-14 | TH36 | |||
| Thai: แพร่ | 426,000 | 6,483 | 68 | Phrae | PRE | TH-54 | TH07 | |||
| Thai: ภูเก็ต | 387,000 | 547 | 762 | Phuket | PKT | TH-83 | TH62 | |||
| Thai: ปราจีนบุรี | 506,000 | 5,026 | 99 | Prachinburi | PRI | TH-25 | TH74 | |||
| Thai: ประจวบคีรีขันธ์ | 530,000 | 6,414 | 88 | Prachuap Khiri Khan | PKN | TH-77 | TH57 | |||
| Thai: ระนอง | 204,000 | 3,230 | 60 | Ranong | RNG | TH-85 | TH59 | |||
| Thai: ราชบุรี | 895,000 | 5,189 | 168 | Ratchaburi | RBR | TH-70 | TH52 | |||
| Thai: ระยอง | 727,000 | 3,666 | 201 | Rayong | RYG | TH-21 | TH47 | |||
| Thai: ร้อยเอ็ด | 1,295,000 | 7,873 | 166 | Roi Et | RET | TH-45 | TH25 | |||
| Thai: สระแก้ว | 608,000 | 6,831 | 83 | Sa Kaeo | SKW | TH-27 | TH80 | |||
| Thai: สกลนคร | 1,200,000 | 9,580 | 121 | Sakon Nakhon | SNK | TH-47 | TH20 | |||
| Thai: สมุทรปราการ | 1,324,000 | 947 | 1,420 | Mueang Samut Prakan | SPK | TH-11 | TH42 | |||
| Thai: สมุทรสาคร | 567,000 | 866 | 675 | Mueang Samut Sakhon | SKN | TH-74 | TH55 | |||
| Thai: สมุทรสงคราม | 209,000 | 414 | 467 | Samut Songkhram | SKM | TH-75 | TH54 | |||
| Thai: สระบุรี | 708,000 | 3,499 | 185 | Saraburi | SRI | TH-19 | TH37 | |||
| Thai: สตูล | 311,000 | 3,019 | 107 | Satun | STN | TH-91 | TH67 | |||
| Thai: สิงห์บุรี | 198,000 | 817 | 255 | Sing Buri | SBR | TH-17 | TH33 | |||
| Thai: ศรีสะเกษ | 1,484,000 | 8,936 | 165 | Sisaket | SSK | TH-33 | TH30 | |||
| Thai: สงขลา | 1,444,000 | 7,741 | 186 | Songkhla | SKA | TH-90 | TH68 | |||
| Thai: สุโขทัย | 615,000 | 6,671 | 89 | Sukhothai Thani | STI | TH-64 | TH09 | |||
| Thai: สุพรรณบุรี | 891,000 | 5,410 | 156 | Suphan Buri | SPB | TH-72 | TH51 | |||
| Thai: สุราษฎร์ธานี | 1,101,000 | 13,079 | 81 | Surat Thani | SNI | TH-84 | TH60 | |||
| Thai: สุรินทร์ | 1,442,000 | 8,854 | 157 | Surin | SRN | TH-32 | TH29 | |||
| Thai: ตาก | 704,000 | 17,303 | 39 | Tak | TAK | TH-63 | TH08 | |||
| Thai: ตรัง | 636,000 | 4,726 | 136 | Trang | TRG | TH-92 | TH65 | |||
| Thai: ตราด | 218,000 | 2,866 | 78 | Trat | TRT | TH-23 | TH49 | |||
| Thai: อุบลราชธานี | 1,903,000 | 15,626 | 120 | Mueang Ubon Ratchathani | UBN | TH-34 | TH75 | |||
| Thai: อุดรธานี | 1,608,000 | 11,072 | 143 | Udon Thani | UDN | TH-41 | TH76 | |||
| Thai: อุทัยธานี | 342,000 | 6,647 | 50 | Uthai Thani | UTI | TH-61 | TH15 | |||
| Thai: อุตรดิตถ์ | 470,000 | 7,906 | 58 | Uttaradit | UTD | TH-53 | TH10 | |||
| Thai: ยะลา | 523,000 | 4,476 | 119 | Yala | YLA | TH-95 | TH70 | |||
| Thai: ยโสธร | 575,000 | 4,131 | 130 | Yasothon | YST | TH-35 | TH72 |
See also: List of provincial governors in Thailand. Thailand's national government organisation is divided into three types: central government (ministries, bureaus and departments), provincial government (provinces and districts) 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 called Bangkok 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 the Ayutthaya 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 of Lan Na, the Laotian kingdoms of Vientiane and Luang Prabang, Cambodia, or the Malay sultanate Kedah were also part of the country, but with more autonomy than the provinces. In this Mandala 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 with Maha Sarakham province.
Reforms of the provincial administration started in the 1870s under increased pressure from the colonial states of the United Kingdom and France. Agents were sent, especially to border areas, to impose more control on the provinces or tributary states.
At the end of the 19th century King Chulalongkorn reformed the central government. In 1892 the ministry, which previously had many overlapping responsibilities, was reorganized with clear missions as in Western administrations. Prince Damrong 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 a monthon. 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 an amphoe (district) or even lower to a tambon (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 the Holy Man Rebellion in 1902 in Isan. It was initially a messianic doomsday sect, but it also attacked government representatives in the northeast. The provincial town Khemarat was even burned by the rebels. After a few months the rebellion was beaten back.[9]
After 1916, the word changwat became common to use for the provinces, partly to distinguish them from the provincial capital city (mueang or amphoe 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 King Vajiravudh 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 and Lan 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 a municipality, 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), and Amnat Charoen (split from Ubon Ratchathani). The newest province is Bueng Kan, which was split off from Nong Khai effective 23 March 2011.
| Province | Capital | Merged in | Fate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kabin Buri | Kabin Buri | 1926[11] | Merged into Prachinburi province |
| Sukhothai (before 1932) | Sukhothai Thani | 1932[12] | 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 into Phetchabun province | |
| Thanyaburi | Thanyaburi | Merged into Pathum Thani province | |
| Kalasin | Kalasin | Merged into Maha Sarakham province, Split out again in 1947 | |
| Lang Suan | Lang Suan | Merged into Chumphon province | |
| Takua Pa | Takua Pa | Merged into Phang Nga province | |
| Sai Buri | Sai Buri | Merged into Pattani province (except Bacho District which was merged into Narathiwat province) | |
| Phra Pradaeng | Phra Pradaeng | Merged into Samut Prakan province (except Rat Burana District which was merged into Thonburi province) | |
| Min Buri | Min Buri | Merged into Phra Nakhon province (Nong Chok District was merged into Chachoengsao province first then reallocated back in 1933) | |
| Samut Prakan (before 1943) | Samut Prakan | 1943[13] | Merged into Phra Nakhon province (except Ko Sichang District which was merged into Chonburi province). The part of Phra Nakhon was split out again in 1946 |
| Nakhon Nayok | Nakhon Nayok | Merged into Prachinburi province (except Ban Na District which was merged into Saraburi province). Split out again in 1946 | |
| Samut Sakhon | Samut Sakhon | Merged into Thonburi province. Split out again in 1946 | |
| Nonthaburi | Nonthaburi | Merged into Phra Nakhon province (except Bang Kruai District, Bang Yai District, Bang Bua Thong District which was merged into Thonburi province). Split out again in 1946 | |
| Phra Nakhon | Phra Nakhon | 1971[14] | Merged to form the current Bangkok |
| Thonburi | Thonburi |
| Territory | Capital | Period | Fate | Today part of | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salaween Territory | Chiang Mai | 1802–1892 | Karenni State and Shan State, British Burma | ||
| Kawtaung Territory | Chumphon | 1769–1864 | Mergui British Burma | Thanintharyi Myanmar | |
| Miawadi Territory | Chiang Mai | 1768–1834 | Thaton British Burma | ||
| Sip Song Ju Tai | none | 1779–1888 | |||
| Chiang Khaeng (Muang Sing) | Muang Sing | 1892–1893 | Shan State British Burma and Haut Mekong French Indochina | ||
| Luang Phrabang | Luang Phrabang | 1778–1893 | Luang Phrabang French Indochina | ||
| Chiang Khouang | Chiang Khouang | 1828–1893 | Tran Ninh French Indochina | ||
| Borikhan Nikhom | Borikhan Nikhom | 1828–1893 | Vientiane French Indochina | ||
| Kham Kert | Kham Kert | 1828–1893 | Khammouane French Indochina | ||
| Kham Meun | Kham Meun | 1828–1893 | Khammouane French Indochina | ||
| Nakhon Phanom | Nakhon Phanom | 1893 | Partitioned between Nakhon Phanom and Khammouane French Indochina | ||
| Mukdahan | Mukdahan | 1893 | Partitioned between Mukdahan and Savannakhet French Indochina | ||
| Khemmarat | Khemmarat | 1893 | Partitioned between Khemmarat and Salavan French Indochina | ||
| Nakhon Champassak | Nakhon Champassak | 1780–18261829–1904 | Partitioned between Det Udom and Bassac, Attapeu, Stung Treng French Indochina | ||
| Kham Thong Luang | Kham Tong Luang | 1829–1893 | Salavan French Indochina | ||
| Salawan | Salawan | 1829–1893 | Salavan French Indochina | ||
| Attapeu | Attapeu | 1829–1893 | Attapeu French Indochina | ||
| Sitadon | Sitadon | 1829–1893 | Bassac French Indochina | Champassak  Cambodia | |
| Saen Pang | Saen Pang | 1829–1893 | Stung Treng French Indochina | Stung Treng Cambodia | |
| Chiang Taeng | Chiang Taeng | 1829–1893 | Stung Treng French Indochina | Stung Treng Cambodia | |
| Chaiburi | Chaiburi | 1893–1904 | Luang Phrabang French Indochina | ||
| Khukhan | Khukhan | 1907 | Partitioned between Khukhan and Kampong Thom French Indochina | ||
| Sangkha | Sangkha | 1907 | Partitioned between Sangkha and Battambang French Indochina | ||
| Siemmarat | Siemmarat | 1845–1907 | Siem Reap French Indochina | Siem Reap Cambodia | |
| Phanom Sok | Phnom Srok | 1845–1907 | Siem Reap, Battambang French Indochina | ||
| Sisophon | Sisophon | 1845–1907 | Battambang French Indochina | ||
| Phra Tabong | Phra Tabong | 1769–1907 | Battambang French Indochina | Battambang, Banteay Meanchey Cambodia | |
| Prachankiriket[15] | Prachankiriket | 1855–1904 | Pursat and Kampot, French Indochina | Pursat and Koh Kong, Cambodia | |
| Penang | Penang | 1786–1867 | Penang British Malaya | ||
| Lan Chang | Sama Buri | 1941–1946 | Luang Prabang, French Indochina | Sainyabuli and Luang Prabang, | |
| Phra Tabong | Battambang | 1941–1946 | Battambang, French Indochina | Battambang and Pailin, Cambodia | |
| Phibunsongkhram | Sisophon | 1941–1946 | Battambang, Siem Reap, Kompong Thom and Stung Treng, French Indochina | Banteay Meanchey, Oddar Meanchey and Siem Reap, Cambodia | |
| Nakhon Champassak | Champasak | 1941–1946 | Kompong Thom, Stung Treng and Bassac, French Indochina | Preah Vihear and Stung Treng, Cambodia Champasak, | |
| Syburi | Alor Setar | 1821–1909 1943–1945 | Kedah, British Malaya | Kedah, | |
| Palit | Kangar | 1839–1909 1943–1945 | Perlis, British Malaya | Perlis, | |
| Kalantan | Kota Bharu | 1786–1909 1943–1945 | Kelantan, British Malaya | Kelantan, | |
| Trangkanu | Kuala Terengganu | 1786 –1909 1943–1945 | Terengganu, British Malaya | Terengganu, | |
| Saharat Thai Doem | Chiang Tung | 1943–1945 | Karenni State and Shan State, British Burma | ||
| Tanaosi | Tanaosi | until–1767 | Dawei Konbaung Dynasty | Thanintharyi Myanmar |