Eastern Thailand

Eastern Region
Eastern Region
Region
	From upper-left to lower-right: Pattaya in daytime, Port of Laem Chabang, Khao Khitchakut, Ko Chang and Wat Sothonwararam
	Eastern Region in Thailand
Largest city	Sriracha-Pattaya Metropolitan area
Provinces	7 Provinces Chachoengsao Province ; Chanthaburi Province ; Chonburi Province ; Prachinburi Province ; Rayong Province ; Sa Kaeo Province ; Trat Province ;
Area
• Total	34,481 km2 (13,313 sq mi)
Population (2019)
• Total	4,841,806
• Density	140/km2 (360/sq mi)
GDP
• Total	US$98.2 billion (2019)
Time zone	UTC+7 (Thailand)

Last updated December 24, 2024

Eastern Thailand is a region of Thailand bordering Cambodia on the east, Northeastern Thailand in the north, and central Thailand on the west.

Geography

Eastern Thailand lies between the Sankamphaeng Range, which forms a natural border with the Khorat Plateau to the north and the Gulf of Thailand to the south. The geography of the region is characterised by short mountain ranges (collectively grouped under the Chanthaburi Range) alternating with small basins of short rivers which drain into the Gulf of Thailand. Between the Chanthaburi and Sankamphaeng mountains lies the basin of the Bang Pakong River system.

Fruit is a major component of agriculture in the area, and tourism plays a strong part in the economy. The region's coastal location has helped promote eastern seaboard industrial development, a major factor in the economy of the region.^[4]

Islands off Eastern Thailand's coast include Ko Sichang, Ko Lan, Ko Samet, and Ko Chang.

National parks

Within the eastern region there are some eight national parks. Pang Sida National Park covering 844 km² in Sa Kaeo province, it constitutes a part of the Dong Phayayen-Khao Yai Forest Complex UNESCO World Heritage Site, covering in total around 6,100 km². The total forest parent area is 8,205 km² (3,168 sq mi) or 22.4 percent of this eastern region area (incl. Nakhon Nayok province).^[1] Mu Ko Chang National Park in Trat province includes 85 per cent of Thailands second largest island Ko Chang. The beaches on the western coast of Ko Chang have been excluded from the national park for reason of facilitating the tourism industry. Mu Ko Samet National Park in Rayong province is just 6 km long by 3 km wide with beaches covered with some of the finest white sand in the country.

Administrative divisions

According to the six geographical regions established by the National Research Council of Thailand, the eastern region includes seven provinces.

The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD), the Office of the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC) ^[5] and Royal Forest Department (RFD) also include province Nakhon Nayok in the Eastern region.

	Province	Capital	DOPA	Popul.	Area (km²)	Dens.	ISO
1	Chonburi	Chonburi	9	1,558,301	4,508	346	TH-20
2	Rayong	Rayong	50	734,753	3,666	201	TH-21
3	Chanthaburi	Chanthaburi	7	537,698	6,415	84	TH-22
4	Trat	Trat	16	229,958	2,866	78	TH-23
5	Chachoengsao	Chachoengsao	8	720,113	5,169	139	TH-24
6	Prachin Buri	Prachin Buri	31	494,680	5,026	99	TH-25
7	Sa Kaeo	Sa Kaeo	63	566,303	6,831	83	TH-27

Note: Population is based on "Statistics, population and house statistics for the year 2019" from Registration Office Department of the Interior. Reference date is 31 December 2019.^[2]
Area is based on "Thailand boundary from Department of Provincial Administration.^[1]

Economy

For fiscal year 2018, Eastern Thailand Region had a combined economic output of 3,026 trillion baht (US$97.6 billion), or 18.5 percent of Thailand's GDP. Rayong province had an economic output of 1.045 trillion baht (US$33.7 billion). This amounted to a per-capita Gross Provincial Product (GPP) value of 1,067,449 baht (US$34,434), almost double the GPP per-capita of the three following provinces in the ranking.^[6]

Gross Provincial Product (GPP)
Rank	Province	GPP (million baht)	Population (x 1000)	GPP per capita (baht)
1	Rayong	1,045.7	980	1,067,449
2	Chonburi	1,030.9	1,819	566,801
3	Prachin Buri	319.0	621	513,789
4	Chachoengsao	386.6	823	469,539
5	Chanthaburi	120.2	553	217,393
6	Trat	43.1	267	161,322
7	Nakhon Nayok	30.2	259	116,717
8	Sa Kaeo	50.8	630	80,716
	Eastern region	3,026,495	5,951	508,568

Languages

The main language of Eastern Thailand is Central Thai but regional languages are also common. Krungthep dialect, the dominant variant, is spoken among Thai Chinese communities, the Eastern Economic Corridor EEC (such as in Chonburi, Siracha, Pattaya, Padriew, Bangpakong etc.). The dialect from Prachinburi Province is quite similar to the Ayutthaya dialect, the traditional working-class dialect of Bangkok, and the Rayong and the Chantaburi dialects are quite similar to the Suphanburi dialect, another dialect in Central Thailand.

Isan has a minority status in Eastern Thailand and is spoken usually in the eastern part of Prachinburi and the upper part of Sa Kaeo Province. It this is the same variant as the Khonkaen dialect (Standard Lao language). Khmer language in Eastern Thailand is spoken mostly by the older generation in Chanthaburi and has become endangered.

Related Research Articles

Surat Thani, often shortened to Surat, is the largest of the southern provinces (changwat) of Thailand. It lies on the western shore of the Gulf of Thailand. Surat Thani means 'city of good people', a title given to the city by King Vajiravudh ; Surat Thani is therefore the sole province in Southern Thailand for which the native name is in the Central Thai language.

Central Thailand is one of the regions of Thailand, covering the broad alluvial plain of the Chao Phraya River. It is separated from northeast Thailand (Isan) by the Phetchabun mountain range. The Tenasserim Hills separate it from Myanmar to the west. In the north it is bounded by the Phi Pan Nam Range, one of the hilly systems of northern Thailand. The area was the heartland of the Ayutthaya Kingdom and is still the dominant area of Thailand since it contains the world's most primate city, Bangkok.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nakhon Ratchasima province</span> Province of Thailand

Nakhon Ratchasima is one of Thailand's seventy-six provinces (changwat) lies in lower northeastern Thailand also called Isan. It is the country's largest province by area, has a population of approximately 2.7 million, and generates about 250 billion baht in GDP, the highest in Isan. Neighbouring provinces are Chaiyaphum, Khon Kaen, Buriram, Sa Kaeo, Prachinburi, Nakhon Nayok, Saraburi, and Lopburi.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Loei province</span> Province of Thailand

Loei, is one of the more sparsely populated provinces (changwat) of Thailand. It lies in the Isan region of upper northeastern Thailand. Neighboring provinces are Nong Khai, Udon Thani, Nong Bua Lamphu, Khon Kaen, Phetchabun, and Phitsanulok. In the north it borders Xaignabouli and Vientiane province of Laos.

Phitsanulok, is a province of central Thailand. It borders the provinces of Uttaradit to the north, Loei and Phetchabun to the east, Phichit to the south, Kamphaeng Phet to the southwest, and Sukhothai to the west. Its border was shared with Laos (Sainyabuli) to the northeast. Covering an area of 10,815 square kilometres (4,176 sq mi), Phitsanulok is the fifteenth-largest province in Thailand. As of 2023, it has a population of about 840,000, making it the eighth-most populous province in the region.

Chumphon is a southern province (changwat) of Thailand on the Gulf of Thailand. Neighbouring provinces are Prachuap Khiri Khan, Surat Thani, and Ranong. To the west it borders the Burmese province of Tanintharyi.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rayong province</span> Province of Thailand

Rayong province is one of seventy-six provinces (changwat) within Thailand, and lies in eastern Thailand. The province is bordered by Chonburi to its west and north; Chanthaburi to its east; and the Gulf of Thailand to its south.

Buriram province is one of Thailand's seventy-seven Provinces (changwat) and lies in lower northeastern Thailand, also called Isan. Neighboring provinces are Sa Kaeo, Nakhon Ratchasima, Khon Kaen, Maha Sarakham, and Surin. The name "Buriram" means 'city of happiness'.

Satun (Thai: สตูล, pronounced[sà.tūːn] is one of the southern provinces of Thailand. Neighboring provinces are Trang, Phatthalung, and Songkhla. To the south it borders Perlis of Malaysia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trat province</span> Province of Thailand

Trat province, also spelt Trad province, is one of Thailand's seventy-six provinces (changwat), and is located in the region of eastern Thailand. It borders Chanthaburi province to the northwest, and Cambodia and its provinces of Pailin, Battamabang, Pursat, and Koh Kong to its north, northeast and east. To the south, it borders the Gulf of Thailand and Pacific Ocean. In Thailand, it is the 15th smallest province at 2,819 km² (1,088 sq mi) and 4th least populated province at 229,958 in 2019. Its capital is Trat town.

Chanthaburi is one of seven provinces (changwat) in eastern Thailand, on the border with Battambang and Pailin of Cambodia, on the shore of the Gulf of Thailand. Neighbouring provinces are Trat in the east and Rayong, Chonburi, Chachoengsao, and Sa Kaeo to the west and north.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sa Kaeo province</span> Province of Thailand

Sa Kaeo is one of the 76 provinces (changwat) and lies in eastern Thailand about 200 km from Bangkok. Neighboring provinces are Chanthaburi, Chachoengsao, Prachinburi, Nakhon Ratchasima, and Buriram. To the east it borders Banteay Meanchey and Battambang of Cambodia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chachoengsao province</span> Province of Thailand

Chachoengsao is one of Thailand's seventy-six provinces (changwat), located in eastern Thailand.

Prachinburi province is one of Thailand's seventy-seven provinces (changwat), it lies in eastern Thailand. Neighboring provinces are Nakhon Ratchasima, Sa Kaeo, Chachoengsao, and Nakhon Nayok.

Saraburi is one of the central provinces (changwat) of Thailand. Neighboring provinces are Lopburi, Nakhon Ratchasima, Nakhon Nayok, Pathum Thani, and Ayutthaya. It is believed to have been constructed in the year 1548 during the reign of King Maha Chakkraphat of Ayutthaya as a centre for recruiting troops.

Nakhon Nayok is one of the central provinces (changwat) of Thailand, established by the Act Establishing Changwat Samut Prakan, Changwat Nonthaburi, Changwat Samut Sakhon, and Changwat Nakhon Nayok, Buddhist Era 2489 (1946), which came into force on 9 May 1946.

Northern Thailand, or more specifically Lanna, is geographically characterised by several mountain ranges, which continue from the Shan Hills in bordering Myanmar to Laos, and the river valleys that cut through them. Like most of Thailand, it has a tropical savanna climate, but its relatively high elevation and latitude contribute to more pronounced seasonal temperature variation, with cooler winters than the other regions.

Southern Thailand, Southern Siam or Tambralinga is a southernmost cultural region of Thailand, separated from Central Thailand region by the Kra Isthmus.

Western Thailand is a region of Thailand bordering Myanmar to the west, Southern Thailand to the south and central Thailand to the east.

2016 Regional League Division 2 Eastern Region is the 8th season of the League competition since its establishment in 2009. It is in the third tier of the Thai football league system.

References

1 2 3 "ตารางที่ 2 พี้นที่ป่าไม้ แยกรายจังหวัด พ.ศ.2562" [Table 2 Forest area Separate province year 2019]. Royal Forest Department (in Thai). 2019. Retrieved 6 April 2021, information, Forest statistics Year 2019, Thailand boundary from Department of Provincial Administration in 2013{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: postscript (link)
1 2 รายงานสถิติจำนวนประชากรและบ้านประจำปี พ.ส.2562 [Statistics, population and house statistics for the year 2019]. Registration Office Department of the Interior, Ministry of the Interior. stat.bora.dopa.go.th (in Thai). 31 December 2019. Archived from the original on 14 June 2019. Retrieved 26 February 2020.
↑ "Gross Regional and Provincial Product, 2019 Edition". <>. Office of the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC). July 2019. ISSN 1686-0799 . Retrieved 22 January 2020.
↑ Eastern Seaboard Development Programme - Rayong Archived March 8, 2016, at the Wayback Machine
↑ "National account". p. 37. Archived from the original on 4 August 2019. Retrieved 6 August 2019.
↑ Phitsanulok Provincial Statistical Report 2562-2019: Economic Statistics - National Accounts. Phitsanulok Provincial Statistical Office (Report). National Statistical Office (NSO). 2020. pp. 93–94. ISSN 1905-8314.

External links

Eastern Thailand travel guide from Wikivoyage

13°27′N101°36′E / 13.450°N 101.600°E / 13.450; 101.600

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.

[RFD-1] 1 2 3 "ตารางที่ 2 พี้นที่ป่าไม้ แยกรายจังหวัด พ.ศ.2562" [Table 2 Forest area Separate province year 2019]. Royal Forest Department (in Thai). 2019. Retrieved 6 April 2021, information, Forest statistics Year 2019, Thailand boundary from Department of Provincial Administration in 2013{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: postscript (link)

[TDD-2] 1 2 รายงานสถิติจำนวนประชากรและบ้านประจำปี พ.ส.2562 [Statistics, population and house statistics for the year 2019]. Registration Office Department of the Interior, Ministry of the Interior. stat.bora.dopa.go.th (in Thai). 31 December 2019. Archived from the original on 14 June 2019. Retrieved 26 February 2020.

[NESDB-2017-3] "Gross Regional and Provincial Product, 2019 Edition". <>. Office of the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC). July 2019. ISSN 1686-0799 . Retrieved 22 January 2020.

[4] Eastern Seaboard Development Programme - Rayong Archived March 8, 2016, at the Wayback Machine

[5] "National account". p. 37. Archived from the original on 4 August 2019. Retrieved 6 August 2019.

[6] Phitsanulok Provincial Statistical Report 2562-2019: Economic Statistics - National Accounts. Phitsanulok Provincial Statistical Office (Report). National Statistical Office (NSO). 2020. pp. 93–94. ISSN 1905-8314.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

v t e Regions of Thailand
	Four-region division system	Northern Region Northeastern Region (Isan) Central Region Southern Region
	Six-region division system	Northern Region Northeastern Region (Isan) Western Region Central Region Eastern Region Southern Region