Thailand divides its settlements ( thesaban ) into three categories by size: city municipalities ( thesaban nakhon ), towns ( thesaban mueang ) and townships (or subdistrict municipality) ( thesaban tambon ). [1] There are 32 city municipalities as of January 2015.
The national capital Bangkok and the special governed city Pattaya fall outside these divisions. They are "self-governing districts".
Due to the outdated nature of the thesaban system, any city municipality's growth subsequent to its settlement designation is not included in both area and population numbers. For this reason, the Department of Public Works and Town & Country Planning, [2] and each province's Provincial Administrative Organization regularly revise and publish up-to-date city boundaries (Thai : เขตเมือง) to reflect population growth. These revisions are royally decreed and published in the Royal Thai Government Gazette . The term เขตเมือง/khet mueang can also be translated to the term urban area, a widely used term to describe and designate large cities.
Most Thai cities' revised boundaries are contained in the province's capital district, known as Amphoe Mueang. Chiang Mai is the only city outside Bangkok to cover multiple districts in its urban area. Together, Bangkok and Chiang Mai are the only cities in Thailand with a population of over one million.
Thailand has an urbanization rate of 52% (2021), translating to 36,217,020 people of the total population. [3] [4] This rate is based on the thesaban system, meaning that 8,442,107 people live in city municipalities, 4,437,112 people live in town municipalities and 23,337,801 people live in townships (subdistrict municipalities). According to the khet mueang system, 21,838,418 people (31.35% of total population) live in urban areas with a population greater than 150,000.
Several agencies issue population figures. Locally registered Thai populations are compiled by the Department of Local Administration (DLA). These figures are labeled as "Locally Registered Thai Population" and reflect the migrant, upcountry, and seasonal nature of Thai labor flows to the capital and tourist hot spots, yet maintain upcountry registration. Figures are very different from those by the National Statistics Office (NSO), which conducts the decennial census by attempting to count the total resident Thai population plus under 1,000 permanent resident foreigners. The result by the NSO is labeled as "Total Thai Population". Neither of the two offices release municipal level figures that include non-permanent residents, long-stay expatriates and figures for contracted foreign ASEAN migrants (a significant labor segment in cities like Bangkok, Pattaya, Chiang Mai, and Phuket, totaling two to three million workers), though this inclusion is being increasingly regularized since 2014. The NSO did release projected figures including regularized ASEAN migrants, i.e., "total resident population" down to the provincial level for 2017. [5]
The table below lists Department of Local Administration (DLA) (local registered Thai) 2020 figures. For the NSO compiled total Thai resident decennial census municipal counts view here..
In most cases, municipal population numbers do not represent the current size of each individual city, but only the administrative core. Geographically limited city municipalities such as Koh Samui and the suburban city municipalities of Bangkok, namely Nonthaburi, Pak Kret, Samut Prakan, Nakhon Pathom, and Samut Sakhon, are the exception. Bangkok's suburban areas are inside the Bangkok Metropolitan Region and therefore do not have their own urban or metropolitan area.
No. | Name | Thai | District-Province | Area (km2) | Population (Dec 2020) [6] | Date, city designation |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Krung Thep Maha Nakhon (Bangkok) | กรุงเทพมหานคร | 1,568.74 | 5,588,222 | 1972-12-14 | |
2 | Nonthaburi | นนทบุรี | Nonthaburi, Nonthaburi | 38.90 | 251,026 | 1995-09-23 |
3 | Pak Kret | ปากเกร็ด | Pak Kret, Nonthaburi | 36.04 | 189,458 | 2000-02-16 |
4 | Hat Yai | หาดใหญ่ | Hat Yai, Songkhla | 21.00 | 149,459 | 1995-09-23 |
5 | Chaophraya Surasak | เจ้าพระยาสุรศักดิ์ | Si Racha, Chonburi | 276.98 | 146,474 | 2013-05-01 |
6 | Surat Thani | สุราษฎร์ธานี | Surat Thani, Surat Thani | 68.97 | 131,599 | 2007-05-04 |
7 | Nakhon Ratchasima | นครราชสีมา | Nakhon Ratchasima, Nakhon Ratchasima | 37.50 | 122,730 | 1995-09-23 |
8 | Chiang Mai | เชียงใหม่ | Chiang Mai, Chiang Mai | 40.22 | 122,627 | 1936-03-28 |
9 | Udon Thani | อุดรธานี | Udon Thani, Udon Thani | 47.70 | 120,202 | 1995-09-23 |
10 | Pattaya | พัทยา | Bang Lamung, Chonburi | 53.44 | 117,606 | 1978-11-29 |
11 | Khon Kaen | ขอนแก่น | Khon Kaen, Khon Kaen | 46.00 | 110,615 | 1995-09-23 |
12 | Nakhon Si Thammarat | นครศรีธรรมราช | Nakhon Si Thammarat, Nakhon Si Thammarat | 22.56 | 100,416 | 1994-08-15 |
13 | Laem Chabang | แหลมฉบัง | Si Racha, Chonburi | 88.59 | 89,457 | 2010-05-24 |
14 | Rangsit | รังสิต | Thanyaburi, Pathum Thani | 20.80 | 84,268 | 2011-04-29 |
15 | Nakhon Sawan | นครสวรรค์ | Nakhon Sawan, Nakhon Sawan | 27.87 | 81,239 | 1995-09-23 |
16 | Phuket | ภูเก็ต | Phuket, Phuket | 12.00 | 77,778 | 2004-02-13 |
17 | Chiang Rai | เชียงราย | Chiang Rai, Chiang Rai | 60.85 | 77,545 | 2004-02-13 |
18 | Ubon Ratchathani | อุบลราชธานี | Ubon Ratchathani, Ubon Ratchathani | 29.04 | 72,855 | 1999-03-06 |
19 | Nakhon Pathom | นครปฐม | Nakhon Pathom, Nakhon Pathom | 19.85 | 72,753 | 1999-11-07 |
20 | Ko Samui | เกาะสมุย | Ko Samui district , Surat Thani | 252.00 | 68,994 | 2012-09-14 |
21 | Samut Sakhon | สมุทรสาคร | Samut Sakhon, Samut Sakhon | 10.33 | 65,409 | 1999-11-07 |
22 | Phitsanulok | พิษณุโลก | Phitsanulok, Phitsanulok | 18.26 | 64,068 | 1999-03-06 |
23 | Rayong | ระยอง | Rayong, Rayong | 16.95 | 62,384 | 1999-11-07 |
24 | Songkhla | สงขลา | Songkhla, Songkhla | 9.27 | 60,021 | 1999-11-07 |
25 | Yala | ยะลา | Yala, Yala | 19.00 | 59,983 | 1995-09-23 |
26 | Trang | ตรัง | Trang, Trang | 14.77 | 56,893 | 1999-11-07 |
27 | Om Noi | อ้อมน้อย | Krathum Baen, Samut Sakhon | 30.40 | 53,822 | 2010-11-11 |
28 | Sakon Nakhon | สกลนคร | Sakon Nakhon, Sakon Nakhon | 54.54 | 51,331 | 2012-03-08 |
29 | Lampang | ลำปาง | Lampang, Lampang | 22.17 | 50,697 | 1999-11-07 |
30 | Samut Prakan | สมุทรปราการ | Samut Prakan, Samut Prakan | 7.33 | 49,604 | 1999-03-23 |
31 | Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya | พระนครศรีอยุธยา | Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya | 14.84 | 49,208 | 1999-12-14 |
32 | Mae Sot | แม่สอด | Mae Sot, Tak | 27.20 | 41,581 | 2010-01-28 |
The following table lists the ten largest cities in Thailand by urban population, based on Department of Local Administration (DLA) figures. These figures represent the current size of each city, accounting for areal and population growth subsequent to each city's original city municipality designation.
Bangkok and Chiang Mai are the only cities covering multiple districts (known as Khet for Bangkok and Amphoe for the provinces), and the only two cities with a population of over one million. Although Pattaya is a "self-governing district" (located inside, but not part of Bang Lamung district), it has grown into all neighboring sub-districts and accounts for the largest population percentage, making it de facto a part of the "Pattaya-Bang Lamung-Jomtien" area. Chiang Mai is the only provincial city whose city boundaries (Thai : เขตเมือง) cover districts adjacent to the Amphoe Mueang district (Capital district). [7]
No. | Name | Thai | Province | Area (km2) [7] | Population (2021) [8] |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Krung Thep Maha Nakhon (Bangkok) | กรุงเทพมหานคร | 1,568.74 | 10,539,000 | |
2 | Chiang Mai | เชียงใหม่ | Chiang Mai | 405 | 1,198,000 |
3 | Nakhon Ratchasima | นครราชสีมา | Nakhon Ratchasima | 755.6 | 466,098 |
4 | Khon Kaen | ขอนแก่น | Khon Kaen | 953.4 | 412,758 |
5 | Hat Yai | หาดใหญ่ | Songkhla | 852.796 | 404,044 |
6 | Udon Thani | อุดรธานี | Udon Thani | 1,094.7 | 400,581 |
7 | Chon Buri | ชลบุรี | Chon Buri | 228.8 | 342,959 |
8 | Pattaya | พัทยา | Chon Buri | 727 | 328,961 |
9 | Si Racha | ศรีราชา | Chon Buri | 616.4 | 327,172 |
10 | Phitsanulok | พิษณุโลก | Phitsanulok | 777 | 281,929 |
Department of Local Administration (DLA) figures. The towns in bold characters are capitals.
There were 2,266 township municipalities as of 20 December 2017. [10]
Name | Thai | Province | Population (2015) [11] |
---|---|---|---|
Chai Prakan | ไชยปราการ | Chiang Mai | 16,044 |
Mae Ai | แม่อาย | Chiang Mai | 8,480 |
Mae Sai | แม่สาย | Chiang Rai | 22,778 |
Nong Bua | หนองบัว | Chiang Mai | 13,302 |
Phimai | พิมาย | Nakhon Ratchasima | 9,878 |
Wiang Fang | เวียงฝาง | Chiang Mai | 7,652 |
Chonburi is a province of Thailand (changwat) located in eastern Thailand. Its capital is also named Chonburi. Neighbouring provinces are Chachoengsao, Chanthaburi, and Rayong, while the Bay of Bangkok is to the west. Pattaya, a major tourism destination in Thailand, is located in Chonburi, along with Laem Chabang, the country's primary seaport. The population of the province has grown rapidly and now totals 1.7 million residents, although a large portion of the population is floating or unregistered. The registered population as of 31 December 2018 was 1.535 million.
Nonthaburi 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 (Thursday).
Nakhon Pathom is one of the central provinces (changwat) of Thailand. Neighbouring provinces are Suphan Buri, Ayutthaya, Nonthaburi, Bangkok, Samut Sakhon, Ratchaburi, and Kanchanaburi. The capital city of Nakhon Pathom province is Nakhon Pathom.
Samut Sakhon is one of the central provinces (changwat) of Thailand, located along the coast of the Gulf of Thailand. In 2019, it had a population of 584,703, and an area of 872 km², making it the 33rd most populated province whilst being the 4th smallest. Neighboring provinces are Samut Songkhram, Ratchaburi, Nakhon Pathom, and Bangkok. Samut Sakhon is part of the Bangkok Metropolitan Region.
The Bangkok Metropolitan Region (BMR), may refer to a government-defined "political definition" of the urban region surrounding the metropolis of Bangkok, or the built-up area, i.e., urban agglomeration of Bangkok, Thailand, which varies in size and shape, and gets filled in as development expands.
Thailand is a unitary state in Southeast Asia. The administrative services of the executive branch of the government are regulated by the National Government Organisation Act, BE 2534 (1991). Under this Act, the services are divided into three levels: central, provincial and local.
Sam Phran is the southernmost district (amphoe) of Nakhon Pathom province, Thailand.
Krathum Baen is a district (amphoe) in the northern part of Samut Sakhon province, central Thailand.
Thesaban are the municipalities of Thailand. There are three levels of municipalities: city, town, and sub-district. Bangkok and Pattaya are special municipal entities not included in the thesaban system.
Tak Airport is in Nam Ruem subdistrict, Mueang Tak district, Tak province in northern Thailand.
Tha Kham is a subdistrict municipality in Hot District in the south of Chiang Mai Province, Thailand. It covers the district centre and headquarters, and the town is also referred to as Hot.
Mae Sot is a city in western Thailand that shares a border with Myanmar to the west. It is notable as a trade hub and for its substantial population of Burmese migrants and refugees. The city is part of Tak Province, 87 km from the city of Tak and 492 km from Bangkok. It is home to the district headquarters of Mae Sot District, and is the main gateway between Thailand and Burma. As a result, it has gained notoriety for its trade in gems and teak, as well as black market services such as human trafficking and illicit drugs.
Mae Sai, is the district town of Mae Sai District in the far north of Chiang Rai Province, Thailand. Mae Sai is a major border crossing between Thailand and Myanmar; the town of Tachileik, in Shan State is across the bridge. Asian Highway Network AH2 crosses the Mae Sai River to the town of Tachileik in Myanmar. The town of Mae Sai and Tachileik are the bi-national conurbation shared between Thailand and Myanmar.
Mae Ai is home to the district headquarters of Mae Ai District in the top of Chiang Mai province, Thailand. 174 km from the city of Chiang Mai and 107 km from City of Chiang Rai.
Nong Prue is a town municipality in the Bang Lamung District of Chon Buri Province, a dormitory suburb of Pattaya, to the direct east (inland), and is home to a growing expatriate and retired population in many gated communities of luxury villas. Its population was 73,901 people in 2010 NSO, and 79,258 by 2017. Separate locally registered population (DLA) figures claim 46,098 for 2015. Like Pattaya, the latter figures probably underestimate the true number of residents, as Thai service workers tend to return to their hometowns where their residence is registered. Both figures likely do not include expats from mostly wealthy nations, nor migrants from neighboring countries who increasingly take up jobs Thais do not want and/or are not accustomed to.
Bang Rin is a town (Thesaban Mueang) in Mueang Ranong District of Ranong Province in Southern Thailand, and the location of the Ranong's provincial offices. Bang Rin is a sub-district municipality of the Ranong district. In 2015, Bang Rin had a total population of 18,788 people.
Phraekkasa is a tambon (sub-district) and neighbourhood in the area of Mueang Samut Prakan district, Samut Prakan province on eastern outskirts Bangkok.
Tha Khlong is a thesaban mueang in the Khlong Luang District of Pathum Thani Province in the Bangkok Metropolitan Region of Central Thailand.
Thailand is a unitary state, which means the territories are separated into central co-dependencies, with the central government deciding everything for the provinces. The kingdom is separated into multiple levels including regions, provinces, and many more. Though, formally, Thailand is separated into three levels: provinces, districts, and sub-districts, there are also informal divisions such as parimonthon, and phak. Furthermore, there are administrative divisions of the same level with different names such as the first-level divisions of the province and the special administrative region.
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