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Updates: 

There have been recent proposals to create new provinces in Thailand. In honor of King Bhumibol Adulyadej's 80th birthday (2007-12-05), a province would be formed by taking Cha-am district from Phetchaburi province, and Hua Hin and Pran Buri districts from Prachuap Khiri Khan province, as well as Sam Roi Yod sub-district. Also, in an attempt to create an economic zone rivaling Singapore around the new Suvarnabhumi Airport, a new province named Nakhon Suvarnabhumi was proposed. It would consist of Lat Krabang and Prawet districts from Bangkok Metropolis, and Bang Sao Thong and Bang Phli districts from Samut Prakan province. These measures are not yet decided.

International standard ISO 3166-2 was published on December 15, 1998. It superseded ISO/DIS 3166-2 (draft international standard). For Thailand, the draft standard showed 72 provinces and one municipality, each with a two-digit code. The final standard shows 75 provinces, one metropolitan administration (same as the municipality), and one special administrative city, named Phatthaya. They still have two-digit codes, with one exception (Phatthaya's code is S), but the codes are almost all changed. The new codes are shown in the table below.

The three new provinces listed in the final standard were created in 1993. Phatthaya is not listed by the National Statistical Office in the tables of census results by provinces.

Country overview: 

Short name	THAILAND
ISO code	TH
FIPS code	TH
Language	Thai (th)
Time zone	+7
Capital	Bangkok

 

At the beginning of the 20th century, Siam was an independent country, but the British and French had "spheres of influence": the British in the west and south, the French in the east. Part of the French sphere was transferred to French Indo-China in 1907. In 1909, part of the British sphere became unfederated states of Malaya. On 1939-06-24 Siam proclaimed that its English name was to be Thailand. During World War II, Thailand annexed some of the territory back from Indo-China, but was forced to return it at the end of the war.

Other names of country: 

1. Danish: Thailand, Siam (obsolete)
2. Dutch: Thailand, Koninkrijk Thailand (formal)
3. English: Kingdom of Thailand (formal), Siam (obsolete)
4. Finnish: Thaimaa
5. French: Thaïlande f
6. German: Thailand n
7. Icelandic: Taíland
8. Italian: Thailandia f, Tailandia
9. Norwegian: Thailand, Kongeriket Thailand (formal)
10. Portuguese: Tailândia, Reino m da Tailândia f (formal), Sião m (obsolete)
11. Spanish: Tailandia, Reino m de Tailandia f (formal)
12. Swedish: Thailand
13. Thai: Muang Thai (formal), Prathes Thai (formal)

Origin of name: 

Land of the Thais (an ethnic name meaning free people)

Primary subdivisions: 

Thailand is divided into 75 changwats (provinces) and one maha nakhon (municipality).

Province	HASC	ISO	FIPS	Pc	Reg	Population	Area(km.²)	Area(mi.²)
Amnat Charoen	TH.AC	37	TH77	37	NE	356,556	3,161	1,221
Ang Thong	TH.AT	15	TH35	14	C	269,419	968	374
Bangkok Metropolis	TH.BM	10	TH40	10	C	6,355,144	1,569	606
Buri Ram	TH.BR	31	TH28	31	NE	1,493,359	10,323	3,986
Chachoengsao	TH.CC	24	TH44	24	C	635,153	5,351	2,066
Chai Nat	TH.CN	18	TH32	17	C	359,829	2,470	954
Chaiyaphum	TH.CY	36	TH26	36	NE	1,095,360	12,778	4,934
Chanthaburi	TH.CT	22	TH48	22	E	480,064	6,338	2,447
Chiang Mai	TH.CM	50	TH02	50	N	1,500,127	20,107	7,763
Chiang Rai	TH.CR	57	TH03	57	N	1,129,701	11,678	4,509
Chon Buri	TH.CB	20	TH46	20	E	1,040,865	4,363	1,685
Chumphon	TH.CP	86	TH58	86	S	446,206	6,009	2,320
Kalasin	TH.KL	46	TH23	46	NE	921,366	6,947	2,682
Kamphaeng Phet	TH.KP	62	TH11	62	N	674,027	8,608	3,323
Kanchanaburi	TH.KN	71	TH50	71	C	734,394	19,483	7,523
Khon Kaen	TH.KK	40	TH22	40	NE	1,733,434	10,886	4,203
Krabi	TH.KR	81	TH63	81	S	336,210	4,709	1,818
Lampang	TH.LG	52	TH06	52	N	782,152	12,534	4,839
Lamphun	TH.LN	51	TH05	51	N	413,299	4,506	1,740
Loei	TH.LE	42	TH18	42	NE	607,083	11,425	4,411
Lop Buri	TH.LB	16	TH34	15	C	745,506	6,200	2,394
Mae Hong Son	TH.MH	58	TH01	58	N	210,537	12,681	4,896
Maha Sarakham	TH.MS	44	TH24	44	NE	947,313	5,292	2,043
Mukdahan	TH.MD	49	TH78	49	NE	310,718	4,340	1,676
Nakhon Nayok	TH.NN	26	TH43	26	C	241,081	2,122	819
Nakhon Pathom	TH.NP	73	TH53	73	C	815,122	2,168	837
Nakhon Phanom	TH.NF	48	TH73	48	NE	684,444	5,513	2,128
Nakhon Ratchasima	TH.NR	30	TH27	30	NE	2,556,260	20,494	7,913
Nakhon Sawan	TH.NS	60	TH16	60	N	1,090,379	9,598	3,706
Nakhon Si Thammarat	TH.NT	80	TH64	80	S	1,519,811	9,943	3,839
Nan	TH.NA	55	TH04	55	N	458,041	11,472	4,429
Narathiwat	TH.NW	96	TH31	96	S	662,350	4,475	1,728
Nong Bua Lam Phu	TH.NB	39	TH79	39	NE	482,207	3,859	1,490
Nong Khai	TH.NK	43	TH17	43	NE	883,704	7,332	2,831
Nonthaburi	TH.NO	12	TH38	11	C	816,614	622	240
Pathum Thani	TH.PT	13	TH39	12	C	677,649	1,526	589
Pattani	TH.PI	94	TH69	94	S	595,985	1,940	749
Phangnga	TH.PG	82	TH61	82	S	234,188	4,171	1,610
Phatthalung	TH.PL	93	TH66	93	S	498,471	3,425	1,322
Phayao	TH.PY	56	TH41	56	N	502,780	6,335	2,446
Phetchabun	TH.PH	67	TH14	67	N	965,784	12,668	4,891
Phetchaburi	TH.PE	76	TH56	76	C	435,377	6,225	2,404
Phichit	TH.PC	66	TH13	66	N	572,989	4,531	1,749
Phitsanulok	TH.PS	65	TH12	65	N	792,678	10,816	4,176
Phrae	TH.PR	54	TH07	54	N	492,561	6,539	2,525
Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya	TH.PA	14	TH36	13	C	727,277	2,557	987
Phuket	TH.PU	83	TH62	83	S	249,446	543	210
Prachin Buri	TH.PB	25	TH74	25	C	406,732	4,762	1,839
Prachuap Khiri Khan	TH.PK	77	TH57	77	C	449,467	6,368	2,459
Ranong	TH.RN	85	TH59	85	S	161,210	3,298	1,273
Ratchaburi	TH.RT	70	TH52	70	C	791,217	5,197	2,006
Rayong	TH.RY	21	TH47	21	E	522,133	3,552	1,371
Roi Et	TH.RE	45	TH25	45	NE	1,256,458	8,299	3,204
Sa Kaeo	TH.SK	27	TH80	27	C	485,632	7,195	2,778
Sakon Nakhon	TH.SN	47	TH20	47	NE	1,040,766	9,606	3,709
Samut Prakan	TH.SP	11	TH42	10	C	1,028,401	1,004	388
Samut Sakhon	TH.SS	74	TH55	74	C	466,281	872	337
Samut Songkhram	TH.SM	75	TH54	75	C	204,177	417	161
Saraburi	TH.SR	19	TH37	18	C	575,053	3,577	1,381
Satun	TH.SA	91	TH67	91	S	247,875	2,479	957
Sing Buri	TH.SB	17	TH33	16	C	232,766	823	318
Si Sa Ket	TH.SI	33	TH30	33	NE	1,405,500	8,840	3,413
Songkhla	TH.SG	90	TH68	90	S	1,255,662	7,394	2,855
Sukhothai	TH.SO	64	TH09	64	N	593,264	6,596	2,547
Suphan Buri	TH.SH	72	TH51	72	C	855,949	5,358	2,069
Surat Thani	TH.ST	84	TH60	84	S	869,410	12,892	4,977
Surin	TH.SU	32	TH29	32	NE	1,327,901	8,124	3,137
Tak	TH.TK	63	TH08	63	N	486,146	16,407	6,335
Trang	TH.TG	92	TH65	92	S	595,110	4,918	1,899
Trat	TH.TT	23	TH49	23	E	219,345	2,819	1,088
Ubon Ratchathani	TH.UR	34	TH75	34	NE	1,691,441	15,745	6,079
Udon Thani	TH.UN	41	TH76	41	NE	1,467,158	11,730	4,529
Uthai Thani	TH.UT	61	TH15	61	N	304,122	6,730	2,599
Uttaradit	TH.UD	53	TH10	53	N	464,474	7,839	3,027
Yala	TH.YL	95	TH70	95	S	415,537	4,521	1,746
Yasothon	TH.YS	35	TH72	35	NE	561,430	4,162	1,607
76 divisions						60,913,637	513,120	198,117
Province: except Bangkok Metropolis, which is a municipal administration. HASC: Hierarchical administrative subdivision codes. ISO: Codes from ISO 3166-2. These are the first two digits of the postal code for the province, except for codes 11-19, from which you must subtract 1 to get the first two digits of the postal code. For full identification in a global context, prefix "TH-" to the code (ex: TH-63 represents Tak). FIPS: Codes from FIPS PUB 10-4. Pc: Thailand uses five-digit postal codes. The first two digits imply a province, as shown. Reg: Thailand has unofficial, but standardized, regions: Central (C), Eastern (E), Northern (N), Northeastern (NE), and Southern (S). Some sources make Eastern part of Central. Population: 2000-04-01 census. Capitals: Capitals have the same names as their provinces, except for Bangkok Metropolis (Bangkok). Sometimes the capital name is given with the generic prefix "Muang".

Further subdivisions:

See the Districts of Thailand page.

The provinces are divided into amphoes (or amphurs: districts) and king amphoes (subdistricts). These are in turn subdivided into tambons (communes), which are further subdivided into moobans (villages). Above the provinces, there are regions (as shown above). In the early part of the 20th century, there were groupings of provinces called monthons (administrative circles).

Territorial extent: 

1. Chon Buri includes Ko Si Chang, Ko Khram, Ko Pai, and other islands.
2. Krabi includes Ko Lanta (actually two islands, Ko Lanta Yai and Ko Lanta Noi, constituting one district); and Phi Phi Don, Phi Phi Le, and other islands.
3. Phuket consists of one large island, Ko Phuket; and numerous smaller islands, such as Ko Yao Yai, Ko Yao Noi, Ko Sire, and Ko Kaeo Pitsadan.
4. Phangnga includes Ko Phra Thong, Ko Kho Kao, and other islands.
5. Ranong includes Ko Phayam, Ko Chang, and other islands.
6. Satun includes Ko Tarutao; the Butong Group, containing Ladang, Rawi, Tanga, and Bitsi; Ko Khao Yai, Ko Bulon Lae, Ko Laoling, and other small islands.
7. Songkhla includes Ko Yo, Ko Nu and Ko Maeo islands.
8. Surat Thani includes the islands Ko Samui, Ko Phangan, Ko Tao, Ko Nangyuan, Ko Ang Thong, etc.
9. Trang includes Ko Libong, Ko Muk, and other small islands.
10. Trat includes Ko Chang, Ko Kut, Ko Mak, and adjacent islands.

Origins of names: 

1. Bangkok: region of plum-olive trees, also known as Krung Thep: city of angels; Phra Nakhon: lord city
2. Buri Ram: city of pleasantness
3. Chai Nat: place of victory
4. Phatthalung: town of the hollow hill
5. Phuket: Malayan bukit: hill
6. Sukhothai: dawn of happiness
7. Surat Thani: city of the good people

Change history: 

1. 1912-06: Isan province split into Roi Et and Ubon Ratchathani.
2. 1915: Thailand had 83 provinces. There were some merges between then and 1950.
3. ~1959: Kalasin province split from Maha Sarakham.
4. 1972: Phra Nakhon and Thon Buri provinces merged to form Bangkok Metropolis (Krung Thep Manakhon).
5. 1972-10-01: Yasothon province split from Ubon Ratchathani.
6. 1977-08-28: Phayao province split from Chiang Rai.
7. ~1980: Phra Nakhon and Thon Buri provinces merged to form Bangkok Metropolis.
8. 1981: Name of Prathum Thani province changed to Pathum Thani.
9. 1982-09: Mukdahan province split from Nakhon Phanom (FIPS code TH21 before the split).
10. 1993: Amnat Charoen province split from Ubon Ratchathani (formerly FIPS=TH71); Nong Bua Lam Phu split from Udon Thani (TH19); Sa Kaeo split from Prachin Buri (TH45).

Other names of subdivisions: 

Although names have to be transliterated from the Thai alphabet, they have become fairly standardized by now. Some names often appear as one word, especially Buriram and Sisaket. In older sources, Nakhon often appears as Nakhorn. The following list shows some typical variants, as well as some odd ones.

1. Chachoengsao: Chaxerngsao, Pad Rew, Paed Riu, Petrieu, Shajeun Dhrao (variant)
2. Chanthaburi: Chantaburi, Muang Chan (variant)
3. Kamphaeng Phet: Gampheang Phet, Kambhengbhej (variant)
4. Kanchanaburi: Kan Buri, Park Prag (variant)
5. Bangkok Metropolis: Krung Thep, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon, Phra Nakhon-Thonburi (variant)
6. Lamphun: Hariphunchai, Lampoon (variant)
7. Nakhon Ratchasima: Khorat, Nagara Rajasima, Nakaun Rachasima (variant)
8. Nakhon Si Thammarat: Nagara Sridharmaraj, Nakhon Sri Thammarat, Nakhornsrithamrat, Nakornsrithamaraj (variant)
9. Phetchaburi: Bejraburi, Petchburi, Phet Buri, Tetchburit (variant)
10. Phitsanulok: Bisnulok, Phisanulauk, Phitsnulok, Pitsanuloke (variant)
11. Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya: Ayudhya, Ayutthaya, Phranakhornsri-ayuthaya (variant)
12. Prachuap Khiri Khan: Korh Luxk, Prachuab Girikhand, Prachuapkirikhan, Prachut Khirikhan (variant)
13. Samut Prakan: Pak Nam, Samudh Prakarn, Samudraprakar, Samut Phrakhan (variant)
14. Samut Sakhon: Krokkrak Maha Chai, Mahachai, Samudrasagara (variant)
15. Samut Songkhram: Mae Klong, Samudrasonggram (variant)
16. Si Sa Ket: Khukhan, Khukhandh, Srisaket (variant)
17. Sukhothai: Sawankhalokt, Sukhotai, Sukothai, Svargalok (variant)
18. Trang: Tab Tiang (variant)

Population history:

Province	1947	1960	1970	1980	1990	2000
Amnat Charoen						356,556
Ang Thong	150,304	198,000	217,000	255,240	279,032	269,419
Bangkok Metropolis	827,290		2,132,000	5,153,902	5,546,937	6,355,144
Buri Ram	339,496	584,000	797,000	1,132,980	1,441,517	1,493,359
Chachoengsao	240,410	323,000	338,000	498,148	582,783	635,153
Chai Nat	171,918	245,000	256,000	330,385	356,297	359,829
Chaiyaphum	293,738	486,000	626,000	857,692	1,059,549	1,095,360
Chanthaburi	110,808	158,000	211,000	330,610	439,273	480,064
Chiang Mai	534,623	798,000	1,024,000	1,166,123	1,376,120	1,500,127
Chiang Rai	476,118	812,000	1,086,000	922,850	1,039,388	1,129,701
Chon Buri	210,329	392,000	542,000	725,407	910,570	1,040,865
Chumphon	118,427	175,000	235,000	330,455	397,679	446,206
Kalasin		427,000	573,000	755,274	894,985	921,366
Kamphaeng Phet	65,742	173,000	333,000	559,223	668,001	674,027
Kanchanaburi	140,164	233,000	321,000	518,927	697,750	734,394
Khon Kaen	590,664	844,000	1,025,000	1,354,855	1,681,479	1,733,434
Krabi	59,483	94,000	148,000	218,814	298,406	336,210
Lampang	332,276	472,000	616,000	659,433	772,635	782,152
Lamphun	180,781	250,000	318,000	353,607	417,565	413,299
Loei	134,202	211,000	326,000	449,535	551,892	607,083
Lop Buri	203,313	336,000	433,000	655,537	747,154	745,506
Mae Hong Son	66,280	81,000	104,000	132,391	172,825	210,537
Maha Sarakham	698,087	499,000	613,000	764,509	900,906	947,313
Mukdahan					288,151	310,718
Nakhon Nayok	117,547	154,000	161,000	201,230	228,981	241,081
Nakhon Pathom	268,958	370,000	411,000	561,346	657,182	815,122
Nakhon Phanom	307,172	436,000	561,000	760,319	634,966	684,444
Nakhon Ratchasima	723,237	1,095,000	1,547,000	1,916,681	2,384,252	2,556,260
Nakhon Sawan	373,006	648,000	758,000	976,971	1,088,213	1,090,379
Nakhon Si Thammarat	494,261	730,000	927,000	1,261,408	1,427,001	1,519,811
Nan	204,499	240,000	310,000	378,999	449,257	458,041
Narathiwat	166,487	266,000	326,000	441,803	565,456	662,350
Nong Bua Lam Phu						482,207
Nong Khai	144,201	257,000	442,000	673,884	879,215	883,704
Nonthaburi	135,537	196,000	254,000	386,741	668,760	816,614
Pathum Thani	139,339	190,000	233,000	324,468	452,693	677,649
Pattani	199,253	282,000	330,000	457,760	537,542	595,985
Phangnga	61,077	93,000	135,000	174,973	212,923	234,188
Phatthalung	149,431	234,000	298,000	412,265	460,626	498,471
Phayao				461,620	503,711	502,780
Phetchabun	162,730	320,000	513,000	785,238	955,467	965,784
Phetchaburi	180,509	238,000	278,000	366,612	427,985	435,377
Phichit	237,241	389,000	440,000	534,481	558,818	572,989
Phitsanulok	202,249	352,000	492,000	709,073	786,509	792,678
Phrae	213,351	299,000	365,000	446,431	493,530	492,561
Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya	362,761	479,000	501,000	623,242	685,394	727,277
Phuket	49,324	76,000	100,000	133,669	168,429	249,446
Prachin Buri	217,395	335,000	421,000	631,276	877,491	406,732
Prachuap Khiri Khan	72,343	152,000	249,000	377,212	424,766	449,467
Ranong	21,488	38,000	59,000	83,707	117,440	161,210
Ratchaburi	295,534	411,000	464,000	644,746	720,157	791,217
Rayong	84,197	148,000	250,000	358,896	453,850	522,133
Roi Et	535,662	668,000	780,000	1,061,085	1,228,834	1,256,458
Sa Kaeo						485,632
Sakon Nakhon	273,262	427,000	598,000	776,510	974,008	1,040,766
Samut Prakan	164,227	235,000	325,000	535,858	854,883	1,028,401
Samut Sakhon	111,479	166,000	158,000	265,464	358,155	466,281
Samut Songkhram	124,894	162,000	159,000	196,659	206,506	204,177
Saraburi	203,562	304,000	342,000	470,655	535,160	575,053
Satun	46,514	70,000	131,000	164,740	222,768	247,875
Sing Buri	116,227	154,000	162,000	202,605	230,913	232,766
Si Sa Ket	451,576	601,000	790,000	1,082,121	1,336,161	1,405,500
Songkhla	349,392	500,000	621,000	849,601	1,090,083	1,255,662
Sukhothai	193,696	316,000	394,000	531,624	592,658	593,264
Suphan Buri	340,872	491,000	561,000	709,364	827,951	855,949
Surat Thani	208,390	325,000	434,000	593,095	738,350	869,410
Surin	435,370	582,000	747,000	1,035,577	1,288,503	1,327,901
Tak	102,193	168,000	217,000	276,994	353,803	486,146
Thon Buri	289,352	2,136,000	919,000
Trang	148,591	240,000	326,000	427,055	519,155	595,110
Trat	44,819	66,000	94,000	138,185	197,155	219,345
Ubon Ratchathani	849,451	1,131,000	1,480,000	1,560,272	1,932,052	1,691,441
Udon Thani	382,564	744,000	1,118,000	1,448,066	1,825,337	1,467,158
Uthai Thani	104,852	146,000	177,000	259,464	304,776	304,122
Uttaradit	170,844	260,000	321,000	432,995	460,516	464,474
Yala	81,471	149,000	199,000	273,866	356,904	415,537
Yasothon				458,535	527,134	561,430
Totals	17,256,840	26,260,000	34,152,000	46,961,338	56,303,273	60,913,637

 

Figures for Bangkok Metropolis represent only Phra Nakhon before 1980.