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 33 city municipalities as of November 2024.
City municipalities in Bangkok Metropolitan Region – BMR: Bangkok, Nonthaburi, Pak Kret, Samut Prakan, and Rangsit
City municipalities in Chonburi province: Chaophraya Surasak and Laem Chabang
City municipalities in Samut Sakhon province: Samut Sakhon and Om Noi
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Due to the outdated nature of the thesaban system, any city municipality's growth subsequent to its settlement designation is not included in both area and population numbers.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]
City municipalities
editThe 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 |
| 33 | Buriram | บุรีรัมย์ | Buriram, Buriram | 75.44 | 25,087 | 2024-10-31 [7] |
Largest cities by urban population
editThe 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).[8]
| No. | Name | Thai | Province | Area (km2)[8] |
Population (2021)[9] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
Gallery of cityscapes
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Pak Kret, Nonthaburi, Thailand -
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Chiang Mai, the largest urban area in the north and second-largest urban area in the country -
Hat Yai, part of the largest urban area (conurbation) in the south (Greater Hat Yai-Songkhla) -
Samut Prakarn, background is Bangkok -
Nakhon Pathom, Phra Pathommachedi in Nakhon Pathom City -
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Town municipalities
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Department of Local Administration (DLA) figures. The towns in bold characters are capitals.
Township municipalities
editThere were 2,266 township municipalities as of 20 December 2017.[11]
| Name | Thai | Province | Population (2015)[12] |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
References
edit- ^ Friend, Richard; et al. (March 2016). Urbanising Thailand; Implications for climate vulnerability assessments (PDF). London: International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED). p. 19. ISBN 978-1-78431-294-7. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
- ^ "กรมโยธาธิการและผังเมืองระบบปิดประกาศผังเมือง" [Department of Public Works and Town & Country Planning Town Planning Announcement System]. onedptgis.dpt.go.th (in Thai).
- ^ "Thailand - urbanization 2011-2021". Statista. Retrieved 2023-09-29.
- ^ "World Urbanization Prospects – Population Division – United Nations". population.un.org. Retrieved 2023-09-29.
- ^ "Thailand: Planning Regions and Provinces". City Population. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
- ^ "รายงานสถิติจำนวนประชากรและบ้านประจำปี พ.ศ.2563" [Statistics, population and house statistics for the year 2020]. Registration Office Department of the Interior, Ministry of the Interior (in Thai). 31 December 2020. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
- ^ "ประกาศกระทรวงมหาดไทย เรื่อง เปลี่ยนแปลงฐานะเทศบาลเมืองบุรีรัมย์ อำเภอเมืองบุรีรัมย์ จังหวัดบุรีรัมย์ เป็นเทศบาลนครบุรีรัมย์" (PDF). Royal Gazette (in Thai). 141 (พิเศษ 244 ง): 6. 2024-09-06.
- ^ a b "Department of Public Works and Town & Country Planning".
- ^ "Department of Provincial Administration พ.ศ.2565" [Statistics, population and house statistics for the year 2021] (in Thai). Retrieved 28 August 2023.
- ^ สำนักพัฒนาระบบ รูปแบบและโครงสร้าง. กรมส่งเสริมการปกครองท้องถิ่น. กระทรวงมหาดไทย. "สรุปข้อมูล อปท ทั่วประเทศ." [ออนไลน์]. เข้าถึงได้จาก: http://www.dla.go.th/work/abt/index.jsp 2558. สืบค้น 21 กันยายน 2558.
- ^ ส่วนวิจัยและพัฒนาระบบ รูปแบบและโครงสร้าง สำนักพัฒนาระบบ รูปแบบและโครงสร้าง กรมส่งเสริมการปกครองท้องถิ่น." [ออนไลน์]. เข้าถึงได้จาก: [1] 2557. สืบค้น 6 กุมภาพันธ์ 2558.
- ^ ส่วนวิจัยและพัฒนาระบบ รูปแบบและโครงสร้าง. "ส่วนวิจัยและพัฒนาระบบ รูปแบบและโครงสร้าง สำนักพัฒนาระบบ รูปแบบและโครงสร้าง กรมส่งเสริมการปกครองท้องถิ่น." [ออนไลน์]. เข้าถึงได้จาก: [2] 2557. สืบค้น 6 กุมภาพันธ์ 2558.[permanent dead link]
External links
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Media related to Cities in Thailand at Wikimedia Commons