Administrative divisions of Thailand
Encyclopedia
Thailand
is divided into 76 province
s ( and the special administrative unit Bangkok
(กรุงเทพมหานคร, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon). Though a different administrative unit, Bangkok is at province level, so de facto Thailand has 77 provinces.
Each of Thailand's 76 provinces is divided into district
s - there are 878 districts (อำเภอ, amphoe
) and 50 districts in Bangkok (เขต, khet). Each of the provinces has one capital district (อำเภอเมือง, amphoe mueang), e.g. for Chiang Mai it's Amphoe Mueang Chiang Mai. The exception is Ayutthaya Province
, where both the province as well as the capital district have the full name Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya.
In Bangkok
the districts are called khet
(เขต), and their subdivisions khwaeng
(แขวง) which are equivalent to the tambon
(sub-districts) in the other provinces.
The tambon are further subdivided into muban
(หมู่บ้าน), which are usually translated as villages, though they do not necessarily cover one single settlement.
There are three different levels of municipalities :
Despite its name, a thesaban tambon does not necessarily coincide with a single tambon.
In addition to the population numbers the municipalities need to have enough tax revenues for the administration to be able to execute the offices of administrations.
Towns and cities are subdivided into chumchon (communities), which are equivalent to the villages (muban) of rural areas. Nonthaburi and Chiang Mai
are the only two municipalities that have an additional tier of administration, as they group their chumchon in khwaeng
.
Some towns have the word Nakhon in their name, e.g. Nakhon Ratchasima Province
has one district named Amphoe Mueang Nakhon Ratchasima
, as well as the city Thesaban Nakhon Nakhon Ratchasima
.
The City of Pattaya is a metropolitan municipality, it is a specially administrated area. Also the metropolitan city of Bangkok (officially called the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration) is a metropolitan municipality. As of 2010, the city of Mae Sot
is planned to be converted into a special administrative area as well.
For areas which does not reach the mandatory conditions there exists another lower level of local administration named Subdistrict administrative organization (SAO, องค์การบริหารส่วนตำบล). These usually cover a complete subdistrict (Tambon), but may also cover more than one subdistrict or share a subdistrict with a municipality.
(มณฑล, circle
), with some of the larger ones subdivided into boriwen
(บริเวณ, area). The first provinces were named mueang
(เมือง, township
) as those developed from the historical city-states. There were both Mueang directly dependent from Bangkok (thus similar to the modern province), as well as Mueang under supervision of a more powerful neighbor Mueang, or part of the semi-independent tributary states. In 1906 the transition to the term changwat started, which was finalized in 1916.
After the abolishing of the monthon, a new subdivision named Region (ภาค, Phak) was established. At first there were 4 regions with changing outlines, in 1951 these were changed into 9 regions in 1951. In 1956 these regions were abolished as well.
A former municipal level were the sukhaphiban
(sanitation districts, สุขาภิบาล), which were mostly responsible for sanitary tasks like waste disposal. The administrative level was created in 1898, in May 1999 all were converted into thesaban tambon.
Until 2007 minor districts (King Amphoe) were a special kind of districts, still partially a subordinate of another district. Usually newly created districts at first became minor districts and were upgraded to full districts after a few years. It became effective on August 24 2007 that all 81 minor districts were upgraded to full districts, despite many still not reaching the prerequisites for becoming a full district.
, as the urban sprawl of the capital already spread into these areas.
There are several definitions of regions in Thailand
, the one used by the National Statistical Office
defines 4 regions - north
, northeast
, south
and central
.
Los Angeles, California
is sometimes jokingly referred to as "The 77th Province" of Thailand, because the city has the highest Thai population of any city outside of Thailand (roughly 200,000).
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
is divided into 76 province
Provinces of Thailand
Thailand is divided into 76 provinces , which are geographically grouped into 6 regions. The capital Bangkok is not a province but a special administrative area and is included as the 77th province since it is administered at the same level as the other 76 provinces. The name of the provinces are...
s ( and the special administrative unit Bangkok
Bangkok
Bangkok is the capital and largest urban area city in Thailand. It is known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon or simply Krung Thep , meaning "city of angels." The full name of Bangkok is Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom...
(กรุงเทพมหานคร, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon). Though a different administrative unit, Bangkok is at province level, so de facto Thailand has 77 provinces.
Each of Thailand's 76 provinces is divided into district
District
Districts are a type of administrative division, in some countries managed by a local government. They vary greatly in size, spanning entire regions or counties, several municipalities, or subdivisions of municipalities.-Austria:...
s - there are 878 districts (อำเภอ, amphoe
Amphoe
An amphoe is the second level administrative subdivision of Thailand. Usually translated as district, amphoe make up the provinces, and are analogous to a county seat...
) and 50 districts in Bangkok (เขต, khet). Each of the provinces has one capital district (อำเภอเมือง, amphoe mueang), e.g. for Chiang Mai it's Amphoe Mueang Chiang Mai. The exception is Ayutthaya Province
Ayutthaya Province
Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya is one of the central provinces of Thailand. Neighboring provinces are Ang Thong, Lop Buri, Saraburi, Pathum Thani, Nonthaburi, Nakhon Pathom and Suphan Buri....
, where both the province as well as the capital district have the full name Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya.
In Bangkok
Bangkok
Bangkok is the capital and largest urban area city in Thailand. It is known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon or simply Krung Thep , meaning "city of angels." The full name of Bangkok is Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom...
the districts are called khet
Khet
Khet may refer to:*Khet **List of districts in Bangkok**Provinces of Cambodia*One of the Ancient Egyptian units of measurement*Heth , the eighth letter of many Semitic alphabets...
(เขต), and their subdivisions khwaeng
Khwaeng
Khwaeng is an administrative subdivision used in the 50 districts of Bangkok. As of 2009 there are 169 khwaeng in all. A khwaeng is roughly equivalent to a tambon in other provinces of Thailand. With the creation of the special administrative area of Bangkok in 1972 the tambon within the area of...
(แขวง) which are equivalent to the tambon
Tambon
Tambon is a local government unit in Thailand. Below district and province , they form the third administrative subdivision level. As of the 2009 there are 7255 tambon, not including the 169 khwaeng of Bangkok, which are set at the same administrative level, thus every district contains 8-10 tambon...
(sub-districts) in the other provinces.
The tambon are further subdivided into muban
Muban
Muban is the lowest administrative subdivision of Thailand. Usually translated as village, they are the subdivision of tambon. As of 2008, there are 74944 administrative villages in Thailand. As of the 1990 census, the average village consisted of 144 households or 746 persons.A muban does not...
(หมู่บ้าน), which are usually translated as villages, though they do not necessarily cover one single settlement.
Local administration
Additionally to these subdivisions, there are also cities and towns, which take over some of the responsibilities of the districts and communes on the area covered by the municipality. These all have an elected board and an elected mayor.There are three different levels of municipalities :
- thesaban nakhon (city): More than 50,000 citizens
- thesaban mueang (town): More than 10,000 citizens - or a provincial capital
- thesaban tambon (subdistrict municipality): More than 5,000 citizens
Despite its name, a thesaban tambon does not necessarily coincide with a single tambon.
In addition to the population numbers the municipalities need to have enough tax revenues for the administration to be able to execute the offices of administrations.
Towns and cities are subdivided into chumchon (communities), which are equivalent to the villages (muban) of rural areas. Nonthaburi and Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai sometimes written as "Chiengmai" or "Chiangmai", is the largest and most culturally significant city in northern Thailand. It is the capital of Chiang Mai Province , a former capital of the Kingdom of Lanna and was the tributary Kingdom of Chiang Mai from 1774 until 1939. It is...
are the only two municipalities that have an additional tier of administration, as they group their chumchon in khwaeng
Khwaeng
Khwaeng is an administrative subdivision used in the 50 districts of Bangkok. As of 2009 there are 169 khwaeng in all. A khwaeng is roughly equivalent to a tambon in other provinces of Thailand. With the creation of the special administrative area of Bangkok in 1972 the tambon within the area of...
.
Some towns have the word Nakhon in their name, e.g. Nakhon Ratchasima Province
Nakhon Ratchasima Province
Nakhon Ratchasima or , often shortened to Korat or Khorat , is one of the north-eastern provinces of Thailand...
has one district named Amphoe Mueang Nakhon Ratchasima
Amphoe Mueang Nakhon Ratchasima
Mueang Nakhon Ratchasima is one of 32 districts of Nakhon Ratchasima Province, Northeastern Thailand. Including the center city of district is City of Nakhon Ratchasima.-Introduction:...
, as well as the city Thesaban Nakhon Nakhon Ratchasima
Nakhon Ratchasima
Nakhon Ratchasima or is a city in the north-east of Thailand and gateway to Isan. It is the capital of the Nakhon Ratchasima Province and Nakhon Ratchasima district...
.
The City of Pattaya is a metropolitan municipality, it is a specially administrated area. Also the metropolitan city of Bangkok (officially called the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration) is a metropolitan municipality. As of 2010, the city of Mae Sot
Mae Sot
- External links :* * : an audio documentary.* *...
is planned to be converted into a special administrative area as well.
For areas which does not reach the mandatory conditions there exists another lower level of local administration named Subdistrict administrative organization (SAO, องค์การบริหารส่วนตำบล). These usually cover a complete subdistrict (Tambon), but may also cover more than one subdistrict or share a subdistrict with a municipality.
Historical subdivisions
From the beginning of the 20th century until 1932 there was an additional subdivision called monthonMonthon
A monthon |]], literally "circle") was a country subdivision of Thailand in the beginning of the 20th century. The Thai word 'monthon' is a translation of the word Mandala. These were created as a part of the thesaphiban bureaucratic administrative system, introduced by Prince Damrong Rajanubhab...
(มณฑล, circle
Circle (subnational entity)
Circle is a type of administrative division of some countries. In Thailand the former monthon are translated as circle. In German it is called Kreis; the former Holy Roman Empire was organized into Imperial Circles. Algerian daïras are circles....
), with some of the larger ones subdivided into boriwen
Boriwen
Boriwen were subdivisions of three of the larger Thai monthon. Several mueang were grouped together into one boriwen. In 1908 the boriwen were renamed to changwat, which became the name of provinces countrywide in 1916....
(บริเวณ, area). The first provinces were named mueang
Mueang
Mueang were historical semi-independent city-states or principalities in present-day Thailand, Laos, parts of northern Vietnam and the Shan State of Myanmar. Smaller Mueang were subordinate to more powerful neighboring Mueang, which in turn were subordinate to the central king, as described in...
(เมือง, township
Township
The word township is used to refer to different kinds of settlements in different countries. Township is generally associated with an urban area. However there are many exceptions to this rule. In Australia, the United States, and Canada, they may be settlements too small to be considered urban...
) as those developed from the historical city-states. There were both Mueang directly dependent from Bangkok (thus similar to the modern province), as well as Mueang under supervision of a more powerful neighbor Mueang, or part of the semi-independent tributary states. In 1906 the transition to the term changwat started, which was finalized in 1916.
After the abolishing of the monthon, a new subdivision named Region (ภาค, Phak) was established. At first there were 4 regions with changing outlines, in 1951 these were changed into 9 regions in 1951. In 1956 these regions were abolished as well.
A former municipal level were the sukhaphiban
Sukhaphiban
Sukhaphiban were an administrative division of Thailand.Sanitary districts were the first sub-autonomous entities established in Thailand. A first such district was created in Bangkok by a royal decreee of King Chulalongkorn in 1897...
(sanitation districts, สุขาภิบาล), which were mostly responsible for sanitary tasks like waste disposal. The administrative level was created in 1898, in May 1999 all were converted into thesaban tambon.
Until 2007 minor districts (King Amphoe) were a special kind of districts, still partially a subordinate of another district. Usually newly created districts at first became minor districts and were upgraded to full districts after a few years. It became effective on August 24 2007 that all 81 minor districts were upgraded to full districts, despite many still not reaching the prerequisites for becoming a full district.
Informal subdivisions
Bangkok and its vicinity (ปริมณฑล, pari monthon), including five adjacent provinces are referred to as Greater BangkokBangkok Metropolitan Area
The Bangkok Metropolitan Region , also known as Greater Bangkok, is the urban conglomeration of Bangkok, Thailand, which includes the city and the 5 adjacent provinces of Nakhon Pathom, Pathum Thani, Nonthaburi, Samut Prakan and Samut Sakhon....
, as the urban sprawl of the capital already spread into these areas.
There are several definitions of regions in Thailand
Regions of Thailand
Thailand is variably divided into different sets of regions, the most notable of which are the six-region grouping used in geographic studies and the four-region grouping consistent with the former administrative region grouping system used by the Ministry of Interior. These regions are the largest...
, the one used by the National Statistical Office
National Statistical Office of Thailand
The National Statistical Office of Thailand is the government of Thailand's official statistics surveyor. One of the activities is a nation-wide census every 10 years, the last being in 2010.-Administration:...
defines 4 regions - north
Northern Thailand
Thailand's northern region is geographically characterised by multiple mountain ranges which continue from the Shan Hills in bordering Myanmar and Laos, and the river valleys which cut through them...
, northeast
Isan
Isan is the northeastern region of Thailand. It is located on the Khorat Plateau, bordered by the Mekong River to the north and east, by Cambodia to the southeast and the Prachinburi mountains south of Nakhon Ratchasima...
, south
Southern Thailand
Southern Thailand is a distinct region of Thailand, connected with the Central region by the narrow Kra Isthmus.-Geography:Southern Thailand is located on the Malay Peninsula, with an area around 70,713 km², bounded to the north by Kra Isthmus as the narrowest part of the peninsula. The...
and central
Central Thailand
Central Thailand is a region of Thailand, covering the broad alluvial plain of the Chao Phraya River. It is separated from North-East Thailand by the Phetchabun mountain range, and another mountain range separates it from Myanmar to the west. In the north it gently changes into the more hilly...
.
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
is sometimes jokingly referred to as "The 77th Province" of Thailand, because the city has the highest Thai population of any city outside of Thailand (roughly 200,000).
See also
- List of Districts in Thailand
- List of Districts of Bangkok
- List of tambon in Thailand
- List of Provinces of Thailand (with census data)
- Provinces of ThailandProvinces of ThailandThailand is divided into 76 provinces , which are geographically grouped into 6 regions. The capital Bangkok is not a province but a special administrative area and is included as the 77th province since it is administered at the same level as the other 76 provinces. The name of the provinces are...
- List of cities in Thailand