Thailand

AsiaCapital city: BangkokCapital metro: BangkokMonarch: Vajiralongkorn (Rama X)Prime Minister: Anutin Charnvirakul

a monarch.

2026 population
65.7M
Rank #23 globally
Area
513k km² (198k sq mi)
Metros tracked
22
56% of population in metros
Composite score
81.4
Rank #32 globally

population: Monthly national estimate (30 Jun 2026) · indicators as of 5 Sep 2026 · 22 metros tracked

🗺️ Geography22 metros

Thailand metro footprint, shaded by composite tier.

Loading map…
22 polygons

Select a metro for its rank and a link to its page. Boundaries derived from Overture Maps administrative divisions; metros without source coverage are omitted.

🏙️ 22 tracked metros
22 metros
#36Bangkok★ Capital▲ Largest
Bangkok Metropolitan · 16.3M · Continental Metro
54.5
Eastern · 2.3M · Established Metro
8.4
Southern · 1.2M · Emerging Metro
4.1
#860Krabi
Southern · 467K · Emerging Metro
2.2
Northern · 1.8M · Emerging Metro
1.7
Southern · 1.5M · Emerging Metro
1.4
#1304Phuket
Southern · 506K · Emerging Metro
1.1
#1408Sisaket
Northeastern · 1.4M · Emerging Metro
1.0
Northern · 1.3M · Local Metro
0.9
Northeastern · 2.6M · Local Metro
0.9
Northeastern · 1.5M · Local Metro
0.7
#1642Buriram
Northeastern · 1.2M · Local Metro
0.7
🗂️ Planning Regions

7 entries listed under Thailand. Select any to see its metros and footprint.

7 total
📋 At a glance
Official language
Thai
Currency
Baht (฿)
Government
Parliamentary monarchy
Legislature
National Assembly of Thailand
Demonym
Thai
Time zone
UTC+07:00
Driving side
Left
Calling code
+66
Internet TLD
.th
ISO 3166
TH
Established
1238
Highest point
Doi Inthanon (2,565 m (8,415 ft))
National anthem
Thai National Anthem

Facts via Wikidata.

🗣️ Languages of Thailand

Thai first; 3 languages share the country; 1 official.

LanguageShareStatus
Thai80%Official
English27%None
Northeastern Thai24%None
Northern Thai9.6%None
Southern Thai8%None
Kelantan-Pattani Malay5%None

Shares count first and second language, so they overlap and can add past 100%.

English reach
27%
Tier 3 country
Effective languages
1.3
Official-language gap
20%
Thai is spoken by 80%

Thailand on the languages board · Language power

💹 Economy and developmentUpper middle income
Human Dev. Index
#75 / 191
0.798
UNDP · 2023
GDP
#29 / 193
$577.0B
World Bank · 2025
GDP per capita
#92 / 193
$8.1k
World Bank · 2025
GDP/capita (PPP)
#75 / 190
$26.3k
World Bank · 2025
GNI/capita (Atlas)
#94 / 192
$7.7k
World Bank · 2025
Life expectancy
#72 / 194
76.6 yrs
World Bank · 2024
Median age
39.7 yrs
UN WPP · 2023
Urban population
#100 / 194
63%
World Bank · 2025
Pop. growth
-0.1%
World Bank · 2025
Pop. density
#66 / 193
140/km² (364/mi²)
World Bank · 2023
Foreign-born
#96 / 193
4.4%
World Bank · 2024
Rule of law
#102 / 175
0.42
V-Dem · 2025
Gini index
#59 / 166
33.3
World Bank · 2024
Internet users
#51 / 193
91%
World Bank · 2024
Inflation
#12 / 185
-0.1%
World Bank · 2025
CO₂ per capita
#118 / 192
3.7 t
Global Carbon Budget · 2024
Renewable electricity
#131 / 186
17%
Ember · 2025

Ranks are among sovereign countries with data; ★ marks a top-5% finish. Sources: World Bank Open Data and Our World in Data (UNDP, UN WPP, V-Dem, Global Carbon Budget, Ember, Energy Institute; CC BY 4.0). Each card credits its originating body. Renewable share is of electricity generation, not of primary energy. Each figure is the most recent year available.

Alliances & Organisations5 full memberships

Political & Economic

Regional

Subregional

Trade

Full memberDashed border = Candidate / ApplicantItalic = Dialogue / Observer

🏛️ Leadership History86 leaders · click to expand

is an editorial flag: associated with atrocities against civilians, systemic subversion of the constitutional order, or a criminal conviction (political persecutions and annulled convictions excluded). It is a curated list, not a measurement, so a name without one has not been cleared of anything. Hover a badge for the reason on file. marks a monarch.

Other

Anutin Charnvirakul✦ Current
Prime Minister · Bhumjaithai · 2025–present (re-elected by the House 19 Mar 2026 after the Feb 2026 election)
2025–Present
Paetongtarn Shinawatra
Prime Minister · Pheu Thai · 2024–2025 (removed by Constitutional Court)
2024–2025
Srettha Thavisin
Prime Minister · Pheu Thai · 2023–2024 (removed by court)
2023–2024
Prayut Chan-o-cha
Prime Minister · United Thai Nation · 2014–2023 (coup leader, then elected)
2014–2023
Yingluck Shinawatra
Prime Minister · Pheu Thai · 2011–2014 (removed by court)
2011–2014
Abhisit Vejjajiva
Prime Minister · Democrat · 2008–2011
2008–2011
Somchai Wongsawat
Prime Minister · People's Power · 2008 (removed by court)
2008–2008
Samak Sundaravej
Prime Minister · People's Power · 2008 (removed by court)
2008–2008
Surayud Chulanont
Prime Minister · 2006–2008 (post-coup junta-appointed)
2006–2008
Thaksin Shinawatra
Prime Minister · Thai Rak Thai · 2001–2006 (ousted by coup)
2001–2006
Chuan Leekpai
Prime Minister · Democrat · 1997–2001 (second term)
1997–2001
Chavalit Yongchaiyudh
Prime Minister · New Aspiration · 1996–1997
1996–1997

Chakri Dynasty

Vajiralongkorn (Rama X)✦ Current
Monarch · 2016–present
2016–Present
Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX)
Monarch · 1946–2016
1946–2016
Ananda Mahidol (Rama VIII)
Monarch · 1935–1946
1935–1946
Prajadhipok (Rama VII)
Monarch · 1925–1935 (abdicated)
1925–1935

Chakri dynasty

Rama VI (Vajiravudh)
Monarch · 15y 1m 3d
1910–1925
Rama V (Chulalongkorn)
Monarch · 42y 22d
1868–1910
Rama IV (Mongkut)
Monarch · 17y 5m 28d
1851–1868
Rama III
Monarch · 26y 8m 13d
1824–1851
Rama II
Monarch · 14y 10m 14d
1809–1824
Rama I (Phutthayotfa)
Monarch · 27y 5m 1d
1782–1809

Thonburi Kingdom

Taksin
Monarch · year-level backbone - Thonburi dynasty · 15y 0d
1767–1782

Ayutthaya Kingdom

Ekkathat
Monarch · year-level backbone - Ban Phlu Luang dynasty · 9y 0d
1758–1767
Uthumphon
Monarch · year-level backbone - Ban Phlu Luang dynasty · 0y 0d
1758–1758
Borommakot
Monarch · year-level backbone - Ban Phlu Luang dynasty · 25y 0d
1733–1758
Phumintharacha (Thai Sa)
Monarch · year-level backbone - Ban Phlu Luang dynasty · 24y 0d
1709–1733
Suriyenthrathibodi (Suea)
Monarch · year-level backbone - Ban Phlu Luang dynasty · 6y 0d
1703–1709
Phetracha
Monarch · year-level backbone - Ban Phlu Luang dynasty · 15y 0d
1688–1703
Narai
Monarch · year-level backbone - Prasat Thong dynasty · 32y 0d
1656–1688
Si Suthammaracha
Monarch · year-level backbone - Prasat Thong dynasty · 0y 0d
1656–1656
Chai
Monarch · year-level backbone - Prasat Thong dynasty · 1y 0d
1655–1656
Prasat Thong
Monarch · year-level backbone - Prasat Thong dynasty · 26y 0d
1629–1655
Athittayawong
Monarch · year-level backbone - Sukhothai dynasty · 0y 0d
1629–1629
Chetthathirat
Monarch · year-level backbone - Sukhothai dynasty · 1y 0d
1628–1629
📈 Power over timeThe Power Atlas →
Today
Minor#31 · 0.7%
Latent vs recognised
Under-recognised: more mass than standing
3%5%8%10%190019502000
Power (headline share)Latent (material mass)Recognised (standing)

The power line is the headline share of world power, running from the state’s first ranked year (benchmark estimates with wide error bars before 1816). Latent power is material mass a state could mobilise (population, manpower, heavy industry). Recognised power is what the system actually treats it as (military spending, productive economy, reach, and status such as a Security Council seat or nuclear arsenal). When latent runs above recognised, a power is rising or under-rated; when recognised runs higher, it is punching above its weight or coasting on prestige. Material sub-indices run 1816 through 2016.

⚔️ Wars and conflicts22 interstate wars · click to expand
Combat deaths: 270,000–297,000
Vietnam War●1965–1973
North Vietnam,FNL,Khmer Rouge,Khmer Issarak,Pathet Lao,China,North Korea,Soviet Union
Combat deaths: 1,326,494–3,447,494
Pathet Lao,North Vietnam,Neutralists (1960–1962),Patriotic Neutralists
Combat deaths: 23,875+
North Korea,China,Soviet Union
Combat deaths: 2,568,927–4,096,927
Franco-Thai War1940–1941
Vichy France Vichy France,French Indochina
Combat deaths: 1,400+
Pahang Civil War1857–1863
Pahang Tun Mutahir loyalists,Johor,United Kingdom
Combat deaths: —
Combat deaths: —
Burmese Empire
Combat deaths: —
Combat deaths: —

Bold = principal belligerent. Source: Wikipedia, “List of interstate wars since 1945.” Figures marked “COW battle deaths” are Correlates of War battle-death counts, which run lower than total deaths.

👥 Population over time
Population 2023
71.7m
#20 in the world
Since 1800
24×
from 3.0m
Peak
2022
71.7m
Share of world
0.89%
0.30% in 1800
17.9m35.9m53.8m71.7m18001850190019502000

Our World in Data population (CC BY): UN WPP 2024 from 1950, Gapminder v7 1800-1949, HYDE 3.3 earlier; today's borders. Figures above are as of 2023, the last year that is estimated rather than forecast. The dashed tail to 2026 is a UN WPP medium-variant projection. It is drawn because the line should reach the present, and drawn differently because it has not happened yet: no rank, peak or share on this page uses it. Before 1950 the series is reconstruction rather than contemporaneous statistics, which is worth knowing when a country’s peak sits back there. The current population shown elsewhere on this page comes from the workbook and is unchanged by this. Note that people and share of world can move in opposite directions. A country can grow steadily and still become a smaller part of humanity, which is what happened to almost every rich country after 1960.

👥 To 2100

The UN’s probabilistic projection for Thailand: the median with its 80% and 95% bands, the UN’s own high, low and zero-migration scenarios beside it. Not this site’s model; the site reads it and says what it implies.

Peak
2022
71.7m; already passed
2050
66.4m
95% band 59.1m to 72.8m
2100
45.6m
95% band 23.7m to 70.8m
2100 against 2025
0.64×
median falling from 2024
Deaths outnumber births
since 2022
on the UN medium path; migration decides the rest
19.3m38.5m57.8m77.1m1950197520002025205020752100
estimateUN median80% and 95% bandshigh and low fertilityzero migration

What drives it

Births, deaths and net migration on the UN medium path, with fertility, life expectancy and median age, every decade from 1950.

1950
902k born · 391k died · +11k net migration
TFR 6.36 · life expectancy 45.2 · median age 17.5
1960
1.2m born · 402k died · +7k net migration
TFR 6.33 · life expectancy 50.6 · median age 16.9
1970
1.3m born · 383k died · +49k net migration
TFR 5.45 · life expectancy 56.5 · median age 16.3
1980
1.2m born · 354k died · +88k net migration
TFR 3.29 · life expectancy 62.2 · median age 18.9
1990
1.1m born · 313k died · +153k net migration
TFR 2.06 · life expectancy 68.9 · median age 23.2
2000
947k born · 403k died · +122k net migration
TFR 1.73 · life expectancy 71.2 · median age 29.0
2010
824k born · 453k died · +53k net migration
TFR 1.56 · life expectancy 75.0 · median age 33.5
2020
630k born · 546k died · +32k net migration
TFR 1.26 · life expectancy 77.3 · median age 38.2

Every country to 2100 →

Source: United Nations, DESA, Population Division. World Population Prospects 2024. Licensed under CC BY 3.0 IGO. Estimates to 2023; projections 2024 to 2100, medium variant and probabilistic intervals. The UN revises every two years; this is the WPP 2024 revision.

💰 Billionaires20 · $90.1B combined · click to expand
#156Dhanin Chearavanont(inherited)
Diversified · Diversified
$17.6B
Energy · Energy
$17.5B
Food & Beverage · Beverage, Real Estate
$12.2B
#597Sumet Jiaravanon(inherited)
Diversified · Diversified
$6.7B
#608Jaran Chiaravanont(inherited)
Diversified · Diversified
$6.6B
#983Somurai Jaruphnit(inherited)
Diversified · Diversified
$4.3B
Food & Beverage · Energy drinks
$2.9B
#1906Phongthep Chiaravanont(inherited)
Diversified · Diversified
$2.2B
Finance & Investments · Healthcare, Investments
$2.2B
#1923Manas Chiaravanond(inherited)
Diversified · Diversified
$2.2B
#1925Somsri Lamsam(inherited)
Diversified · Diversified
$2.2B
#1935Prathip Chiravanond(inherited)
Diversified · Diversified
$2.2B

Source: Forbes real-time billionaires (via the rtb-api project). Net worth as of the latest monthly snapshot.

🏆 National Teams

Thailand on the international stage. Select a card for the full record.