World Factbook
Thailand
Ratcha Anachak Thai
Last updated: 2026-03-28 (today)
Flag
description: five horizontal bands of red (top), white, blue (double-width), white, and red meaning: red stands for the nation and the blood of life, white for religion and the purity of Buddhism, and blue for the monarchy
note: similar to the flag of Costa Rica, but with the blue and red colors reversed
Capital
name
Bangkok
etymology
the name is from the Thai words bang (region) and kok (olive trees); the city's full ceremonial name holds the world record for longest place name, Krungthepmahanakhon amonrattanakosin mahintharayutthaya mahadilokphop noppharatratchathaniburirom udomratchaniwetmahasathan amonphimanawatansathit sakkathattiyawitsanukamprasit, which means "City of angels, great city of immortals, magnificent city of the nine gems, seat of the king, city of royal palaces, home of gods incarnate, erected by Vishvakarman at Indra's behest"
time difference
UTC+7 (12 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
geographic coordinates
13 45 N, 100 31 E
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Citizenship
citizenship by birth
no
citizenship by descent only
at least one parent must be a citizen of Thailand
dual citizenship recognized
no
residency requirement for naturalization
5 years
Constitution
history
many previous; latest drafted and presented 29 March 2016, approved by referendum 7 August 2016, signed into law by the king on 6 April 2017
amendment process
amendments require a majority vote in a joint session of the House and Senate and further require at least one fifth of opposition House members and one third of the Senate vote in favor; a national referendum is additionally required for certain amendments; all amendments require signature by the king
Country name
former
Siam
etymology
the name means "Land of the Thai," referring to the local population; the people's name comes from the Thai word tha , meaning "to be free;" the former name of Siam comes from the Sanskrit word syama , meaning "dark"
local long form
Ratcha Anachak Thai
local short form
Prathet Thai
conventional long form
Kingdom of Thailand
conventional short form
Thailand
Independence
1238 (traditional founding date; never colonized)
Legal system
civil law system with common law influences
Government type
constitutional monarchy
Judicial branch
highest court(s)
Supreme Court of Justice (consists of the court president, 6 vice presidents, 60-70 judges, and organized into 10 divisions); Constitutional Court (consists of the court president and 8 judges); Supreme Administrative Court (number of judges determined by Judicial Commission of the Administrative Courts)
subordinate courts
courts of first instance and appeals courts within both the judicial and administrative systems; military courts
judge selection and term of office
Supreme Court judges selected by the Judicial Commission of the Courts of Justice and approved by the monarch; judge term determined by the monarch; Constitutional Court justices - 3 judges drawn from the Supreme Court, 2 judges drawn from the Administrative Court, and 4 judge candidates selected by the Selective Committee for Judges of the Constitutional Court, and confirmed by the Senate; judges appointed by the monarch serve single 9-year terms; Supreme Administrative Court judges selected by the Judicial Commission of the Administrative Courts and appointed by the monarch; judges serve for life
Executive branch
cabinet
Council of Ministers nominated by the prime minister, appointed by the king; a Privy Council advises the king
chief of state
King WACHIRALONGKON; also spelled Vajiralongkorn (since 1 December 2016)
head of government
Prime Minister ANUTIN Charnvirakul (since 5 Sep 2025)
election/appointment process
the monarchy is hereditary; prime minister candidate approved by House of Representatives and appointed by the king
National holiday
Birthday of King WACHIRALONGKON, 28 July (1952)
National color(s)
red, white, blue
National heritage
total World Heritage Sites
8 (5 cultural, 3 natural)
selected World Heritage Site locales
Historic City of Ayutthaya (c); Historic Sukhothai and Associated Historic Towns (c); Thungyai-Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuaries (n); Ban Chiang Archaeological Site (c); Dong Phayayen-Khao Yai Forest Complex (n); Kaeng Krachan Forest Complex (n); The Ancient Town of Si Thep and its Associated Dvaravati Monuments (n); Phu Phrabat, a testimony to the Sīma stone tradition of the Dvaravati period (c)
Political parties
Bhumjaithai Party or BJT (aka Phumchai Thai Party or PJT; aka Thai Pride Party) Chat Thai Phatthana Party (Thai Nation Development Party) or CTP Democrat Party Move Forward Party or MFP (dissolved by order of the Constitutional Court, August 2024) Palang Pracharat Party (People's State Power Party) or PPRP Pheu (Puea) Thai Party (For Thais Party) or PTP Prachachat Party or PCC Prachathipat Party (Democrat Party) or DP Thai Sang Thai Party United Thai Nation (Ruam Thai Sang Chat) or UTN
note: more than 50 parties have registered for the February 2026 general election
Legislative branch
legislature name
National Assembly (Rathhasapha)
legislative structure
bicameral
National anthem(s)
title
"Phleng Sanlasoen Phra Barami" (A Salute to the Monarch)
history
royal anthem, played in the presence of the royal family and during certain state ceremonies
lyrics/music
Narisara NUWATTIWONG and King VAJIRAVUDH/Pyotr SHCHUROVSKY
National symbol(s)
garuda (mythical half-man, half-bird figure), elephant
National coat of arms
in 1911, King Vajiravudh (Rama VI) of Thailand officially adopted the Garuda as the national coat of arms and emblem; this mythological half-man, half-bird figure from the Hindu and Buddhist traditions is considered the vahana (vehicle) of the god Vishnu (Narayana) and was a symbol of royalty in Thailand for centuries
Administrative divisions
76 provinces ( changwat , singular and plural) and 1 municipality* ( maha nakhon ); Amnat Charoen, Ang Thong, Bueng Kan, Buri Ram, Chachoengsao, Chai Nat, Chaiyaphum, Chanthaburi, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Chon Buri, Chumphon, Kalasin, Kamphaeng Phet, Kanchanaburi, Khon Kaen, Krabi, Krung Thep* (Bangkok), Lampang, Lamphun, Loei, Lop Buri, Mae Hong Son, Maha Sarakham, Mukdahan, Nakhon Nayok, Nakhon Pathom, Nakhon Phanom, Nakhon Ratchasima, Nakhon Sawan, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Nan, Narathiwat, Nong Bua Lamphu, Nong Khai, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, Pattani, Phangnga, Phatthalung, Phayao, Phetchabun, Phetchaburi, Phichit, Phitsanulok, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Phrae, Phuket, Prachin Buri, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Ranong, Ratchaburi, Rayong, Roi Et, Sa Kaeo, Sakon Nakhon, Samut Prakan, Samut Sakhon, Samut Songkhram, Saraburi, Satun, Sing Buri, Si Sa Ket, Songkhla, Sukhothai, Suphan Buri, Surat Thani, Surin, Tak, Trang, Trat, Ubon Ratchathani, Udon Thani, Uthai Thani, Uttaradit, Yala, Yasothon
Legislative branch - lower chamber
chamber name
House of Representatives (Saphaphuthan Ratsadon)
term in office
4 years
number of seats
500 (all directly elected)
electoral system
mixed system
scope of elections
full renewal
most recent election date
5/14/2023 (House of Representatives dissolved on 12 December 2025)
expected date of next election
8 February 2026
percentage of women in chamber
19.6%
parties elected and seats per party
Move Forward (151); Pheu Thai (141); Bhumjaithai (71); Palang Pracharath (40); United Thai Nation (36); Democrat Party (25); Other (36)
Legislative branch - upper chamber
note
note: Senate members are indirectly elected from 20 eligible groups of professions, including agriculture, artists or athletes, business owners, education, employees or workers, independent professionals, industrialists, law and justice, mass communication, public health, science and technology, tourism-related professions, women, and elderly, disabled, or ethnic groups
chamber name
Senate (Wuthisapha)
term in office
5 years
number of seats
200 (all indirectly elected)
scope of elections
full renewal
most recent election date
6/9/2024 to 6/26/2024
expected date of next election
June 2029
percentage of women in chamber
22.5%
Diplomatic representation in the US
FAX
[1] (202) 944-3611
chancery
1024 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Suite 401, Washington, DC 20007
telephone
[1] (202) 944-3600
chief of mission
Ambassador Dr. SURIYA Chindawongse (since 17 June 2024)
consulate(s) general
Chicago, Los Angeles, New York
email address and website
thai.wsn@thaiembdc.org https://washingtondc.thaiembassy.org/en/index
Diplomatic representation from the US
FAX
[66] 2-205-4103
embassy
95 Wireless Road, Bangkok 10330
telephone
[66] 2-205-4000
mailing address
7200 Bangkok Place, Washington DC 20521-7200
chief of mission
Ambassador-designate Sean O'NEILL (since 16 December 2025)
consulate(s) general
Chiang Mai
email address and website
acsbkk@state.gov https://th.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation
ADB, APEC, ARF, ASEAN, BIMSTEC, BIS, CD, CICA, CP, EAS, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC (observer), OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE (partner), PCA, PIF (partner), UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMOGIP, UNOOSA, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt