List of prime ministers of Thailand
- Top left: Phraya Manopakorn Nitithada was the first Prime Minister of Thailand.
- Top right: Plaek Phibunsongkhram was the longest-serving prime minister.
- Bottom left: Yingluck Shinawatra was the first female Prime Minister of Thailand.
- Bottom right: Srettha Thavisin is the current prime minister.
The prime minister of Thailand (Thai: นายกรัฐมนตรี; RTGS: Nayok Ratthamontri; IPA: [naː.jók rát.tʰà.mon.triː], literally 'chief minister of state') is the head of government of Thailand. The prime minister is also the chairman of the cabinet of Thailand and represents the government at home and the country abroad.
The post of prime minister has existed since the Siamese Revolution of 1932 and Siam's first constitution. Throughout the post's existence, it has mostly been occupied by military leaders from the Royal Thai Army, three holding the rank of field marshal and seven the rank of general.
Former prime minister who also a former general Prayut Chan-o-cha, was formally appointed to the office on 24 August 2014; he previously served as the de facto head of government as leader of the National Council for Peace and Order after the coup d'état on 22 May 2014. A Constitutional Court ruling on the matter of his 8-year term limit led to Prayut's suspension from 24 August to 30 September 2022, during which his deputy prime minister, Prawit Wongsuwan served as acting prime minister of Thailand.[1][2]
The current prime minister is Srettha Thavisin, who was elected to office on 22 August 2023.
Note: The list includes leaders of military juntas and acting prime ministers. However, they are not counted in the official list as provided by the Royal Thai Government.
List of prime ministers[edit]
Colour key (for political coalitions/parties):
General categories: Independent politician (12) Military rule (7)
Defunct political parties:
- Pre–1950: Free Thai Movement (3) Khana Ratsadon (2) Constitutional Front (1)
- 1950–1975: Conservative Party (1) Seri Manangkhasila (1) Sahaphum Party (0) UTPP (1)
- 1975–2000: Social Action Party (1) Justice Unity Party (0)
- Post–2000: Chart Thai (2) Thai Rak Thai Party (1) People's Power Party (2)
Active political parties: Democrat Party (6) New Aspiration Party (1) Pheu Thai Party (2) United Thai Nation Party (1)
No. | Portrait | Name (Birth–Death) |
Term of office | Election | Political party | Government | Monarch (Reign) | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Took office | Left office | Time in office | ||||||||
1 | ![]() |
Phraya Manopakorn Nitithada[a] (1884–1948) |
28 June 1932 |
20 June 1933 |
358 days | — | Independent | Manopakorn I | ![]() Prajadhipok (1925–1935) | |
— | Manopakorn II | |||||||||
— | Manopakorn III | |||||||||
2 | ![]() |
Phraya Phahonphonphayuhasena (1887–1947) |
21 June 1933 |
16 December 1938 |
5 years, 178 days | — | People's Party | Phahon I | ||
1933 | Phahon II | |||||||||
— | Phahon III | |||||||||
![]() Ananda Mahidol (1935–1946) | ||||||||||
1937 | Phahon IV | |||||||||
— | Phahon V | |||||||||
3 | ![]() |
Plaek Phibunsongkhram (1897–1964) |
16 December 1938 |
1 August 1944 |
5 years, 229 days | 1938 | People's Party | Plaek I | ||
— | Plaek II | |||||||||
4 | ![]() |
Khuang Aphaiwong (1902–1968) |
1 August 1944 |
31 August 1945 |
1 year, 30 days | — | People's Party | Khuang I | ||
5 | ![]() |
Thawi Bunyaket (1904–1971) |
31 August 1945 |
17 September 1945 |
17 days | — | People's Party | Thawi | ||
6 | ![]() |
Mom Rajawongse Seni Pramoj (1905–1997) |
17 September 1945 |
31 January 1946 |
136 days | — | Free Thai | Seni I | ||
(4) | ![]() |
Khuang Aphaiwong (1902–1968) |
31 January 1946 |
24 March 1946 |
52 days | Jan 1946 |
People's Party | Khuang II | ||
7 | ![]() |
Pridi Banomyong (1900–1983) |
24 March 1946 |
23 August 1946 |
152 days | — | People's Party | Pridi I | ||
![]() Bhumibol Adulyadej (1946–2016) | ||||||||||
— | Pridi II | |||||||||
8 | ![]() |
Thawan Thamrongnawasawat (1901–1988) |
23 August 1946 |
8 November 1947 |
1 year, 79 days | Aug 1946 |
Constitutional Front | Thawan I | ||
— | Thawan II | |||||||||
— | ![]() |
Phin Choonhavan (1891–1973) Head of the National Military Council |
8 November 1947 |
9 November 1947 |
1 day | — | Military | National Military Council | ||
(4) | ![]() |
Khuang Aphaiwong ควง อภัยวงศ์ (1902–1968) |
9 November 1947 |
8 April 1948 |
151 days | — | Democrat | Khuang III | ||
1948 | Khuang IV | |||||||||
(3) | ![]() |
Plaek Phibunsongkhram (1897–1964) |
8 April 1948 |
16 September 1957 |
9 years, 161 days | — | Conservative Party (until 1955) |
Plaek III | ||
— | Plaek IV | |||||||||
— | Plaek V | |||||||||
— | Plaek VI | |||||||||
1952 | Plaek VII | |||||||||
Seri Manangkhasila (from 1955) | ||||||||||
Feb 1957 |
Plaek VIII | |||||||||
— | ![]() |
Sarit Thanarat (1908–1963) Head of the Revolutionary Council |
16 September 1957 |
21 September 1957 |
5 days | — | Military | Revolutionary Council | ||
9 | ![]() |
Pote Sarasin (1905–2000) |
21 September 1957 |
1 January 1958 |
102 days | — | Independent | Pote | ||
10 | ![]() |
Thanom Kittikachorn (1911–2004) |
1 January 1958 |
20 October 1958 |
292 days | Dec 1957 |
National Socialist[3] | Thanom I | ||
— | ![]() |
Sarit Thanarat (1908–1963) |
20 October 1958 |
9 February 1959 |
112 days | — | Military | Revolutionary Council | ||
11 | 9 February 1959 |
8 December 1963† |
4 years, 302 days | — | Sarit | |||||
(10) | ![]() |
Thanom Kittikachorn (1911–2004) |
9 December 1963 |
17 November 1971 |
7 years, 343 days | — | Military (until 1968) |
Thanom II | ||
United Thai People (1968–1971) | ||||||||||
1969 | Thanom III | |||||||||
— | 17 November 1971 |
18 December 1972 |
1 year, 31 days | — | Military (from 1971) |
Revolutionary Council | ||||
(10) | 18 December 1972 |
14 October 1973 |
300 days | — | Thanom IV | |||||
12 | ![]() |
Sanya Dharmasakti (1907–2002) |
14 October 1973 |
15 February 1975 |
1 year, 124 days | — | Independent | Sanya I | ||
— | Sanya II | |||||||||
(6) | ![]() |
Mom Rajawongse Seni Pramoj (1905–1997) |
15 February 1975 |
14 March 1975 |
27 days | 1975 | Democrat | Seni II | ||
13 | ![]() |
Mom Rajawongse Kukrit Pramoj (1911–1995) |
14 March 1975 |
20 April 1976 |
1 year, 37 days | — | Social Action | Kukrit | ||
(6) | ![]() |
Mom Rajawongse Seni Pramoj (1905–1997) |
20 April 1976 |
6 October 1976 |
169 days | 1976 | Democrat | Seni III | ||
— | Seni IV | |||||||||
— | ![]() |
Sangad Chaloryu (1915–1980) Head of the Administration Reform Council |
6 October 1976 |
8 October 1976 |
2 days | — | Military | Administration Reform Council | ||
14 | ![]() |
Thanin Kraivichien (born 1927) |
8 October 1976 |
20 October 1977 |
1 year, 34 days | — | Independent | Thanin | ||
— | ![]() |
Sangad Chaloryu (1915–1980) Head of the Revolutionary Council |
20 October 1977 |
10 November 1977 |
21 days | — | Military | Revolutionary Council | ||
15 | ![]() |
Kriangsak Chamanan (1917–2003) |
11 November 1977 |
3 March 1980 |
2 years, 113 days | — | Military (until 1978) |
Kriangsak I | ||
Independent (from 1978) | ||||||||||
1979 | Kriangsak II | |||||||||
16 | Prem Tinsulanonda (1920–2019) |
3 March 1980 |
4 August 1988 |
8 years, 154 days | — | Military (until 1982) |
Prem I | |||
Independent (from 1982) | ||||||||||
1983 | Prem II | |||||||||
1986 | Prem III | |||||||||
17 | ![]() |
Chatichai Choonhavan (1920–1998) |
4 August 1988 |
23 February 1991 |
2 years, 204 days | 1988 | Thai Nation | Chatichai I | ||
— | Chatichai II | |||||||||
— | ![]() |
Sunthorn Kongsompong (1931–1999) Head of the National Peace Keeping Council |
24 February 1991 |
2 March 1991 |
7 days | — | Military | National Peace Keeping Council | ||
18 | ![]() |
Anand Panyarachun (born 1932) |
2 March 1991 |
7 April 1992 |
1 year, 36 days | — | Independent | Anand I | ||
19 | ![]() |
Suchinda Kraprayoon (born 1933) |
7 April 1992 |
24 May 1992 |
47 days | Mar 1992 |
Independent | Suchinda | ||
— | ![]() |
Meechai Ruchuphan (born 1938) Acting Prime Minister |
24 May 1992 |
10 June 1992 |
17 days | — | Independent | |||
(18) | ![]() |
Anand Panyarachun (born 1932) |
10 June 1992 |
23 September 1992 |
105 days | — | Independent | Anand II | ||
20 | ![]() |
Chuan Leekpai (born 1938) |
23 September 1992 |
13 July 1995 |
2 years, 293 days | Sep 1992 |
Democrat | Chuan I | ||
21 | ![]() |
Banharn Silpa-archa (1932–2016) |
13 July 1995 |
25 November 1996 |
1 year, 135 days | 1995 | Thai Nation | Banharn | ||
22 | ![]() |
Chavalit Yongchaiyudh (born 1932) |
25 November 1996 |
9 November 1997 |
349 days | 1996 | New Aspiration | Chavalit | ||
(20) | ![]() |
Chuan Leekpai (born 1938) |
9 November 1997 |
9 February 2001 |
3 years, 92 days | — | Democrat | Chuan II | ||
23 | ![]() |
Thaksin Shinawatra[b] (born 1949) |
9 February 2001 |
19 September 2006 |
5 years, 222 days | 2001 | Thai Rak Thai | Thaksin I | ||
2005 | Thaksin II | |||||||||
2006[c] | ||||||||||
— | ![]() |
Sonthi Boonyaratglin (born 1946) Head of the Council for Democratic Reform |
19 September 2006 |
1 October 2006 |
12 days | — | Military | Council for Democratic Reform | ||
24 | ![]() |
Surayud Chulanont (born 1943) |
1 October 2006 |
29 January 2008 |
1 year, 120 days | — | Independent | Surayud | ||
25 | Samak Sundaravej (1935–2009) |
29 January 2008 |
9 September 2008 |
224 days | 2007 | People's Power | Samak | |||
— | ![]() |
Somchai Wongsawat (born 1947) |
9 September 2008 |
18 September 2008 |
9 days | — | People's Power | |||
26 | 18 September 2008 |
2 December 2008 |
75 days | — | Somchai | |||||
— | ![]() |
Chavarat Charnvirakul (born 1936) Acting Prime Minister |
2 December 2008 |
17 December 2008 |
15 days | — | Independent | |||
27 | ![]() |
Abhisit Vejjajiva (born 1964) |
17 December 2008 |
5 August 2011 |
2 years, 231 days | — | Democrat | Abhisit | ||
28 | ![]() |
Yingluck Shinawatra (born 1967) |
5 August 2011 |
7 May 2014 |
2 years, 275 days | 2011 | Pheu Thai | Yingluck | ||
2014[d] | ||||||||||
— | ![]() |
Niwatthamrong Boonsongpaisan (born 1948) Acting Prime Minister |
7 May 2014 |
22 May 2014 |
15 days | — | Pheu Thai | |||
— | ![]() |
Prayut Chan-o-cha[4][e] (born 1954) |
22 May 2014 |
24 August 2014 |
94 days | — | Military (until 2014) |
National Council for Peace and Order | ||
29 | 24 August 2014 |
22 August 2023 |
8 years, 363 days | — | Prayut I | |||||
Independent[f] (2014–2023) | ||||||||||
![]() Vajiralongkorn (since 2016) | ||||||||||
2019 | Prayut II | |||||||||
United Thai Nation[g] (2023) | ||||||||||
30 | ![]() |
Srettha Thavisin[5] (born 1962) |
22 August 2023 |
Incumbent | 105 days | 2023 | Pheu Thai | Srettha |
Timeline[edit]

See also[edit]

- Prime Minister of Thailand
- Constitution of Thailand
- Government of Thailand
- Office of the Prime Minister (Thailand)
- Cabinet of Thailand
Notes[edit]
- ^ President of the People's Committee from 28 June to 10 December 1932.
- ^ Thaksin was on administrative leave from 5 April 2006 to 23 May 2006, Chidchai Wannasathit served as acting Prime Minister while on administrative leave.
- ^ Election annulled.
- ^ Election annulled.
- ^ Suspended by the Constitutional Court from 24 August 2022 to 30 September 2022, Prawit Wongsuwan served as acting Prime Minister during the suspension.
- ^ Active with the Palang Pracharath Party from 2019 until 2022.
- ^ Until 11 July 2023.
References[edit]
- Citations
- ^ "Prayuth Chan-ocha: Thai court suspends PM and coup leader". BBC News. 24 August 2022. Retrieved 24 August 2022.
- ^ "Constitutional Court suspends Prayut". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 24 August 2022.
- ^ Thak Chaloemtiarana (2007), Thailand: The Politics of Despotic Paternalism, Ithaca NY: Cornell Southeast Asia Program, p. 88, ISBN 978-0-8772-7742-2
- ^ ประกาศแต่งตั้งนายกรัฐมนตรี ลงวันที่ 24 สิงหาคม 2557 [Proclamation on Appointment of Prime Minister dated 24 August 2014] (PDF). Royal Thai Government Gazette (in Thai). Bangkok: Cabinet Secretariat. 131, Special Part 159 D: 1. 25 August 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 August 2014. Retrieved 25 August 2014.
- ^ ประกาศแต่งตั้งนายกรัฐมนตรี ลงวันที่ 22 สิงหาคม 2566 Archived 23 August 2023 at the Wayback Machine ราชกิจจานุเบกษา เล่ม ๑๔๐ ตอนพิเศษ ๒๐๑ ง หน้า ๑ วันที่ ๒๓ สิงหาคม พ.ศ. ๒๕๖๖
- Links
- Cabinet of Thailand (2010). "History of Thai Prime Ministers". www.soc.go.th. Retrieved 17 May 2012.