List of prime ministers of Thailand facts for kids
- 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: Paetongtarn Shinawatra is the second female, the youngest (at the age of 37) and the current prime minister.
The Prime Minister of Thailand is the main leader of the government in Thailand. Think of them as the chief manager of the country. They also lead the group of ministers, called the Cabinet, and speak for Thailand both at home and around the world.
This important job has been around in different forms throughout Thailand's history. One older version was called the Samuhanayok during the Ayutthaya Kingdom. This role helped organize the government a long time ago.
The modern job of prime minister started after the Siamese revolution of 1932 and Thailand's first constitution. For much of its history, many prime ministers have been military leaders, often from the Royal Thai Army.
The current prime minister is Paetongtarn Shinawatra. She is the leader of the Pheu Thai Party and took office on August 16, 2024. She is part of the Shinawatra political family. At 37 years old, she is the youngest person to hold this position and the second woman to become prime minister of Thailand.
Note: This list includes leaders who took power during military rule and those who served as acting prime ministers. However, the official list from the Royal Thai Government does not always count them.
Contents
Who Are Thailand's Prime Ministers?
This section shows the different people who have been prime minister of Thailand. The colors help you see which political group or party they belonged to.
Color Key (for political groups/parties):
General Categories: Independent politician (12) Military Rule (7)
Older Political Parties:
- Pre–1950: Free Thai Movement (1) Khana Ratsadon (5) Constitutional Front (1)
- 1950–1975: Conservative Party (1) Seri Manangkhasila (1) National Socialist (1) United Thai People's Party (1)
- Post–2000: Social Action Party (1) Thai Nation Party (2) Thai Rak Thai Party (1) People's Power Party (2)
Current Political Parties: Democrat Party (6) New Aspiration Party (1) Pheu Thai Party (5) Palang Pracharath Party (1) United Thai Nation Party (1)
No. | Picture | Prime Minister
(Years Lived)
|
Time in Office | Election | Party | Government | King
Reign
|
|||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Started | Ended | How Long | ||||||||
1 | ![]() |
Phraya Manopakorn Nitithada พระยามโนปกรณ์นิติธาดา (1884–1948) |
June 28 1932 |
June 20 1933 |
357 days | — | Independent | Manopakorn I | Prajadhipok![]() r. 1925 – 1935
(Rama VII) |
|
— | Manopakorn II | |||||||||
— | Manopakorn III | |||||||||
2 | ![]() |
Phraya Phahon Phonphayuhasena พระยาพหลพลพยุหเสนา (1887–1947) |
June 21 1933 |
December 16 1938 |
5 years, 178 days | — | Khana Ratsadon | Phahon I | ||
1933 | Phahon II | |||||||||
— | Phahon III | |||||||||
Ananda Mahidol![]() r. 1935 – 1946
(Rama VIII) |
||||||||||
1937 | Phahon IV | |||||||||
— | Phahon V | |||||||||
3 | ![]() |
Plaek Phibunsongkhram แปลก พิบูลสงคราม (1897–1964) |
December 16 1938 |
August 1 1944 |
5 years, 229 days | 1938 | Khana Ratsadon | Plaek I | ||
— | Plaek II | |||||||||
4 | ![]() |
Khuang Aphaiwong ควง อภัยวงศ์ (1902–1968) |
August 1 1944 |
August 31 1945 |
1 year, 30 days | — | Khana Ratsadon | Khuang I | ||
5 | ![]() |
Thawi Bunyaket ทวี บุณยเกตุ (1904–1971) |
August 31 1945 |
September 17 1945 |
17 days | — | Khana Ratsadon | Thawi | ||
6 | ![]() |
Mom Rajawongse Seni Pramoj หม่อมราชวงศ์เสนีย์ ปราโมช (1905–1997) |
September 17 1945 |
January 31 1946 |
136 days | — | Free Thai | Seni I | ||
(4) | ![]() |
Khuang Aphaiwong ควง อภัยวงศ์ (1902–1968) |
January 31 1946 |
March 24 1946 |
52 days | Jan 1946 |
Khana Ratsadon | Khuang II | ||
7 | ![]() |
Pridi Banomyong ปรีดี พนมยงค์ (1900–1983) |
March 24 1946 |
August 23 1946 |
152 days | — | Khana Ratsadon | Pridi I | ||
Bhumibol Adulyadej![]() r. 1946 – 2016
(Rama IX) |
||||||||||
— | Pridi II | |||||||||
8 | ![]() |
Thawan Thamrongnawasawat ถวัลย์ ธำรงนาวาสวัสดิ์ (1901–1988) |
August 23 1946 |
November 8 1947 |
1 year, 79 days | Aug 1946 |
Constitutional Front | Thawan I | ||
— | Thawan II | |||||||||
— | ![]() |
Phin Choonhavan ผิน ชุณหะวัณ (1891–1973) De Facto Prime Minister |
November 8 1947 |
November 10 1947 |
2 days | — | Military | National Military Council | ||
(4) | ![]() |
Khuang Aphaiwong ควง อภัยวงศ์ (1902–1968) |
November 10 1947 |
April 8 1948 |
150 days | — | Democrat | Khuang III | ||
1948 | Khuang IV | |||||||||
(3) | ![]() |
Plaek Phibunsongkhram แปลก พิบูลสงคราม (1897–1964) |
April 8 1948 |
September 16 1957 |
9 years, 161 days | — | Conservative (until 1955) |
Plaek III | ||
1949 | Plaek IV | |||||||||
— | Plaek V | |||||||||
— | Plaek VI | |||||||||
1952 | Plaek VII | |||||||||
Seri Manangkhasila (from 1955) |
||||||||||
Feb 1957 |
Plaek VIII | |||||||||
— | ![]() |
Sarit Thanarat สฤษดิ์ ธนะรัชต์ (1908–1963) De Facto Prime Minister |
September 16 1957 |
September 21 1957 |
5 days | — | Military | Revolutionary Council | ||
9 | ![]() |
Pote Sarasin พจน์ สารสิน (1905–2000) |
September 21 1957 |
January 1 1958 |
102 days | — | Independent | Pote | ||
10 | ![]() |
Thanom Kittikachorn ถนอม กิตติขจร (1911–2004) |
January 1 1958 |
October 20 1958 |
292 days | Dec 1957 |
National Socialist | Thanom I | ||
11 | ![]() |
Sarit Thanarat สฤษดิ์ ธนะรัชต์ (1908–1963) |
October 20 1958 |
December 8 1963† |
5 years, 49 days | — | Military | Revolutionary Council | ||
— | Sarit | |||||||||
(10) | ![]() |
Thanom Kittikachorn ถนอม กิตติขจร (1911–2004) |
December 9 1963 |
October 14 1973 |
9 years, 309 days | — | Military (until 1968) |
Thanom II | ||
United Thai People (1968–1971) |
||||||||||
1969 | Thanom III | |||||||||
— | Military (from 1971) |
Executive Council | ||||||||
— | Thanom IV | |||||||||
12 | ![]() |
Sanya Dharmasakti สัญญา ธรรมศักดิ์ (1907–2002) |
October 14 1973 |
February 15 1975 |
1 year, 124 days | — | Independent | Sanya I | ||
— | Sanya II | |||||||||
(6) | ![]() |
Mom Rajawongse Seni Pramoj หม่อมราชวงศ์เสนีย์ ปราโมช (1905–1997) |
February 15 1975 |
March 14 1975 |
27 days | 1975 | Democrat | Seni II | ||
13 | ![]() |
Mom Rajawongse Kukrit Pramoj หม่อมราชวงศ์คึกฤทธิ์ ปราโมช (1911–1995) |
March 14 1975 |
April 20 1976 |
1 year, 37 days | — | Social Action | Kukrit | ||
(6) | ![]() |
Mom Rajawongse Seni Pramoj หม่อมราชวงศ์เสนีย์ ปราโมช (1905–1997) |
April 20 1976 |
October 6 1976 |
169 days | 1976 | Democrat | Seni III | ||
— | Seni IV | |||||||||
— | ![]() |
Sangad Chaloryu สงัด ชลออยู่ (1915–1980) De Facto Prime Minister |
October 6 1976 |
October 8 1976 |
2 days | — | Military | Administrative Reform Council | ||
14 | ![]() |
Thanin Kraivichien ธานินทร์ กรัยวิเชียร (1927–2025) |
October 8 1976 |
October 20 1977 |
1 year, 12 days | — | Independent | Thanin | ||
— | ![]() |
Sangad Chaloryu สงัด ชลออยู่ (1915–1980) De Facto Prime Minister |
October 20 1977 |
November 11 1977 |
22 days | — | Military | Revolutionary Council | ||
15 | ![]() |
Kriangsak Chamanan เกรียงศักดิ์ ชมะนันท์ (1917–2003) |
November 11 1977 |
March 3 1980 |
2 years, 113 days | — | Military (until 1978) |
Kriangsak I | ||
Independent (from 1978) |
||||||||||
1979 | Kriangsak II | |||||||||
16 | ![]() |
Prem Tinsulanonda เปรม ติณสูลานนท์ (1920–2019) |
March 3 1980 |
August 4 1988 |
8 years, 154 days | — | Military (until 1981) |
Prem I | ||
Independent (from 1981) |
||||||||||
1983 | Prem II | |||||||||
1986 | Prem III | |||||||||
17 | ![]() |
Chatichai Choonhavan ชาติชาย ชุณหะวัณ (1920–1998) |
August 4 1988 |
February 23 1991 |
2 years, 203 days | 1988 | Thai Nation | Chatichai I | ||
— | Chatichai II | |||||||||
— | ![]() |
Sunthorn Kongsompong สุนทร คงสมพงษ์ (1931–1999) De Facto Prime Minister |
February 23 1991 |
March 2 1991 |
7 days | — | Military | National Peace Keeping Council | ||
18 | ![]() |
Anand Panyarachun อานันท์ ปันยารชุน (born 1932) |
March 2 1991 |
April 7 1992 |
1 year, 36 days | — | Independent | Anand I | ||
19 | ![]() |
Suchinda Kraprayoon สุจินดา คราประยูร (1933–2025) |
April 7 1992 |
May 24 1992 |
47 days | Mar 1992 |
Independent | Suchinda | ||
— | ![]() |
Meechai Ruchuphan มีชัย ฤชุพันธุ์ (born 1938) Acting Prime Minister |
May 24 1992 |
June 10 1992 |
17 days | — | Independent | |||
(18) | ![]() |
Anand Panyarachun อานันท์ ปันยารชุน (born 1932) |
June 10 1992 |
September 23 1992 |
105 days | — | Independent | Anand II | ||
20 | ![]() |
Chuan Leekpai ชวน หลีกภัย (born 1938) |
September 23 1992 |
July 13 1995 |
2 years, 293 days | Sep 1992 |
Democrat | Chuan I | ||
21 | ![]() |
Banharn Silpa-archa บรรหาร ศิลปอาชา (1932–2016) |
July 13 1995 |
November 25 1996 |
1 year, 135 days | 1995 | Thai Nation | Banharn | ||
22 | ![]() |
Chavalit Yongchaiyudh ชวลิต ยงใจยุทธ (born 1932) |
November 25 1996 |
November 9 1997 |
349 days | 1996 | New Aspiration | Chavalit | ||
(20) | ![]() |
Chuan Leekpai ชวน หลีกภัย (born 1938) |
November 9 1997 |
February 9 2001 |
3 years, 92 days | — | Democrat | Chuan II | ||
23 | ![]() |
Thaksin Shinawatra ทักษิณ ชินวัตร (born 1949) |
February 9 2001 |
September 19 2006 |
5 years, 222 days | 2001 | Thai Rak Thai | Thaksin I | ||
2005 | Thaksin II | |||||||||
— | ![]() |
Sonthi Boonyaratglin สนธิ บุญยรัตกลิน (born 1946) De Facto Prime Minister |
September 19 2006 |
October 1 2006 |
12 days | — | Military | Council for Democratic Reform | ||
24 | ![]() |
Surayud Chulanont สุรยุทธ์ จุลานนท์ (born 1943) |
October 1 2006 |
January 29 2008 |
1 year, 120 days | — | Independent | Surayud | ||
25 | Samak Sundaravej สมัคร สุนทรเวช (1935–2009) |
January 29 2008 |
September 9 2008 |
224 days | 2007 | People's Power | Samak | |||
26 | ![]() |
Somchai Wongsawat สมชาย วงศ์สวัสดิ์ (born 1947) |
September 9 2008 |
December 2 2008 |
84 days | — | People's Power | |||
Somchai | ||||||||||
— | ![]() |
Chavarat Charnvirakul ชวรัตน์ ชาญวีรกูล (born 1936) Acting Prime Minister |
December 2 2008 |
December 17 2008 |
15 days | — | Independent | |||
27 | ![]() |
Abhisit Vejjajiva อภิสิทธิ์ เวชชาชีวะ (born 1964) |
December 17 2008 |
August 5 2011 |
2 years, 231 days | — | Democrat | Abhisit | ||
28 | ![]() |
Yingluck Shinawatra ยิ่งลักษณ์ ชินวัตร (born 1967) |
August 5 2011 |
May 7 2014 |
2 years, 275 days | 2011 | Pheu Thai | Yingluck | ||
— | ![]() |
Niwatthamrong Boonsongpaisan นิวัฒน์ธำรง บุญทรงไพศาล (born 1948) Acting Prime Minister |
May 7 2014 |
May 22 2014 |
15 days | — | Pheu Thai | |||
29 | ![]() |
Prayut Chan-o-cha ประยุทธ์ จันทร์โอชา (born 1954) |
May 22 2014 |
August 24 2022 |
8 years, 94 days | — | Military (until 2014) |
National Council for Peace and Order | ||
— | Prayut I | |||||||||
Independent (from 2014) |
||||||||||
Vajiralongkorn![]() r. 2016 – present
(Rama X) |
||||||||||
2019 | Prayut II | |||||||||
— | ![]() |
Prawit Wongsuwon ประวิตร วงษ์สุวรรณ (born 1945) Acting Prime Minister |
August 24 2022 |
September 30 2022 |
37 days | — | Palang Pracharath | |||
(29) | ![]() |
Prayut Chan-o-cha ประยุทธ์ จันทร์โอชา (born 1954) |
September 30 2022 |
August 22 2023 |
326 days | — | Independent (until 2023) |
|||
United Thai Nation (2023) |
||||||||||
Independent (from 2023) |
||||||||||
30 | ![]() |
Srettha Thavisin เศรษฐา ทวีสิน (born 1962) |
August 22 2023 |
August 14 2024 |
358 days | 2023 | Pheu Thai | Srettha | ||
— | ![]() |
Phumtham Wechayachai ภูมิธรรม เวชยชัย (born 1953) Acting Prime Minister |
August 14 2024 |
August 16 2024 |
2 days | — | Pheu Thai | |||
31 | ![]() |
Paetongtarn Shinawatra แพทองธาร ชินวัตร (born 1986) |
August 16 2024 |
Incumbent | 357 days | — | Pheu Thai | Paetongtarn | ||
— | ![]() |
Suriya Juangroongruangkit สุริยะ จึงรุ่งเรืองกิจ (born 1954) Acting Prime Minister |
July 1 2025 |
July 3 2025 |
2 days | — | Pheu Thai | |||
— | ![]() |
Phumtham Wechayachai ภูมิธรรม เวชยชัย (born 1953) Acting Prime Minister |
July 3 2025 |
Incumbent | 36 days | — | Pheu Thai |
Timeline of Prime Ministers
This timeline shows when each prime minister served. It also highlights the different political groups they belonged to.

Learn More About Thailand's Government
- Prime Minister of Thailand
- Constitution of Thailand
- Government of Thailand
- Office of the Prime Minister (Thailand)
- Cabinet of Thailand
- List of Samuhanayok
See also
In Spanish: Primer ministro de Tailandia para niños