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 of Thailand.
• Bottom left: Yingluck Shinawatra was the first female prime minister of Thailand.
• Bottom right: Anutin Charnvirakul is the current prime minister of Thailand.

The Prime Minister of Thailand is the main leader of the Thai government. This person is like the chief manager of the country. They also lead the group of ministers, called the cabinet. The Prime Minister speaks for Thailand both inside the country and to other nations around the world.

The idea of a main leader has been part of Thai history for a long time. One important early role was called the Samuhanayok. This position helped organize the government during the Ayutthaya Kingdom period.

The modern role of Prime Minister began after the Siamese revolution of 1932 and Thailand's first constitution. Many Prime Ministers have been military leaders, especially from the Royal Thai Army.

Paetongtarn Shinawatra became Prime Minister on August 16, 2024. However, on July 1, 2025, the Constitutional Court suspended her from office. Suriya Juangroongruangkit, who was the deputy prime minister, then became the acting leader for a short time. On August 29, 2025, the Constitutional Court officially removed Paetongtarn from her position. She was the youngest person and the second woman to hold this important office. After her removal, Phumtham Wechayachai served as acting Prime Minister until September 7, 2025. On September 7, 2025, Anutin Charnvirakul became the new Prime Minister of Thailand.

This list includes people who served as acting Prime Ministers or leaders during military rule. They are important parts of Thailand's history of leadership.

List of Prime Ministers of Thailand

No.	Portrait	Prime Minister (Lifespan)	Time in Office			Mandate	Party		Government	Monarch (Reign)
			Start	End	Duration
1		Phraya Manopakorn Nitithada พระยามโนปกรณ์นิติธาดา (Born 1884 – Died 1948)	28 June 1932	20 June 1933	1 year, 0 months, 23 days	—		Independent	Manopakorn I	Prajadhipok 1925–1935 (Rama VII)
						—			Manopakorn II
						—			Manopakorn III
2		Phraya Phahon Phonphayuhasena พระยาพหลพลพยุหเสนา (Born 1887 – Died 1947)	21 June 1933	16 December 1938	5 years, 5 months, 26 days	—		Khana Ratsadon	Phahon I
						1933			Phahon II
						—			Phahon III
										Ananda Mahidol 1935–1946 (Rama VIII)
						1937			Phahon IV
						—			Phahon V
3		Plaek Phibunsongkhram แปลก พิบูลสงคราม (Born 1897 – Died 1964)	16 December 1938	1 August 1944	5 years, 7 months, 16 days	1938		Khana Ratsadon	Plaek I
						—			Plaek II
4		Khuang Aphaiwong ควง อภัยวงศ์ (Born 1902 – Died 1968)	1 August 1944	31 August 1945	1 year, 0 months, 30 days	—		Khana Ratsadon	Khuang I
5		Thawi Bunyaket ทวี บุณยเกตุ (Born 1904 – Died 1971)	31 August 1945	17 September 1945	0 years, 0 months, 17 days	—		Khana Ratsadon	Thawi
6		Mom Rajawongse Seni Pramoj หม่อมราชวงศ์เสนีย์ ปราโมช (Born 1905 – Died 1997)	17 September 1945	31 January 1946	0 years, 4 months, 14 days	—		Free Thai	Seni I
(4)		Khuang Aphaiwong ควง อภัยวงศ์ (Born 1902 – Died 1968)	31 January 1946	24 March 1946	0 years, 1 month, 23 days	Jan 1946		Khana Ratsadon	Khuang II
7		Pridi Banomyong ปรีดี พนมยงค์ (Born 1900 – Died 1983)	24 March 1946	23 August 1946	0 years, 5 months, 0 days	—		Khana Ratsadon	Pridi I
										Bhumibol Adulyadej 1946–2016 (Rama IX)
						—			Pridi II
8		Thawan Thamrongnawasawat ถวัลย์ ธำรงนาวาสวัสดิ์ (Born 1901 – Died 1988)	23 August 1946	8 November 1947	1 year, 2 months, 16 days	Aug 1946		Constitutional Front	Thawan I
						—			Thawan II
—		Phin Choonhavan ผิน ชุณหะวัณ (Born 1891 – Died 1973) Head of the National Military Council	8 November 1947	10 November 1947	0 years, 0 months, 2 days	—		Military	National Military Council
(4)		Khuang Aphaiwong ควง อภัยวงศ์ (Born 1902 – Died 1968)	10 November 1947	8 April 1948	0 years, 4 months, 29 days	—		Democrat	Khuang III
						1948			Khuang IV
(3)		Plaek Phibunsongkhram แปลก พิบูลสงคราม (Born 1897 – Died 1964)	8 April 1948	16 September 1957	9 years, 5 months, 8 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 (Born 1908 – Died 1963) Head of the Revolutionary Council	16 September 1957	21 September 1957	0 years, 0 months, 5 days	—		Military	Revolutionary Council
9		Pote Sarasin พจน์ สารสิน (Born 1905 – Died 2000)	21 September 1957	1 January 1958	0 years, 3 months, 11 days	—		Independent	Pote
10		Thanom Kittikachorn ถนอม กิตติขจร (Born 1911 – Died 2004)	1 January 1958	20 October 1958	0 years, 9 months, 19 days	Dec 1957		National Socialist	Thanom I
11		Sarit Thanarat สฤษดิ์ ธนะรัชต์ (Born 1908 – Died 1963)	20 October 1958	8 December 1963	5 years, 1 month, 18 days	—		Military	Revolutionary Council
						—			Sarit
(10)		Thanom Kittikachorn ถนอม กิตติขจร (Born 1911 – Died 2004)	9 December 1963	14 October 1973	9 years, 10 months, 5 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 (Born 1907 – Died 2002)	14 October 1973	15 February 1975	1 year, 4 months, 1 day	—		Independent	Sanya I
						—			Sanya II
(6)		Mom Rajawongse Seni Pramoj หม่อมราชวงศ์เสนีย์ ปราโมช (Born 1905 – Died 1997)	15 February 1975	14 March 1975	0 years, 0 months, 27 days	1975		Democrat	Seni II
13		Mom Rajawongse Kukrit Pramoj หม่อมราชวงศ์คึกฤทธิ์ ปราโมช (Born 1911 – Died 1995)	14 March 1975	20 April 1976	1 year, 1 month, 6 days	—		Social Action	Kukrit
(6)		Mom Rajawongse Seni Pramoj หม่อมราชวงศ์เสนีย์ ปราโมช (Born 1905 – Died 1997)	20 April 1976	6 October 1976	0 years, 5 months, 16 days	1976		Democrat	Seni III
						—			Seni IV
—		Sangad Chaloryu สงัด ชลออยู่ (Born 1915 – Died 1980) Head of the National Administrative Reform Council	6 October 1976	8 October 1976	0 years, 0 months, 2 days	—		Military	Administrative Reform Council
14		Thanin Kraivichien ธานินทร์ กรัยวิเชียร (Born 1927 – Died 2025)	8 October 1976	20 October 1977	1 year, 0 months, 12 days	—		Independent	Thanin
—		Sangad Chaloryu สงัด ชลออยู่ (Born 1915 – Died 1980) Head of the Revolutionary Council	20 October 1977	11 November 1977	0 years, 0 months, 22 days	—		Military	Revolutionary Council
15		Kriangsak Chamanan เกรียงศักดิ์ ชมะนันท์ (Born 1917 – Died 2003)	11 November 1977	3 March 1980	2 years, 3 months, 23 days	—		Military (until 1978)	Kriangsak I
								Independent (from 1978)
						1979			Kriangsak II
16		Prem Tinsulanonda เปรม ติณสูลานนท์ (Born 1920 – Died 2019)	3 March 1980	4 August 1988	8 years, 5 months, 1 day	—		Military (until 1981)	Prem I
								Independent (from 1981)
						1983			Prem II
						1986			Prem III
17		Chatichai Choonhavan ชาติชาย ชุณหะวัณ (Born 1920 – Died 1998)	4 August 1988	23 February 1991	2 years, 6 months, 19 days	1988		Thai Nation	Chatichai I
						—			Chatichai II
—		Sunthorn Kongsompong สุนทร คงสมพงษ์ (Born 1931 – Died 1999) Head of the National Peace Keeping Council	23 February 1991	2 March 1991	0 years, 0 months, 7 days	—		Military	National Peace Keeping Council
18		Anand Panyarachun อานันท์ ปันยารชุน (Born 1932)	2 March 1991	7 April 1992	1 year, 1 month, 5 days	—		Independent	Anand I
19		Suchinda Kraprayoon สุจินดา คราประยูร (Born 1933 – Died 2025)	7 April 1992	24 May 1992	0 years, 1 month, 17 days	Mar 1992		Independent	Suchinda
—		Meechai Ruchuphan มีชัย ฤชุพันธุ์ (Born 1938) Acting Prime Minister	24 May 1992	10 June 1992	0 years, 0 months, 17 days	—		Independent
(18)		Anand Panyarachun อานันท์ ปันยารชุน (Born 1932)	10 June 1992	23 September 1992	0 years, 3 months, 13 days	—		Independent	Anand II
20		Chuan Leekpai ชวน หลีกภัย (Born 1938)	23 September 1992	13 July 1995	2 years, 9 months, 20 days	Sep 1992		Democrat	Chuan I
21		Banharn Silpa-archa บรรหาร ศิลปอาชา (Born 1932 – Died 2016)	13 July 1995	25 November 1996	1 year, 4 months, 12 days	1995		Thai Nation	Banharn
22		Chavalit Yongchaiyudh ชวลิต ยงใจยุทธ (Born 1932)	25 November 1996	9 November 1997	0 years, 11 months, 15 days	1996		New Aspiration	Chavalit
(20)		Chuan Leekpai ชวน หลีกภัย (Born 1938)	9 November 1997	9 February 2001	3 years, 3 months, 0 days	—		Democrat	Chuan II
23		Thaksin Shinawatra ทักษิณ ชินวัตร (Born 1949)	9 February 2001	19 September 2006	5 years, 7 months, 10 days	2001		Thai Rak Thai	Thaksin I
						2005			Thaksin II
—		Sonthi Boonyaratglin สนธิ บุญยรัตกลิน (Born 1946) Head of the Council for Democratic Reform	19 September 2006	1 October 2006	0 years, 0 months, 12 days	—		Military	Council for Democratic Reform
24		Surayud Chulanont สุรยุทธ์ จุลานนท์ (Born 1943)	1 October 2006	29 January 2008	1 year, 3 months, 28 days	—		Independent	Surayud
25		Samak Sundaravej สมัคร สุนทรเวช (Born 1935 – Died 2009)	29 January 2008	9 September 2008	0 years, 7 months, 11 days	2007		People's Power	Samak
—		Somchai Wongsawat สมชาย วงศ์สวัสดิ์ (Born 1947)	9 September 2008	18 September 2008	0 years, 0 months, 9 days	—		People's Power
26			18 September 2008	2 December 2008	0 years, 2 months, 14 days	—			Somchai
—		Chavarat Charnvirakul ชวรัตน์ ชาญวีรกูล (Born 1936) Acting Prime Minister	2 December 2008	17 December 2008	0 years, 0 months, 15 days	—		Independent
27		Abhisit Vejjajiva อภิสิทธิ์ เวชชาชีวะ (Born 1964)	17 December 2008	5 August 2011	2 years, 7 months, 19 days	—		Democrat	Abhisit
28		Yingluck Shinawatra ยิ่งลักษณ์ ชินวัตร (Born 1967)	5 August 2011	7 May 2014	2 years, 9 months, 2 days	2011		Pheu Thai	Yingluck
—		Niwatthamrong Boonsongpaisan นิวัฒน์ธำรง บุญทรงไพศาล (Born 1948) Acting Prime Minister	7 May 2014	22 May 2014	0 years, 0 months, 15 days	—		Pheu Thai
29		Prayut Chan-o-cha ประยุทธ์ จันทร์โอชา (Born 1954)	22 May 2014	22 August 2023	9 years, 3 months, 0 days	—		Military (until 2014)	National Council for Peace and Order
						—			Prayut I
								Independent (2014–2023)
										Vajiralongkorn 2016–present (Rama X)
						2019			Prayut II
								United Thai Nation (2023)
								Independent (from 2023)
—		Prawit Wongsuwon ประวิตร วงษ์สุวรรณ (Born 1945) Acting Prime Minister	24 August 2022	30 September 2022	0 years, 1 month, 6 days	—		Palang Pracharath
30		Srettha Thavisin เศรษฐา ทวีสิน (Born 1962)	22 August 2023	14 August 2024	0 years, 11 months, 23 days	2023		Pheu Thai	Srettha
—		Phumtham Wechayachai ภูมิธรรม เวชยชัย (Born 1953) Acting Prime Minister	14 August 2024	16 August 2024	0 years, 0 months, 2 days	—		Pheu Thai
31		Paetongtarn Shinawatra แพทองธาร ชินวัตร (Born 1986)	16 August 2024	29 August 2025	1 year, 0 months, 13 days	—		Pheu Thai	Paetongtarn
—		Suriya Juangroongruangkit สุริยะ จึงรุ่งเรืองกิจ (Born 1954) Acting Prime Minister	1 July 2025	3 July 2025	0 years, 0 months, 2 days	—		Pheu Thai
—		Phumtham Wechayachai ภูมิธรรม เวชยชัย (Born 1953) Acting Prime Minister	3 July 2025	7 September 2025	0 years, 2 months, 4 days	—		Pheu Thai
32		Anutin Charnvirakul อนุทิน ชาญวีรกูล (Born 1966)	7 September 2025	Incumbent	0 years, 0 months, 0 days	—		Bhumjaithai	Anutin

See also

In Spanish: Primer ministro de Tailandia para niños

• Prime Minister of Thailand
• Constitution of Thailand
• Government of Thailand
• Office of the Prime Minister (Thailand)
• Cabinet of Thailand
• List of Samuhanayok