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.

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	1 year, 12 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	56 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