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 incumbent prime minister.
The prime minister of Thailand (Thai: นายกรัฐมนตรี; RTGS: Nayok Ratthamontri; 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.
The current prime minister is Paetongtarn Shinawatra, leader of the Pheu Thai Party, since 16 August 2024. A member of the Shinawatra political family, she is the youngest person and the second woman to hold the office.
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
Colour key (for political coalitions/parties):
General categories: Independent politician (12) Military rule (7)
Defunct political parties:
- Pre–1950: Free Thai Movement (1) Khana Ratsadon (5) Constitutional Front (1)
- 1950–1975: Conservative Party (1) Seri Manangkhasila Party (1) National Socialist Party (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)
Active political parties: Democrat Party (6) New Aspiration Party (1) Pheu Thai Party (5) Palang Pracharath Party (1) United Thai Nation Party (1)
| No. | Portrait | Prime minister (Lifespan) |
Term of office | Mandate | Party | Government | Monarch (Reign) |
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Start | End | Duration | ||||||||
| 1 |  |
Phraya Manopakorn Nitithada พระยามโนปกรณ์นิติธาดา (1884–1948) |
28 June 1932 |
20 June 1933 |
357 days | — | Independent | Manopakorn I | Prajadhipok
Rama VII
(1925–1935) |
|
| — | Manopakorn II | |||||||||
| — | Manopakorn III | |||||||||
| 2 |  |
Phraya Phahon Phonphayuhasena พระยาพหลพลพยุหเสนา (1887–1947) |
21 June 1933 |
16 December 1938 |
5 years, 178 days | — | Khana Ratsadon | Phahon I | ||
| 1933 | Phahon II | |||||||||
| — | Phahon III | |||||||||
Ananda Mahidol
Rama VIII
(1935–1946) |
||||||||||
| 1937 | Phahon IV | |||||||||
| — | Phahon V | |||||||||
| 3 |  |
Plaek Phibunsongkhram แปลก พิบูลสงคราม (1897–1964) |
16 December 1938 |
1 August 1944 |
5 years, 229 days | 1938 | Khana Ratsadon | Plaek I | ||
| — | Plaek II | |||||||||
| 4 | .jpg) |
Khuang Aphaiwong ควง อภัยวงศ์ (1902–1968) |
1 August 1944 |
31 August 1945 |
1 year, 30 days | — | Khana Ratsadon | Khuang I | ||
| 5 |  |
Thawi Bunyaket ทวี บุณยเกตุ (1904–1971) |
31 August 1945 |
17 September 1945 |
17 days | — | Khana Ratsadon | Thawi | ||
| 6 | .jpg) |
Mom Rajawongse Seni Pramoj หม่อมราชวงศ์เสนีย์ ปราโมช (1905–1997) |
17 September 1945 |
31 January 1946 |
136 days | — | Free Thai | Seni I | ||
| (4) |  |
Khuang Aphaiwong ควง อภัยวงศ์ (1902–1968) |
31 January 1946 |
24 March 1946 |
52 days | 1946 | Khana Ratsadon | Khuang II | ||
| 7 |  |
Pridi Banomyong ปรีดี พนมยงค์ (1900–1983) |
24 March 1946 |
23 August 1946 |
152 days | — | Khana Ratsadon | Pridi I | ||
Bhumibol Adulyadej.jpg)
Rama IX
(1946–2016) |
||||||||||
| — | Pridi II | |||||||||
| 8 |  |
Thawan Thamrongnawasawat ถวัลย์ ธำรงนาวาสวัสดิ์ (1901–1988) |
23 August 1946 |
8 November 1947 |
1 year, 79 days | — | Constitutional Front | Thawan I | ||
| — | Thawan II | |||||||||
| — | .jpg) |
Phin Choonhavan ผิน ชุณหะวัณ (1891–1973) |
8 November 1947 |
10 November 1947 |
2 days | — | Military | National Military Council | ||
| (4) | |
Khuang Aphaiwong ควง อภัยวงศ์ (1902–1968) |
10 November 1947 |
8 April 1948 |
150 days | — | Democrat | Khuang III | ||
| 1948 | Khuang IV | |||||||||
| (3) | .jpg) |
Plaek Phibunsongkhram แปลก พิบูลสงคราม (1897–1964) |
8 April 1948 |
16 September 1957 |
9 years, 161 days | — | Conservative (until 1955) |
Plaek III | ||
| — | Plaek IV | |||||||||
| — | Plaek V | |||||||||
| — | Plaek VI | |||||||||
| 1952 | Plaek VII | |||||||||
| Seri Manangkhasila (from 1955) |
||||||||||
| Feb 1957 |
Plaek VIII | |||||||||
| — |  |
Sarit Thanarat สฤษดิ์ ธนะรัชต์ (1908–1963) |
16 September 1957 |
21 September 1957 |
5 days | — | Military | Revolutionary Council | ||
| 9 |  |
Pote Sarasin พจน์ สารสิน (1905–2000) |
21 September 1957 |
1 January 1958 |
102 days | — | Independent | Pote | ||
| 10 |  |
Thanom Kittikachorn ถนอม กิตติขจร (1911–2004) |
1 January 1958 |
20 October 1958 |
292 days | Dec 1957 |
National Socialist | Thanom I | ||
| 11 |  |
Sarit Thanarat สฤษดิ์ ธนะรัชต์ (1908–1963) |
20 October 1958 |
8 December 1963 |
5 years, 49 days | — | Military | Revolutionary Council | ||
| — | Sarit | |||||||||
| (10) |  |
Thanom Kittikachorn ถนอม กิตติขจร (1911–2004) |
9 December 1963 |
14 October 1973 |
9 years, 309 days | — | Military (until 1968) |
Thanom II | ||
| United Thai People (1968–1971) |
||||||||||
| 1969 | Thanom III | |||||||||
| — | Military (from 1971) |
Revolutionary Council | ||||||||
| — | Thanom IV | |||||||||
| 12 |  |
Sanya Dharmasakti สัญญา ธรรมศักดิ์ (1907–2002) |
14 October 1973 |
15 February 1975 |
1 year, 124 days | — | Independent | Sanya I | ||
| — | Sanya II | |||||||||
| (6) |  |
Mom Rajawongse Seni Pramoj หม่อมราชวงศ์เสนีย์ ปราโมช (1905–1997) |
15 February 1975 |
14 March 1975 |
27 days | 1975 | Democrat | Seni II | ||
| 13 |  |
Mom Rajawongse Kukrit Pramoj หม่อมราชวงศ์คึกฤทธิ์ ปราโมช (1911–1995) |
14 March 1975 |
20 April 1976 |
1 year, 37 days | — | Social Action | Kukrit | ||
| (6) | |
Mom Rajawongse Seni Pramoj หม่อมราชวงศ์เสนีย์ ปราโมช (1905–1997) |
20 April 1976 |
6 October 1976 |
169 days | 1976 | Democrat | Seni III | ||
| — | Seni IV | |||||||||
| — |  |
Sangad Chaloryu สงัด ชลออยู่ (1915–1980) |
6 October 1976 |
8 October 1976 |
2 days | — | Military | Administration Reform Council | ||
| 14 | .jpg) |
Thanin Kraivichien ธานินทร์ กรัยวิเชียร (born 1927) |
8 October 1976 |
20 October 1977 |
1 year, 12 days | — | Independent | Thanin | ||
| — | |
Sangad Chaloryu สงัด ชลออยู่ (1915–1980) |
20 October 1977 |
10 November 1977 |
21 days | — | Military | Revolutionary Council | ||
| 15 | .jpg) |
Kriangsak Chamanan เกรียงศักดิ์ ชมะนันท์ (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 เปรม ติณสูลานนท์ (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 ชาติชาย ชุณหะวัณ (1920–1998) |
4 August 1988 |
23 February 1991 |
2 years, 203 days | 1988 | Thai Nation | Chatichai I | ||
| — | Chatichai II | |||||||||
| — |  |
Sunthorn Kongsompong สุนทร คงสมพงษ์ (1931–1999) |
24 February 1991 |
2 March 1991 |
7 days | — | Military | National Peace Keeping Council | ||
| 18 | .jpg) |
Anand Panyarachun อานันท์ ปันยารชุน (born 1932) |
2 March 1991 |
7 April 1992 |
1 year, 36 days | — | Independent | Anand I | ||
| 19 |  |
Suchinda Kraprayoon สุจินดา คราประยูร (born 1933) |
7 April 1992 |
24 May 1992 |
47 days | Mar 1992 |
Independent | Suchinda | ||
| — |  |
Meechai Ruchuphan มีชัย ฤชุพันธุ์ (born 1938) Acting Prime Minister |
24 May 1992 |
10 June 1992 |
17 days | — | Independent | |||
| (18) | |
Anand Panyarachun อานันท์ ปันยารชุน (born 1932) |
10 June 1992 |
23 September 1992 |
105 days | — | Independent | Anand II | ||
| 20 |  |
Chuan Leekpai ชวน หลีกภัย (born 1938) |
23 September 1992 |
13 July 1995 |
2 years, 293 days | Sep 1992 |
Democrat | Chuan I | ||
| 21 | .jpg) |
Banharn Silpa-archa บรรหาร ศิลปอาชา (1932–2016) |
13 July 1995 |
25 November 1996 |
1 year, 135 days | 1995 | Thai Nation | Banharn | ||
| 22 |  |
Chavalit Yongchaiyudh ชวลิต ยงใจยุทธ (born 1932) |
25 November 1996 |
9 November 1997 |
349 days | 1996 | New Aspiration | Chavalit | ||
| (20) | |
Chuan Leekpai ชวน หลีกภัย (born 1938) |
9 November 1997 |
9 February 2001 |
3 years, 92 days | — | Democrat | Chuan II | ||
| 23 | .jpg) |
Thaksin Shinawatra ทักษิณ ชินวัตร (born 1949) |
9 February 2001 |
19 September 2006 |
5 years, 222 days | 2001 | Thai Rak Thai | Thaksin I | ||
| 2005 | Thaksin II | |||||||||
| — | .png) |
Sonthi Boonyaratglin สนธิ บุญยรัตกลิน (born 1946) |
19 September 2006 |
1 October 2006 |
12 days | — | Military | Council for Democratic Reform | ||
| 24 | .jpg) |
Surayud Chulanont สุรยุทธ์ จุลานนท์ (born 1943) |
1 October 2006 |
29 January 2008 |
1 year, 120 days | — | Independent | Surayud | ||
| 25 |  |
Samak Sundaravej สมัคร สุนทรเวช (1935–2009) |
29 January 2008 |
9 September 2008 |
224 days | 2007 | People's Power | Samak | ||
| — | _(cropped).jpg) |
Somchai Wongsawat สมชาย วงศ์สวัสดิ์ (born 1947) |
9 September 2008 |
18 September 2008 |
9 days | — | People's Power | |||
| 26 | 18 September 2008 |
2 December 2008 |
75 days | Somchai | ||||||
| — | .jpg) |
Chavarat Charnvirakul ชวรัตน์ ชาญวีรกูล (born 1936) Acting Prime Minister |
2 December 2008 |
17 December 2008 |
15 days | — | Independent | |||
| 27 |  |
Abhisit Vejjajiva อภิสิทธิ์ เวชชาชีวะ (born 1964) |
17 December 2008 |
5 August 2011 |
2 years, 231 days | — | Democrat | Abhisit | ||
| 28 |  |
Yingluck Shinawatra ยิ่งลักษณ์ ชินวัตร (born 1967) |
5 August 2011 |
7 May 2014 |
2 years, 275 days | 2011 | Pheu Thai | Yingluck | ||
| — |  |
Niwatthamrong Boonsongpaisan นิวัฒน์ธำรง บุญทรงไพศาล (born 1948) Acting Prime Minister |
7 May 2014 |
22 May 2014 |
15 days | — | Pheu Thai | |||
| 29 | .jpg) |
Prayut Chan-o-cha ประยุทธ์ จันทร์โอชา (born 1954) |
22 May 2014 |
22 August 2023 |
9 years, 92 days | — | Military (until 2014) |
National Council for Peace and Order | ||
| — | Prayut I | |||||||||
| Independent (2014–2023) |
||||||||||
Vajiralongkorn.png)
Rama X
(since 2016) |
||||||||||
| 2019 | Prayut II | |||||||||
| United Thai Nation (2023) |
||||||||||
| — | _cropped.jpg) |
Prawit Wongsuwon ประวิตร วงษ์สุวรรณ (born 1945) Acting Prime Minister |
24 August 2022 |
30 September 2022 |
37 days | — | Palang Pracharath | |||
| 30 | .jpg) |
Srettha Thavisin เศรษฐา ทวีสิน (born 1962) |
22 August 2023 |
14 August 2024 |
358 days | 2023 | Pheu Thai | Srettha | ||
| — |  |
Phumtham Wechayachai ภูมิธรรม เวชยชัย (born 1953) Acting Prime Minister |
14 August 2024 |
16 August 2024 |
2 days | — | Pheu Thai | |||
| 31 |  |
Paetongtarn Shinawatra แพทองธาร ชินวัตร (born 1986) |
16 August 2024 |
Incumbent | 137 days | — | Pheu Thai | Paetongtarn | ||
Timeline
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
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List of prime ministers of Thailand Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.