List of prime ministers of Thailand

The Prime Minister of Thailand (literally "chief minister of state") is the head of government of the Kingdom 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 1932, after a bloodless revolution forced the absolutist King Prajadhipok to grant for the people of Siam their first constitution. Under the newly established constitutional monarchy, the first prime minister of Siam was Phraya Manopakorn Nititada. At first, the office was called the President of the People's Committee, it was later changed to Prime Minister of Siam when the king deemed it too communistic.

Constitutionally the prime minister is required to be a member of the lower house of the National Assembly (the House of Representatives). He must also gain their approval through a resolution before an official appointment by the king can take place. As a result, the prime minister might succumb to a vote of no confidence and removal in the House. However, this has never happened up to date.

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 post of prime minister is currently held by General Prayut Chan-o-cha, who was formally appointed to the office on 24 August 2014. Previously he was the de facto head of government as leader of the National Council for Peace and Order, since the coup d'état on 22 May 2014.

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

No.	Prime Minister		Term of office			Political party		Government	Elected	Monarch (Reign)
	Portrait	Name (Birth–Death)	Took office	Left office	Time in office
1		Phraya Manopakorn Nititada พระยามโนปกรณ์นิติธาดา (1884–1948)	28 June 1932	20 June 1933	358 days		Independent	1. Manopakorn I	—	Prajadhipok (1925–1935)
								2. Manopakorn II
								3. Manopakorn III
2		Phraya Phahonphonphayuhasena พระยาพหลพลพยุหเสนา (1887–1947)	21 June 1933	16 December 1938	5 years, 178 days		Khana Ratsadon (Military faction)	4. Phahonyothin I
								5. Phahonyothin II	1933
								6. Phahonyothin III	—	Ananda Mahidol (1935–1946)
								7. Phahonyothin IV	1937
								8. Phahonyothin V	—
3		Plaek Phibunsongkhram แปลก พิบูลสงคราม (1897–1964)	16 December 1938	1 August 1944	5 years, 229 days		Khana Ratsadon (Military faction)	9. Plaek I	1938
								10. Plaek II	—
4		Khuang Aphaiwong ควง อภัยวงศ์ (1902–1968)	1 August 1944	31 August 1945	1 year, 30 days		Independent	11. Khuang I
5		Thawi Bunyaket ทวี บุณยเกตุ (1904–1971)	31 August 1945	17 September 1945	17 days		Free Thai	12. Tawee I
6		Seni Pramoj ปรา โมช (1905–1997)	17 September 1945	31 January 1946	136 days		Free Thai	13. Seni I
(4)		Khuang Aphaiwong ควง อภัยวงศ์ (1902–1968)	31 January 1946	24 March 1946	52 days		Independent	14. Khuang II	1946
7		Pridi Banomyong ปรีดี พนมยงค์ (1900–1983)	24 March 1946	23 August 1946	152 days		Free Thai	15. Pridi I	—
								16. Pridi II		Bhumibol Adulyadej (1946–2016)
8		Thawan Thamrongnawasawat ถวัลย์ ธำรงนาวาสวัสดิ์ (1901–1988)	23 August 1946	8 November 1947	1 year, 79 days		Constitutional Front	17. Thawan I	1946
								18. Thawan II	—
—		Phin Choonhavan ผิน ชุณหะวัณ (1891–1973)	8 November 1947	10 November 1947	2 days		Military	Coup Group (interim)
(4)		Khuang Aphaiwong ควง อภัยวงศ์ (1902–1968)	10 November 1947	8 April 1948	150 days		Democrat	19. Khuang III
								20. Khuang IV	1948
(3)		Plaek Phibunsongkhram แปลก พิบูลสงคราม (1897–1964)	8 April 1948	16 September 1957	9 years, 161 days		Conservative Party[1]	21. Plaek III	—
								22. Plaek IV	1949
								23. Plaek V	—
								24. Plaek VI
								25. Plaek VII	1952
							Seri Manangkhasila	26. Plaek VIII	1957
—		Sarit Thanarat สฤษดิ์ ธนะรัชต์ (1908–1963)	16 September 1957	21 September 1957	5 days		Military	Coup Group (interim)	—
9		Pote Sarasin พจน์ สารสิน (1905–2000)	21 September 1957	1 January 1958	102 days		Independent	27. Pote
10		Thanom Kittikachorn ถนอม กิตติขจร (1911–2004)	1 January 1958	20 October 1958	292 days		National Socialist[2]	28. Thanom I	1957
11		Sarit Thanarat สฤษดิ์ ธนะรัชต์ (1908–1963)	20 October 1958	8 December 1963 (died in office.)	5 years, 49 days		Military	Revolution Group (interim)	—
							Military	29. Sarit I
(10)		Thanom Kittikachorn ถนอม กิตติขจร (1911–2004)	9 December 1963	14 October 1973	9 years, 309 days		Military	30. Thanom II
							United Thai People	31. Thanom III	1969
							Military	Revolution Group (interim)	—
								32. Thanom IV
12		Sanya Dharmasakti สัญญา ธรรมศักดิ์ (1907–2002)	14 October 1973	15 February 1975	1 year, 124 days		Independent	33. Sanya I
								34. Sanya II
(6)		Seni Pramoj ปรา โมช (1905–1997)	15 February 1975	14 March 1975	27 days		Democrat	35. Seni II	1975
13		Kukrit Pramoj คึกฤทธิ์ ปราโมช (1911–1995)	14 March 1975	20 April 1976	1 year, 37 days		Social Action	36. Kukrit	—
(6)		Seni Pramoj ปรา โมช (1905–1997)	20 April 1976	6 October 1976	169 days		Democrat	37. Seni III	1976
								38. Seni IV	—
—		Sangad Chaloryu สงัด ชลออยู่ (1915–1980)	6 October 1976	8 October 1976	2 days		Military	Administration Reform Council (interim)
14		Thanin Kraivichien ธานินทร์ กรัยวิเชียร (1927–)	8 October 1976	20 October 1977	1 year, 34 days		Independent	39. Thanin
—		Sangad Chaloryu สงัด ชลออยู่ (1915–1980)	20 October 1977	10 November 1977	21 days		Military	Revolution Group (interim)
15		Kriangsak Chamanan เกรียงศักดิ์ ชมะนันทน์ (1917–2003)	11 November 1977	3 March 1980	2 years, 113 days		Military	40. Kriangsak I
							National Democrat	41. Kriangsak II	1979
16		Prem Tinsulanonda เปรม ติณสูลานนท์ (1920–2019)	3 March 1980	4 August 1988	8 years, 154 days		Military	42. Prem I	—
								43. Prem II	1983
								44. Prem III	1986
17		Chatichai Choonhavan ชาติชาย ชุณหะวัณ (1920–1998)	4 August 1988	23 February 1991	2 years, 204 days		Chart Thai	45. Chatchai I	1988
								46. Chatchai II	—
—		Sunthorn Kongsompong สุนทร คงสมพงษ์ (1931–1999)	24 February 1991	2 March 1991	6 days		Military	National Peace Keeping Council (interim)
18		Anand Panyarachun อานันท์ ปันยารชุน (1932–)	2 March 1991	7 April 1992	1 year, 36 days		Independent	47. Anand I
19		Suchinda Kraprayoon สุจินดา คราประยูร (1933–)	7 April 1992	24 May 1992	47 days		Independent	48. Suchinda	1992
—		Meechai Ruchuphan มีชัย ฤชุพันธุ์ (1938–) Acting Prime Minister	24 May 1992	10 June 1992	17 days		Independent		—
(18)		Anand Panyarachun อานันท์ ปันยารชุน (1932–)	10 June 1992	23 September 1992	105 days		Independent	49. Anand II
20		Chuan Leekpai ชวน หลีกภัย (1938–)	23 September 1992	13 July 1995	2 years, 293 days		Democrat	50. Chuan I	1992
21		Banharn Silpa-archa บรรหาร ศิลปอาชา (1932–2016)	13 July 1995	25 November 1996	1 year, 135 days		Chart Thai	51. Banharn	1995
22		Chavalit Yongchaiyudh ชวลิต ยงใจยุทธ (1932–)	25 November 1996	9 November 1997	349 days		New Aspiration	52. Chavalit	1996
(20)		Chuan Leekpai ชวน หลีกภัย (1938–)	9 November 1997	9 February 2001	3 years, 92 days		Democrat	53. Chuan II	—
23		Thaksin Shinawatra ทักษิณ ชินวัตร (1949–)	9 February 2001	19 September 2006	5 years, 222 days		Thai Rak Thai	54. Thaksin I	2001
								55. Thaksin II	2005
—		Sonthi Boonyaratglin สนธิ บุญยรัตกลิน (1946–)	19 September 2006	1 October 2006	12 days		Military	Council for National Security (interim)	—
24		Surayud Chulanont สุรยุทธ์ จุลานนท์ (1943–)	1 October 2006	29 January 2008	1 year, 120 days		Independent	56. Surayud
25		Samak Sundaravej สมัคร สุนทรเวช (1935–2009)	29 January 2008	8 September 2008	224 days		People's Power	57. Samak	2007
26		Somchai Wongsawat สมชาย วงศ์สวัสดิ์ (1947–)	8 September 2008	2 December 2008	9 days		People's Power		—
					84 days		People's Power	58. Somchai
—		Chaovarat Chanweerakul ชวรัตน์ ชาญวีรกูล (1936–) Acting Prime Minister	2 December 2008	17 December 2008	15 days		Independent
27		Abhisit Vejjajiva อภิสิทธิ์ เวชชาชีวะ (1964–)	17 December 2008	5 August 2011	2 years, 231 days		Democrat	59. Abhisit
28		Yingluck Shinawatra ยิ่งลักษณ์ ชินวัตร (1967–)	5 August 2011	7 May 2014	2 years, 275 days		Pheu Thai	60. Yingluck	2011
—		Niwatthamrong Boonsongpaisan นิวัฒน์ธำรง บุญทรงไพศาล (1948–) Acting Prime Minister	7 May 2014	22 May 2014	15 days		Pheu Thai		—
29		Prayut Chan-o-cha ประยุทธ์ จันทร์โอชา (1954–)	22 May 2014[3]	Incumbent	6 years, 259 days		Military	National Council for Peace and Order (interim)
								61. Prayut I		Vajiralongkorn (2016–)
							Palang Pracharath	62. Prayut II	2019

Timeline

Living former prime ministers

As of February 2021, there are ten living former Thai Prime Ministers.

Name	Term of office	Date of birth	Political party
Thanin Kraivichien	1976–1977	5 April 1927	non-partisan
Chavalit Yongchaiyudh	1996–1997	15 May 1932	New Aspiration Party
Anand Panyarachun	1991–1992, 1992	9 August 1932	non-partisan
Suchinda Kraprayoon	1992	6 August 1933	Military
Chuan Leekpai	1992–1995; 1997–2001	28 July 1938	Democrat Party
Surayud Chulanont	2006–2008	28 August 1943	non-partisan (Military)
Somchai Wongsawat	2008	31 August 1947	People's Power Party
Thaksin Shinawatra	2001–2006	26 July 1949	Thai Rak Thai
Abhisit Vejjajiva	2008–2011	3 August 1964	Democrat Party
Yingluck Shinawatra	2011–2014	21 June 1967	Pheu Thai Party

See also

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

References

Citations

1. หลักการและนโยบายของชุมนุมธรรมาธิปัตย์. [พระนคร: โรงพิมพ์สหการพานิช], 2490.
2. Thak Chaloemtiarana (2007), Thailand: The Politics of Despotic Paternalism, Ithaca NY: Cornell Southeast Asia Program, p. 88, ISBN 978-0-8772-7742-2
3. 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. Retrieved 25 August 2014.

Links

• Cabinet of Thailand (2010). "History of Thai Prime Ministers". www.soc.go.th. Retrieved 17 May 2012.
• World Statesmen.org (2010). "Thailand". www.worldstatesmen.org. Retrieved 20 May 2012.

External links

• LIST OF THAI PRIME MINISTERS with names also in Thai