Largest cities in Thailand, 1975 to 2050

Bangkok leads Thailand with 18.18 million people in 2025, ahead of Chiang Mai at 0.63 million in the UN city ranking.

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What the data shows

In 2025, Bangkok ranks #1 with 18.18M, ahead of Chiang Mai (0.63M) and Hat Yai (0.41M).
By 2050, on the UN's projections, Bangkok is projected to rank #1 with 20.46M, ahead of Chiang Mai (0.57M) and Lop Buri (0.47M).
Bangkok holds #1 for the whole period, 1975 to 2025.
Biggest climber: Lop Buri, from #18 in 1995 to #3 in 2050.
Bangkok grew 5× between 1975 and 2025.

About this chart

Bangkok stands well above the other cities in Thailand: its 18.18 million people in 2025 are about 28.86 times the 0.63 million in second-place Chiang Mai. Bangkok also led the 1975 ranking, when the UN series put it at 3.65 million. Hat Yai occupies third place in 2025 at 0.41 million. These are populations of urban areas defined consistently by the UN, rather than administrative city limits.

The UN projects Bangkok to lead in 2050 at 20.46 million people. The figures after 2025 are projections. The Degree of Urbanization identifies contiguous dense settlements, so these totals can differ from municipal and metropolitan statistics. The historical ranking is useful for comparing positions; changing settlement boundaries mean it should not be treated as a measure of growth within fixed city limits.

The data

Source: UN DESA, World Urbanization Prospects: The 2025 Revision (File 21), city population, millions, 1975–2050 (projected after 2025). Retrieved November 5, 2026. Cities as defined by the Degree of Urbanization (contiguous dense areas), so figures differ from city-proper or metro counts. Blank cells indicate that the source supplies no city value for that year, not zero population.

Largest cities in Thailand, Population in millions, 1975–2050; projected after 2025, 1975–2050
Date	🇹🇭 Bangkok	🇹🇭 Surin	🇹🇭 Phitsanulok	🇹🇭 Yala	🇹🇭 Sing Buri	🇹🇭 Samut Songkhram	🇹🇭 Trang	🇹🇭 Tha Luang	🇹🇭 Pak Chong	🇹🇭 Chao Chet	🇹🇭 Nakhon Sawan	🇹🇭 Khon Kaen	🇹🇭 Udon Thani	🇹🇭 Nakhon Ratchasima	🇹🇭 Hat Yai	🇹🇭 Chiang Mai	🇹🇭 Nakhon Si Thammarat	🇹🇭 Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya	🇹🇭 Nakhon Pathom	🇹🇭 Chon Buri	🇹🇭 Phuket	🇹🇭 Pattaya	🇹🇭 Lop Buri	🇹🇭 Songkhla
1975	3.65M	0.18M	0.12M	0.11M	0.09M	0.09M	0.09M	0.08M	0.08M	0.07M
1976	3.85M	0.18M	0.12M	0.11M	0.09M	0.09M	0.09M	0.08M	0.08M	0.07M
1977	4.05M	0.17M	0.12M	0.11M	0.09M	0.09M	0.09M	0.08M	0.08M	0.07M
1978	4.24M	0.17M	0.12M	0.11M	0.09M	0.09M	0.09M	0.08M	0.08M	0.07M
1979	4.44M	0.16M	0.13M	0.12M	0.09M	0.10M	0.09M	0.08M	0.08M	0.07M
1980	4.64M	0.16M	0.13M	0.12M	0.08M	0.10M	0.09M	0.08M	0.07M	0.07M	0.06M	0.06M	0.05M
1981	4.77M	0.15M	0.13M	0.12M	0.08M	0.10M	0.09M	0.08M	0.07M	0.07M	0.07M	0.06M	0.06M
1982	4.90M	0.15M	0.13M	0.12M	0.08M	0.10M	0.09M	0.08M	0.07M	0.07M	0.07M	0.07M	0.06M
1983	5.04M	0.14M	0.13M	0.12M	0.08M	0.10M	0.09M	0.08M	0.07M	0.07M	0.07M	0.07M	0.07M
1984	5.17M	0.14M	0.13M	0.12M	0.07M	0.10M	0.09M	0.08M	0.07M	0.07M	0.07M	0.07M	0.07M
1985	5.31M	0.13M	0.13M	0.12M	0.07M	0.10M	0.09M	0.08M	0.07M	0.06M	0.07M	0.07M	0.08M	0.06M	0.06M		0.06M
1986	5.51M	0.13M	0.14M	0.12M	0.07M	0.10M	0.09M	0.08M	0.07M	0.06M	0.07M	0.08M	0.08M	0.07M	0.06M		0.07M
1987	5.72M	0.13M	0.14M	0.12M	0.07M	0.10M	0.09M	0.08M	0.07M	0.06M	0.08M	0.08M	0.09M	0.08M	0.07M		0.07M
1988	5.93M	0.12M	0.14M	0.12M	0.07M	0.10M	0.09M	0.08M	0.07M	0.06M	0.08M	0.08M	0.09M	0.09M	0.07M		0.08M
1989	6.14M	0.12M	0.14M	0.12M	0.06M	0.10M	0.09M	0.08M	0.06M	0.06M	0.08M	0.09M	0.10M	0.10M	0.08M		0.08M
1990	6.34M	0.11M	0.14M	0.12M	0.06M	0.10M	0.09M	0.07M	0.06M	0.06M	0.08M	0.09M	0.10M	0.10M	0.09M	0.09M	0.08M	0.05M	0.06M
1991	6.52M	0.11M	0.14M	0.12M	0.06M	0.09M	0.09M	0.07M	0.06M	0.06M	0.09M	0.10M	0.11M	0.12M	0.10M	0.10M	0.09M	0.06M	0.07M
1992	6.69M	0.11M	0.15M	0.12M	0.06M	0.09M	0.09M	0.07M	0.06M	0.06M	0.10M	0.11M	0.13M	0.13M	0.11M	0.11M	0.10M	0.07M	0.08M
1993	6.86M	0.11M	0.15M	0.12M	0.05M	0.09M	0.09M	0.07M	0.06M	0.06M	0.10M	0.12M	0.14M	0.14M	0.12M	0.13M	0.11M	0.08M	0.09M
1994	7.03M	0.10M	0.15M	0.12M	0.05M	0.09M	0.09M	0.07M	0.06M	0.06M	0.11M	0.13M	0.15M	0.16M	0.14M	0.14M	0.12M	0.09M	0.10M
1995	7.21M	0.10M	0.15M	0.13M	0.05M	0.09M	0.09M	0.07M	0.06M	0.06M	0.11M	0.14M	0.16M	0.17M	0.15M	0.15M	0.12M	0.09M	0.10M		0.06M	0.09M	0.07M	0.06M
1996	7.44M	0.10M	0.15M	0.12M		0.09M	0.09M	0.07M	0.06M		0.12M	0.16M	0.18M	0.19M	0.17M	0.18M	0.14M	0.11M	0.11M		0.07M	0.09M	0.08M	0.07M
1997	7.67M	0.10M	0.15M	0.12M		0.08M	0.09M	0.07M	0.06M		0.12M	0.17M	0.20M	0.21M	0.19M	0.21M	0.15M	0.13M	0.13M		0.07M	0.09M	0.09M	0.08M
1998	7.91M	0.09M	0.15M	0.12M		0.08M	0.09M	0.06M	0.06M		0.13M	0.18M	0.21M	0.23M	0.21M	0.23M	0.16M	0.15M	0.14M		0.08M	0.09M	0.10M	0.08M
1999	8.14M	0.09M	0.15M	0.12M		0.08M	0.09M	0.06M	0.06M		0.13M	0.20M	0.23M	0.25M	0.23M	0.26M	0.17M	0.17M	0.15M		0.08M	0.09M	0.12M	0.09M
2000	8.38M	0.09M	0.15M	0.12M		0.08M	0.09M	0.06M	0.06M		0.14M	0.21M	0.25M	0.27M	0.25M	0.29M	0.18M	0.19M	0.16M	0.14M	0.09M	0.09M	0.13M	0.10M
2001	8.81M	0.08M	0.16M	0.12M		0.07M	0.09M	0.06M			0.14M	0.21M	0.24M	0.27M	0.26M	0.31M	0.18M	0.18M	0.16M	0.16M	0.11M	0.10M	0.13M	0.10M
2002	9.24M	0.08M	0.16M	0.12M		0.07M	0.09M	0.06M			0.13M	0.21M	0.24M	0.27M	0.26M	0.34M	0.17M	0.17M	0.17M	0.18M	0.13M	0.10M	0.13M	0.11M
2003	9.68M	0.08M	0.17M	0.12M		0.07M	0.09M	0.06M			0.13M	0.21M	0.23M	0.27M	0.27M	0.37M	0.17M	0.17M	0.17M	0.21M	0.15M	0.11M	0.13M	0.12M
2004	10.11M	0.08M	0.17M	0.12M		0.07M	0.09M	0.05M			0.13M	0.21M	0.23M	0.26M	0.27M	0.40M	0.17M	0.16M	0.17M	0.23M	0.17M	0.11M	0.13M	0.13M
2005	10.54M	0.08M	0.18M	0.13M		0.07M	0.09M	0.05M			0.13M	0.21M	0.22M	0.26M	0.28M	0.42M	0.17M	0.15M	0.18M	0.25M	0.19M	0.12M	0.13M	0.13M
2006	11.03M	0.07M	0.18M	0.13M		0.07M	0.09M				0.13M	0.22M	0.21M	0.26M	0.28M	0.43M	0.17M	0.14M	0.18M	0.27M	0.21M	0.13M	0.13M	0.14M
2007	11.52M	0.07M	0.19M	0.13M		0.07M	0.09M				0.12M	0.22M	0.21M	0.26M	0.29M	0.43M	0.17M	0.14M	0.18M	0.28M	0.23M	0.14M	0.13M	0.15M
2008	12.01M	0.07M	0.19M	0.13M		0.07M	0.09M				0.12M	0.22M	0.20M	0.26M	0.30M	0.43M	0.17M	0.13M	0.18M	0.30M	0.26M	0.15M	0.13M	0.15M
2009	12.50M	0.07M	0.19M	0.13M		0.07M	0.09M				0.12M	0.22M	0.20M	0.26M	0.30M	0.44M	0.17M	0.13M	0.19M	0.31M	0.28M	0.16M	0.13M	0.16M
2010	12.99M	0.07M	0.20M	0.13M		0.07M	0.09M				0.12M	0.22M	0.19M	0.25M	0.31M	0.44M	0.16M	0.13M	0.19M	0.33M	0.30M	0.17M	0.13M	0.17M
2011	13.37M	0.07M	0.20M	0.13M		0.07M	0.09M				0.12M	0.23M	0.19M	0.25M	0.32M	0.45M	0.16M	0.14M	0.19M	0.32M	0.31M	0.17M	0.14M	0.17M
2012	13.76M	0.06M	0.20M	0.13M		0.06M	0.09M				0.12M	0.23M	0.18M	0.24M	0.33M	0.47M	0.16M	0.15M	0.20M	0.32M	0.31M	0.18M	0.15M	0.17M
2013	14.14M	0.06M	0.20M	0.12M		0.06M	0.09M				0.11M	0.24M	0.18M	0.24M	0.34M	0.49M	0.16M	0.16M	0.20M	0.31M	0.32M	0.19M	0.16M	0.18M
2014	14.53M	0.06M	0.20M	0.12M		0.06M	0.09M				0.11M	0.24M	0.17M	0.23M	0.35M	0.50M	0.16M	0.17M	0.20M	0.31M	0.33M	0.19M	0.17M	0.18M
2015	14.92M	0.05M	0.20M	0.12M		0.06M	0.08M				0.11M	0.25M	0.17M	0.23M	0.36M	0.52M	0.16M	0.18M	0.20M	0.30M	0.34M	0.20M	0.18M	0.18M
2016	15.38M		0.20M	0.12M			0.08M				0.11M	0.25M	0.16M	0.23M	0.37M	0.54M	0.16M	0.18M	0.21M	0.30M	0.35M	0.21M	0.21M	0.19M
2017	15.85M		0.20M	0.12M			0.08M				0.11M	0.26M	0.16M	0.23M	0.38M	0.56M	0.15M	0.19M	0.21M	0.29M	0.36M	0.21M	0.23M	0.20M
2018	16.32M		0.20M	0.12M			0.08M				0.11M	0.27M	0.15M	0.23M	0.39M	0.58M	0.15M	0.19M	0.21M	0.29M	0.37M	0.22M	0.26M	0.20M
2019	16.78M		0.19M	0.12M			0.07M				0.11M	0.27M	0.15M	0.23M	0.40M	0.61M	0.15M	0.19M	0.21M	0.28M	0.39M	0.22M	0.28M	0.21M
2020	17.25M		0.19M	0.11M			0.07M				0.11M	0.28M	0.15M	0.23M	0.41M	0.63M	0.15M	0.20M	0.21M	0.28M	0.40M	0.23M	0.31M	0.21M
2021	17.44M		0.19M	0.11M			0.07M				0.11M	0.28M	0.14M	0.23M	0.41M	0.63M	0.15M	0.20M	0.22M	0.28M	0.40M	0.23M	0.32M	0.21M
2022	17.62M		0.19M	0.11M			0.07M				0.11M	0.28M	0.14M	0.22M	0.41M	0.63M	0.15M	0.20M	0.22M	0.28M	0.39M	0.23M	0.33M	0.21M
2023	17.81M		0.19M	0.11M			0.07M				0.11M	0.28M	0.14M	0.22M	0.41M	0.63M	0.15M	0.21M	0.22M	0.29M	0.39M	0.23M	0.35M	0.21M
2024	17.99M		0.19M	0.11M			0.07M				0.11M	0.28M	0.14M	0.22M	0.41M	0.63M	0.15M	0.21M	0.23M	0.29M	0.39M	0.24M	0.36M	0.21M
2025	18.18M		0.19M	0.11M			0.07M				0.11M	0.27M	0.14M	0.22M	0.41M	0.63M	0.15M	0.21M	0.23M	0.30M	0.39M	0.24M	0.38M	0.21M
2026	18.34M		0.19M	0.11M			0.07M				0.10M	0.27M	0.14M	0.22M	0.41M	0.63M	0.15M	0.21M	0.24M	0.30M	0.39M	0.24M	0.38M	0.21M
2027	18.50M		0.19M	0.11M			0.07M				0.10M	0.27M	0.14M	0.22M	0.41M	0.62M	0.15M	0.22M	0.24M	0.30M	0.39M	0.24M	0.39M	0.21M
2028	18.66M		0.19M	0.11M			0.07M				0.10M	0.27M	0.14M	0.21M	0.40M	0.62M	0.15M	0.22M	0.24M	0.31M	0.39M	0.25M	0.40M	0.21M
2029	18.81M		0.19M	0.11M			0.07M				0.10M	0.27M	0.13M	0.21M	0.40M	0.62M	0.15M	0.22M	0.24M	0.31M	0.39M	0.25M	0.40M	0.21M
2030	18.97M		0.18M	0.11M			0.07M				0.10M	0.26M	0.13M	0.21M	0.40M	0.62M	0.15M	0.22M	0.25M	0.31M	0.39M	0.25M	0.41M	0.21M
2031	19.09M		0.18M	0.11M			0.07M				0.10M	0.26M	0.13M	0.21M	0.40M	0.62M	0.15M	0.23M	0.25M	0.32M	0.38M	0.26M	0.41M	0.21M
2032	19.20M		0.18M	0.11M			0.07M				0.10M	0.26M	0.13M	0.20M	0.40M	0.62M	0.15M	0.23M	0.25M	0.32M	0.38M	0.26M	0.42M	0.21M
2033	19.32M		0.18M	0.11M			0.07M				0.10M	0.26M	0.13M	0.20M	0.40M	0.62M	0.15M	0.23M	0.26M	0.33M	0.38M	0.26M	0.42M	0.21M
2034	19.43M		0.18M	0.11M			0.07M				0.10M	0.26M	0.13M	0.20M	0.40M	0.62M	0.15M	0.24M	0.26M	0.33M	0.38M	0.26M	0.43M	0.21M
2035	19.55M		0.18M	0.11M			0.07M				0.10M	0.26M	0.13M	0.20M	0.40M	0.62M	0.15M	0.24M	0.26M	0.34M	0.38M	0.26M	0.43M	0.21M
2036	19.64M		0.18M	0.11M			0.07M				0.10M	0.25M	0.12M	0.19M	0.40M	0.61M	0.15M	0.24M	0.26M	0.34M	0.38M	0.27M	0.44M	0.21M
2037	19.74M		0.18M	0.11M			0.07M				0.10M	0.25M	0.12M	0.19M	0.40M	0.61M	0.15M	0.24M	0.27M	0.34M	0.38M	0.27M	0.44M	0.21M
2038	19.84M		0.18M	0.11M			0.07M				0.10M	0.25M	0.12M	0.19M	0.40M	0.61M	0.15M	0.25M	0.27M	0.34M	0.38M	0.27M	0.45M	0.21M
2039	19.94M		0.17M	0.11M			0.07M				0.10M	0.25M	0.11M	0.19M	0.39M	0.61M	0.15M	0.25M	0.27M	0.34M	0.38M	0.27M	0.45M	0.21M
2040	20.04M		0.17M	0.11M			0.07M				0.10M	0.25M	0.11M	0.19M	0.39M	0.61M	0.15M	0.25M	0.28M	0.35M	0.38M	0.28M	0.45M	0.21M
2041	20.09M		0.17M	0.11M			0.07M				0.10M	0.24M	0.11M	0.19M	0.39M	0.60M	0.15M	0.26M	0.28M	0.35M	0.38M	0.28M	0.46M	0.21M
2042	20.15M		0.17M	0.11M			0.07M				0.10M	0.24M	0.11M	0.18M	0.39M	0.60M	0.15M	0.26M	0.29M	0.35M	0.37M	0.28M	0.46M	0.21M
2043	20.20M		0.17M	0.11M			0.07M				0.09M	0.24M	0.11M	0.18M	0.39M	0.60M	0.15M	0.27M	0.29M	0.35M	0.37M	0.28M	0.46M	0.20M
2044	20.26M		0.17M	0.11M			0.07M				0.09M	0.24M	0.11M	0.18M	0.39M	0.59M	0.14M	0.27M	0.30M	0.35M	0.37M	0.28M	0.46M	0.20M
2045	20.31M		0.17M	0.11M			0.07M				0.09M	0.24M	0.11M	0.18M	0.39M	0.59M	0.14M	0.28M	0.30M	0.35M	0.37M	0.28M	0.46M	0.20M
2046	20.34M		0.17M	0.11M			0.07M				0.09M	0.24M	0.11M	0.17M	0.39M	0.59M	0.14M	0.28M	0.30M	0.35M	0.37M	0.28M	0.46M	0.20M
2047	20.37M		0.17M	0.11M			0.07M				0.09M	0.24M	0.11M	0.17M	0.38M	0.58M	0.14M	0.29M	0.31M	0.35M	0.37M	0.28M	0.47M	0.20M
2048	20.40M		0.16M	0.11M			0.07M				0.09M	0.23M	0.11M	0.17M	0.38M	0.58M	0.14M	0.29M	0.31M	0.36M	0.37M	0.28M	0.47M	0.20M
2049	20.43M		0.16M	0.11M			0.07M				0.09M	0.23M	0.11M	0.17M	0.38M	0.58M	0.14M	0.29M	0.31M	0.36M	0.36M	0.28M	0.47M	0.20M
2050	20.46M		0.16M	0.11M			0.07M				0.08M	0.23M	0.11M	0.17M	0.38M	0.57M	0.14M	0.29M	0.31M	0.36M	0.36M	0.28M	0.47M	0.20M

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Frequently asked questions

What is the largest city in Thailand?

Bangkok is the largest city in Thailand in the UN 2025 series, with about 18.18 million people. Chiang Mai follows at 0.63 million. These figures use the UN Degree of Urbanization definition, not municipal boundaries.

Which city is projected to be largest in Thailand in 2050?

The UN projects Bangkok to rank first in 2050, with about 20.46 million people. This is a projection, not an observed population count.

Was Bangkok also the largest city in 1975?

The 1975 ranking was led by Bangkok, with 3.65 million people. The table preserves every city that reached the top ten in any year shown, including cities outside the top ten today.

Where does this data come from?

UN DESA, World Urbanization Prospects: The 2025 Revision (File 21), city population, millions, 1975–2050 (projected after 2025). Retrieved November 5, 2026. Cities as defined by the Degree of Urbanization (contiguous dense areas), so figures differ from city-proper or metro counts. Blank cells indicate that the source supplies no city value for that year, not zero population. You can download the full table as a CSV from this page.

Can I turn this chart into a video?

Yes. Open it in the editor, change the title, theme, colors or format (9:16 for Reels and TikTok, 16:9 for YouTube), and export an MP4. Free exports are 720p with a small watermark; Pro ($11.99/month) removes it and adds 1080p, 4K and 60 fps.

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Thailand peaked at 71.74M in 2022. The UN medium scenario projects 45.56M in 2100, versus 71.7M in 2023.

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Thailand GDP reached $577B in 2025. Its rank was 39 in 1980 and 29 in 2025. Current US dollars, not real growth.

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Thailand: life expectancy

Thailand: 76.6 years in 2024. Life expectancy peaked at 77.6 years in 2021 in this 1990–2024 series.