List of prime ministers of Thailand

The prime minister of Thailand (Thai: นายกรัฐมนตรี; RTGS: Nayok Ratthamontri; IPA: [naː.jók rát.tʰà.mon.triː], 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.

• 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 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 post of prime minister had existed in some forms throughout the history of Thailand, the most known form was the samuhanayok post. The position of samuhanayok emerged during the Ayutthaya Kingdom as part of the centralization of government.

The current prime minister is Paetongtarn Shinawatra, leader of the Pheu Thai Party, who assumed the office on 16 August 2024. A member of the Shinawatra political family, she is the youngest person and the second woman to hold the office.^[1]

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 (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)

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[a]	Prajadhipok r. 1925–1935 (Rama VII)
						—			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 r. 1935–1946 (Rama VIII)
						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		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		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 r. 1946–2016 (Rama IX)
						—			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
—		Phin Choonhavan ผิน ชุณหะวัณ (1891–1973)	8 November 1947	10 November 1947	2 days	—		Military	National Military Council[b]
(4)		Khuang Aphaiwong ควง อภัยวงศ์ (1902–1968)	10 November 1947	8 April 1948	150 days	—		Democrat	Khuang III
						1948			Khuang IV
(3)		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[c]
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[d]
						—			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)	Executive Council[e]
						—			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	Administrative Reform Council[f]
14		Thanin Kraivichien ธานินทร์ กรัยวิเชียร (1927–2025)	8 October 1976	20 October 1977	1 year, 12 days	—		Independent	Thanin
—		Sangad Chaloryu สงัด ชลออยู่ (1915–1980)	20 October 1977	11 November 1977	22 days	—		Military	Revolutionary Council[c]
15		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)	23 February 1991	2 March 1991	7 days	—		Military	National Peace Keeping Council[g]
18		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		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		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
—		Sonthi Boonyaratglin สนธิ บุญยรัตกลิน (born 1946)	19 September 2006	1 October 2006	12 days	—		Military	Council for Democratic Reform[h]
24		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
26		Somchai Wongsawat[i] สมชาย วงศ์สวัสดิ์ (born 1947)	9 September 2008	2 December 2008	84 days	—		People's Power
									Somchai
—		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		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[j]
						—			Prayut I
								Independent[k] (2014–2023)
										Vajiralongkorn r. 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	37 days	—		Palang Pracharath
30		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	272 days	—		Pheu Thai	Paetongtarn

Timeline

See also

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

Notes

1. As President of the People's Committee until 10 December 1932.
2. As Head of the National Military Council.
3. As Head of the Revolutionary Council.
4. As Head of the Revolutionary Council until 9 February 1959.
5. As Chairman of the Executive Council between 17 November 1971 and 18 December 1972.
6. As Head of the National Administrative Reform Council.
7. As Head of the National Peace Keeping Council.
8. As Head of the Council for Democratic Reform.
9. Acting Prime Minister until 18 September 2008.
10. As Leader of the National Council for Peace and Order until 24 August 2014.
11. Close to the Palang Pracharath Party from 2019 until 2022.