What is the capital of Thailand?
Bangkok sits in the delta of the Chao Phraya river on Thailand's central plain, about 25 kilometres from the Gulf of Thailand.
Bangkok is the capital and seat of government of Thailand, a role it has held since 1782. Thailand itself has an estimated population of 71,619,863 (2025).
Bangkok is also the largest city in Thailand, which is the usual arrangement, though it is far from universal: see the countries where capital and largest city differ.
Bangkok at a glance
| City population | 9,100,000 (2024 estimate) |
|---|---|
| Metropolitan area | 17,400,000 (2024, Bangkok Metropolitan Region) |
| Country | 🇹🇭 Thailand |
| Capital since | 1782 |
| Largest city in Thailand | Bangkok |
| Time zone | UTC+07:00 (ICT) |
| Currency | Thai baht (THB) |
About Bangkok
Bangkok has been the capital of Thailand since 1782, when King Rama I founded it as the capital of the Rattanakosin (Chakri) kingdom, moving the seat of government from Thonburi across the river.
Ayutthaya was the capital of Siam until its destruction in 1767, followed briefly by Thonburi, before Bangkok was founded as the capital in 1782.
Bangkok is an extreme primate city, dwarfing every other city in Thailand.
Its full ceremonial name is listed by Guinness World Records as the longest place name in the world, at 168 letters.
City facts sourced from Wikipedia: Bangkok.
Frequently asked questions
What is the capital of Thailand?
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Capitals of neighbouring countries
See the full profile of Thailand on its country page, or browse every capital city.
Capital and country data from open datasets; city and metropolitan populations are hand-curated per city and cited where they are shown. Populations of countries come from the World Bank (SP.POP.TOTL). Full sources and vintage on the data page. Last updated . Report a correction.