History of Thailand in Timeline

Thailand, formerly known as Siam, is a Southeast Asian country bordering Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, and Malaysia. It has maritime boundaries with Vietnam, Indonesia, and India. Its capital and largest city is Bangkok. The country has a population of approximately 66 million people and covers an area of about 513,115 km2.

1905: Unsuccessful rebellions

In 1905, there were unsuccessful rebellions in the ancient Patani area, Ubon Ratchathani, and Phrae against attempts to blunt the power of local lords.

1909: First Census

In 1909, Thailand's first census found the population to be 8.2 million.

1910: Reign of Vajiravudh begins

In 1910, Vajiravudh began his reign and responded to the Palace Revolt by promoting the idea of the Thai nation.

1910: Reign of Chulalongkorn ends

In 1910, the reign of King Chulalongkorn ended.

1912: Palace Revolt

In 1912, the Palace Revolt was a failed attempt by Western-educated military officers to overthrow the Siamese monarchy.

1917: Siam joins World War I

In 1917, Siam joined the First World War on the side of the Allies.

1925: End of Vajiravudh's reign

Vajiravudh's reign ended in 1925.

June 1932: Bloodless Revolution

On June 24, 1932, the Khana Ratsadon (People's Party) carried out a bloodless revolution in Thailand, marking the beginning of constitutional monarchy.

1932: King intervenes

Following mass killings of protestors in October 1973, King Adulyadej installed Sanya Dharmasakti as Prime Minister, marking the first time that the king had intervened in Thai politics directly since 1932.

1932: Siamese Revolution

In 1932, the Siamese revolution led by the Khana Ratsadon transitioned Siam from an absolute monarchy to a parliamentary constitutional monarchy, and it was officially renamed Thailand.

1933: Counter-revolutionary rebellion

In 1933, Prime Minister Phraya Mano led a counter-revolutionary rebellion to reinstate an absolute monarchy under Prajadhipok, followed by a military coup.

1938: Plaek Phibunsongkhram becomes premier

In 1938, Plaek Phibunsongkhram became premier and launched a campaign of political repression.

June 1939: Name change to Thailand

On June 24th, 1939, Siam was officially changed to Thailand.

1939: Siam changed to Thailand

In 1939, Phibun changed the country's name from "Siam" to "Thailand" and imposed twelve Thai cultural mandates.

1939: Thailand formerly known as Siam

Prior to 1939, Thailand was known to outsiders as Siam.

October 1940: Invasion of French Indochinese territories

In October 1940, Phibun launched an opportunistic invasion of French Indochinese territories, resulting in Thailand gaining some Lao and Cambodian territories.

December 1941: Japanese invasion of Thailand

On December 8, 1941, the Japanese Empire launched an invasion of Thailand. On December 21st, Thailand and Japan signed a military alliance.

1945: End of World War II

After World War II ended in 1945, Phibun was ousted, and Thailand signed formal agreements to end the state of war with the Allies.

June 1946: Death of King Ananda

In June 1946, King Ananda was found dead under mysterious circumstances, and his younger brother Bhumibol Adulyadej ascended to the throne.

1946: Military and Bureaucratic Control

Between 1946 and the 1980s, military and bureaucratic aristocrats fully controlled political parties in Thailand.

1947: Phibun takes power

In 1947, Phibun launched another military coup to take power.

1954: Establishment of SEATO

In 1954, Thailand helped to establish the US-aligned Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO).

1955: Phibun begins to democratize Thai politics

Following a tour of Europe and the US in 1955, Phibun began to democratize Thai politics.

December 1956: Opening of Lumpinee Boxing Stadium

In December 1956, the Lumpinee Boxing Stadium first opened at Rama IV Road near Lumphini Park.

1957: Sarit Thanarat takes power

In 1957, Field Marshal Sarit Thanarat took power by coup.

1957: Ouster of Phibun

In 1957, the US supported the final ouster of Phibun.

1959: Autocratic rule of Sarit Thanarat

From 1959 to 1963, Sarit Thanarat's rule was autocratic.

1960: Population Growth Rate

In 1960, Thailand's population growth rate was 3.1%.

1961: Thailand militarily supports the US invasion of Vietnam

In 1961, Thailand militarily supported the United States invasion of Vietnam.

1962: Agricultural sector Growth

Between 1962 and 1983, the agricultural sector grew by 4.1% per year on average and continued to grow at 2.2% between 1983 and 2007.

1963: End of Sarit Thanarat's rule

In 1963, the rule of Sarit Thanarat ended.

1966: Thailand Wins Silver at Asian Games

In 1966, the Thailand national basketball team won the silver medal at the Asian Games, marking their most successful year.

1970: Average Household Size

In 1970, an average of 5.7 people lived in a Thai household.

1972: Thailand in AFC Asian Cup Semifinals

In 1972, the Thailand national football team reached the semifinals of the AFC Asian Cup, which was hosted in Thailand.

October 1973: Democratic uprising

In October 1973, a popular democratic uprising began against the Thanom government.

October 1976: Thammasat University massacre

In October 1976, the Thammasat University massacre occurred, followed by a military coup that brought Thailand a new ultra-right wing military government.

1976: Coup d'état

In 1976, a coup d'état occurred in Thailand.

1978: Amnesty for communist fighters

In 1978, a more moderate military government offered amnesty to some communist fighters.

1980: Agriculture Employment

In 1980, 70% of Thailand's labor force was employed in agriculture.

1980: Prem Tinsulanonda appointed Prime Minister

In 1980, Military figure Prem Tinsulanonda was appointed Prime Minister.

1981: Military coup attempt against Prem

In 1981, there was a foiled military coup attempt against Prem.

1983: End to the Communist insurgency

By 1983, there was a negotiated end to the Communist insurgency.

1985: Military coup attempt against Prem

In 1985, there was another foiled military coup attempt against Prem.

1988: First Freely-Elected Prime Minister Since 1976

In 1988, Thailand had its first freely-elected prime minister since the 1976 coup, with Chatichai Choonhavan assuming the role.

1989: Ban on Elephants for Logging

In 1989, the government of Thailand banned the use of elephants for logging, leading many elephant owners to move their domesticated animals to the tourism industry.

1990: Urban Population Statistics

In the 1990 census, 29.4% of Thailand's population lived in urban areas.

1991: National Government Organisation Act

In 1991, Thailand divided the administrative services of the executive branch into three levels by the National Government Organisation Act, BE 2534: central, provincial, and local.

March 1992: General Election and Popular Demonstration

In March 1992, a general election in Thailand led to Suchinda Kraprayoon being nominated as prime minister, triggering a popular demonstration in Bangkok that ended in a bloody military crackdown, an event known as Black May.

September 1992: Free Elections and Democrat Party Ascendancy

In September 1992, free elections were held once again in Thailand, bringing the neoliberal Democrat Party to power.

1992: Two-Party System

Between 1992 and 2006, Thailand had a two-party system.

September 1994: Mass Rapid Transit Master Plan Endorsement

On September 27, 1994, the Mass Rapid Transit Master Plan in Bangkok Metropolitan Region was endorsed by the cabinet.

1995: Education Reform Plans

In 1995, Sukavich Rangsitpollaid, as minister of education, announced plans for educational reform in Thailand.

1995: Mass Rapid Transit Implementation

In 1995, the Mass Rapid Transit Master Plan began implementation in Bangkok Metropolitan Region.

1997: Ethnic Community Data

Around 1997, Lao people numbered 15,080,000, Khon Muang numbered six million, and Pak Tai numbered 4.5 million.

1997: Central Thai Population

In 1997, approximately 20,650,000 Central Thai made up 34.1 per cent of the state's population of 60,544,937.

1997: Asian Financial Crisis

In 1997, the Thai government's attempt to peg the Thai baht to the US dollar induced the Asian financial crisis, ending 40 years of economic growth.

1997: "People's Constitution" Drafting

Throughout the 1990s, various neoliberal parties had a hand in drafting the 1997 "People's Constitution," which acknowledged human rights and established accountability measures.

1998: Thammasat Stadium Built for Asian Games

Thammasat Stadium in Bangkok was built for the 1998 Asian Games.

1999: International Degree Students Statistics

Between 1999 and 2012, the number of international degree students in Thailand increased by 9.7 times.

2000: Evidence of rice growing

Around 2000 BCE, the earliest evidence of rice growing in present-day Thailand has been dated.

2000: Urban Population Statistics

In the 2000 census, 31.1% of Thailand's population lived in urban areas.

2001: Thaksin Shinawatra's Governorship

From 2001 until 2006, Thaksin Shinawatra of the Thai Rak Thai party governed as prime minister in Thailand, implementing policies to reduce rural poverty and provide universal healthcare.

2001: Thaksin Shinawatra becomes Prime Minister

In 2001, Thaksin Shinawatra became the Prime Minister of Thailand, beginning a period of political conflict.

2002: Hospital Accreditation

In 2002, Bumrungrad became the first hospital in Asia to meet the Joint Commission International standard.

2003: Repayment of IMF Loan

In 2003, Thailand repaid the $17 billion International Monetary Fund loan taken out to cover a shortage of foreign currency and investments.

2003: Ong-Bak: Muay Thai Warrior Film Release

In 2003, the film "Ong-Bak: Muay Thai Warrior" starring Tony Jaa, was released.

Loading Video...

September 2004: Withdrawal from Iraq

In September 2004, Thailand withdrew its humanitarian contingent from Iraq, having joined the US-led invasion.

2004: South Thailand Insurgency and Indian Ocean Tsunami

In 2004, Thailand faced the escalating South Thailand insurgency and the Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami, which claimed around 8,000 lives in Thailand.

2004: Shutter Film Recognition

In 2004, the Thai horror movie "Shutter" was recognized worldwide.

Loading Video...

2005: Thailand Hosts International Rugby Tournament

In 2005, Thailand became the first country to host an international 80 welterweight rugby tournament.

2005: Controversies Surrounding Institutions

In 2005, the crisis surrounding Thaksin peaked with a series of controversies surrounding Buddhist and monarchic institutions.

2005: Tom-Yum-Goong Film Release

In 2005, the film "Tom-Yum-Goong", starring Tony Jaa, was released, featuring distinctive aspects of Thai martial arts.

Loading Video...

2006: Two-Party System Ends

Between 1992 and 2006, Thailand had a two-party system.

2006: End of Thaksin Shinawatra's Governorship

From 2001 until 2006, Thaksin Shinawatra of the Thai Rak Thai party governed as prime minister in Thailand. 2006 marked the end of his rule.

2006: Coup d'état and Dissolution of Thaksin's Party

In 2006, a coup d'état led by the army dissolved Thaksin's party and banned over a hundred of its executives from politics, installing a military government for one year.

2006: Coup d'état

In 2006, a coup d'état occurred in Thailand amid political conflict between supporters and opponents of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

2007: Thailand Co-hosts Asian Cup

In 2007, Thailand co-hosted the Asian Cup with Indonesia, Malaysia, and Vietnam.

2007: Election of Civilian Government

In 2007, a civilian government led by the Thaksin-aligned People's Power Party (PPP) was elected in Thailand.

2008: Cambodian-Thai border crisis

In 2008, the Cambodian-Thai border crisis began, involving territorial disputes and military clashes.

2008: Non-National Residents

In 2008, the number of non-national residents in Thailand was an estimated 2 million.

April 2009: Cambodian–Thai border crisis

In April 2009, the Cambodian–Thai border crisis escalated, leading to troop deployments near the Preah Vihear Hindu temple.

2009: Military Led Years

"Uniformed or ex-military men have led Thailand for 55 of the 83 years" between 1932 and 2009.

2009: Non-National Residents

As of 2009, the total number of non-national residents in Thailand was around 3.5 million.

2009: Pro-Thaksin Protests

In 2009, the pro-Thaksin United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) protested in Thailand.

2009: National Health Expenditures

In 2009, total national expenditures on health in Thailand amounted to 4.3 per cent of GDP.

2010: Population Composition

As of 2010, Thai people made up 95.9% of Thailand's population.

2010: Urban Population

As of 2010, about 44.2% of Thailand's population lived in urban areas.

2010: Violent Military Crackdown on Protests

In 2010, protests by the pro-Thaksin United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) ended with a violent military crackdown, causing more than 70 civilian deaths in Thailand.

2011: Ethnic Communities Recognition

According to the Royal Thai Government's 2011 Country Report, 62 ethnic communities are officially recognised in Thailand.

2011: Journal Publications Increase

Between 2011 and 2016, Thailand's journal publications increased by 20%.

2011: Thailand Country Report Publication

In 2011, Thailand published the Thailand Country Report providing population numbers for mountain peoples and ethnic communities.

2011: Cambodian-Thai border crisis

In 2011, the Cambodian-Thai border crisis continued, involving territorial disputes and military clashes.

2011: Chang Thailand Slammers Win Championship

In 2011, the Chang Thailand Slammers won the ASEAN Basketball League Championship.

2011: Entertainment Industries Contribution to GDP

In 2011, the entertainment industries directly contributed $2.1 billion in GDP to the Thai economy and directly supported 86,600 jobs.

2011: Pheu Thai Party Victory and Yingluck Shinawatra's Premiership

In 2011, the populist Pheu Thai Party won a majority in the general election, and Yingluck Shinawatra became prime minister of Thailand.

2012: Airport Statistics

As of 2012, Thailand had 103 airports with 63 paved runways, with Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport being the busiest.

2012: Thailand's pick-up trucks consumption

As of 2012, Thailand was the second largest consumer of pick-up trucks in the world, after the US, due to its favorable taxation.

2012: Automotive Industry Ranking

As of 2012, the Thai automotive industry was the largest in Southeast Asia and the 9th largest in the world.

2012: Informal Labour Vulnerabilities

In 2012, a study found that 64% of informal workers in Thailand had not completed education beyond primary school, increasing their vulnerability to exploitation and human trafficking. Many informal workers are migrants without legal status, and the sector is not recognized under the Labour Protection Act.

2012: Informal Workers

In 2012, it was estimated that informal workers comprised 62.6% of the Thai workforce.

2012: International Degree Students Statistics

In 2012, there were 20,309 international students.

2013: Thailand most visited country in Southeast Asia

In 2013, Thailand was the most visited country in Southeast Asia, according to the World Tourism Organisation.

2013: High-Speed Internet Access for Schools

In 2013, the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology announced that 27,231 schools would receive classroom-level access to high-speed internet.

February 2014: Lumpinee Boxing Stadium Hosts Final Matches at Original Site

On 8 February 2014, the Lumpinee Boxing Stadium hosted its final Muay Thai boxing matches at its original site on Rama IV Road near Lumphini Park.

2014: Highest Number of Lèse-majesté Prisoners

After the coup d'état in 2014, Thailand had the highest number of lèse-majesté prisoners in the nation's history.

2014: Military Coup

Between 2014 and 2019, the military junta self-titled as the National Council for Peace and Order ruled the country.

2014: Increased Chinese influence after 2014 coup

Following the 2014 coup, Thailand shifted closer to China, leading to concerns about economic dependence and influence.

2014: Electrical Generation Sources

In 2014, 75% of Thailand's electrical generation was powered by natural gas.

2014: Income Inequality Report

In 2014, Credit Suisse reported that Thailand was the world's third most unequal country, with the top 10% richest holding 79% of the country's assets.

2014: Coup d'état

In 2014, another coup d'état occurred in Thailand, ending the crisis that had followed the proposal of an amnesty bill.

2014: Pick-up trucks sales

In 2014, pick-up trucks accounted for 42% of all new vehicle sales in Thailand.

2014: Unemployment Rate

In the third quarter of 2014, the unemployment rate in Thailand stood at 0.84% according to Thailand's National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB).

September 2015: Military Strength Index Ranking

In September 2015, Thailand ranked 16th worldwide in the Military Strength Index according to a Credit Suisse report.

2015: Youth Literacy Rate

In 2015, Thailand's youth literacy rate was 98.1%.

October 2016: Reign of Vajiralongkorn

Since October 2016, Vajiralongkorn (Rama X) has reigned as the King of Thailand.

2016: Journal Publications Increase

Between 2011 and 2016, Thailand's journal publications increased by 20%.

2016: Poverty Statistics

In 2016, 5.81 million people lived in poverty in Thailand, or 11.6 million including the "near poor".

2016: Death of King Bhumibol and Ascension of Vajiralongkorn

In 2016, Bhumibol, the longest-reigning Thai king, died, and his son Vajiralongkorn ascended to the throne.

2016: Biocapacity Deficit

In 2016, Thailand had a biocapacity deficit, using twice as much biocapacity as it contained.

2016: Environmental Performance Index Ranking

In 2016, Thailand's Environmental Performance Index (EPI) ranking was 91 out of 180 countries.

2016: Wealth per Adult Person

In 2016, Thais had median wealth per adult person of $1,469, increasing from $605 in 2010.

2017: Highway Statistics

As of 2017, Thailand has over 462,133 roads and 37 million registered vehicles, with 20 million motorbikes.

2017: Thailand operates under the 2017 Constitution

In 2017, Thailand began operating under its current constitution.

2017: Thailand GDP

In 2017, Thailand's GDP was US$1.236 trillion on a purchasing power parity basis, making it the second largest economy in Southeast Asia.

2017: Median Household Income

In 2017, Thailand's median household income was ฿26,946 per month, with income disparity between top and bottom quintiles.

2017: Thai Dishes on "World's 50 Best Foods"

In 2017, seven Thai dishes were listed on CNN Travel's "World's 50 Best Foods": tom yam goong, pad Thai, som tam, massaman curry, green curry, Thai fried rice, and nam tok mu. Also mango sticky rice and tub tim krob were mentioned as desserts.

2017: Economic Growth

In 2017, the Thai economy grew by 3.9%, marking its fastest expansion since 2012.

2017: Bad Genius Film Success

In 2017, the Thai heist thriller film "Bad Genius" achieved international success, winning awards and earning over $42 million worldwide.

Loading Video...

2017: Current Constitution

Thailand's latest and current constitution was established in 2017.

December 2018: Legalisation of Medical Cannabis

In December 2018, Thailand legalised the use of cannabis for medical reasons, making it the first Southeast Asian country to do so.

2018: Religious Demographics

According to the 2018 National Statistical Office data, 93.46% of Thailand's population self-identified as Buddhists.

2018: Taxi Registrations

As of 2018, Thailand had over 80,647 registered taxis nationwide.

2018: Alternative Energy Development Plan

In 2018, the Thai government developed the Alternative Energy Development Plan 2018–2037 (AEDP 2018).

2018: Medical Tourism Ranking

Thailand ranks as the worlds fifth largest medical tourism destination in spending, attracting over 2.5 million visitors in 2018, and is number one in Asia.

2019: End of military rule

Between 2014 and 2019, the military junta self-titled as the National Council for Peace and Order ruled the country. Its rule ended in 2019.

2019: Research and Development Investment

In 2019, Thailand devoted 1.1% of its GDP to research and development of science, with over 166,788 research and development personnel.

2019: Forest Landscape Integrity Index Score

In 2019, Thailand had a Forest Landscape Integrity Index mean score of 6.00/10, ranking it 88th globally out of 172 countries.

2019: Thai general election

In 2019, Thailand held a general election which led to a coalition government.

2019: General Election and Pro-Democracy Protests

In 2019, Thailand held a general election, and Prayut Chan-o-cha continued his premiership amid allegations of election fraud, triggering pro-democracy protests.

2019: Global Health Security Index Ranking

In 2019, Thailand ranked sixth in the world and first in Asia in the Global Health Security Index.

2019: Tourism Statistics

In 2019, Thailand received 39.8 million international tourists and was the fourth highest in international tourism earning 60.5 billion US dollars.

2019: End of National Council for Peace and Order Rule

In 2019, the National Council for Peace and Order, a military junta, ended its rule in Thailand.

March 2020: Amnesty International Report on Military Conscripts

In March 2020, Amnesty International released a report alleging that Thai military conscripts face institutionalized abuse systematically hushed up by military authorities.

2020: English Proficiency Ranking

As of 2020, Thailand was ranked 89th out of 100 countries globally for English proficiency.

2020: Dissolution of Future Forward Party

In 2020, the Future Forward party was dissolved, an example of how an "alliance of conservative forces in Thailand—including monarchists, the army and a handful of business tycoons—has sought to suppress opposition".

2022: Export and Import

In 2022, Thailand's export of goods was worth approximately US$290 billion, while its import was worth approximately US$305 billion.

2022: Oil and Gas Production Decrease

In 2022, Thailand's oil and gas production dropped by 19% and 17%, respectively.

2022: Average Household Size

In 2022, the average Thai household size was 3 people.

May 2023: Opposition Victory in General Election

In May 2023, Thailand's reformist opposition, including the Move Forward Party and Pheu Thai Party, won the general election, ending 9 years of royalist-military rule.

August 2023: Srettha Thavisin Becomes Prime Minister and Thaksin's Return

On 22 August 2023, Srettha Thavisin of the Pheu Thai party became Thailand's new prime minister, and Thaksin Shinawatra returned to Thailand after years in self-imposed exile.

2023: Thailand's Stance on Israel-Gaza War

In 2023, during the Israel-Gaza war, Thailand initially condemned the attack against Israel but later adopted a neutral stance. 28 Thai nationals were killed in this conflict.

2023: Victors of the 2023 Elections

On August 7, 2024, Thailand's Constitutional Court banned the victors of the 2023 parliamentary elections, the Move Forward Party and all of its leaders from politics for proposing lèse-majesté law reforms.

August 7, 2024: Move Forward Party Banned

On August 7, 2024, Thailand's Constitutional Court banned the Move Forward Party and its leaders from politics for proposing lèse-majesté law reforms.

August 2024: Srettha Thavisin's Dismissal as Prime Minister

On 14 August 2024, Srettha Thavisin was dismissed from his prime ministerial role by the Constitutional Court for "gross ethics violations" in Thailand.

2024: Economic Challenges

As of 2024, Thailand faces challenges including low productivity, poor education, high household debt, low private investment, and slow economic growth.

2024: Global Innovation Index Ranking

In 2024, Thailand ranked 41st in the Global Innovation Index.

2024: Fertility Rate Decline

In 2024, Thailand's total fertility rate declined to 1.0, ranking it among countries with ultra-low fertility rates.

2024: Improved Status on Freedom House Index

In the Freedom in the World 2024 Report, Thailand's status improved from not free to partly free due to competitive parliamentary elections and the formation of a new governing coalition, though unelected senators ensured that the party with the most votes was excluded.

Jan 2025: Population Statistics

On January 8, 2025, Thailand had a population of 65.95 million.

September 2025: Arrest Order for Thaksin

In September 2025, the Constitutional Court ordered the arrest of Thaksin in Thailand.

2025: State Railway of Thailand Track Length

As of 2025, the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) had 4,507 km of meter gauge track, mostly single-track, with some double or triple-tracked sections around Bangkok.