History of Thailand in Timeline

Thailand, also known as Siam, is a Southeast Asian country located on the Indochinese Peninsula. It shares borders with Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, and Malaysia, and maritime borders with Vietnam, Indonesia, and India. Its capital and largest city is Bangkok. The country has a population of approximately 66 million and spans 513,115 square kilometers.

1905: Unsuccessful Rebellions

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

1909: Thailand First Census

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

1910: Reign of Vajiravudh

In 1910, Vajiravudh began his reign and promoted the idea of the Thai nation.

1910: Reign of Chulalongkorn ends

In 1910, the reign of Chulalongkorn (Rama V) ended, during which the Siamese system of government was centralised and transformed into a modern unitary absolute monarchy.

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 Reign of Vajiravudh

In 1925, the reign of Vajiravudh ended.

June 1932: Bloodless Revolution

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

1932: Constitutional Monarchy Established

In 1932, Siam became a constitutional monarchy following a bloodless revolution and changed its official name to Thailand.

1932: Bloodless Revolution

In 1932, a bloodless revolution forced Prajadhipok to grant the country's first constitution, ending centuries of feudal and absolute monarchy.

1932: King Intervenes in Thai Politics

In 1973, Bhumibol installed Sanya Dharmasakti to replace Thanom Kittikachorn, marking the first time that the king had intervened in Thai politics directly since 1932.

1932: First Constitution

Since 1932, Thailand has had 20 constitutions and charters, marking the shift from absolute monarchy to constitutional monarchy.

1933: Counter-Revolutionary Rebellion

In 1933, a counter-revolutionary rebellion took place to reinstate absolute monarchy but failed, leading to Prajadhipok's abdication.

1938: Plaek Phibunsongkhram Becomes Premier

In 1938, Plaek Phibunsongkhram became premier and started political oppression, taking an openly anti-royalist stance.

June 1939: Name Change to Thailand

On June 24, 1939, Siam's name was changed to Thailand.

1939: Siam Known as Thailand

Before 1939, Thailand was known by outsiders as Siam.

1939: Name Change

In 1939, the official name of the country was changed from Siam to Thailand.

December 1941: Japanese Invasion

On December 8, 1941, the Empire of Japan launched an invasion of Thailand, leading to fighting and eventually a military alliance.

1941: Conflict with Vichy France

In 1941, Thailand was in a brief conflict with Vichy France, resulting in Thailand gaining some Lao and Cambodian territories.

1945: End of World War II

In 1945, after the war ended, Thailand signed formal agreements to end the state of war with the Allies.

June 1946: King Ananda Found Dead

In June 1946, King Ananda was found dead under mysterious circumstances, and 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.

1954: Thailand Joins SEATO

In 1954, Thailand joined the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO) to become an active ally of the United States.

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's Coup

In 1957, Field Marshal Sarit Thanarat launched a coup, removing Khana Ratsadon from politics.

1959: Sarit Thanarat's Premiership

In 1959, Sarit Thanarat began his autocratic rule as premier.

1960: Population Growth at 3.1%

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

1961: Secret Agreement with the U.S.

In 1961, after the United States joined the Vietnam War, there was a secret agreement wherein the U.S. promised to protect Thailand.

1962: Agricultural Sector Growth

Between 1962 and 1983, the agricultural sector grew by 4.1% per year on average.

1963: Thanom Kittikachorn's Premiership

In 1963, Thanom Kittikachorn began his premiership.

1963: End of Sarit Thanarat's Premiership

In 1963, the premiership of Sarit Thanarat ended.

1966: Thailand at the Asian Games

In 1966, the Thailand national basketball team had its most successful year at the Asian Games, winning the silver medal.

1970: Average Household Size at 5.7 People

In 1970, the average Thai household size was 5.7 people.

October 1971: Demonstration Against Dictatorship

In October 1971, there was a large demonstration against the dictatorship of Thanom Kittikachorn, leading to civilian casualties.

1972: Thailand national football team in AFC Asian Cup semifinals

In 1972, the Thailand national football team reached the semifinals of the AFC Asian Cup.

1973: Bhumibol Installs Sanya Dharmasakti

In 1973, Bhumibol installed Sanya Dharmasakti to replace Thanom Kittikachorn, marking the first time that the king had intervened in Thai politics directly since 1932.

1975: End of Sanya Dharmasakti's Premiership

In 1975, the premiership of Sanya Dharmasakti ended.

October 1976: Thammasat University Massacre

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

1976: Last Elected Prime Minister

In 1988 Thailand had its first elected prime minister since 1976.

1977: SEATO Disbanded

In 1977, the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO), of which Thailand was a member, was disbanded.

1978: Amnesty to Communist Fighters

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

1980: Employment in Agriculture

In 1980, 70% of Thailand's labour force was employed in agriculture, which decreased to 49% over time.

1980: Prem Tinsulanonda Becomes Prime Minister

In 1980, Prem Tinsulanonda became the Prime Minister, serving until 1988.

1981: Failed Coup Attempt

In 1981, one of two coup attempts against Prem Tinsulanonda failed.

1983: Agricultural Sector Growth

Between 1983 and 2007, the agricultural sector grew by 2.2% per year on average.

1983: End of Communist Insurgency

By 1983, the communists abandoned the insurgency.

1985: Failed Coup Attempt Against Prem

In 1985, another coup attempt against Prem Tinsulanonda failed.

1988: First Elected Prime Minister

In 1988, Thailand had its first elected prime minister since 1976.

1988: Growth of Factory Workers

It is estimated that between 1988 and 1995, the number of factory workers in the country doubled from two to four million.

1989: Ban on Elephants for Logging

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

1990: Thailand Urban Population

About 29.4% of Thailand's population lived in urban areas as of the 1990 census.

1991: Suchinda Kraprayoon's Coup

In 1991, Suchinda Kraprayoon led a coup.

1991: National Government Organisation Act

In 1991, Thailand's administrative services were divided into three levels by the National Government Organisation Act, BE 2534.

1992: Two-Party System

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

1992: Bloody Military Crackdown

In 1992, popular demonstrations in Bangkok ended with a bloody military crackdown after Suchinda was nominated as prime minister.

1993: Labor Force Shift

Between 1993 and 1995, ten per cent of the Thai labour force moved from the agricultural sector to urban and industrial jobs.

September 1994: Endorsement of Mass Rapid Transit Master Plan

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

1995: Labor Force Shift

Between 1993 and 1995, ten per cent of the Thai labour force moved from the agricultural sector to urban and industrial jobs.

1995: Sukavich Rangsitpollaid's educational reform plans

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

1995: Implementation of Mass Rapid Transit Master Plan

In 1995, the Mass Rapid Transit Master Plan in Bangkok Metropolitan Region was implemented after endorsement by the cabinet in September 1994.

1997: Ethnic communities population

Around 1997, over 3.288 million people in the Northeast alone could not be categorised.

1997: Asian Financial Crisis

In 1997, the Asian financial crisis originated in Thailand, ending the country's 40 years of uninterrupted economic growth.

1997: Mahidol University Ethnolinguistic Maps of Thailand data completion

In 1997, the Mahidol University Ethnolinguistic Maps of Thailand data was completed.

1998: Asian Games at Thammasat Stadium

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

1998: Asian Financial Crisis Impact

Thailand's recovery from the 1997–1998 Asian financial crisis depended mainly on exports.

1999: Number of international degree students

In 1999, the number of international degree students in Thailand was 1,882.

2000: Thailand Urban Population

About 31.1% of Thailand's population lived in urban areas as of the 2000 census.

2000: Early Rice Growing

The earliest evidence of rice growing in present-day Thailand is dated at 2,000 BCE.

2001: Thaksin Shinawatra's Government

From 2001, the Thai Rak Thai party, led by prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, governed.

2002: Bumrungrad accredited

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

2003: Release of Ong-Bak: Muay Thai Warrior

In 2003, Ong-Bak: Muay Thai Warrior was released, featuring Thai martial arts.

2003: Economic Impact of Prostitution

One estimate published in 2003 placed the trade at US$4.3 billion per year or about 3% of the Thai economy.

September 2004: Humanitarian Contingent in Iraq

Until September 2004, Thailand joined the US-led invasion of Iraq, sending a humanitarian contingent.

2004: Escalation of South Thailand Insurgency

From 2004, Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra faced criticism over his response to a South Thailand insurgency which escalated.

2004: Indian Ocean Tsunami

In 2004, the Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami hit Thailand, claiming around 5,400 lives, mostly in the south.

2004: Release of Shutter

In 2004, the Thai horror movie Shutter was released and became well-known worldwide.

2005: Thailand hosts rugby tournament

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

2005: Defense Budget

In 2005, Thailand's annual defence budget was US$1.98 billion.

2005: Release of Tom-Yum-Goong

In 2005, Tom-Yum-Goong, starring Tony Jaa, was released.

2006: Thailand Corporate Revenue Distribution

Bank of Thailand reported that during 2006–16, Thailand's top 5% largest companies had 85% of all corporate revenue in the nation.

2006: End of Two-Party System

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

2006: Coup d'état

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

2006: End of Thaksin Shinawatra's Government

Until 2006, the Thai Rak Thai party, led by prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, governed.

2007: Agricultural Sector Growth

Between 1983 and 2007, the agricultural sector grew by 2.2% per year on average.

2007: Thailand hosted the Asian Cup

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

2007: Civilian Government Elected

In 2007, a civilian government led by the Thaksin-allied People's Power Party (PPP) was elected in Thailand following a period of political instability.

2008: Estimated 2 million non-national residents

In 2008, the estimated number of non-national residents was around 2 million.

April 2009: Cambodian-Thai Border Dispute

In April 2009, the Cambodian-Thai border dispute brought troops on territory immediately adjacent to the 900-year-old ruins of Cambodia's Preah Vihear Hindu temple.

2009: Non-national residents at around 3.5 million

As of 2009, the total number of non-national residents in Thailand had risen to approximately 3.5 million.

2009: Military Influence in Leadership

From 1932 to 2009, uniformed or ex-military men have led Thailand for 55 of the 83 years.

2009: Protests by UDD

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

2009: National expenditures on health

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

2010: Thailand Urban Population

About 44.2% of Thailand's population lived in urban areas as of 2010.

2010: Thai Population at 95.9%

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

2010: Violent Military Crackdown

In 2010, a UDD protest ended with a violent military crackdown in Thailand, resulting in more than 70 civilian deaths.

2010: Medical Tourism

In 2010–2012, more than 90% of medical tourists travelled to Thailand for Sex Reassignment Surgery (SRS).

2011: Country Report to the UN Committee

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

2011: Journal publications increased

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

2011: Chang Thailand Slammers win championship

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

2011: Pheu Thai Party Wins Election

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

2011: Entertainment industries contribution

In 2011, the entertainment industries directly contributed $2.1 billion in GDP to the Thai economy.

2011: 2011 Thailand Country Report

The 2011 Thailand Country Report provides population numbers for mountain peoples and ethnic communities in the Northeast.

2012: Informal Worker Education

A 2012 study found that 64% of informal workers in Thailand had not completed education beyond primary school.

2012: Thailand Airports

As of 2012, Thailand had 103 airports with 63 paved runways, in addition to 6 heliports.

2012: Thailand Consumer of Pick-up Trucks

As of 2012, Thailand was the second largest consumer of pick-up trucks in the world, after the US.

2012: Thailand Automotive Industry

As of 2012, the Thai automotive industry was the largest in Southeast Asia and the 9th largest in the world, producing nearly 1.5 million vehicles annually.

2012: Increased number of international degree students

By 2012, the number of international degree students in Thailand increased to 20,309 students.

2012: Medical Tourism

In 2010–2012, more than 90% of medical tourists travelled to Thailand for Sex Reassignment Surgery (SRS).

2012: Informal Workers in the Thai Workforce

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

2012: Thai Economy Expansion

Thailand's economy experienced its fastest expansion since 2012 in 2017.

2013: Thai Political Crisis Income Survey

During the 2013–2014 Thai political crisis, a survey found that anti-government PDRC mostly (32%) had a monthly income of more than ฿50,000, while pro-government UDD mostly (27%) had between ฿10,000 and ฿20,000.

2013: School access to high-speed internet

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

2013: Most Visited Country in Southeast Asia

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

February 2014: Final Muay Thai matches at Lumpinee Boxing Stadium

In February 2014, the Lumpinee Boxing Stadium hosted its final Muay Thai boxing matches at its original location.

2014: Shift Towards China

After the 2014 coup, Thailand leaned more towards China, leading to concerns about economic dependence.

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 Junta

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

2014: Thai Political Crisis Income Survey

2014: Thailand Electrical Generation Sources

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

2014: Thailand Wealth Inequality

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, Thailand experienced a coup d'état, leading to political instability and subsequent pro-democracy protests.

2014: Thailand Unemployment Rate

In 2014, Thailand's unemployment rate was reported to be 0.84% according to the National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB).

2014: Thailand Pick-Up Trucks Sales

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

September 2015: Military Strength Index Ranking

In September 2015, Thailand ranked 16th worldwide in the Military Strength Index based on the Credit Suisse report.

2015: Youth Literacy Rate at 98.1%

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

October 2016: Vajiralongkorn Becomes King

In October 2016, Vajiralongkorn (Rama X) became the King of Thailand.

2016: Journal publications increased

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

2016: Poverty and Homelessness

In 2016, 5.81 million people in Thailand lived in poverty. There were an estimated 30,000 homeless persons in the country.

2016: Death of King Bhumibol

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 of 1.2 global hectares per person but used 2.5 global hectares, resulting in a deficit.

2016: Environmental Performance Index Ranking

In 2016, Thailand ranked 91 out of 180 countries in the global Environmental Performance Index (EPI).

2016: Increased Defense Budget

In 2016, Thailand's annual defence budget almost tripled to US$5.88 billion, accounting for approximately 1.4% of GDP.

2016: Thai Economy Growth

In 2016, the Thai economy grew 3.3% before an inflation-adjusted expansion to 3.9% in 2017.

2016: Thailand Median Wealth and HDI Ranking

In 2016, the median wealth per adult in Thailand was $1,469, and the country was ranked 87th in the Human Development Index (HDI).

2017: Thailand Roads and Vehicles

As of 2017, Thailand had over 462,133 roads and 37 million registered vehicles.

2017: Social Welfare Applications

In 2017, 14 million people in Thailand applied for social welfare, requiring a yearly income of less than ฿100,000.

2017: Thailand Household Income Disparity

In 2017, Thailand's median household income was ฿26,946 per month, with the top quintile holding 45.0% of all income.

2017: Thai dishes on World's 50 Best Foods list

In 2017, seven Thai dishes were included on CNN Travel's "World's 50 Best Foods" list.

2017: Thai Economy Growth

In 2017, the Thai economy experienced growth of 3.9% when adjusted for inflation, which was an increase from 3.3% in 2016 and marked the fastest expansion since 2012.

2017: Release of Bad Genius

In 2017, the Thai heist thriller film Bad Genius was released and became internationally successful.

2017: GDP

Thailand had a 2017 GDP of US$1.236 trillion (on a purchasing power parity basis).

2017: Current Constitution

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

December 2018: Medical cannabis legalisation

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

2018: Buddhists represent 93.46% of the population

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

2018: Thailand Taxis

As of 2018, there were over 80,647 registered taxis nationwide.

2018: Muslims constitute the second largest religious group

In 2018, Muslims were the second largest religious group in Thailand, comprising 5.37% of the population.

2018: Alternative Energy Development Plan

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

2018: Medical Tourism Destination

Thailand ranks as the world's fifth largest medical tourism destination in spending and attracted over 2.5 million visitors in 2018.

2019: R&D Spending

According to the National Research Council of Thailand, the country devoted 1.1% of its GDP to the research and development of science in 2019.

2019: Forest Landscape Integrity Index

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

2019: Global Health Security Index rank

In 2019, Thailand ranked sixth in the world on the Global Health Security Index.

2019: Thailand International Tourist Arrivals

In 2019, Thailand received 39.8 million international tourists and earned 60.5 billion US dollars from international tourism.

2019: General Election Held

In 2019, a general election was held in Thailand, and Prayut Chan-o-cha continued his premiership amid allegations of election fraud.

2019: Nominally Democratic Government

In 2019, a nominally democratic government was established after the Thai general election.

2019: End of Military Junta Rule

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

March 2020: Amnesty International Report on Conscripts

In March 2020, Amnesty International reported that Thai military conscripts face institutionalised abuse systematically hushed up by military authorities.

2020: Thailand ranked 89th in English proficiency

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

2020: Pro-Democracy Protests

In 2020, large pro-democracy protests began, including unprecedented demands to reform the monarchy.

2020: Dissolution of Future Forward Party

In 2020, the Future Forward Party was dissolved.

2021: Continued Pro-Democracy Protests

In 2021, the large pro-democracy protests that started in 2020 continued.

2022: Thailand Trade Value

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

2022: Thailand Oil and Gas Production Drop

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

2022: Average Household Size at 3 People

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

May 2023: Opposition Wins General Election

In May 2023, Thailand's reformist opposition, including the Move Forward Party and Pheu Thai Party, won the general election.

August 2023: Srettha Thavisin Becomes Prime Minister

On August 22, 2023, Srettha Thavisin of the Pheu Thai party became Thailand's new prime minister.

2023: Thailand Population Estimate

As of 2023, Thailand had an estimated population of 71.7 million.

2023: Parliamentary Elections

In 2023, Thailand held parliamentary elections.

2023: Neutral Stance on Israel-Hamas Conflict

In 2023, Thailand initially condemned the attack against Israel but later adopted a neutral stance in the Israel-Hamas military conflict, where 28 Thai nationals were killed.

2023: Thai Household Debt

In the first quarter of 2023, Thai household debts totaled 14.6 trillion baht, which was 89.2% of GDP.

August 7, 2024: Move Forward Party Banned from Politics

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

August 2024: Srettha Thavisin Dismissed From Prime Ministerial Role

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

2024: SRT Track Length

As of 2024, State Railway of Thailand (SRT) had 4,507 km of track, all of it meter gauge.

2024: Thailand Economic Challenges

As of 2024, Thailand is facing challenges such as low productivity, poor education, high household debt, low private investment, and slow economic growth.