Chiang Mai: population and official figures
In depth
- Government budget and revenue in Chiang Mai: Chiang Mai City Municipality received total revenue of 1,786.6 million baht in fiscal year 2024 (B.E. 2567), 3rd highest of 77 cities in this comparison.
What is the population of Chiang Mai municipality?
Chiang Mai City Municipality (the local authority of the provincial capital town, not the whole province) had 113,308 registered residents on 30 September 2023, 5th highest of 77 cities in this comparison; this counts people registered in the municipality, not in the whole of Chiang Mai province.
Source: Department of Local Administration, Ministry of Interior (Thailand) · saved copyHow big is Chiang Mai municipality?
Chiang Mai City Municipality covers 40.2 square kilometres, 9th highest of 77 cities in this comparison.
Source: Department of Local Administration, Ministry of Interior (Thailand) · saved copyWhat is the population density of Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai City Municipality had 2,817 registered residents per square kilometre in 2023, 30th highest of 77 cities in this comparison; across all 2,472 municipalities in Thailand the figure was 224.
Source: Department of Local Administration, Ministry of Interior (Thailand) · saved copyHow many staff work for Chiang Mai municipality?
Chiang Mai City Municipality employed 1,234 administrative staff in August 2025 (368 civil servants, 14 permanent employees and 852 contract employees), or 10.9 per 1,000 registered residents, 27th lowest of 74 cities in this comparison.
Source: Department of Local Administration, Ministry of Interior (Thailand) · saved copyHow many schools does Chiang Mai municipality run?
Chiang Mai City Municipality ran 11 schools in the Department of Local Administration's list of local authority schools (updated May 2026), or 0.97 per 10,000 registered residents.
Source: Department of Local Administration, Ministry of Interior (Thailand) · saved copyHow many nurseries and child development centres are there in Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai City Municipality ran 1 child development centre for young children in the Department of Local Administration's list (updated May 2026), or 0.09 per 10,000 registered residents.
Source: Department of Local Administration, Ministry of Interior (Thailand) · saved copyHow many teachers does Chiang Mai municipality employ?
Chiang Mai City Municipality employed 233 teachers on its payroll in August 2025, plus 4 permanent education staff and 34 teaching assistants and child carers.
Source: Department of Local Administration, Ministry of Interior (Thailand) · saved copyNotes from the UN table: Data refer to national projections. Data refer to national projections. Data refer to national projections.
The UN marks this figure as an estimate of lower reliability.
Who runs Chiang Mai?
In Thailand, cities and towns are run by municipalities: Mayor or chief executive and council directly elected. Local services: water, waste, local roads, pre-schools, markets.
How local power works in Thailand
Cities of a similar size in Thailand
- Bangkok 8,461,345
- Nakhon Ratchasima 2,461,254
- Samut Prakan 2,262,278
- Chon Buri 1,824,071
- Nonthaburi 1,725,629
- Ubon Ratchathani 1,719,221
- Khon Kaen 1,692,843
- Pathum Thani 1,680,668
- Songkhla 1,646,206
- Nakhon Si Thammarat 1,503,812
- Udon Thani 1,231,639
- Buri Ram 1,173,102
- Nakhon Pathom 1,100,930
- Chiang Rai 1,092,206
- Surat Thani 1,069,023
- Roi Et 1,031,392
Up a level: all cities in Thailand · Thailand · government and power
Sources
- Department of Local Administration, Ministry of Interior (Thailand): List of child development centres run by local administrative organisations (updated May 2026), read 28 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 a09323d03131…)
- Department of Local Administration, Ministry of Interior (Thailand): Local government revenue 2567 (fiscal year 2024) by local authority, with area and population at 30 September 2023, read 28 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 86ad7681d2de…)
- Department of Local Administration, Ministry of Interior (Thailand): Local government revenue 2566 (fiscal year 2023) by local authority, read 28 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 ece639b10eb2…)
- Department of Local Administration, Ministry of Interior (Thailand): List of schools run by local administrative organisations (updated May 2026), read 28 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 400d614c146e…)
- Department of Local Administration, Ministry of Interior (Thailand): Staff of local administrative organisations 2568 (data at 7 August 2025), read 28 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 9f60215259d9…)
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