Chiang Rai: population and official figures
In depth
- Government budget and revenue in Chiang Rai: Chiang Rai City Municipality received total revenue of 1,144.4 million baht in fiscal year 2024 (B.E. 2567), 10th highest of 77 cities in this comparison.
What is the population of Chiang Rai municipality?
Chiang Rai City Municipality (the local authority of the provincial capital town, not the whole province) had 75,948 registered residents on 30 September 2023, 9th highest of 77 cities in this comparison; this counts people registered in the municipality, not in the whole of Chiang Rai province.
Source: Department of Local Administration, Ministry of Interior (Thailand) · saved copyHow big is Chiang Rai municipality?
Chiang Rai City Municipality covers 60.9 square kilometres, 5th highest of 77 cities in this comparison.
Source: Department of Local Administration, Ministry of Interior (Thailand) · saved copyWhat is the population density of Chiang Rai?
Chiang Rai City Municipality had 1,248 registered residents per square kilometre in 2023, 14th lowest 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 Rai municipality?
Chiang Rai City Municipality employed 838 administrative staff in August 2025 (189 civil servants, 2 permanent employees and 647 contract employees), or 11.0 per 1,000 registered residents, 28th lowest of 74 cities in this comparison.
Source: Department of Local Administration, Ministry of Interior (Thailand) · saved copyHow many schools does Chiang Rai municipality run?
Chiang Rai City Municipality ran 8 schools in the Department of Local Administration's list of local authority schools (updated May 2026), or 1.05 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 Rai?
Chiang Rai City Municipality ran 1 child development centre for young children in the Department of Local Administration's list (updated May 2026), or 0.13 per 10,000 registered residents.
Source: Department of Local Administration, Ministry of Interior (Thailand) · saved copyHow many teachers does Chiang Rai municipality employ?
Chiang Rai City Municipality employed 353 teachers on its payroll in August 2025, plus 3 permanent education staff and 92 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 Rai?
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
- 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
- Chiang Mai 1,670,007
- 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
- Surat Thani 1,069,023
- Roi Et 1,031,392
- Surin 1,020,788
- Rayong 1,002,201
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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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