Economy, jobs and prices in Chiang Mai, Thailand: official figures
The gross provincial product (GPP) of Chiang Mai was 293.8 billion baht in 2024 (provisional, current prices), 1.6% of Thailand's 18.68 trillion baht; 12th highest of 77 provinces by size of economy.
What is the GDP per capita of Chiang Mai?
Economic output per person in Chiang Mai was 164,479 baht in 2024 (GPP divided by population, current prices), 25th highest of 77 provinces; the figure for Thailand as a whole was 266,103 baht.
Source: Office of the National Economic and Social Development Council · saved copyHow fast is the economy of Chiang Mai growing?
After allowing for price changes, the economy of Chiang Mai grew by 2.5% in 2024 (chain volume measures), ranking 35th fastest of 77 provinces for growth (Thailand: 2.9%).
Source: Office of the National Economic and Social Development Council · saved copyHow much has income per person grown in Chiang Mai?
Output per person in Chiang Mai rose 12% between 2019 and 2024, from 146,433 to 164,479 baht (current prices, so partly inflation); across Thailand it rose 9%.
Source: Office of the National Economic and Social Development Council · saved copyWhat are the main industries in Chiang Mai?
In Chiang Mai, agriculture, forestry and fishing made up 18.7% of GPP in 2024, industry (mining, manufacturing, power and water) 11.6% and services (including construction) 69.7%. For Thailand as a whole the shares were 8.9%, 29.4% and 61.7%.
Source: Office of the National Economic and Social Development Council · saved copyWhat does Chiang Mai make its money from?
The three biggest sectors of the Chiang Mai economy in 2024 were agriculture, forestry and fishing (18.7% of GPP), wholesale and retail trade (11.2%) and education (10.0%).
Source: Office of the National Economic and Social Development Council · saved copyHow important is manufacturing in Chiang Mai?
Manufacturing accounted for 9.1% of GPP in Chiang Mai in 2024, 21st lowest of 77 provinces (Thailand: 24.2%), and hotels and restaurants for 9.5% (Thailand: 6.2%), 6th highest of 77.
Source: Office of the National Economic and Social Development Council · saved copyWhat is the unemployment rate in Chiang Mai?
The unemployment rate in Chiang Mai averaged 0.88% across the four quarters of 2025 (B.E. 2568) in the Labour Force Survey, about 9,300 unemployed people on average; it ranks 31st highest of 66 among the provinces with a full year of data (Thailand: 0.82%).
Source: National Statistical Office of Thailand · saved copyHow many people are employed in Chiang Mai?
An average of 1,045,800 people were in work in Chiang Mai during 2025 (B.E. 2568), 68.6% of everyone aged 15 and over (Thailand: 66.6%).
Source: National Statistical Office of Thailand · saved copyWhat is the labour force participation rate in Chiang Mai?
69.2% of people aged 15 and over in Chiang Mai were working or looking for work in 2025 (B.E. 2568), it ranks 21st highest of 76 provinces (Thailand: 67.2%).
Source: National Statistical Office of Thailand · saved copyHow Chiang Mai compares with other provinces
Gross provincial product per person (2024)
Chiang Mai ranks 25 of 77, highest first. Baht per person per year, current prices, provisional 2024.
| Rank | Region | Gross provincial product per person |
|---|---|---|
| 22 | Trat | 187,712 baht |
| 23 | Chai Nat | 168,716 baht |
| 24 | Kamphaeng Phet | 166,945 baht |
| 25 | Chiang Mai | 164,479 baht |
| 26 | Samut Songkhram | 164,070 baht |
| 27 | Songkhla | 156,755 baht |
| 28 | Sing Buri | 156,356 baht |
Real growth of the provincial economy (2024)
Chiang Mai ranks 35 of 77, highest first. Change in gross provincial product, chain volume measures, 2024 on 2023.
| Rank | Region | Real growth of the provincial economy |
|---|---|---|
| 32 | Phatthalung | 2.7% |
| 33 | Loei | 2.7% |
| 34 | Uthai Thani | 2.5% |
| 35 | Chiang Mai | 2.5% |
| 36 | Chanthaburi | 2.1% |
| 37 | Nakhon Nayok | 1.8% |
| 38 | Suphan Buri | 1.7% |
Unemployment rate (2025 (B.E. 2568))
Chiang Mai ranks 31 of 66, highest first. Average of the four quarterly Labour Force Surveys; provinces with a missing quarter are left out.
| Rank | Region | Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|
| 28 | Ang Thong | 0.91% |
| 29 | Uttaradit | 0.90% |
| 30 | Trang | 0.90% |
| 31 | Chiang Mai | 0.88% |
| 32 | Lop Buri | 0.83% |
| 33 | Phatthalung | 0.79% |
| 34 | Phayao | 0.75% |
More on Chiang Mai: overview · health · education and schools · poverty and living standards · Thailand
Sources
- Office of the National Economic and Social Development Council: Gross Regional and Provincial Product, 2024 edition (current prices and chain volume measures, 1995-2024p), with provincial population, read 24 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 929ba8ab2624…)
- National Statistical Office of Thailand: Labour Force Survey: unemployed, current labour force, employed and working-age population by province, quarters 1-4 of B.E. 2568 (2025), read 24 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 7f4f7e5349ce…)
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