Bangkok's 2026 population is now estimated at 11,543,900. In 1950, the population of Bangkok was 1,360,000. Bangkok has grown by 152,200 in the last year, which represents a 1.34% annual change. These population estimates and projections come from the latest revision of the UN World Urbanization Prospects. These estimates represent the Urban agglomeration of Bangkok, which typically includes Bangkok's population in addition to adjacent suburban areas.
Bangkok is the capital of Thailand, and it is also the most populated city in the country. Also known as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon, the city is located in the Chao Phraya River delta in the central part of the country. The 2016 population of Bangkok is approximately 8,280,925, which was taken from the most recent census in 2010.
In 2016, Bangkok had an estimated population of 8.28 million according to data from the 2010 census. This number is up significantly from the 6.3 million recorded in 2000. The city is home to over 13% of the country’s total population, and more than 10.6 million registered people were reported to live in the Bangkok Metropolitan Region according to figures from April 2015. Bangkok is considered a primate city, or one that serves as the population, political and financial center of a country with no other rival city.
Bangkok grew slowly through the 18th and early 19th centuries, despite being the capital since 1782. In 1822, the population was estimated at 50,000 or less. The population began to grow as the city became more modern in the 19th century, with faster growth in the 1930s after the discovery of antibiotics improved healthcare. In 1980, Bangkok was 51 times larger than Kat Yai or Songkhla in terms of population, which made it the most prominent primary city in the world, a distinction it still holds. The growth rate of Bangkok slowed in the 1990s.
According to the last census which was held in 2010, just 5.7 million of 8.28 million population were registered residents. Much of the daytime population commutes from surrounding areas in the region, bringing the total population to 15 million.
Bangkok is a truly cosmopolitan city, home to people from around the world. The census found the following populations:
Most people in Bangkok are of Thai ethnicity. The census does not request race or ethnicity, and the city does not maintain information on ethnic composition. There are, however, several groups in the country as a result of immigration and forced settlers. This includes the Vietnamese, Khmer, Northern Thai, Lao, Tavoyan, Malay and Mon. One of the most prominent ethnic groups is the Chinese, who were 75% of the city’s population in 1828, which dropped to 50% by the 1950s.
The Chinese community is mostly centered in Yaowarat, the Chinatown of Bangkok. There is an Indian community in Phahurt, a Japanese community close to Soi Phrom Phong and an Arab and North African community along Soi Nana.
Bangkok has grown so rapidly with very little urban planning or regulation. This has led to inadequate infrastructure and a haphazard layout with limited roads, terrible traffic, and severe air pollution. By 2030, Bangkok is expected to become one of the world’s megacities with a population surpassing 10 million.
| City | 2026 Pop. ↓ | Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Chon Buri | 1,509,580 | 1.23% |
| Samut Prakan | 1,410,600 | 1.23% |
| Chiang Mai | 1,259,540 | 1.23% |
| Songkhla | 1,043,260 | 1.23% |
| Pathum Thani | 986,213 | 1.23% |
| Nakhon Ratchasima | 831,016 | 1.2% |
| Samut Sakhon | 624,139 | 1.23% |
| Udon Thani | 611,342 | 1.19% |
| Chiang Rai | 593,585 | 1.23% |
| Rayong | 580,833 | 1.23% |
| Nakhon Pathom | 576,756 | 1.65% |
| Kalasin | 558,690 | 1.23% |
| Surat Thani | 535,306 | 1.23% |
| Lop Buri | 535,183 | 2.11% |
| Ubon Ratchathani | 534,017 | 1.23% |
| Buri Ram | 489,735 | 1.23% |
| Lampang | 485,131 | 1.23% |
| Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya | 476,244 | 1.23% |
| Roi Et | 475,554 | 1.23% |
| Phuket | 466,495 | 1.23% |
| Ratchaburi | 444,864 | 1.35% |
| Chanthaburi | 412,898 | 1.65% |
| Sakon Nakhon | 411,309 | 1.23% |
| Suphan Buri | 386,646 | 1.65% |
| Lamphun | 342,337 | 1.23% |
