province of Thailand

The provinces of Thailand are administrative divisions of the government of Thailand. The country is divided into 76 provinces (Thai: จังหวัด, RTGS: changwat, pronounced [tɕāŋ.wàt]) proper, with one additional special administrative area (the capital, Bangkok). They are the primary local government units and act as juristic persons. They are divided into amphoe (districts) which are further divided into tambon (sub districts), the next lower level of local government.

All provinces form part of the partially devolved central government, or the regional government (ราชการส่วนภูมิภาค ratchakan suan phumiphak). Majority of public services, including police, prison, transport, public relation and others are still overseen and managed by the province on behalf of the central government. In 1938–1996, the Royal Thai Government proposed that each province should have a council, elected from people resided within that province. The council acts as an advisory and auditing body to the governor (ผู้ว่าราชการจังหวัด phu wa ratchakan changwat), who is appointed by the central government. In 1997, each province has its own provincial administrative organization (องค์การบริหารส่วนจังหวัด ongkan borihan suan changwat), presided over by the president. The PAO manages some public services related to the province. It was expected that the PAO president will become the elected governor (instead of a centrally-appointed one), but the full devolution of the government has not happened. The PAO as well as other municipalities form part of the local self-governing government (ราชการส่วนท้องถิ่น ratchakan suan thongthin).