IFES Election Guide | Country Profile: Thailand

Kingdom of Thailand

71,801,279
Population (as of Aug. 22, 2023)

52,195,920
Registered Voters (as of None)

67.31%
Average Turnout

19
Elections in our database

V-Dem* Score: 0.389
Regimes of the World Classification: Electoral Autocracy
*Varieties of Democracy Electoral Democracy Index (2024)

CEDAW Status: Ratified
Ratified Date: Aug. 9, 1985

SIGI* Score: 33.9
Level of Discrimination: Medium
*Social Institutions and Gender Index (2023)

CRPD Status: Signed and Ratified
Signed Date: March 30, 2007
Ratified Date: July 29, 2008

HDI* Score: 0.798
Category: High
*UNDP Human Development Index (2023)

Name	Official Name	Type
Thai House of Representatives	Sapha Phuthaen Ratsadon	Lower House
Thai Senate	Wuthisapha	Upper House

Description of government structure:

Chief of State: King WACHIRALONGKON (since 13 October 2016)
Head of Government: Prime Minister Paetongtarn SHINAWATRA (since 19 August 2024)
Assembly: Thailand has a bicameral National Assembly (Ratthasapha) consisting of the Senate (Wuthisapha) with 250 seats and the House of Representatives (Sapha Phuthaen Ratsadon) with 500 seats.

Description of electoral system:

The King is the hereditary head of state.
The Prime Minister is nominated by the National Assembly and appointed by the monarch. The Prime Minister may serve for up to 8 years.
In the Senate, 250 members are appointed by the Royal Thai Army and serve 5-year terms.
In the House of Representatives (Sapha Phuthaen Ratsadon), 375 members are elected by simple majority vote in single-member constituencies, and 150 members are elected through a closed-list proportional representation system in a nationwide constituency. All members serve 4-year terms *.

* The 2017 constitution and a 2021 amendment changed the number of House seats and altered election procedures. Previously, voters cast two votes: one for a single-member constituency representative and one for a party list. Now, voters cast one vote for a single-member constituency representative and their corresponding party. The distribution of party list seats is determined by each party's share of the popular vote.

Elections

2023-05-14
Thai House of Representatives
Votes 39,514,973
Registered 52,195,920
Turnout 75.71

2019-03-24
Thai House of Representatives
Votes 35,541,520
Registered 51,419,975
Turnout 69.12

2016-08-07
Referendum
Votes 29,740,677
Registered 50,071,589
Turnout 59.4

2014-02-02
Thai House of Representatives
Votes -
Registered 48,000,000
Turnout -

2011-07-03
Thai House of Representatives
Votes 35,209,607
Registered 44,002,593
Turnout 80.02

2011-07-03
Thai Senate
Votes -
Registered 44,002,593
Turnout -

2008-03-02
Thai House of Representatives
Votes -
Registered 44,911,254
Turnout -

2008-03-02
Thai Senate
Votes 24,981,233
Registered 44,911,254
Turnout 55.62

2007-12-23
Thai House of Representatives
Votes 38,981,412
Registered 44,002,593
Turnout 88.59

2007-12-23
Thai Senate
Votes -
Registered 44,002,593
Turnout -

2007-08-19
Referendum
Votes 25,978,954
Registered 45,092,955
Turnout 57.61

2006-04-23
Thai House of Representatives
Votes -
Registered 45,232,145
Turnout -

2006-04-23
Thai Senate
Votes -
Registered 45,232,145
Turnout -

2006-04-19
Thai Senate
Votes -
Registered 45,232,145
Turnout -

2006-04-19
Thai House of Representatives
Votes -
Registered 45,232,145
Turnout -

2006-04-02
Thai House of Representatives
Votes -
Registered 45,232,145
Turnout -

2006-04-02
Thai Senate
Votes -
Registered 45,232,145
Turnout -

2001-01-06
Thai House of Representatives
Votes 16,699,549
Registered 42,875,036
Turnout 38.95

2000-03-04
Thai Senate
Votes 30,684,040
Registered 38,000,000
Turnout 80.75

Election For	Date	Votes	Registered Voters	Turnout
Thai House of Representatives	2023-05-14	39,514,973	52,195,920	75.71
Thai House of Representatives	2019-03-24	35,541,520	51,419,975	69.12
Referendum	2016-08-07	29,740,677	50,071,589	59.4
Thai House of Representatives	2014-02-02	-	48,000,000	-
Thai House of Representatives	2011-07-03	35,209,607	44,002,593	80.02
Thai Senate	2011-07-03	-	44,002,593	-
Thai House of Representatives	2008-03-02	-	44,911,254	-
Thai Senate	2008-03-02	24,981,233	44,911,254	55.62
Thai House of Representatives	2007-12-23	38,981,412	44,002,593	88.59
Thai Senate	2007-12-23	-	44,002,593	-
Referendum	2007-08-19	25,978,954	45,092,955	57.61
Thai House of Representatives	2006-04-23	-	45,232,145	-
Thai Senate	2006-04-23	-	45,232,145	-
Thai Senate	2006-04-19	-	45,232,145	-
Thai House of Representatives	2006-04-19	-	45,232,145	-
Thai House of Representatives	2006-04-02	-	45,232,145	-
Thai Senate	2006-04-02	-	45,232,145	-
Thai House of Representatives	2001-01-06	16,699,549	42,875,036	38.95
Thai Senate	2000-03-04	30,684,040	38,000,000	80.75

Voter Turnout

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