Nonthaburi is one of the central provinces (changwat) of Thailand, established by the Act Establishing Changwat Samut Prakan, Changwat Nonthaburi, Changwat Samut Sakhon and Changwat Nakhon Nayok, Buddhist Era 2489 (1946), which came into force on 9 May 1946 (Thursday).
Neighboring provinces are (from north clockwise) Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Pathum Thani, Bangkok, and Nakhon Pathom. Nonthaburi is the most densely populated province after Bangkok. The Bang Kwang Central Prison is in the province.
Geography
The province of Nonthaburi is located on the Chao Phraya River basin in central Thailand. It borders Bangkok to the south and east, the provinces of Pathum Thani and Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya to the north, and Nakhon Pathom to the west. The province is part of the greater Bangkok Metropolitan Region. With an area of , it is the third smallest province in the country by land area.
In most parts the provice is as urbanized as the capital, and the boundary between the two provinces is nearly unrecognizable. There is no forest area in the province.
Climate
Nonthaburi province has a tropical savanna climate (Köppen climate classification category Aw). Winters are dry and warm. Temperatures rise until May. The monsoon season runs from May through October, with heavy rain and somewhat cooler temperatures during the day, although nights remain warm. Climate statistics: the maximum temperature is in April and the lowest temperature is in December. The highest average temperature is and the minimum average temperature is . Annual total rainfall was with total 112 rainy days. Maximum daily rainfall was on September 20, 2024.
History
Nonthaburi was declared a city in the middle of the 16th century. It was previously a village named Talat Khwan. During the reign of King Prasat Thong, a canal was dug to create a shortcut for the flow of the Chao Phraya. The river changed its flow into the new canal, which is still the riverbed today. In 1665 King Narai built a fortress, as the shorter river course was giving enemies an easier route to the capital, Ayutthaya. The town was then moved near the fortress.
From 1943 to 1946 the province was incorporated into Bangkok.
Symbols
The provincial seal shows earthenware, a traditional product of Nonthaburi. The provincial tree and flower is the yellow flame tree (Peltophorum pterocarpum). Nonthaburi is a province where the Chao Phraya River crosses from north to south, and on the ground, the Chao Phraya giant catfish (Pangasius sanitwongsei) is the provincial aquatic life.
The provincial slogan translates to "Grand royal mansion, renowned Suan Somdet, Ko Kret's pottery, famous ancient temples, tasty durians, and the beautiful government office". The royal mansion refers to Phra Tamnak Nonthaburi in Mueang Nonthaburi District, the former residence of Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn. Princess Mother Srinagarindra Garden (Suan Somdet) is a water garden with a statue of princess Srinagarindra in the Pak Kret District. The provincial administration building once received an award as the most beautiful such building by the Ministry of Interior.
Demography
Population
Population history of Nonthaburi province is as follows:
{| class="wikitable" style="width:25%;"
|-
! 1947 !! 1960 !! 1970 !! 1980 !! 1990 !! 2000 !! 2010 !! 2020
|-
| 135,537 || 196,000 || 254,000 || 386,741 || 668,760 || 816,614 || 1,334,083 || 1,276,745
|}
Religion
Most people in Nonthaburi province are Buddhist, 96.1%, followed by Islam, 3.1%.<br>Other religions are: Christianity 0.59%, Confucianism, Sikhism and others 0.07%, and Hinduism 0.05%.
There are total 198 Theravada Buddhist temples in the province, of which 189 Maha Nikai and 9 Dhammayut temples.
{|
| 52 || Mueang Nonthaburi || 50 || Bang Kruai || 41 || Pak Kret
|-
| 26 || Bang Yai || 15 || Sai Noi || 14 || Bang Bua Thong
|}
Further there are 38 Cristian churches and 19 Mosques in the province.
Administrative divisions
right|280px|thumb|Map of Nonthaburi province with districts
Provincial government
The province is divided into six districts (amphoes).The districts are further subdivided into 52 subdistricts (tambons) and 395 villages (mubans).
{| class="wikitable" style="width:60%;"
|-
| scope="col" style="width:6%;" |
| scope="col" style="width:40%;"|Districts
| scope="col" style="width:22%;"|People
| scope="col" style="width:17%;" |Subdistricts
| scope="col" style="width:15%;"|Villages
|-
| scope="row" | 1
|Mueang Nonthaburi
| 356,701
| 10
| 32
|-
| scope="row" | 2
|Bang Kruai
| 156,626
| 9
| 60
|-
| scope="row" |3
|Bang Yai
| 175,294
| 6
| 69
|-
| scope="row" | 4
| Bang Bua Thong
| 299,858
| 8
| 81
|-
| scope="row" | 5
| Sai Noi
| 79,185
| 7
| 68
|-
| scope="row" | 6
| Pak Kret
| 254,616
| 12
| 85
|}
Local government
As of 20 March 2026 there are: one Nonthaburi Provincial Administrative Organization - PAO (') and thirty-five municipal (thesaban) areas in the province. The capital Nonthaburi, Pak Kret and Bang Bua Thong have city (thesaban nakhon) status. Further twenty-two have town (thesaban mueang) status and ten subdistrict municipalities (thesaban tambon).
| scope="col" style="width:13%;"|187,449
|-
| scope="row" | 1
|Nonthaburi
| 239,041
| 3
|Bang Bua Thong
| 52,518
|}
{| class="wikitable" style="width:60%;"
|-
| scope="col" style="width:6%;" |
| scope="col" style="width:32%;"|Town municipalities
| scope="col" style="width:13%;"|People
| scope="col" style="width:6%;" |
| scope="col" style="width:30%;"|
| scope="col" style="width:13%;"|
|-
| scope="row" | 1
| Mai Bang Bua Thong
| 57,748
| 12
| Sala Klang
| 25,689
|-
| scope="row" | 2
| Bang Mae Nang
| 53,168
| 13
| Bang Krang
| 25,311
|-
| scope="row" | 3
| Phimon Rat
| 52,600
| 14
| Sai Ma
| 24,674
|-
| scope="row" | 4
| Plai Bang
| 49,054
| 15
| Bang Rak Noi
| 21,237
|-
| scope="row" | 5
| Bang Rak Pattana
| 46,065
| 16
| Ban Bang Muang
| 18,717
|-
| scpoe="row" |6
| Bang Kruai
| 44,300
| 17
| Tha It
| 18,663
|-
| scope="row" | 7
| Bang Khu Rat
| 41,558
| 18
| Bang Len
| 18,564
|-
| scope="row" | 8
| Sao Thong Hin
| 40,539
| 19
| Lam Pho
| 15,473
|-
| scope="row" | 9
| Bang Si Mueang
| 33,074
| 20
| Bang Mai
| 14,126
|-
| scope="row"|10
| Sai Noi
| 31,993
| 21
| Bang Phai
| 13,364
|-
| scope="row"|11
| Lahan
| 27,892
| 22
| Bang Phlap
| 12,413
|}
{| class="wikitable" style="width:60%;"
|-
| scope="col" style="width:6%;" |
| scope="col" style="width:33%;"|Subdistrict mun.
| scope="col" style="width:13%;"| People
| scope="col" style="width:6%;" |
| scope="col" style="width:30%;"|
| scope="col" style="width:12%;"|
|-
| scope="row" | 1
| Bang Yai
| 14,658
| 6
| Khlong Phra Udom
| 6,862
|-
| scope="row" | 2
| Bang Si Thong
| 11,872
| 7
| Sai Yai
| 6,501
|-
| scope="row" | 3
| Thawi Watthana
| 9,798
| 8
| Bang Muang
| 1,973
|}
The non-municipal areas are administered by 10 Subdistrict Administrative<br>
Organizations - SAO (ongkan borihan suan tambon).
{| class="wikitable" style="width:60%;"
|-
| scope="col" style="width:6%;"|
| scope="col" style="width:50%;|Municipalities
| scope="col" style="width:44%; text-align:center;"|Communities
|-
| scope="row"|
| Nonthaburi
| style="text-align:center;"|93
|-
| scope="row"|
| Bang Si Muang
| style="text-align:center;"|41
|}
Education
Educational institutions from primary to high education in Nonthaburi province is as follows:
High education
- Total four high education entities with 18,116 students.
Vocational education
- Total thirteen vocational colleges with 13,696 students.
Secondary education
- Total 40 upper secondary schools with 24,684 students.
- Total 31 lower secondary schools with 33,748 students.
Primary education
- Total 98 primary schools with 57,581 pupils.
Health
Government hospitals
There are eleven government hospitals in Nonthaburi province, of which Mueang Nonthaburi district has one regional hospital:<br>
Phra Nang Klao Hospital with 657 beds.<br>
There are seven community hospitals in the other five districts:
{|
| Bang Yai Hospital || 104 beds || Bang Bua Thong Hospital || 102 beds || Pak Kret Hospital || 87 beds
|-
| Bang Kruai Hospital || 60 beds || Sai Noi Hospital || 60 beds || Nonthaburi Medical Center || 30 beds
|-
| Phimon Rat Hospital || 30 beds
|}
Furthermore, there are three specialized hospitals in Mueang Nonthaburi district:
{|
|Bamrasnaradura Infectious Diseases Institute with 650 beds
|-
|Panyanathaphikku Chonprathan Medical Center with 400 beds.
|-
|Central Chest Institute of Thailand with 400 beds.
|}
Private hospitals
There are thirteen private hospitals in Nonthaburi province:
{|
| Mueang Nonthaburi || Nonthavej Hospital || 208 beds
|-
| Mueang Nonthaburi || Lelux Hospital || 30 beds
|-
| Mueang Nonthaburi || Mind Med || 18 beds
|-
| Mueang Nonthaburi || Rattanathibeth Medical Center || 10 beds
|-
| Mueang Nonthaburi || Asia Cosmetic Hospital || 6 beds
|-
| Pak Kret || World Medical Hospital || 150 beds
|-
| Pak Kret || Krungthai Hospital || 100 beds
|-
| Pak Kret || Vibharam Pakkret Hospital || 100 beds
|-
| Pak Kret || Mitrmaitri Medical Center || 11 beds
|-
| Bang Yai || Kasemrad Intern. Hospital Rattanathibeth || 133 beds
|-
| Beng Bua Thong || Kasemrad Hospital Rattanathibeth || 119 beds
|-
| Bang Bua Thong || Chollada Hospital || 59 beds
|-
| Bang Kruai || Anan Phatthana 2 Hospital || 50 beds
|}
Health promoting hospitals
There are total 78 health-promoting hospitals in the province, of which: 16 in Mueang Nonthaburi, 15 in Bang Bua Thong, 15 in Pak Kret, 13 in Sai Noi, 11 in Bang Kruai and 8 in Bang Yai districts.
Clinics
Around 743 clinics are in Nonthaburi province, of which 334 clinics in Mueang Nonthaburi, 184 Pak Kret, 93 Bang Bua Thong, 64 Bang Yai, 59 Bang Kruai and 9 Sai Noi districts.
Economy
Economic output
In 2023, Nonthaburi province had an economic output of 400.388 billion baht (US$10.54 billion). This amounts to per capita gross provincial product (GPP) of 214,515 baht (US$5,645). In 2025 the total workforce was 1,228,109 of which 1,219,841 persons were employed in economic activity. In agriculture and fishery 16,366 persons (1.3%) were employed and in the non-agricultural sector 1,203,476 persons (98.7%).
{| class="wikitable" style="width:45%; display:inline-table;"
|+ <big>Gross Provincial Product (GPP)</big>
|-
! style="width:10%;"|
! style="width:44%;"|Activities
! style="width:27%;"|Million Baht
! style="width:19%;"|Percent
|-
| style="text-align:center; background:#1f77b4;"|1 ||Trade ||style="text-align:right;"|66,962 ||style="text-align:center;"|16.7
|-
| style="text-align:center; background:#aec7e8;"|2 ||Manufacturing ||style="text-align:right;"|54,544 ||style="text-align:center;"|13.6
|-
| style="text-align:center; background:#ff7f0e;"|3 ||Human health ||style="text-align:right;"|53,258 ||style="text-align:center;"|13.3
|-
| style="text-align:center; background:#ffbb78;"|4 ||Finance ||style="text-align:right;"|45,620 ||style="text-align:center;"|11.4
|-
| style="text-align:center; background:#2ca02c;"|5 ||Information ||style="text-align:right;"|31,626 ||style="text-align:center;"|7.9
|-
| style="text-align:center; background:#98df8a;"|6 ||Defence / publ.admin. ||style="text-align:right;"|25,832 ||style="text-align:center;"|6.5
|-
| style="text-align:center; background:#d62728;"|7 ||Real estate ||style="text-align:right;"|19,559 ||style="text-align:center;"|4.9
|-
| style="text-align:center; background:#ff9896;"|8 ||Pastime ||style="text-align:right;"|19,302 ||style="text-align:center;"|4.8
|-
| style="text-align:center; background:#9467bd;"|9 ||Construction ||style="text-align:right;"|14,011 ||style="text-align:center;"|3.5
|-
| style="text-align:center; background:#c5b0d5;"|10 ||Accommodation / food ||style="text-align:right;"|12,880 ||style="text-align:center;"|3.2
|-
| style="text-align:center; background:#8c564b;"|11 ||Transportation ||style="text-align:right;"|12,284 ||style="text-align:center;"|3.1
|-
| style="text-align:center; background:#c49c94;"|12 ||Scientific activity ||style="text-align:right;"|9,257 ||style="text-align:center;"|2.3
|-
| style="text-align:center; background:#e377c2;"|13 ||Energy ||style="text-align:right;"|8,097 ||style="text-align:center;"|2.0
|-
| style="text-align:center; background:#e377c2;"|14 ||Education ||style="text-align:right;"|7,765 ||style="text-align:center;"|1.9
|-
| style="text-align:center; background:#e377c2;"|15 ||Other service activity ||style="text-align:right;"|6,449 ||style="text-align:center;"|1.6
|-
| style="text-align:center; background:#e377c2;"|16 ||Agriculture ||style="text-align:right;"|5,515 ||style="text-align:center;"|1.4
|-
| style="text-align:center; background:#e377c2;"|17 ||Administration ||style="text-align:right;"|5,210 ||style="text-align:center;"|1.3
|-
| style="text-align:center; background:#e377c2;"|18 ||Water supply ||style="text-align:right;"|2,117 ||style="text-align:center;"|0.6
|-
! !!Total !!400,388 !!100
|}
{| class="wikitable" style="width:45%; display:inline-table;"
|+ <big>Employed persons</big>
|-
! style="width:10%;"|
! style="width:50%;"|Activities
! style="width:20%;"|Workforce
! style="width:20%;"|Percent
|-
| style="text-align:center; background:#1f77b4;"|1 ||Trade ||style="text-align:right;"|332,570 ||style="text-align:center;"|27.3
|-
| style="text-align:center; background:#aec7e8;"|2 ||Manufacturing ||style="text-align:right;"|199,544 ||style="text-align:center;"|16.4
|-
| style="text-align:center; background:#ff7f0e;"|3 ||Accommodation / food ||style="text-align:right;"|187,377 ||style="text-align:center;"|15.4
|-
| style="text-align:center; background:#ffbb78;"|4 ||Transportation ||style="text-align:right;"|101,575 ||style="text-align:center;"|8.3
|-
| style="text-align:center; background:#2ca02c;"|5 ||Construction ||style="text-align:right;"|74,109 ||style="text-align:center;"|6.1
|-
| style="text-align:center; background:#98df8a;"|6 ||Administration ||style="text-align:right;"|49,729 ||style="text-align:center;"|4.1
|-
| style="text-align:center; background:#d62728;"|7 ||Defence / publ.admin. ||style="text-align:right;"|40,077 ||style="text-align:center;"|3.3
|-
| style="text-align:center; background:#ff9896;"|8 ||Education ||style="text-align:right;"|37,106 ||style="text-align:center;"|3.0
|-
| style="text-align:center; background:#9467bd;"|9 ||Scientific activity ||style="text-align:right;"|32,098 ||style="text-align:center;"|2.6
|-
| style="text-align:center; background:#c5b0d5;"|10 ||Other service activities ||style="text-align:right;"|30,782 ||style="text-align:center;"|2.5
|-
| style="text-align:center; background:#8c564b;"|11 ||Human health ||style="text-align:right;"|30,081 ||style="text-align:center;"|2.5
|-
| style="text-align:center; background:#c49c94;"|12 ||Finance ||style="text-align:right;"|23,321 ||style="text-align:center;"|1.9
|-
| style="text-align:center; background:#e377c2;"|13 ||Real estate ||style="text-align:right;"|20,729 ||style="text-align:center;"|1.7
|-
| style="text-align:center; background:#e377c2;"|14 ||Information ||style="text-align:right;"|17,402 ||style="text-align:center;"|1.4
|-
| style="text-align:center; background:#e377c2;"|15 ||Agriculture ||style="text-align:right;"|16,366 ||style="text-align:center;"|1.3
|-
| style="text-align:center; background:#e377c2;"|16 ||Pastime ||style="text-align:right;"|11,062 ||style="text-align:center;"|0.9
|-
| style="text-align:center; background:#e377c2;"|17 ||Energy ||style="text-align:right;"|9,470 ||style="text-align:center;"|0.8
|-
| style="text-align:center; background:#e377c2;"|18 ||Household enterprise ||style="text-align:right;"|4,724 ||style="text-align:center;"|0.4
|-
| style="text-align:center; background:#e377c2;"|19 ||Water supply ||style="text-align:right;"|1,718 ||style="text-align:center;"|0.1
|-
! !!Total !!1,219,841 !!100
|}
Trade
Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles, the biggest sector of the economy generated 66,962 million baht (US$1,762 million) or 16.7% of GPP with 17,734 registered entities and a workforce of 332,570 people (27.3% of all employed persons ).
Manufacturing
The second sector of the economy generated 54,544 million baht (US$1,435 million) or 13.6% of GPP with 3,5162 registered entities and a workforce of 199,544 people (16.4%).
Construction
1,340 construction entities and a workforce of 74,109 people (6.1%) contributed 14,011 million baht (US$368 million) or 3.5% of GPP.
Agriculture
Nonthaburi province is renowned for growing the best durians in the country. Durian has been a well-known fruit in this province for 400 years. The fruit is known as "Durian Non" which means durian from Nonthaburi province. It is also known as the most expensive durian in the world.
Production of the arable crop: rice 113,403 tonnes.
Production of the eight main vegetable crops: lettuce 1,346 tonnes, Chinese kale 1,134 tonnes, pakchoi 912 tonnes, water convolvulus 749 tonnes, holy basil 400 tonnes, Chinese chive 381 tonnes, water mimosa 218 tonnes and Thai basil 174 tonnes.
Production of the five main fruit crops: mango 1,465 tonnes, banana 1,117 tonnes; sweet young coconut 569 tonnes, lime 501 tonnes and pomelo 387 tonnes.
Animal husbandry
Livestock produced included: chickens 113,905, ducks 93,663, goats 4,428 and beef cattle 2,491.
Fisheries
Total catch from 2,053 freshwater aquaculture farms amounted to 2,746 tonnes.
Tourism
There were 4,340 hotel rooms in 2024; about 4,126,253 people of which 3,881,884 Thai (94%) visited Nonthaburi province and contributed 6,842 million baht (US$193 million) to tourism revenues.
Human achievement index 2022
{| class="wikitable floatright" style="width:400px;"
|-
| style="text-align:center; width:100px; background:black; color:white;"| Health
| style="text-align:center; width:100px; background:black; color:white;"| Education
| style="text-align:center; width:100px; background:black; color:white;"| Employment
| style="text-align:center; width:100px; background:black; color:white;"| Income
|-
| 95px
| 100px
| 100px
| 100px
|-
| style="text-align:center; background:black; color:white;"| 1
| style="text-align:center; background:black; color:white;"| 29
| style="text-align:center; background:black; color:white;"| 26
| style="text-align:center; background:black; color:white;"| 11
|-
| style="text-align:center; background:black; color:white;"| Housing
| style="text-align:center; background:black; color:white;"| Family
| style="text-align:center; background:black; color:white;"| Transport
| style="text-align:center; background:black; color:white;"| Participation
|-
| style="height:100px;"| 100px
| center|85px
| 100px
| 90px
|-
| style="text-align:center; background:black; color:white;"| 68
| style="text-align:center; background:black; color:white;"| 12
| style="text-align:center; background:black; color:white;"| 2
| style="text-align:center; background:black; color:white;"| 68
|-
| colspan="4"; style="background:black; color:white;"| Province Nonthaburi, with an HAI 2022 value of 0.6875 is "high", occupies place 2 in the ranking.
|}
Since 2003, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Thailand has tracked progress on human development at sub-national level using the Human achievement index (HAI), a composite index covering all the eight key areas of human development. National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB) has taken over this task since 2017.