Thesaban (Thai: เทศบาล) are the municipalities in Thailand. There are three levels of municipalities - city, town and village. Both Bangkok and Pattaya are special municipal entities outside the thesaban system.

Thesaban administration building of Surat Thani town

The municipalities take over some of the responsibilities which are assigned to the districts (Amphoe) or communes (Tambon) for the non-municipal (rural) areas. Surat Thani (Thai สุราษฎร์ธานี) is a city in southern Thailand. ... A amphoe (sometimes also amphur, Thai: อำเภอ) is the second level administrative subdivision of Thailand. ... Tambon (Thai: ตำบล) is a local government unit in Thailand. ...

Cities

Thesaban nakhon (Thai: เทศบาลนคร) are usually translated as city. To qualify for city status a municipality needs to have a population of at least 50,000 and a population density of 3,000 per square kilometre.

Towns

Thesaban mueang (Thai: เทศบาลเมือง) are usually translated as town. For a municipality to qualify as a town it either needs to be a provincial capital, or have a population of at least 10,000, a population density of 3000 per km², and sufficient income to cover the tasks of a town.

Townships

Thesaban tambon (Thai: เทศบาลตำบล) are the lowest municipality level. Despite its name, it does not necessarily be the same area as a tambon, it may cover a tambon incompletely, or may also extend over parts of more than one tambon. Tambon (Thai: ตำบล) is a local government unit in Thailand. ...

For an area to qualify to establish as a village municipality, it needs a gross income of at least 5 million baht, a population of 5000, a population density of 1,500 per km², and the censensus of the population of the area. Thai banknotes and coins. ...

Most of the current township municipalities were originally sanitation districts (sukhaphiban), which were all converted into township municipalities in May 1999, even though many of these did actually not meet the above qualifications.

See also

• List of cities in Thailand by population
• List of cities in Thailand
• Subdivisions of Thailand

The largest cities of Thailand By population in city or municipal area. ... Thailand divides cities into three categories called municipality. ... Thailand is divided into 75 provinces (จังหวัด, changwat), and one municipality - the capital Bangkok (Krung Thep Maha Nakhon in Thai). ...

External links

• History of administrative reforms
• http://www.tessaban.com (Thai only)