What are the richest provinces in Thailand?

Rayong consistently tops Thailand’s GPP-per-capita league thanks to its heavyweight industrial base. The Map Ta Phut Industrial Estate anchors one of ASEAN’s largest petrochemical complexes, with gas separation plants, refineries, plastics and specialty chemicals feeding high-value exports. Power generation and LNG infrastructure add another layer of capital-intensive output, while new EV and battery supply-chain investments tied to the Eastern Economic Corridor keep the pipeline strong. With a relatively small resident population compared to its industrial output, Rayong’s per-person figures soar. In 2026, resilient demand for energy-related materials, the ramp-up of new automotive and components capacity, and logistics links to Laem Chabang and U-Tapao support Rayong’s position at or near number one.

Bangkok is Thailand’s nerve center for finance, corporate headquarters, healthcare, higher education, and creative-digital industries. High-value professional services, real estate and retail combine with a booming medical and wellness sector to produce a strong GPP per capita. The city also concentrates venture investment, data centers, media and design, and hosts the country’s busiest air gateway, which supports meetings and events. While manufacturing has shifted toward the Eastern Seaboard, the capital’s diversified, skills-intensive economy tends to weather cycles better than most. In 2026, rising tourism, ongoing rail and metro expansions, and growth in fintech and e-commerce logistics keep Bangkok near the top tier by output per person, even with its large population diluting averages compared with smaller industrial provinces.

Chonburi balances industry, logistics and tourism, a potent mix for high GPP per capita. Laem Chabang, Thailand’s main deep-sea port, underpins export-oriented manufacturing from autos to electronics, while EEC incentives continue to draw advanced industries such as robotics and aerospace MRO. Pattaya’s tourism rebound since 2025 adds service-sector punch, filling hotels and restaurants and supporting retail. The province benefits from world-class infrastructure, including motorways, double-track rail and proximity to Bangkok and Rayong, which tightens supply chains and reduces costs. In 2026, ongoing port upgrades, new EV assembly and parts projects, and strong domestic weekend travel keep output per person elevated, making Chonburi a fixture near the top of Thailand’s wealth tables.

Chachoengsao is the quiet star of the EEC, with fast-growing industrial estates focused on electronics, automotive parts and packaging, plus significant power generation along the Bang Pakong corridor. Its proximity to Bangkok, Laem Chabang and Suvarnabhumi makes it a natural logistics hub, and new rail and highway projects have lowered transit times for freight and commuters. Because its industrial base is capital-intensive and its population smaller than neighboring Bangkok, output per person is high. In 2026, continued relocation of supply chains into Thailand, battery and component investment tied to EV manufacturing, and construction related to EEC transport links help keep Chachoengsao’s GPP per capita among the highest in the country.

Ayutthaya ranks high thanks to deep Japanese and multinational investment across autos, auto parts, electronics and machinery in estates such as Rojana and Hi-Tech. Its position on the North–South logistics spine, strong power and water infrastructure, and access to skilled labor from the Bangkok metro make it an ideal base for high-value manufacturing. In 2026, Thailand’s growing EV ecosystem, steady ASEAN demand for vehicles and components, and continued reshoring of regional supply chains support plant expansions and upgrades. While floods a decade ago prompted major resilience investments, today’s industrial parks are far better protected, which helps keep production stable and GPP per capita strong relative to the province’s population.