# Pathum Thani province

Pathum Thani (Thai: ปทุมธานี, pronounced) is one of the central provinces (changwat) of Thailand. Neighboring provinces are (from north clockwise): Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Saraburi, Nakhon Nayok, Chachoengsao, Bangkok, and Nonthaburi.
The province is north of Bangkok and is part of the Bangkok metropolitan area. In many places, the boundary between the two provinces is not noticeable as both sides of the boundary are equally urbanized. Pathum Thani town is the administrative seat, but Ban Rangsit, seat of Thanyaburi district, is the largest populated place in the province.
Pathum Thani is an old province, heavily populated by the Mon people, dotted with 186 temples and parks. The Dream World amusement park is here.

## Geography

The province lies on the low alluvial flats of the Chao Phraya River that flows through the capital. Many canals (khlongs) cross the province and feed the rice paddies. There is no forest area in the province.

## History

The city dates back to a settlement founded by Mon migrating from Mottama (Thai: เมาะตะมะ) in Myanmar around 1650. The original name was Sam Khok.$^{:230,369}$ In 1815, King Rama II visited the city and the citizens offered him many lotus flowers, which prompted the king to rename the city Pathum Thani, meaning 'lotus flower town'.

## Symbols

The provincial seal shows a pink lotus flower with two rice stalks bending over it, representing the fertility of the province. The provincial tree is the Indian coral tree (Erythrina variegata). The provincial flower is the lotus (Nymphaea lotus). The provincial aquatic animal is the marble goby (Oxyeleotris marmorata).

## Education and technology

Pathum Thani has a very high concentration of higher education institutions, especially ones in the field of science and technology. This, together with a large number of industrial parks and research facilities (including those in Thailand Science Park), make the region the educational and technology hub of the area.

### Academic institutes

    National Science Museum, Asian Institute of Technology, Bangkok University (Rangsit Campus), Eastern Asia University, North Bangkok University (Rangsit), Pathumthani University, Rajamangala University of Technology, Rangsit University, Shinawatra University, Sirindhorn International Institute of Technology, Thammasat University (Rangsit Center), and Valaya Alongkorn Rajahbhat University

### Research bodies

    Thailand Science Park, National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (BIOTEC), National Metal and Materials Technology Center (MTEC), National Nanotechnology Center (NANOTEC), National Electronics and Computer Technology Center (NECTEC), Thailand Institute of Scientific and Technological Research (TISTR)

### Industrial parks

    Software Park Thailand (in Nonthaburi, southwest of Pathum Thani), Nava Nakorn Industrial Promotion Zone (1376 acres / 5.6 km$^2$), Bangkadi Industrial Park (470 acres / 1.9 km$^2$), Techno Thani (a "Technology City" administered by the Ministry of Science and Technology), and a number of industrial parks in neighboring Ayutthaya and Nonthaburi provinces.

## Administrative divisions
### Provincial government

The province is divided into seven districts (amphoes). The districts are further subdivided into 60 communes (tambons) and 529 villages (mubans).
| Mueang Pathum Thani Khlong Luang Thanyaburi Nong Suea | Lat Lum Kaeo Lam Luk Ka Sam Khok |

### Local government

As of 29 September 2020 there are: one Pathum Thani Provincial Administrative Organization - PAO (ongkan borihan suan changwat) and twenty-nine municipal (thesaban) areas in the province. Rangsit has city (thesaban nakhon) status. Further ten have town (thesaban mueang) status and eighteen subdistrict municipalities (thesaban tambon).
| City municipality | 1 | Rangsit | 85,260 |
| | Town mun. | People | | | |
| 1 | Tha Khlong | 78,108 | 6 | Bueng Yi Tho | 32,708 |
| 2 | Lam Sam Kaeo | 66,003 | 7 | Sanan Rak | 31,350 |
| 3 | Lat Sawai | 65,906 | 8 | Bang Khu Wat | 28,349 |
| 4 | Khlong Luang | 62,615 | 9 | Pathum Thani | 23,633 |
| 5 | Khu Khot | 44,274 | 10 | Bang Kadi | 13,987 |
| | Subdistrict mun. | People | | | |
| 1 | Thanyaburi | 62,990 | 10 | Bang Toei | 10,828 |
| 2 | Bang Phun | 25,509 | 11 | Rahaeng | 10,445 |
| 3 | Lak Hok | 21,883 | 12 | Khlong Phra Udom | 7,995 |
| 4 | Lam Luk Ka | 18,377 | 13 | Sam Khok | 6,963 |
| 5 | Bang Duea | 14,756 | 14 | Bang Luang | 6,314 |
| 6 | Bang Khayaeng | 14,557 | 15 | Chiang Rak Yai | 6,260 |
| 7 | Ban Mai | 14,447 | 16 | Khu Khwang | 6,000 |
| 8 | Ban Klang | 12,326 | 17 | Lam Sai | 2,657 |
| 9 | Nong Sam Wang | 11,016 | 18 | Nong Suea | 2,901 |
The non-municipal areas are administered by 35 Subdistrict Administrative Organizations - SAO (ongkan borihan suan tambon).
| Municipalities | Communities |
| Rangsit | 81 |
| Lam Sam Kaeo | 70 |
| Khlong Luang | 54 |
| Khu Khot | 31 |
| Bueng Yi Tho | 37 |
| Pathum Thani | 28 |
| Bang Kadi | 18 |

## Human achievement index 2022

| Health | Education | Employment | Income |
| 2 | 20 | 15 | 32 |
| Housing | Family | Transport | Participation |
| 71 | 23 | 4 | 71 |
| Province Pathum Thani, with an HAI 2022 value of 0.6589 is "somewhat high", occupies place 15 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.
| Rank | Classification |
| 1 - 13 | "high" |
| 14 - 29 | "somewhat high" |
| 30 - 45 | "average" |
| 46 - 61 | "somewhat low" |
| 62 - 77 | "low" |
* Map with provinces and HAI 2022 rankings