Thailand Flood Mitigation Budget Analysis (2011-2026)

Thansettakij•Economy•2d ago

Reader Briefing

Thailand has allocated hundreds of billions of baht across various budget types to address flooding from 2011 through August 2026.

•Thailand spent over 93,000 million baht on recovery in early 2012 and issued a 350,000 million baht special loan decree for water management.
•The 20-Year Water Resources Management Master Plan (2018-2037) has seen 125,162 projects implemented with a budget of 314,182 million baht.
•Budget distribution for fiscal year 2023 totaled 53,377.56 million baht, with the Northeast region receiving the highest share at 30.85%.
•The Office of the National Water Resources (ONWR) serves as the central agency for policy oversight and budget screening via the Thai Water Plan system.

Overview

•The 2011 Great Flood caused economic damages exceeding 23,839.21 million baht and flooded over 11.79 million rai of agricultural land.
•The Thai government approved a recovery and infrastructure budget of over 93,000 million baht in early 2012 under a 120,000 million baht ceiling.
•Between 2014 and 2016, Thailand allocated more than 100,000 million baht annually for direct water management.
•In fiscal year 2023, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya received the highest budget allocation at 3,995.06 million baht, while Ubon Ratchathani ranked first in 2025 with 3,421.55 million baht.
•Fiscal year 2025 water management budgets are highly centralized, with 88.3% managed by central government agencies and only 2.18% allocated to local administrative organizations.
•The Ministry of Interior held the largest budget share in fiscal year 2023 at 43.41% (23,171.26 million baht), followed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives at 42.69% (22,786.86 million baht).
•The Office of the National Water Resources was established on October 25, 2017, under NCPO Order 46/2017.
•The Office of the National Water Resources has been allocated a total budget of at least 4,770.59 million baht since its inception in 2018.

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Key Entities

Organization

Bureau of the Budget(สำนักงบประมาณ)ℹ️

The agency providing budget data for the analysis of flood mitigation spending.

Secretariat of the Cabinet(สำนักเลขาธิการคณะรัฐมนตรี)

The agency providing Cabinet resolution data for the analysis of flood mitigation spending.

Ministry of Interior(กระทรวงมหาดไทย)ℹ️

The ministry holding the largest budget share in 2023, operating through the Department of Public Works and Town & Country Planning and the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation.

Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives(กระทรวงเกษตรและสหกรณ์)

A ministry operating through the Royal Irrigation Department, which holds the highest water management budget in the country.

Ministry of Defence(กระทรวงกลาโหม)ℹ️

A ministry driving dredging projects across 37 provinces via the Royal Thai Armed Forces Headquarters and the Royal Thai Army.

Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment(กระทรวงทรัพยากรธรรมชาติและสิ่งแวดล้อม)ℹ️

A ministry operating through the Department of Water Resources and the Department of Groundwater Resources.

Ministry of Transport(กระทรวงคมนาคม)ℹ️

A ministry responsible for repairing roads damaged by floods.

Office of the National Water Resources(สทนช.)ℹ️

A central agency under the Prime Minister's Office responsible for water policy, budget screening via Thai Water Plan, and strategic planning.

Policy

20-Year Water Resources Management Master Plan 2018-2037(แผนแม่บทการบริหารจัดการทรัพยากรน้ำ 20 ปี พ.ศ. 2561 – 2580)

A strategic plan driving water management projects and budget allocation between 2018 and 2037.

Place

Northeastern Region(ภาคตะวันออกเฉียงเหนือ)

The region receiving the highest budget share in 2023 due to low irrigation proportions and its position at the end of the Chi-Mun river basins.

Central Region(ภาคกลาง)

A lowland area receiving floodwaters from the North with dense economic points and communities.

Southern Region(ภาคใต้)

A region that receives particularly high amounts of emergency central budget during disasters.

Bangkok(กรุงเทพมหานคร)ℹ️

A city focusing its budget on large drainage tunnels, pumping stations, and Chao Phraya river embankments.

Western Region(ภาคตะวันตก)

A region focusing budget on riverbank erosion and coastal drainage.

Eastern Region(ภาคตะวันออก)

A region focusing budget on riverbank erosion and coastal drainage.

Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province(จังหวัดพระนครศรีอยุธยา)ℹ️

The province that received the highest budget allocation in 2023 as a central flood catchment area.

Ubon Ratchathani Province(จังหวัดอุบลราชธานี)ℹ️

The province that received the highest budget allocation in 2025 due to its role in the Chi-Mun river basin.

Songkhla Province(จังหวัดสงขลา)ℹ️

A province receiving over 2,300 million baht in both 2023 and 2025.

Nakhon Phanom(นครพนม)ℹ️

A province that received a high amount of budget among the top ranks.

Bueng Kan(บึงกาฬ)ℹ️

A province that received a high amount of budget among the top ranks.

Chiang Rai(เชียงราย)ℹ️

A province that received a high amount of budget among the top ranks.

Chiang Mai(เชียงใหม่)ℹ️

A province that received a high amount of budget among the top ranks.

Law

NCPO Order 46/2017(คำสั่งหัวหน้าคณะรักษาความสงบแห่งชาติ (คสช.) ที่ 46/2560)

The order that led to the establishment of the Office of the National Water Resources on October 25, 2017.