Phitsanulok Province

Phitsanulok (Thai: พิษณุโลก, pronounced [pʰít.sā.nú.lôːk]), one of Thailand's seventy-six provinces, lies in lower northern Thailand. It borders Sukhothai and Uttaradit on the north, Loei and Phetchabun to the east, and Phichit and Kamphaeng Phet to the south. In the northeast it borders Laos.

Phitsanulok

พิษณุโลก
Province
Nakhon Chum Village, Nakhon Thai in the area of Phu Hin Rong Kla National Park
Flag
Seal
Nickname(s): 
Song Khwae
(two tributaries)
Map of Thailand highlighting Phitsanulok Province
CountryThailand
CapitalPhitsanulok
Government
 • GovernorRonnachai Chitwiset (since 2020)
Area
 • Total10,816 km2 (4,176 sq mi)
Area rankRanked 16th
Population
 (2019)[2]
 • Total865,247
 • Rank Ranked 28th
 • Density80/km2 (200/sq mi)
 • Density rankRanked 62nd
Human Achievement Index
 • HAI (2017)0.5895 "average"
Ranked 35th
Time zoneUTC+7 (ICT)
Postal code
65xxx
Calling code055
ISO 3166 codeTH-65
Vehicle registrationพิษณุโลก
Founded11th century
Websitewww.phitsanulok.go.th

Its name means 'Vishnu's heaven'. The first element, Phitsanu (Thai: พิษณุ), is a cognate of "Vishnu", a Hindu god. The second element lok (Thai: โลก) means 'globe' or 'world'.

The capital is Phitsanulok.

History
Main article: History of Phitsanulok Province

The lands of present-day Phitsanulok Province were inhabited since the Stone Age, although the Neolithic inhabitants of the region are not likely to have been the ancestors of the modern Thai people who reside there today. The earliest historical records relating to the area indicate that at a time prior to or during the 11th century, the present-day city of Phitsanulok was a small strategic Khmer outpost known as Song Khwae. During the next century, in 1188, Nakhon Thai, near the center of the present Phitsanulok Province, was established as the capital city of the Singhanavati Kingdom, an early city-state of Thailand. Later, during Thailand's Sukhothai Period, the city of Phitsanulok emerged as a major city in the east of the Sukhothai Kingdom, and the great temples of Wat Chula Manee, Wat Aranyik and Wat Chedi Yod Thong were constructed. In 1357, the renowned Wat Phra Sri Rattana Mahathat was erected, and the Ayutthaya Period witnessed the construction of several of the province's other chief temples. Phitsanulok served for 25 years as the capital city of the Ayutthaya Kingdom. In 1555, King Naresuan the Great was born in Phitsanulok. Naresuan played a significant role in the history of Thailand, as he expanded the kingdom (then called Siam) to its greatest territorial extent by conquering sizable portions of modern-day Burma and Cambodia. In recent times, Phitsanulok Province has become an important agricultural center, part of the "bread basket of Thailand", providing rice and other crops to consumers in Thailand and throughout the world. Extensive agricultural development over the last hundred years or so has spawned a modern infrastructure in the urban areas of the province, bringing with it an array of modern roads, universities, hospitals and other conveniences. Over the years, the Nan River and its tributaries have played a substantial role in the history and development of the region by providing a route for transportation, fertile soil for agriculture, and water for irrigation. The river waters have also served as a route for enemy invaders, and have been the source of periodic widespread flooding throughout the province.

Symbols
Phra Phuttha Chinnarat
  • The provincial seal depicts Phra Buddha Chinnarat, considered one of the most beautiful Buddha figures in Thailand.
  • The provincial flag is purple with the provincial seal in the middle of the flag.
  • The provincial tree is the tree jasmine, Thai dok phip ดอกปีบ or kasalong กาสะลอง.
  • The provincial flower is the yellow flame tree, Thai dok nonthri ดอกนนทรี.
  • The provincial animal is the Thai Bangkaew Dog, in Thai sunakh bangkaew สุนัขบางแก้ว.
  • The provincial mascot is the yellow white tail fighting cock, Thai kai lueng hang khao ไก่เหลืองหางขาว.
  • The provincial motto is, "Phitsanulok, a town of the excellent Phra Buddha Chinnarat, the birthplace of King Naresuan the Great, a raft community, with delicious dried bananas as well as fantastic caves and waterfalls".[4]

National parks
Foggy morning at Thung Salaeng Luang National Park

Religion
Phra Phuttha Chinnarat

Buddhist

As of 2019 the population of Phitsanulok was 95 percent Buddhist with some 328 Buddhist temples and 272 samnak song (houses of monks that are not officially registered) in the province.[5]

• Mueang Phitsanulok district has 83 temples and 26 samnak song, a few of the 83 temples are:
• Wat Phra Si Rattana Mahathat (royal temple with Buddha Chinnarat)
• Wat Chulamani (oldest standing temple in Phitsanulok province)
• Wat Aranyik (historic temple)
• Wat Chan Tawan Tok (with 60 meter high sala under construction)

The other eight districts have the following numbers of temples and samnak song:

• Nakhon Thai district:14 temples and 46 samnak song
• Chat Trakan district:  7 temples and 26 samnak song
• Bang Rakam district:47 temples and 52 samnak song
• Bang Krathum district:33 temples and 12 samnak song
• Phrom Phiram district:56 temples and 16 samnak song
• Wat Bot district:21 temples and 19 samnak song
• Wang Thong district:50 temples and 43 samnak song
• Noen Maprang district:17 temples and 32 samnak song

Christian

There are 50 Christian churches in Phitsanulok province.

• Mueang district:11 churches
• Nakhon Thai district:16 churches
• Chat Trakan district:  9 churches
• Bang Rakam district:  3 churches
• Bang Krathum:  1 church
• Phrom Phiram:  4 churches
• Wat Bot district:  1 church
• Wang Thong district:  2 churches
• Noen Maprang district:  3 churches

Muslim

Muslims have their Masjid Abubak Pakistan mosque in Mueang Phitsanulok district.

Administrative divisions
Main article: Phitsanulok provincial and local government

Phitsanulok province is divided into nine districts (amphoe). These are further subdivided into 93 subdistricts (tambon) and 1050 villages (muban).[2] As of 26 November 2019 for local government there are:[6] one Phitsanulok Provincial Administrative Organisation - PPOA (ongkan borihan suan changwat phitsanulok) and 26 municipal (thesaban) areas in the province. Phitsanulok has city (thesaban nakhon) status, Aranyik has town (thesaban mueang) status and 24 subdistrict municipalities (thesaban tambon). The non-municipal areas are administered by 76 Subdistrict Administrative Organisations - SAO (ongkan borihan suan tambon).

Districts, Phitsanulok Province # Name Thai Population Tambon Muban
1 Mueang Phitsanulok เมืองพิษณุโลก 291,311 20 173
2 Nakhon Thai นครไทย 87,772 11 147
3 Chat Trakan ชาติตระการ 41,346 6 72
4 Bang Rakam บางระกำ 94,643 11 142
5 Bang Krathum บางกระทุ่ม 47,359 9 87
6 Phrom Phiram พรหมพิราม 86,103 12 123
7 Wat Bot วัดโบสถ์ 37,694 6 61
8 Wang Thong วังทอง 121,047 11 168
9 Noen Maprang เนินมะปราง 57,972 7 77

Demography

Population

The total population of Phitsanulok province is 865,247, of which Mueang Phitsanulok district is the most densely populated district with 291,311 people. Wang Thong district also has a population of more than 100,000 people. The remaining seven districts have a population of 35,000 to 95,000, of which Wat Bot district is the less densely populated district with 37,694 people.[7]

Population 2019 census
District Population Area Population density
DataProportionsq.kmsq.mi.Proportionper sq.kmper sq.mi
1Mueang291,31133.7%750.8289.97.0%3881,005
2Wang Thong121,04714.0%1,687.1651.415.6%72186
3Bang Rakam94,64310.9%936.0361.48.6%101262
4Nakhon Thai87,77210.1%2,220.4857.320.5%40102
5Phrom Phiram86,10310.0%832.7321.57.7%103268
6Noen Maprang57,9726.7%1,029.6397.59.5%56146
7Bang Krathum47,3595.5%447.0172.64.1%106274
8Chat Trakan41,3464.8%1,586.1612.414.7%2668
9Wat Bot37,6944.3%1,326.2512.012.3%2874
 Total865,247100.0%10,815.94,176.0100.0%80207

Population density of Phitsanulok province is 80 people per square kilometer (207 people per sq.mi.), of which Mueang Phitsanulok district has the highest density with 388 people per square kilometer (1,005 people per sq.mi.) and Chat Trakan district the lowest density with 26 people per square kilometer (68 people per sq.mi.)

 
1 = Mueang Phitsanulok  2 = Bang Krathum  3 = Phrom Phiram  4 = Bang Rakam 
 
5 = Wang Thong  6 = Noen Maprang  7 = Nakhon Thai  8 = Wat Bot  9 = Chat Trakan 

Urban areas

Urban population in Phitsanulok province is 274,802 (31.8%) There is one urban area with more than 150,000 inhabitants: centered around the city of Phitsanulok. An urban area around Bang Rakam has more than 30,000 people. There are also seven urban areas with 7,000 to 13,000 people. Furthermore, there are six urban areas with less than 5,500 people, of which Phrom Phiram is the smallest with about 1,100 people.[8]
See also: Phitsanulok Local Government

  Urban area District Municipality People
1PhitsanulokMueangPhitsanulok city  66,106
  MueangAranyik town  30,508
  MueangHua Ro  24,902
  MueangTha Thong  13,993
  MueangBan Khlong  13,562
  MueangPhlai Chumphon    7,476
   Total156,547
2Bang RakamBang RakamBang Rakam M.M.14,649
  Bang RakamPhan Sao  6,143
  Bang RakamBueng Raman  4,390
  Bang RakamBang Rakam  4,337
  Bang RakamPlak Raet  3,636
   Total33,155
3Noen KumBang KrathumNoen Kum12,773
  Urban area District Municipality People
 4Ban YaengNakhon ThaiBan Yaeng10,235
 5Nakhon ThaiNakhon ThaiNakhon Thai  9,278
 6Bang KrathumBang KrathumHuai Kaeo  5,332
  Bang KrathumSanam Khli  2,496
  Bang KrathumBang Krathum  1,417
   Total  9,245
 7Sai YoiNoen MaprangSai Yoi  8,636
 8Wat BotWat BotWat Bot  8,078
 9Ban MungNoen MaprangBan Mung  7,003
10Pa DaengChat TrakanPa Daeng  5,408
11Wang ThongWang ThongWang Thong  4,626
12Noen MaprangNoen MaprangNoen Maprang  3,478
13Wong KhongPhrom PhiramWong Khong  3,210
14Ban MaiMueangBan Mai  1,987
15Phrom PhiramPhrom PhiramPhrom Phiram  1,143

Municipal/non-municipal areas

Of the total population of Phitsanulok province, 31.8% live in municipal areas. In Mueang Phitsanulok district, this is 54.4% of the people. Between 30% and 50% in three districts live in municipal areas. In two districts this is between 20% and 25%. Finally, it is less than 15% in three districts, with Wang Thong district having the lowest rate at 3.8%.[8]

District Population Municipal area Non-municipal area
DataProportionDataProportion
1Mueang291,311158,53454.4%132,77745.6%
2Bang Krathum47,35922,01846.5%25,34153.5%
3Bang Rakam94,64333,15535.0%61,48865.0%
4Noen Maprang57,97219,11733.0%38,85567.0%
5Nakhon Thai87,77219,51322.2%68,25977.8%
6Wat Bot37,6948,07821.4%29,61678.6%
7Chat Trakan41,3465,40813.1%35,93886.9%
8Phrom Phiram86,1034,3535.1%81,75094.9%
9Wang Thong121,0474,6263.8%116,42196.2%
 Total865,247274,80231.8%590,44568.2%
 
1 = Mueang Phitsanulok  2 = Bang Krathum  3 = Bang Rakam  4 = Noen Maprang 
 
5 = Nakhon Thai  6 = Wat Bot  7 = Chat Trakan  8 = Phrom Phiram  9 = Wang Thong 

Age structure

At the beginning of the 21st century there are lower birth rates. There are more men then women up to 40 years, suggesting that slightly more boys than girls born each year. Above 40 years of age there are more women then men, which reflects the higher life expectancy of women.[9]

Age structure
Male Years Female Subtotal
9,19680+14,08823,284
7,54275-7910,24117,783
12,01870-7414,93926,957
18,38665-6922,23940,625
23,90060-6427,26151,161
30,71655-5934,75265,468
32,50950-5436,40468,913
32,21545-4934,47666,691
32,04440-4432,93664,980
Age structure
Male Years Female Subtotal
31,45735-3930,86162,318
28,62030-3427,81656,436
30,51525-2928,80459,319
33,38020-2430,33063,710
25,96615-1926,93052,896
24,56910-1423,18947,758
23,4355-922,12745,562
19,5550-418,55038,105
423,304Total441,943865,247

Education

Phitsanulok Province is the educational center of the lower northern region. There are many educational institutions at all levels, from kindergarten to university level, both government and private.[10]

Higher education

There are six higher education institutes in the province with 38,553 students:

  • Naresuan University with 16 faculties, 184 courses and with more than 22,000 students is leader of the universities in Phitsanulok province.
  • Pibulsongkram Rajabhat University with 6 faculties.
  • Rajamangala University of Technology Lanna, campus Phitsanulok with 3 faculties.
  • Phitsanulok University, a private university with 5 faculties is the last with 174 students.
  • Sirindhorn College of Public Health Phitsanulok Province.
  • Boromarajonani College of Nursing Buddhachinaraj.

Vocational education
  • Total seven vocational colleges with 11,023 students.

Secondary education
  • Total   41 upper secondary schools with 15,982 students.
  • Total 164 lower  secondary schools with 26,939 students.

Primary education
  • Total 256 primary schools with 52,508 pupils.

Healthcare

Government hospitals

There are thirteen government hospitals in Phitsanulok Province with total 2,000 beds, of which Mueang Phitsanulok District has four hospitals:[11]

  • Buddhachinaraj Phitsanulok Hospital is the provincial's and city's primary public hospital with 1,000 beds, half of provincial's total.
  • Naresuan University Hospital is the regional tertiary care hospital.
  • Fort Somdet Phra Naresuan Maharat Hospital is the army hospital, which is open to the general public.
  • Royal Thai Air Force Wing 46 Hospital is the air force hospital, which is also open to the general public.

The other eight districts each have a hospital, Wang Thong District has two hospitals as an exception.

Private hospitals

Five private hospitals are in Mueang Phitsanulok District with total 400 beds:

  • Bangkok Hospital Phitsanulok.
  • Phitsanulok Hospital.
  • Pitsanuvej Hospital.
  • Ratanavej Hospital.
  • Radiotherapy and Nuclear Medicine Hospital.

Health promoting hospitals

There are total 147 health promoting hospitals, of which:

  • 24 in Mueang Phitsanulok District
  • 20 in Nakhon Thai District
  • 12 in Chat Trakan District
  • 20 in Bang Rakam District
  • 13 in Bang Krathum District
  • 19 in Phrom Phiram District
  •   9 in Wat Bot District
  • 19 in Wang Thong District
  • 11 in Noen Maprang District

Clinics

Around 412 clinics are in Phitsanulok Province, of which 280 clinics (68%) in Mueang Phitsanulok Province, 17 in Nakhon Thai, 6 in Chat Trakan, 17 in Bang Rakam, 12 in Bang Krathum, 29 in Phrom Phiram, 13 in Wat Bot, 25 in Wang Thong and 13 in Noen Maprang Districts.

Transport
Phitsanulok Station

Air

Phitsanulok is served by Phitsanulok Airport.

Rail

Phitsanulok's main station is Phitsanulok Railway Station.

Human achievement index 2017
Health Education Employment Income
62 28 40 47
Housing Family Transport Participation
32 53 24 49
Province Phitsanulok, with an HAI 2017 value of 0.5895 is "average", occupies place 35 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.[3]

RankClassification
  1 - 15"high"
16 - 30"somewhat high"
31 - 45"average"
45 - 60"somewhat low"
61 - 77"low"

See also

References
  1. Advancing Human Development through the ASEAN Community, Thailand Human Development Report 2014, table 0:Basic Data (PDF) (Report). United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Thailand. pp. 134–135. ISBN 978-974-680-368-7. Retrieved 17 January 2016, Data has been supplied by Land Development Department, Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, at Wayback Machine.
  2. "สถิติทางการทะเบียน" [Registration statistics]. bora.dopa.go.th. Department of Provincial Administration (DOPA). December 2019. Retrieved 22 September 2020. Download จำนวนประชากร ปี พ.ศ.2562 - Download population year 2019
  3. Human achievement index 2017 by National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB), pages 1-40, maps 1-9, retrieved 14 September 2019, ISBN 978-974-9769-33-1
  4. "คำขวัญพิษณุโลก" [Phitsanulok motto]. Mthai (in Thai). 2013-11-10. Retrieved 2020-03-03.
  5. Phitsanulok Provincial Statistical Report 2562-2019. Phitsanulok Provincial Statistical Office (Report). National Statistical Office (NSO). 2020. p. 51. ISSN 1905-8314, In the 2018 yearbook, the figures for temples (352) and for samnak song (247) are incorrectly added together (600) as being the figures for temples.
  6. "Number of local government organizations by province". dla.go.th. Department of Local Administration (DLA). 26 November 2019. Retrieved 10 December 2019. 36 Phitsanulok: 1 PAO, 1 City mun., 1 Town mun., 24 Subdistrict mun., 76 SAO.
  7. Phitsanulok Provincial Statistical Report 2562-2019. Phitsanulok Provincial Statistical Office (Report). National Statistical Office (NSO). 2020. pp. 5, 9. ISSN 1905-8314.
  8. Phitsanulok Provincial Statistical Report 2562-2019. Phitsanulok Provincial Statistical Office (Report). National Statistical Office (NSO). 2020. pp. 6–7. ISSN 1905-8314, the following municipalities are missing from the report: Hua Ro (30-09-2011), Tha Thong (24-08-2012), Ban Khlong (24-08-2012), Bang Rakam Mueang Mai (30-09-2011) and Huai Kaeo.
  9. Phitsanulok Provincial Statistical Report 2562-2019. Phitsanulok Provincial Statistical Office (Report). National Statistical Office (NSO). 2020. p. 69. ISSN 1905-8314.
  10. Phitsanulok Provincial Statistical Report 2562-2019: Education Statistics. Phitsanulok Provincial Statistical Office (Report). National Statistical Office (NSO). 2020. pp. 33–45. ISSN 1905-8314.
  11. Phitsanulok Provincial Statistical Report 2562-2019: Health Statistics. Phitsanulok Provincial Statistical Office (Report). National Statistical Office (NSO). 2020. pp. 59–60. ISSN 1905-8314.
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