Thailand is home to around 6 million Muslims, head of Islamic center says

The head of the Islamic Center in Bangkok, Watcharapol Komontamaiti, has estimated that Thailand is home to around 6 million Muslims—approximately 10% of the population—with the majority residing in the southern provinces. Around half a million Muslims live in the capital.

Founded in 1956, the Islamic Center is one of Thailand’s key religious institutions, offering religious services, support for the poor, scholarships, and interfaith dialogue. Komontamaiti, elected in November 2023, emphasized that the center operates independently without direct government oversight, although it collaborates with official bodies such as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Thailand hosts around 4,000 mosques, most of which are in the south, with roughly 200 in Bangkok. The country also has about 700 independent Islamic schools and associations, including around 100 in the capital. The center funds its activities through space rentals and donations, supporting 1,500 to 2,000 students with scholarships annually, and providing aid during natural disasters, regardless of religion.