View source for Ranong province

{{distinguish|Rayong province}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name               = Ranong
| native_name        = {{nativename|th|ระนอง}}
| native_name_lang   = th
| settlement_type    = [[Provinces of Thailand|Province]]
| translit_lang1_info1 = ระนอง {{font|size=70%|({{IPA|th|ràʔ.nɔ̂ːŋ|pron}})}}
| translit_lang1_type1 = [[Southern Thai language|Southern Thai]]
| translit_lang1     = Other
| image_skyline      = {{multiple image
| border                  = infobox
| total_width             = 280
| image_style             = border:1;
| perrow                  = 2/2/2
| image1                  = เกาะกำตกresize.jpg
| image2                  = เขาหญ้าปี2010-Bald mountain Ranong - panoramio.jpg
| image3                  = Geyser Hot springs Landmark At Raksawarin Public Park in Ranong, Southern Thailand , Hot spring for relaxation 01.jpg
| image4                  = Crinum thaianum in Thailand.jpg
| image5                  = RanongMainStreet.JPG
| image6                  = สุสานเจ้าเมืองระนอง4 - panoramio.jpg
}}
| image_size         = 200px
| image_caption      = From top: Kam Tok island, [[Phu Khao Ya]], Raksawarin Hot Springs, ''[[Crinum thaianum]]'' also known locally as ''Hom nam'', The province main street, Ranong Governor's Grave
| nickname           = City of Eight Months of Rain, Four Months of Sunshine{{efn|{{langx|th|link=no|เมืองฝนแปดแดดสี่}}}}{{force singular}}
| mottoes              =  "The Kra Isthmus. Grassy hills. Sweet cashews. Mineral streams. The true pearl, Ranong City."{{efn|{{langx|th|link=no|คอคอดกระ ภูเขาหญ้า กาหยูหวาน ธารน้ำแร่ มุกแท้เมืองระนอง}}}}
| image_flag         = Provincial Flag of Ranong.svg
| image_seal         = Seal of Ranong Province.png
| image_map          = Thailand Ranong locator map.svg
| mapsize            = frameless
| map_alt            = 
| map_caption        = Map of Thailand highlighting Ranong province
| coordinates_footnotes = 
| subdivision_type   = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name   = [[Thailand]]
| seat_type          = Capital
| seat               = [[Ranong]]
| leader_party       = 
| leader_title       = Governor
| leader_name        = Supoj Putikiatkhajon
| leader_party1      = 
| leader_title1      = PAO President
| leader_name1       = 
| area_footnotes     = <ref name="AREA">{{cite web |url=https://www.forest.go.th |title=Table 2 Forest area Separate province year 2019 |publisher=Royal Forest Department |access-date=6 April 2021}}</ref>
| area_total_km2     = 3,230
| area_rank          = [[Provinces of Thailand|61st]]
| elevation_footnotes = 
| elevation_m        = 
| population_footnotes = <ref name="DOPA2024">{{cite web |url=https://stat.bora.dopa.go.th/stat/statnew/statMenu/newStat/home.php |publisher=Department of Provincial Administration (DOPA) |title=Official statistics registration systems |access-date=10 February 2025 |postscript= , year 2024 >provincial level >Excel File >no.85}}</ref>
| population_total   = {{decrease}}192,927
| population_as_of   = 2024
| population_rank    = [[Provinces of Thailand|76th]]
| population_density_km2 = 60
| population_density_rank = [[Provinces of Thailand|69th]]
| population_demonym = 
| population_note    = 
| demographics_type2 = GDP
| demographics2_footnotes = <ref name="NESDB-2017">{{cite journal|title=''Gross Regional and Provincial Product, 2019 Edition''|journal=Gross Regional and Provincial Product |date=July 2019|url=https://www.nesdc.go.th/ewt_dl_link.php?nid=5628&filename=gross_regional|access-date=22 January 2020|publisher=Office of the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC)|language=en|issn=1686-0799}}</ref>
| demographics2_title1 = Total
| demographics2_info1 = [[baht]] 27 billion<br />([[US$]]0.9 billion) (2019)
| demographics_type1 = Human Achievement Index
| demographics1_footnotes = <ref name="HAI 2565">{{cite web |url=https://www.nesdc.go.th/main.php?filename=Social_HAI |department=Office of the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC)|title=ข้อมูลสถิติดัชนีความก้าวหน้าของคน ปี 2565 (PDF) |language=thai |trans-title=Human Achievement Index Databook year 2022 (PDF) |access-date=12 March 2024 |postscript= , page 62}}</ref>
| demographics1_title1 = HAI (2022)
| demographics1_info1 = 0.6291&nbsp;"somewhat low"<br/>[[#Human achievement index 2022|Ranked 56th]]
| timezone1          = [[Time in Thailand|ICT]]
| utc_offset1        = +7
| postal_code_type   = [[List of postal codes in Thailand|Postal code]]
| postal_code        = 85xxx
| area_code_type     = [[Telephone numbers in Thailand|Calling code]]
| area_code          = 077
| iso_code           = [[ISO 3166-2:TH|TH-85]]
| website            = {{URL|ranong.go.th}}
| footnotes          = 
| official_name      = 
}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name                    = Ranong Provincial Administrative Organization
| native_name             = องค์การบริหารส่วนจังหวัดระนอง
| native_name_lang        = th
| settlement_type         = [[Provincial Administrative Organization]]
| government_type         = [[Administrative divisions of Thailand#Local administrative divisions|Local administrative divisions]]
| governing_body          = Ranong Provincial Administrative Organization
| leader_title            = President
| leader_name             = Siharat Sapakul
| website                 = {{URL|ranongpao.go.th}}
}}
[[File:พระราชวังรัตนรังสรรค์.jpg|thumb|Rattanarangsan Palace (Ranong)]]
'''Ranong'''{{efn|{{langx|th|ระนอง}} {{IPA|th|rá.nɔ̄ːŋ|}}; {{Langx|ms|Rundung}}, روندوڠ}} is one of [[Thailand]]'s southern [[Provinces of Thailand|provinces]] (''changwat''), on the west coast along the [[Andaman Sea]]. It has the fewest inhabitants of all Thai provinces (making it the least populous of all the Thai provinces). Provinces neighboring Ranong are (clockwise) [[Chumphon province|Chumphon]], [[Surat Thani province|Surat Thani]], and [[Phang Nga province|Phang Nga]]. To the west, it borders [[Kawthaung]], [[Tanintharyi Region|Tanintharyi]], [[Burma|Myanmar]].

==Geography==
Ranong is on the [[Kra Isthmus]], a narrow strip of land, only {{convert|44|km}} wide,<ref name="BP-20180719">{{cite news |last1=Svasti |first1=Pichaya |title=Another Pearl of the Andaman |url=https://www.bangkokpost.com/news/special-reports/1506074/another-pearl-of-the-andaman |access-date=19 July 2018 |work=Bangkok Post |date=19 July 2018}}</ref> that connects Thailand with the [[Malay Peninsula]], on the west of the [[Phuket mountain range]]. It has a long coast on the [[Andaman Sea]]. The province, together with [[Trat province#Climate|Trat province]], is known for being one of the wettest places in Thailand, the rainy season lasting for about eight months.<ref>{{cite web|title=Ranong|url=http://www.tourismthailand.org/Where-to-Go/Ranong|website=Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT)|access-date=26 May 2015|archive-date=8 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150908094317/http://www.tourismthailand.org/Where-to-Go/Ranong|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Ranong is the least populated province. The total forest area is {{convert|1,726|km2|abbr=on}} or 53.5 percent of provincial area, and 67 percent is mountainous.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.forest.go.th |title=ตารางที่ 2 พี้นที่ป่าไม้ แยกรายจังหวัด พ.ศ.2562 |year=2019 |department=Royal Forest Department |language=Thai |trans-title=Table 2 Forest area Separate province year 2019 |access-date=6 April 2021 |postscript=, information, Forest statistics Year 2019}}</ref> In former years the major industry was [[tin]] mining, but most mines are now exhausted. White clay mining (for the production of porcelain) and fishing are now the main industries, along with rubber and [[cashew nut]]s.

The Ngao Mangrove Forest Research Centre, also known as the Ranong Biosphere Reserve, in the north of [[Kapoe District]], covering 189,431 [[Rai (unit)|rai]]<ref name="BP-20180719" /> (303.09&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>), was declared in 1997. It is the fourth biosphere reserve of Thailand, and the only one on the seacoast protecting mangrove forests.

===National parks===
There are four national parks, along with seven other national parks, make up [[List of Protected Areas Regional Offices of Thailand#Protected Areas Regional Office 4 (Surat Thani)|region 4 (Surat Thani)]] of Thailand's protected areas. (Visitors in fiscal year 2024)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://portal.dnp.go.th/Content/nationalpark?contentId=20014 |title=สถิตินักท่องเที่ยวที่เข้าไปอุทยนห่งชาติ ปีงบประมาณ พ.ศ. 2567 |language=th |trans-title=Statistics of tourists visiting national parks in fiscal year 2024 |department=Department National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation |access-date=6 September 2025}}</ref>
{|
|-
| [[Namtok Ngao National Park]] ||{{convert|668|km2|abbr=on}} ||&nbsp;&nbsp;(94,691)
|-
| [[Mu Ko Ranong National Park]] ||{{convert|357|km2|abbr=on}} ||&nbsp;&nbsp;(1,716)
|-
| [[Laem Son National Park]] ||{{convert|315|km2|abbr=on}} ||&nbsp;&nbsp;(21,911)
|-
| [[Lam Nam Kra Buri National Park]]&nbsp; ||{{convert|160|km2|abbr=on}} ||&nbsp;&nbsp;(34,135)
|}

===Wildlife sanctuaries===
There are four wildlife sanctuaries, along with three other wildlife sanctuaries, make up [[List of Protected Areas Regional Offices of Thailand#Protected Areas Regional Office 4 (Surat Thani)|region 4 (Surat Thani)]] of Thailand's protected areas.
{|
|-
| [[Khlong Nakha Wildlife Sanctuary]] ||{{convert|530|km2|abbr=on}}
|-
| [[Khuan Mae Yai Mon Wildlife Sanctuary]] ||{{convert|464|km2|abbr=on}}
|-
| [[Thung Raya–Na Sak Wildlife Sanctuary]] ||{{convert|338|km2|abbr=on}}
|-
| [[Prince Chumphon South Park Wildlife Sanctuary]]&nbsp; ||{{convert|315|km2|abbr=on}}
|}

{|role="presentation" class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|<strong>Location protected areas of Ranong</strong>
|&nbsp;
|-
|[[File:Map Ranong Protected Areas.png|thumb|left|700px|{{resize|150%|'''&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Ranong protected areas'''}}]]
{| class= "wikitable" style= "width:35%; display:inline-table;"
|-
| style="width:3%; background:#00FF00;"|&nbsp;
| style="width:32%;"|'''National park'''
|-
|&nbsp;&nbsp;1 ||[[Laem Son National Park|Laem Son]]
|-
|&nbsp;&nbsp;2 ||[[Lam Nam Kra Buri National Park|Lam Nam Kra Buri]]
|-
|&nbsp;&nbsp;3 ||[[Mu Ko Ranong National Park|Mu Ko Ranong]]
|-
|&nbsp;&nbsp;4 ||[[Namtok Ngao National Park|Namtok Ngao]]
|}
{| class="wikitable" style="width:40%; display:inline-table;"
|-
| style="width:3%; background:#FFA400;"|&nbsp;
| style="width:37%;"|'''Wildlife sanctuary'''
|-
|&nbsp;&nbsp;5 ||[[Khuan Mae Yai Mon Wildlife Sanctuary|Khuan Mae Yai Mon]]
|-
|&nbsp;&nbsp;6 ||[[Khlong Nakha Wildlife Sanctuary|Khlong Nakha]]
|-
|&nbsp;&nbsp;7 ||[[Prince Chumphon South Park Wildlife Sanctuary|Prince Chumphon South Park]]
|-
|&nbsp;&nbsp;8 ||[[Thung Raya-Na Sak Wildlife Sanctuary|Thung Raya-Na Sak]]
|}
|}

==History==
Ranong province once was a deputy town of [[Chumphon]] in the [[Ayutthaya Kingdom|Ayutthaya era]] (1350–1767).<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.m-culture.go.th/ranong/ewt_news.php?nid=494&filename=index|title=พัฒนาการทางประวัติศาสตร์ระนอง|last=Ministry of Culture|author-link=Ministry of Culture (Thailand)|date=26 March 2017|access-date=20 August 2019}}</ref> It was a small, mountainous town that protected Chumphon from Burma. The population was very low until the discovery of tin, when people from many cities and foreigners started to visit Ranong to do tin business there. This also gave rise to the name Ranong, which was a distorted form of ''rae nong'' (แร่นอง), meaning "full of minerals".<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://ranong.cdd.go.th/ประวัติความเป็นมา|title=ประวัติความเป็นมา|last=Provincial Community Development Office of Ranong|date=4 October 2016|access-date=20 August 2019}}{{Dead link|date=August 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> The ruler of Ranong was known after the town as ''Luang Ranong'' ({{Langx|th|หลวงระนอง}})

At the start of the [[Rattanakosin Kingdom (1782–1932)|Rattanakosin era]] (1781–present), a wealthy Chinese merchant, [[Kho Su Jiang]] bought a majority share of the tin business in Ranong and was appointed tax collector of the region, with the title ''Luang Rattana Setti'' ({{Langx|th|หลวงรัตนเศรษฐี}}), by King [[Rama III|Nangklao]] (Rama III). In 1854, the ''Luang Ranong'' died. King [[Mongkut]] (Rama IV) then promoted Kho Su Jiang to the position, promoting him to ''Phra Rattana Setti'' ({{Langx|th|พระรัตนเศรษฐี}}). By then, Ranong's wealth had increased greatly and through taxation was a significant source of income for the capital, thus in 1877 King [[Chulalongkorn]] (Rama V) elevated Ranong to provincial status, answering directly to Bangkok as opposed to Chumphon, with Phra Rattana Setti becoming its first governor.<ref name=":0" />

After the [[First Anglo-Burmese War]], when the British assumed control of [[Tanintharyi Region|Tenasserim]] and the [[Kraburi River]] became the demarcation line between Siam and British-controlled Burma, Ranong became an important border city where goods were exchanged, a status that it still holds today.

Being located on the [[Kra Isthmus]], the narrowest part (44 kilometres) of the [[Malay Peninsula]], a proposal of [[Thai Canal|a canal]] through the area has been long suggested, particularly by the French. If successful, traveling from Europe to China would be faster through this route instead of circumnavigating the [[Malay Peninsula]]. This was seen as a threat to the financial growth of the harbors of [[Singapore in the Straits Settlements|Singapore]] and [[Penang]], which at the time were owned by Britain, who therefore forced the suspension of the project. At the end of [[World War II]], Thailand signed a British-imposed treaty called "The Termination of The State of War Between Siam and Allies", which forbade Thailand from digging such a canal without British permission. This treaty was revoked in 1954.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.malaymail.com/news/what-you-think/2013/06/28/proposed-thai-canal-project-between-myth-and-reality-mohd-hazmi-mohd-rusli/488301|title=Proposed Thai canal project: Between myth and reality|date=28 June 2013|work=[[Malay Mail]]|access-date=20 August 2019}}</ref> Since then, plans for the canal have continued to be suggested and discussed, even in the present day, though [[Prime Minister of Thailand|Prime Minister]] [[Prayut Chan-o-cha]] said in 2018 that it was not a government priority.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/proposed-kra-canal-not-priority-project-for-thai-govt|title=Proposed Kra Canal not priority project for Thai govt|date=13 February 2018|work=[[The Straits Times]]|access-date=20 August 2019}}</ref>

Ranong has also been historically significant as a residence for royal tours of the southern provinces, with many kings of Thailand visiting Ranong in the past. The first was King Chulalongkorn, who stayed at Rattana Ransan palace for three nights in 1890. The palace is now a landmark in Ranong. King [[Prajadhipok]] (Rama VII) visited in 1928, and King [[Bhumibol Adulyadej|Bhumibol]] (Rama IX) and Queen [[Sirikit]] visited in 1959.

==Climate==
Most of Thailand receives from 1,200 to 1,600&nbsp;mm of precipitation per year. Two provinces, Ranong and [[Trat province|Trat]], receive more than 4,500&nbsp;mm a year making them the wettest places in the country.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Climate of Thailand |url=https://www.tmd.go.th/en/archive/thailand_climate.pdf |website=Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) |access-date=21 June 2019 |page=4 |archive-date=15 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221015112815/https://www.tmd.go.th/en/archive/thailand_climate.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>

For this reason, Ranong is called ''"Mueang Fon Paet Daet Si"'' (เมืองฝนแปดแดดสี่, {{IPA|th|mɯːaŋ fǒn pɛ̀ːt dɛ̀ːt sìː|pron}}, {{lit|the city of eight months of rain and four months of sunshine}}), meaning it rains for eight months of the year, and only four months are without rain.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://travel.trueid.net/detail/EWeegqmr8VdW|author=Muzika|date=2021-09-16|accessdate=2025-09-17|language=thai|title=ประวัติจังหวัด ระนอง เมืองฝนแปดแดดสี่ แหล่งบ่อน้ำร้อนออนเซ็นเมืองไทย|work=TrueID}}</ref>

==Symbols==
The [[Seals of the provinces of Thailand|provincial seal]] shows a castle on top of a hill, as an aide memoire that King [[Chulalongkorn]] (Rama V) once visited Ranong and stayed at the Ratana Rangsan Castle on top of the Niveskiri Hill. The number five refers to King Rama V; the castle is Ratana Rangsan Palace; the mountain is Niveshkiri; the royal tray refers to the people of Ranong.<ref name=OSMA>{{cite web|title=Symbol of Ranong|url=http://www.osmsouth-w.moi.go.th/osm-introduce.php?url=ranong-logo&l=en|website=OSM Andamnan: The Office of Strategy Management for Southern province Cluster|access-date=26 May 2015|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304001158/http://www.osmsouth-w.moi.go.th/osm-introduce.php?url=ranong-logo&l=en|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The provincial slogan is, "Kra Isthmus, mountain grass, cashew nut, mineral water stream, and real pearl of Ranong."<ref name=OSMA />

The [[list of Thai provincial trees|provincial tree]] is the [[Lagerstroemia speciosa|Banaba]] (''Lagerstroemia speciosa''), and the provincial flower is the [[orchid]] ''[[Dendrobium formosum]]''. The [[endemic]] [[terrestrial crab]] ''[[Phricotelphusa sirindhorn]]'' is the provincial aquatic life.

==Administrative divisions==
===Central government===
[[File:Districts_Ranong.svg|thumb|Map with five districts]]
Ranong is divided into five districts (''[[amphoe]]''). These are further divided into 30 subdistricts (''[[tambon]]'') and 178 villages (''[[muban]]'').<ref name=DOPA2>{{cite web |url=https://stat.bora.dopa.go.th/stat/statnew/statMenu/newStat/home.php |publisher=Department of Provincial Administration |title=Official statistics registration systems |access-date=6 January 2025 |postscript=, year 2023 >village level >ExcelFile >no.8501-8599 >Excel line 85759-85992}}</ref> 
{| class="wikitable wikitable" syle="width:50%;"
|-
! No. !! District !! Thai !! Malay !! Pop. !! subdistricts !! Villages
|-
| 1.|| [[Amphoe Mueang Ranong|Mueang Ranong]] || เมืองระนอง || Bandar Raya Rundung || 93,271 || 9 || 38
|-
| 2.|| [[Amphoe La-un|La-un]] || ละอุ่น ||Pak Un || 15,240 || 7 || 30
|-
| 3.|| [[Amphoe Kapoe|Kapoe]] || กะเปอร์ || Kapur || 22,093 || 5 || 34
|-
| 4.|| [[Amphoe Kra Buri|Kra Buri]] || กระบุรี || Segenting Kera || 48,163 || 7 || 61
|-
| 5.|| [[Amphoe Suk Samran|Suk Samran]] || สุขสำราญ || - || 14,594 || 2 || 15
|-
|  || || - || Total || 193,371 || 30 || 178
|}

===Local government===
As of December 2023 there are: one Ranong provincial administrative organization - PAO (''{{lang|th-Latn|ongkan borihan suan changwat - o bo cho}}'') and 12 municipal areas (''thesaban'') in the province. Ranong and Bang Rin have town (''[[thesaban mueang]]'') status. Further 10 subdistrict municipalities (''[[thesaban tambon]]'').<ref name=DOPA2/>
{| class="wikitable" style="width:50%;"
|-
! Town municipality !! Pop. !! website
|-
| Bang Rin || 22,7830 || {{URL|bangrin.go.th}}
|-
| Ranong || 17,779 || {{URL|ranongcity.go.th}}
|}
{| class="wikitable" style="width:50%;"
|-
! Subdistrict municipality !! Pop. !! website
|-
| Bang Non || 14,443 || {{URL|bangnoncity.go.th}}
|-
| Choporo || 12,950 || {{URL|jpr.go.th}}
|-
| Ratchakrut || 9,766 || {{URL|ratchakrudcity.go.th}}
|-
| Pak Nam Tha Ruea || 8,071 || {{URL|paknamtarua.go.th}}
|-
| Kamphuan || 7,029 || {{URL|kumpuan.go.th}}
|-
| Nam Chuet || 3,503 || {{URL|namchuet.go.th}}
|-
| La-un || 2,629 || {{URL|tesabanlaun.go.th}}
|-
| Ngao || 2,399 || {{URL|ngaotown-ranong.go.th}}
|-
| Pak Nam || 2,385 ||
|-
| Kapoe || 1,485 || {{URL|kapercity.go.th}}
|}
The non-municipal areas are administered by 19 subdistrict administrative organisations - SAO (''ongkan borihan suan tambon'').

==Healthcare==
===Hospitals===
There are five hospitals in the province:
* Ranong hospital with 300 beds.
* Kapoe hospital with 35 beds.
* Kra Buri hospital with 30 beds.
* La-un hospital with 16 beds.
* Suk Samran hospital with 10 beds.

===Health promoting hospitals===
There are total forty five [[Hospitals in Thailand#Sub-district Health Promoting Hospitals|health-promoting hospitals]], of which:<ref>{{cite web |url=https://spd.moph.go.th |title=Name-of-the-hospital-service-unit |publisher=Ministry of Public Health |access-date=2 February 2025 |postscript= , >health zone 11}}</ref>
* 16 in Mueang Ranong district
* 8 in La-un district 
* 6 in Kapoe district
* 11 in Kra Buri district
* 4 in Suk Samran district

==Demographics==
===Population===
Population history of Ranong province is as follows:
<ref name="NSO2012">
{{cite web |url=https://www.nso.go.th/public/e-book/Statistical-Yearbook/SYB-2012/81/ |publisher=National Statistical Office Thailand |title=Statistical Yearbook Thailand 2012 |access-date=25 April 2025 |postscript= , year 2011}}
</ref>
<ref name="NSO2021">
{{cite web |url=https://www.nso.go.th/public/e-book/Statistical-Yearbook/SYB-2021/79/ |publisher=National Statistical Office Thailand |title=Statistical Yearbook Thailand 2021 |access-date=25 April 2025 |postscript= , year 2020}}
</ref>
{| class="wikitable" style="width:80%;"
|-
! 1947 !! 1960 !! 1970 !! 1980 !! 1990 !! 2000 !! 2011 !! 2020
|-
| 21,488 || 38,000 || 59,000 || 83,707 || 117,440 || 161,210 || 183,849 || 194,372
|}

==Religion==
There are forty five [[Theravada]] Buddhist temples in the province.
* 16 in Mueang Ranong district
*  9 in La-un district
*  6 in Kapoe district
* 12 in Kra Buri district
*  2 in Suk Samran district

==Transportation==
[[Phet Kasem Road]] (Thailand Route 4) runs through the province. [[Ranong Airport]] is about {{convert|24|km|mi}} south of [[Ranong]].

The [[Port Authority of Thailand]] operates the Ranong Port, which is Thailand's principal [[Indian Ocean]] port. In 2008, the [[Ranong human-smuggling incident]] resulted in 54 deaths.<ref>{{Cite journal|journal=[[Phuket Gazette]]|title=54 Burmese dead in trafficking horror|date=April 10, 2008|url=https://thethaiger.com/news/phuket/54-Burmese-dead-trafficking-horror|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130112002803/http://www.phuketgazette.net/news/detail.asp?fromsearch=yes&id=6397&Search=driver|archive-date=January 12, 2013|access-date=September 29, 2018}}</ref>

==Human achievement index 2022==
{| class="wikitable floatright" style="width:400px;"
|- 
| style="text-align:center; width:100px; background:black; color:white;"| Health
| style="text-align:center; width:100px; background:black; color:white;"| Education
| style="text-align:center; width:100px; background:black; color:white;"| Employment
| style="text-align:center; width:100px; background:black; color:white;"| Income
|-
| [[File:Health icon Thai.png|95px]]
| [[File:Round Landmark School Icon - Transparent.svg|100px]]
| [[File:Employment icon.png|100px]]
| [[File:Numismatics and Notaphily icon.png|100px]]
|-
| style="text-align:center; background:black; color:white;"| 20
| style="text-align:center; background:black; color:white;"| 67
| style="text-align:center; background:black; color:white;"| 31
| style="text-align:center; background:black; color:white;"| 33 
|-
| style="text-align:center; background:black; color:white;"| Housing
| style="text-align:center; background:black; color:white;"| Family
| style="text-align:center; background:black; color:white;"| Transport
| style="text-align:center; background:black; color:white;"| Participation 
|-
| style="height:100px;"| [[File:586-house-with-garden.svg|100px]] 
| [[File:Parents, enfants, famille.png|center|85px]]
| [[File:Groundtransport inv.svg|100px]]
| [[File:Icon Sociopolítica y relaciones internacionales (wikiproyect, es.wp).png|90px]]
|-
| style="text-align:center; background:black; color:white;"| 63
| style="text-align:center; background:black; color:white;"| 10
| style="text-align:center; background:black; color:white;"| 50
| style="text-align:center; background:black; color:white;"| 64  
|-
| colspan="4"; style="background:black; color:white;"| Province Ranong, with an HAI 2022 value of 0.6291 is "somewhat low", occupies place 56 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.<ref name="HAI 2565" />
{| class="wikitable" ---valign="top"
||Rank||Classification
|-
||1–13||High
|-
||14–29||Somewhat high
|-
||30–45||Average
|-
||46–61||Somewhat low
|-
||62–77||Low
|}
{|role= "presentation" class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|<strong>Map with provinces and HAI 2022 rankings</strong>
|-
|[[File:HAI 2022 rankings.svg|950px]]
|}
{{clear}}

==Tourism==
'''Namtok Ngao National Park''' (อุทยานแห่งชาติน้ำตกหงาว)  Covering a total area of approximately 417,500 [[rai (area)|rai]] (668&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>) it was declared a national park on 3 June 1999.<ref>{{cite web|title=Namtok Ngao National Park|url=http://www.dnp.go.th/parkreserve/asp/style1/default.asp?npid=118&lg=2|website=Department of National Parks (DNP) Thailand|access-date=26 May 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150526192310/http://www.dnp.go.th/parkreserve/asp/style1/default.asp?npid=118&lg=2|archive-date=26 May 2015}}</ref>

'''Ko Chang (Ranong)''' (เกาะช้าง) island in tambon Ko Phayam. With an area of 18 square kilometres and 80 homes on the entire island. Cashew and para rubber plantations as well as coastal fisheries are the main industries.<ref>{{cite web |title=Koh Chang |url=https://www.tourismthailand.org/Attraction/Koh-Chang--1130 |website=Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) |access-date=19 July 2018}}</ref>

'''Laem Son National Park'''  (อุทยานแห่งชาติแหลมสน) It covers a total area of 196,875 [[rai (area)|rai]] (31.5 hectares). It also includes islands in the Andaman Sea; namely, Ko Khangkhao and Mu Ko Kam.<ref>{{cite web|title=Laemson National Park|url=http://www.dnp.go.th/parkreserve/asp/style1/default.asp?npid=213&lg=2|website=Department of National Parks (DNP) Thailand|access-date=26 May 2015}}</ref> Places of interest within the national park include:

*'''Hat Bang Ben''' (หาดบางเบน) is a long sandy beach shaded by pine trees where the national park headquarters is located.
*'''Hat Laem Son''' (หาดแหลมสน) is a white sandy beach approximately four kilometres next to Hat Bang Ben.
*'''Hat Praphat''' or '''Hat Hin Thung''' (หาดประพาส หรือ หาดหินทุ่ง) Similar to Hat Bang Ben, Hat Praphat is a large beach shaded by pine trees.
*'''Ko Khangkhao''' (เกาะค้างคาว) is an island with fine sandy beaches and a gravel beach known as Hat Hin Ngam in the north.
*'''Ko Kam Yai''' (เกาะกำใหญ่) is a scenic island with white sandy beaches.
*'''Ko Kam Nui''' (เกาะกำนุ้ย) is not far from Ko Kam Yai with beaches on one side and many other nearby islets.

'''Raksawarin Hot Springs and Public Park''' (บ่อน้ำพุร้อนรักษะวาริน) The most famous and popular [[hot spring]] of Ranong. It have been analysed by the Department of Science Service to contain important minerals, and it is the only source in Thailand that does not contain any sulphur additives. It is possible to drink from the source, and it is also regarded as pure water. The hot springs and public park is in Ranong town.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tourismthailand.org/Attraction/raksawarin-hot-springs-and-public-park|accessdate=2024-12-02|date=2024-12-02|title=Raksawarin Hot Springs and Public Park|work=Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT)}}</ref>

'''Phu Khao Ya''' (ภูเขาหญ้า) The bald mountain with grass growing all over the mountain, it is extraordinary in that it is a geographical anomaly. This average-sized hill is entirely void of trees leaving it looking, as local residents say, like a "Swiss pasture". Phu Khao Ya can also change color according to the season and time of day. It is situated 12 kilometres (7.4&nbsp;mi) to the south of Ranong town.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.discoverythailand.com/phu-khao-ya|title=Phu Khao Ya|work=Discovery Thailand|accessdate=2024-12-02|date=2024-12-02}}</ref>

'''Khlong Naka''' (คลองนาคา) This wildlife sanctuary is the only home for the aquatic plant ''[[Crinum thaianum]]''.  This species of plant is [[endemic]] to the local stream, and  from October till November is when the flowers bloom at their most.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tourismthailand.org/Attraction/klong-naka-wildlife-sanctuary|title=Klong Naka Wildlife Sanctuary|accessdate=2024-12-02|date=2024-12-02|work=Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT)}}</ref>

'''Wat Hat Som Paen''' (วัดหาดส้มแป้น) The local Ranong [[wat|Buddhist temple]]. Its highlight, besides worshiping the Buddha, is also admiring the beauty of the stream that flows through the temple, which is also home to a large number of the [[neolissochilus stracheyi|rock mahseer]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tourismthailand.org/Attraction/wat-hat-som-paen|title=Wat Hat Som Paen|accessdate=2024-12-02|date=2024-12-02|work=Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT)}}</ref>

<gallery>
File:โขดหินริมหาดอุทยานแห่งชาติแหลมสน.JPG|Laem Son National Park
File:Pak Chan, Kra Buri District, Ranong 85110, Thailand - panoramio.jpg|Namtok Chum Saeng, Kra Buri District
File:น้ำตกปุญญบาล อุทยานแห่งชาติลำน้ำกระบุรี.JPG|Namtok Punyaban, Mueang Ranong District
File:Ko Phayam v5.jpg|Ko Phayam
File:Kamphuan, Suk Samran District, Ranong, Thailand - panoramio.jpg|Kamphuan, Suk Samran District
</gallery>

==Notes==
{{Notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{Wikivoyage inline|Ranong}}

{{Geographic location
|Centre    = Ranong province
|North     = 
|Northeast = 
|East      = [[Chumphon province]]
|Southeast = [[Surat Thani province]]
|South     = [[Phang Nga province]]
|Southwest = ''[[Andaman Sea]]''
|West      = 
|Northwest = {{flag|Tanintharyi Region}}, {{flag|Myanmar}}
}}

{{Provinces of Thailand|state=collapsed}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Coord|9|58|01|N|98|38|08|E|region:TH_type:adm1st|display=title}}

[[Category:Ranong province| ]]
[[Category:Provinces of Thailand]]
[[Category:Andaman Sea]]
[[Category:Southern Thailand]]