Chai Nat province

Chai Nat
ชัยนาท
Wat Pak Khlong Makham Thao
Mottoes: 
หลวงปู่ศุขลือชา เขื่อนเจ้าพระยาลือชื่อ นามระบือสวนนก ส้มโอดกขาวแตงกวา
("Revered Luang Pu Suk. Renowned Chao Phraya Dam. Famous Bird Park. Rich in pomelos and white cucumbers.")
Map of Thailand highlighting Chai Nat province
CountryThailand
CapitalChai Nat
Government
 • GovernorPhumivach Udomsap
 • PAO Chief ExecutiveJitthana Yingthaweelapa
Area
 • Total
2,506 km2 (968 sq mi)
 • Rank65th
Population
 (2024)
 • Total
313,759
 • Rank69th
 • Density131/km2 (340/sq mi)
  • Rank33rd
Human Achievement Index
 • HAI (2022)0.6124 "low"
Ranked 73rd
GDP
 • Totalbaht 32 billion
(US$1.1 billion) (2019)
Time zoneUTC+7 (ICT)
Postal code
17xxx
Calling code056
ISO 3166 codeTH-18
Websitechainat.go.th
chainatpao.go.th

Chai Nat (Thai: ชัยนาท, pronounced [tɕʰāj nâːt]) is one of the central provinces (changwat) of Thailand. Neighbouring provinces are (from north clockwise) Nakhon Sawan, Sing Buri, Suphan Buri, and Uthai Thani. The town of Chai Nat is 188 km north of Bangkok.

According to the Ayutthaya Testimonies, the provincial center of Chai Nat was founded by the Siamese monarch Surindrarāja in the early 11th century. He renamed Ban Pran Nuea (บ้านพรานเนื้อ) as Phra Nakhon Chai Nat Buri (พระนครชัยนาทบุรี) and designated it as the new capital of the region, thereby superseding Phraek Si Racha as the principal administrative center of the polity.