Catalina Espinosa
Research expert covering society, economy, and politics for Europe and the EU
Demographics of Thailand - statistics & facts
Thailand‘s population is ranked third in Southeast Asia and twentieth worldwide. The country’s populace is concentrated in the northeastern region, followed by the central, northern, and southern regions. Although Thailand is showing gradual growth in population levels, the country is predicted to handle a larger aging population in the coming years due to decreasing fertility rates.
Altogether, Thailand faces lower fertility rates and a rising aging population, which present future workforce issues. The current situation has triggered the governmental body to implement population control policies while also handling potential labor participation through education and migration policies. In recent years, the government has distributed a significant portion of tax revenue to subsidize private businesses and education, which partially influences employment participation for both Thai nationals and international migrants.
Is Thailand becoming an aging population?
The fertility rate in Thailand plays a considerable role in determining the prospective age structure, hinting toward a decline in the infant population and an increase in the aging population. Ultimately, the aging population has the possibility to exceed that of the infant population, driving the Thai society to cope with possible workforce issues and population management. With a projected exponential decline in fertility rates, Thai society has become an aging society, signaled by the increasing share of the population older than 65.Thai household finances
Thailand was ranked eleventh in Asia in terms of inequality as measured by the Gini index, following Nepal in 2020. The annual income among Thai households seemed to vary exceptionally as a result of income inequality. The drastic differences between the lower-class and upper-class household income in Thailand resulted from current local administrations and long-term economic processes that had not benefited the rural population as much as the urban population. Regarding household expenditure in Thailand, most of the spending went towards consumer goods, food and drinks, and home furniture.The immigrant population in Thailand
Thailand has always been a hub for migration, which eventually led to an inward migration flow that coincided with a 10-year economic boom from 1987 to 1996. Although migration trends are usually unpredictable, Thailand has shown increasing migration in the past two and a half decades due to job opportunities. As a result, migration and the influx of foreign direct investments have also led to differences in wages and remittances between Thailand and its neighboring countries.Altogether, Thailand faces lower fertility rates and a rising aging population, which present future workforce issues. The current situation has triggered the governmental body to implement population control policies while also handling potential labor participation through education and migration policies. In recent years, the government has distributed a significant portion of tax revenue to subsidize private businesses and education, which partially influences employment participation for both Thai nationals and international migrants.
