Thailand in Crisis: Population plummets by 500k in 4 Years

[webfact]

Figures up to the end of 2023 showed Thailand’s population declined by 506,320 people in four years. The new data shows that the ageing crisis is here and is a key reason for declining growth rates in the Thai economy. It is still set to grow worse in coming decades.

 

Thailand in crisis as population declined by over 500k over the last four years according to the latest data

Thailand in Crisis: Population plummets by 500k in 4 Years. Economic growth stagnates as the ageing crisis looms. Social Security fund faces bankruptcy. Urgent government action and reappraisal is needed.

It is officially happening. Thailand’s population looks like it declined by over half a million people in the last four years. After that, things are set to get a whole lot worse. Certainly, this is a real crisis and the key factor behind the country’s lack of economic growth. In addition, it also leaves the government facing a plethora of new challenges. This crisis is not in the future, it is here and now as the kingdom presently loses 100,000 people each year. Shockingly, this figure is destined to balloon in size.

 

Thailand, known for its vibrant culture and economic dynamism, especially in its service sector, is facing a bleak vista. The kingdom has now begun a profound demographic shift that threatens its social fabric and economic stability.

 

The news is confirmed with the latest update on Thailand’s population at the end of 2023. It reveals a worrying trend of a decreasing population. In turn, this has broader implications for the country’s economic prospects.

 

by Joseph O' Connor

 

Full story: Thai Examiner.com 2024-02-08

 

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[Danderman123]

Or whoever counts population made a mistake.

 

Or maybe Covid killed a lot more than was known at the time. Since Covid primarily killed old people, maybe Social Security is okay.

[flyingtlger]

Population decrease is happening all over the world where the cost of living is getting too high.

On the other hand, the population is increasing where there is not enough to feed the population.... 

[bokningar]

Think they forgot to count all new Russians and Chines

[HaoleBoy]

Mis-count of Covid deaths.  The junta gov. - mainly Anutin - congratulated themselves on their made up numbers of deaths due to China-crap-vac the gov distributed (and grifted from).

[UKresonant]

TAT should do a recount perhaps.....

[Mbolo]

I’ve been living/visiting for 50 years and I never once saw a census official . How do they make up these figures ? 

[UKresonant]

A shallow population deline is probably a good thing. So getting it back to a shallow decline, rather than a steep decline is what may be useful. 

Much better than a lot of the net zero BS, which frequently sounds like sales pitches from interested factions, rather than than long term analysis.

Population decline does not fit to well on certain  spreadsheets though.

[ikke1959]

If Thailand would be a more modern country with review of many outdated laws, easier for expats, stopped the double pricing, and took care of their own population by decent driverseducation, normal education, good working policeforce, things would be better. But now expats don't come to retire anymore because of all the visa hussle,double pricing, alcohol ban sales, vaping, very dangerous roads, and the Thai people don't see any benefit for having children when the struggle to make ends meet at the end of the month, have also to take care of their parents, as with 3000 THB a month nobody can live, no future for kids and labour, as almost every job is low paid except working in the government or because relations with high ranked friends and so we can continue.. All because the army and his cronies are holding the country back and Move Forward, who wants to solve problems is being blocked with all kind of reasons, only because the current dinosaurs are afraid of losing money.... 

[Henryford]

0.1% drop a year, hardly massive and probably a good thing.

[Mywayboy]

Thai Maths are never the most reliable.

They don't need to increase the population they need to improve poverty & social security services. 

There are two classes Mega rich & majority Mega poor.

Government needs to address this problem,  not trying to increase Poverty 

[hotchilli]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

Thailand in Crisis: Population plummets by 500k in 4 Years. Economic growth stagnates as the ageing crisis looms. Social Security fund faces bankruptcy. Urgent government action and reappraisal is needed.

Open the country up to professional working immigrants, problem solved.

If you want to keep the country largely Thai and closed to long term workers/residents then pay your nationals a livable wage and they will breed.

[hotchilli]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

Thailand, known for its vibrant culture and economic dynamism,

Stagnated for 10 years under the military, plus a few years before that with political instability.

FFP and MFP were a solution but the militry and elite kicked them out.

Som Nam Na.

 

[hotchilli]

37 minutes ago, Mbolo said:

I’ve been living/visiting for 50 years and I never once saw a census official . How do they make up these figures ? 

Same way they make everything else up.... 

[rct99q]

2 hours ago, Danderman123 said:

Or whoever counts population made a mistake.

 

Or maybe Covid killed a lot more than was known at the time. Since Covid primarily killed old people, maybe Social Security is okay.

Well if the local census taker in our village, Old Toeless Tomchai, is any example perhaps they ran out of fingers and toes while counting 

[FruitPudding]

Right lads, it's on us.

 

We've got a job to do.

[rct99q]

17 minutes ago, ikke1959 said:

If Thailand would be a more modern country with review of many outdated laws, easier for expats, stopped the double pricing, and took care of their own population by decent driverseducation, normal education, good working policeforce, things would be better. But now expats don't come to retire anymore because of all the visa hussle,double pricing, alcohol ban sales, vaping, very dangerous roads, and the Thai people don't see any benefit for having children when the struggle to make ends meet at the end of the month, have also to take care of their parents, as with 3000 THB a month nobody can live, no future for kids and labour, as almost every job is low paid except working in the government or because relations with high ranked friends and so we can continue.. All because the army and his cronies are holding the country back and Move Forward, who wants to solve problems is being blocked with all kind of reasons, only because the current dinosaurs are afraid of losing money.... 

So your saying if expats were not charged double the Thai population would be increasing? Or is the main reason for the decline in population because life is not easy for expats? Perhaps it is because the additional stress expats are under, from immigration policies, is producing lower sperm counts, is causing the decline in the Thai population. I see where Thailand needs to fix the problem.

[Rampant Rabbit]

not  only  that but what I see  from my Wifes  familys  kids are they are  bone idle, dont want to do any hard  work would rather  have no work, although then again their parents seem ok with this whilst  still working in the fields themselves.

Just recently one of her 10 brothers and sisters  drove from Loei to Bangkok to  collect the little  princess who lost her  job and couldnt pay her rent, yet still managed to buy those 50 baht drinks everyday. Wife appalled by this.

They want it  all want it  now and expect it for free........seems  the attitude and not only  in Thailand.

[Rampant Rabbit]

20 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

Open the country up to professional working immigrants, problem solved.

If you want to keep the country largely Thai and closed to long term workers/residents then pay your nationals a livable wage and they will breed.

They make it ridiculously  difficult  enough with paperwork for the Burmese already and then you must name the work they can do and only for you.....why not just a single work permit for ANY job ANY employer......nah too  simple.

[Rampant Rabbit]

23 minutes ago, Mywayboy said:

Thai Maths are never the most reliable.

They don't need to increase the population they need to improve poverty & social security services. 

There are two classes Mega rich & majority Mega poor.

Government needs to address this problem,  not trying to increase Poverty 

I see those "megapoor" in the  vilage  daily  supping those 40 baht drinks............mega boneidle in many cases.

[Rampant Rabbit]

2 hours ago, flyingtlger said:

Population decrease is happening all over the world where the cost of living is getting too high.

On the other hand, the population is increasing where there is not enough to feed the population.... 

its  not the cost of  living its the standard  of  living which that filthy dirty  polluting carbon beclhin oil has  given society, Thank you OIL which has raised standards of  living no end and thus the need for umpteen sprogs. Oil really is black gold. Undervalued and  slagged  off.

[ThailandRyan]

14 minutes ago, Rampant Rabbit said:

not  only  that but what I see  from my Wifes  familys  kids are they are  bone idle, dont want to do any hard  work would rather  have no work, although then again their parents seem ok with this whilst  still working in the fields themselves.

Just recently one of her 10 brothers and sisters  drove from Loei to Bangkok to  collect the little  princess who lost her  job and couldnt pay her rent, yet still managed to buy those 50 baht drinks everyday. Wife appalled by this.

They want it  all want it  now and expect it for free........seems  the attitude and not only  in Thailand.

The new generation as you have so eloquently stated want it all now and expect it to be handed to them on a silver platter.  Yet migrant workers like my wife who is a Hair colorist and stylist can not do that job in Thailand as it's only a job a Thai can do, and unfortunately she had to close her shop during Covid and when she went to reopen was told no she could not.

 

Thais who want everything also don't want kids, so there is one reason the population is declining.

 

As the song by Dire Straits says "Money for Nothing......."

Edited February 7 by ThailandRyan

[Rampant Rabbit]

Just now, ThailandRyan said:

The new generation as you have so eloquently stated with it all now and expect it to be handed to them on a silver platter.  Yet migrant workers like my wife who is a Hair colorist and stylist can not do that job in Thailand as it's only a job a Thai can do, and unfortunately she had to close her shop during Covid and when she went to reopen was told no she could not.

 

Thais who want everything also don't want kids, so there is one reason the population is declining.

 

As the song by Dire Straits says "Money for Nothing......."

id  like to shove their phones right up their arses......repeatedly.

Narcissisitic pretend hi-so's with attitude seems  more prevalent in the girls.

[ezzra]

Maybe with a better health system in place less will die, every Thai person dreads the the day they will have to rely on

so called '30 baht public health system' which is scarce, long waiting list, absence of modern technologies and latests

medicins, that can be described at best as inadequate...

Edited February 7 by ezzra

[Old Croc]

1 hour ago, Mbolo said:

I’ve been living/visiting for 50 years and I never once saw a census official . How do they make up these figures ? 

Perhaps through birth and death records.

[rattlesnake]

The whole world has seen a dramatic drop in birth rates over the past couple of years. Very compelling. What is the common denominator?

[sirineou]

1 hour ago, Mbolo said:

I’ve been living/visiting for 50 years and I never once saw a census official . How do they make up these figures ? 

Aren't  births, deaths , and legal immigration registered with the appropriate agencies? 

It would be simple process to subtract the Deaths and departing immigration from the population  numbers, then add Births ,in coming immigration, and repatriation, and come up with a new population figure. 

[Old Croc]

I've been living in Isaan, on a property that is part of a smallish village, for about 3 1/2 years. The death rate here in that time has been shocking (includes both my wife's parents), mainly because of the high age of most of the residents.

There are few non-pensioners and even less children living locally. However, a disturbing number of the former have also died from illnesses related to cancer and liver disease, and in accidents on roads and farms. Just a couple of weeks ago someone was skittled on his bicycle on the highway. There are more empty houses in the village now than when we arrived here.

Whether deaths were attributed to covid or not, they all counted towards the death toll.

 

[Time Traveller]

Yes Thailand is definitely on the decline which was entirely predictable.    

 

In the 80s and 90s there was a clown by the name of Dr Meechai who was celebrated in the media and by the government elites. Essentially he promoted nationwide schemes to stop Thai people from having babies such as condom handouts, other forms of contraception programs and free sterilizations.  In fact I think he even convinced the government to make it a law that all Thai employers must give their employees a paid day off work if they get sterilized!  

 

Anyway sad for Thailand as they watch other countries surpass them unless they change their immigration policies. 

Edited February 8 by Time Traveller

[impulse]

I wonder how much of that is the best and brightest of Thai youth seeking opportunity in higher wage countries?