File photo for reference only

 

Thailand continues to grapple with poverty, as over 2.39 million people, amounting to 3.41% of the population, are classified as poor in 2023. This was revealed by research from the Program Management Unit for Area-Based Development (PMU-A). The Northeast region bears the brunt with the highest proportion of poor residents at 31.71%, followed closely by the South.

 

The "Fighting Poverty" seminar on 9 September shed light on these findings, highlighting economic challenges such as low incomes and significant household debt. Bangkok had the lowest poverty rate at 1.6%. PMU-A director Kitti Sajjawattana emphasised the severity of poverty, compounded by limited opportunities and insufficient access to welfare. The National Statistics Office and the National Economic and Social Development Council further validated these figures, noting that many affected households lack savings and have limited access to farmland.

 

Since 2020, PMU-A and research networks have implemented 299 models nationwide in an effort to combat poverty. Anti-poverty funds are currently active in 16 provinces, along with research centres. Universities and organisations have put forward a 10-point plan to make poverty elimination a national priority.

 

Their proposals include better data management, enhanced local cooperation, and expanded vocational training.

 

Household debt emerged as a critical barrier, with former National Credit Bureau president Surapol Opasatien stating that it reached 16.35 trillion baht in early 2025, representing 87.4% of GDP. Although the debt-to-GDP ratio has slightly eased, incomes remain too low, hindering savings and debt repayment. Surapol warned that non-performing loans have reached 1.235 trillion baht, affecting many young working adults, particularly in Gen Y.

 

Going forward, stronger interventions are needed to curb rising debt issues. This year, unaddressed non-performing loans could increase to 1.3 trillion baht. Young people in entry-level jobs face mounting economic pressures, leading to faster-growing debt problems.

 

 

 

Key Takeaways

 

• 2.39 million Thais, or 3.41%, are living in poverty in 2023.
• Household debt hit 16.35 trillion baht, posing a major economic challenge.
• A 10-point plan recommends making poverty eradication a national agenda.

Related Story:

 

Thailand aims to eradicate poverty in two years

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from Bangkok Post 2025-09-17

 

 

It would have been useful to know exactly how they measure poverty as in what constitutes "poor"

8 minutes ago, webfact said:

as over 2.39 million people, amounting to 3.41% of the population, are classified as poor in 2023

I also wonder if that is a typo and they meant 2025.......

35 minutes ago, topt said:

It would have been useful to know exactly how they measure poverty as in what constitutes "poor"

I also wonder if that is a typo and they meant 2025.......

Regarding the typo, I think it should be 23,9 million.

I suspect there are many more that would be classed as poor in other countries.

 

"The Northeast region bears the brunt with the highest proportion of poor residents at 31.71%, followed closely by the South."

 

I would not argue with that % for the NE.

 

AI says that the population of the NE regon is about 22,000,000.

 

31.7% of 22m is 6,974.000, which is over 9.7% of the whole of the population of Thailand, which is about 71,619,863 at the time of this post.

 

https://www.worldometers.info/world-population/thailand-population/

 

 

 

 

23 minutes ago, Enoon said:

 

"The Northeast region bears the brunt with the highest proportion of poor residents at 31.71%, followed closely by the South."

 

I would not argue with that % for the NE.

 

AI says that the population of the NE regon is about 22,000,000.

 

31.7% of 22m is 6,974.000, which is over 9.7% of the whole of the population of Thailand, which is about 71,619,863 at the time of this post.

 

https://www.worldometers.info/world-population/thailand-population/

 

 

 

 

The OP says NE has 31.7% of the 2.39 million poor people, not that 31.7% is poor in that region.

Would certainly be interesting what the definition of poor was to come to that number.

How about the Hi-so posters here who always call any expat who lives on 50-60K a month a dirt poor cheap charlie..

 

Would the  50-60k expats fit into the 3% poor...

1 hour ago, redwood1 said:

How about the Hi-so posters here who always call any expat who lives on 50-60K a month a dirt poor cheap charlie..

 

Would the  50-60k expats fit into the 3% poor...

 

  Telling us your income without telling us your income.

In UK it is 21 %.

So Thailand is the better country?

6 hours ago, WHansen said:

I suspect there are many more that would be classed as poor in other countries.

Most of my partner's relatives would be classed as very poor, this is in a rural area south of Chiang Mai

48 minutes ago, TheAppletons said:

 

  Telling us your income without telling us your income.

Easy to live on 50-60k, on 70-80-90 and above doing very well, if not extravagant.  Thailand is ridiculously cheap to live on a relatively small income.

 

 

 

How can you write an article like this with no reference to absolute and relative poverty?

 

I imagine the 3% figure might be absolute poverty and relative poverty nearer 20 or 30%

22 minutes ago, MarkBR said:

Easy to live on 50-60k, on 70-80-90 and above doing very well, if not extravagant.  Thailand is ridiculously cheap to live on a relatively small income.

If you go native...

3 minutes ago, Peter Crow said:

If you go native...

I love Thai food, but occasionally have farang food, and my partner is a very good cook.   I do not suffer in terms of lifestyle 😄

Ride a motorbike around the country and get off the main highways and the amount of abject poverty is shocking. The bar must be set pretty low to come up with such a small percentage of poor people.

 

The number of debt slaves is a different story that is also worth examining. 

On 9/17/2025 at 7:35 AM, webfact said:

Thailand continues to grapple with poverty, as over 2.39 million people, amounting to 3.41% of the population, are classified as poor in 2023.

And in 2025 I bet it's nearer 10%-15%

Anyone know what region of Thailand that picture was likely taken?

 

 

On 9/17/2025 at 7:35 AM, webfact said:

Thailand continues to grapple with poverty, as over 2.39 million people, amounting to 3.41% of the population, are classified as poor in 2023

I'm doing my bit to help Thailand's poor. 

 

Quite often I'm sharing my wealth with poor young women from Isaan. 

Nonsense that percentage is the number for poor in the population. You just have to take a drive anywhere and you can usually see people who look destitute .

Thailand has 2.5% of poverty in the same way that it has 2.5% unemployment.

In my area in Isan, both rates are closer 97.5%.

Maybe they didn't pay attention and published the stats in reverse...

Not forgetting the ones that live above their means and buy that dream Pick-up truck without thinking of the payment consequences. Cant always blame the economy, money management lacks here a fair bit

Im sure the real numbers is much higher.Many families have dept to rich people with a high interest rate.Mostly have give the landpapers as garantee for these loans.Many drive around in motorcycle that the finance company come and take because missing payment.Cars too.When i meet my exwife family the first time i was told they had borrow 30.000 baht from a local shopowner and it had rised to 75.000 baht.I did NOT pay that dept.My exwife nephew ask me if he could borrow 120.000 baht for a workcontract in Taiwan.He said he would pay it all back in 2 years.I said ok and i was really happy surprised when he paid it all back in only 8 months.

23 minutes ago, twizzian said:

Not forgetting the ones that live above their means and buy that dream Pick-up truck without thinking of the payment consequences. Cant always blame the economy, money management lacks here a fair bit

Which rather raises questions about the car/truck dealer who sells to people who - one glance would usually suffice - obviously can't repay.

15 hours ago, redwood1 said:

Would the  50-60k expats fit into the 3% poor...

 

Probably if your calculations are right, Im on 40 K the moment, not comlaining though

These numbers are suspect. The percentage of the Thai population described as being poor would be significantly higher if all those crippled by debt were identified and included.

I am sure it is over 3%.  The USA has over 12%.  

13 hours ago, flaming dragon said:

The number of debt slaves is a different story that is also worth examining. 

I wonder how they calculate poverty. Do they include someone who has a decent wage but is heavily in debt?

On 9/17/2025 at 7:16 AM, topt said:

It would have been useful to know exactly how they measure poverty as in what constitutes "poor"

I also wonder if that is a typo and they meant 2025.......

 

I doubt that they have statistics from 2025, so 2023 sounds about right, even though the percentage seems low.

 

Heavy household debt seems to be a big problem, with banks lending to everyone, even if they are already up to their ears in debt, and unscrupulous private money-lenders taking advantage of the situation...

Here is a hint, stop gambling your money away and stop buying stupid sh*t at the malls everyday.

 

 

57 minutes ago, gk10012001 said:

I am sure it is over 3%.  The USA has over 12%.  

And?  Why is the USA so important to this article?