More Than Three Percent of Thai Population Living in Poverty

More Than Three Percent of Thai Population Living in Poverty Amid Soaring Debt

In 2023, about 2.39 million Thais — or roughly 3.41% of the population — were classified as living in poverty, with the Northeast region hardest hit, followed by the South; Bangkok had the lowest rate at about 1.6%. A major contributor is the heavy burden of household debt, which in early 2025 had reached approximately 16.35 trillion baht, or about 87.4% of GDP, with non-performing loans also rising. Many poor households lack savings and access to assets (like farmland), which limits their ability to cope with debt or economic shocks. To address this, multiple institutions are pushing a 10-point plan that includes better data, stronger local cooperation, vocational training, and making poverty eradication a national priority. Efforts are underway via anti-poverty funds in several provinces and hundreds of area-based development models, though officials warn that unaddressed debt could worsen future poverty unless more interventioners are adopted.