Growing elderly population a worry for Thailand: WHO

By Phuket Gazette

 

 

The latest statistics from the World Health Organisation paint a relatively healthy picture for Thailand.

 

Like other Asian countries, the country’s biggest concern is the surge of an older population with fewer younger people filling up the ranks to take over tax-paying jobs that will help fund the lives and health of the older generation. 

 

The other trend is the bulging demographic of middle-aged Thais.

 

The “Thailand Population Pyramid” shows age, sex and population data for the past century. The years between 1950 and 2050 show a balance of historical and future projections. 

 

The most obvious changes are due to increased death rates and a decline or increase in the number of children being born. 

 

Statistically, coronary heart disease is the No.1 cause of death in Thailand, far behind is stroke, third is influenza and pneumonia, followed by road deaths. Lung disease, HIV and diabetes follow. At the bottom of the list of causes of death are malnutrition, skin cancer and drug use.

 

The statistics show that, if you’re born today you’ll have a likely life expectancy of 73 if you’re a man and 78 if you’re a woman in Thailand. If you’re already 50 now, add on five years if you’re a man and three more yeas if you’re a woman.

 

You can check out the numbers at: http://www.worldlifeexpectancy.com/country-health-profile/thailand

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/breakingnews/30322712

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-8-3

When the Vikings faced the same problems 1000 year ago they just pushed the old and sick ones off a high mountain called the "ättestupa" Hope it will not go that far here.

Edited August 3, 20178 yr by HiSoLowSoNoSo

"The statistics show that, if you’re born today you’ll have a likely life expectancy of 73 if you’re a man and 78 if you’re a woman in Thailand. If you’re already 50 now, add on five years if you’re a man and three more yeas if you’re a woman."

 

If this is true it would be really bad news for Thailand because it means the life expectancy is sinking at an alarming rate.

 

I can't make sense of it, ie, "The most obvious changes are due to increased death rates."   In order for people to make old age there can't be much of an increased death rate.

 

As to the problem of an elderly population, well it's only costly if they are to be looked after!  Problem gone for Thailand then!

I can see the government inviting all the old people to ride on overloaded pickups with break failure for days out !

This economic reality will be factored into the price of their daughters and will up the cost of everything from a short time all the way to sinsod.