PUBLISHED: 2 Feb 2025 at 07:18
Thailand is facing a critical challenge with its declining birth rate, prompting urgent calls for government intervention. Experts warn that without immediate action, the nation’s workforce may face significant contraction.
Chalermpol Chamchan, the director of Mahidol University’s Institute for Population and Social Research, emphasized the seriousness of this issue during a press briefing. According to the Bureau of Registration Administration, Thailand’s total population was recorded at 65,951,210 as of December 31 last year.
Worryingly, only 462,240 births were reported in 2024, marking the first time the figure has fallen below 500,000 since 1949. Additionally, 2024 represents the fourth consecutive year where deaths outnumbered births. In stark contrast, between 1963 and 1983, Thailand consistently recorded over one million births annually.
Chalermpol urged the government to reassess initiatives like the “Give Birth, Great World” campaign, which was launched in 2023 to reverse the falling birth rate by highlighting the advantages of parenthood to younger generations. Many couples, however, are delaying or foregoing parenthood entirely.
He noted that Thailand is the only country in Southeast Asia currently facing a declining birth rate while similar trends are typically observed in high-income nations. Last year, Thailand’s total fertility rate (TFR) dropped to 1.0, lower than Japan’s 1.2, aligning the country with those experiencing ultra-low fertility rates, such as South Korea and Singapore.
If this trend continues, experts project that Thailand’s population could shrink to as few as 40 million over the next fifty years—representing a loss of approximately one million people every two years. Current estimates suggest that the workforce could dwindle to just 22.8 million in five decades.
A recent survey indicated that about 71% of Thais aged 28 and older view the declining birth rate as a crisis, yet only 35.8% expressed plans to have children, with around 30% still undecided. Chalermpol highlighted that with adequate support, those on the fence may consider parenthood.
Chalermpol: Support needed
