Thailand is quickly becoming an ultra-aged society: Study
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Thailand is facing a demographic turning point as its elderly population has officially surpassed its youth.
PHOTO: AFP
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BANGKOK - A new report from the country’s Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA) shows Thailand is rapidly becoming an ultra-aged society, with people over 60 now far outnumbering those under 15.
Thailand is facing a demographic turning point as its elderly population has officially surpassed the youth population, according to a new report from the GISTDA.
The agency’s 2025 population analysis reveals that the number of Thais aged 60 or over has surged to 13.6 million, while the population of children under 15 has fallen to 9.5 million.
GISTDA’s analysis, which used data from the Department of Provincial Administration to create a detailed insight map, shows a stark regional divide in population structures.
The north and central regions have the highest ageing index, with many provinces showing a significantly higher proportion of elderly people than children. These areas are described as “clearly aged” indicating a complete shift in their social structure.
The north-east also has a large elderly population due to the migration of working-age people and a low birth rate. The report suggests this region is on track to become a “super-aged society” in the near future.
In contrast, the eastern region has a higher density of working-age residents and a smaller proportion of elderly people compared with the north and north-east.
The western border and the lower south – including provinces like Tak, Kanchanaburi, Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat – are among the few remaining child-led areas, with their youth populations outnumbering the elderly.
GISTDA warns that this demographic shift is more than just an increase in the number of seniors.
It reflects a deeper structural problem of a declining birth rate, which will have significant future implications for the country’s labour force, economy, and the provision of social welfare. THE NATION/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
