BANGKOK — Thailand’s population decreased by 100,000 in 2024, reaching 65.95 million, as annual births fell below 500,000 for the first time since 1949. The drop underscores a growing demographic crisis, despite government campaigns like “Having Children for the Nation,” aimed at encouraging childbearing.
According to figures released on January 8, 2025, by the Department of Provincial Administration, the population now stands at 65,951,210, comprising 64,953,661 Thai nationals and 997,549 non-Thai residents. Bangkok remains the most densely populated area with 5,455,020 residents.The country recorded 462,240 births against 571,646 deaths in 2024, continuing a four-year pattern where deaths outpace births. Marriage and divorce statistics show 263,087 new unions compared to 147,621 separations, reflecting shifting social dynamics.Thailand’s Total Fertility Rate (TFR) has plunged to 1.0, lower than Japan’s 1.2, placing the nation among ultra-low fertility countries such as South Korea and Singapore. Projections indicate that Thailand’s population could decline to 40 million within five decades, losing approximately one million people every two years.Associate Professor Dr. Chalermpol Chamchan, Director of Mahidol University’s Institute for Population and Social Research, addressed the issue during a January 15 press conference. “Thailand is unique in Southeast Asia as the only nation with a declining birth rate, a characteristic usually seen in high-income, developed countries,” he said.The consequences of this trend extend to the workforce. Currently at 37.2 million, the labor force is predicted to fall to 22.8 million within 50 years. A recent survey of over 1,000 Thais aged 28 and above revealed that while 71% view the low birth rate as a national crisis, only 35.8% of those capable of having children intend to do so.Dr. Chamchan noted some room for optimism, citing the survey’s findings that around 30% of respondents might consider having children with sufficient support. “Targeted policies could raise the percentage of those definitively planning to have children to over 60%,” he said.