Society in Thailand
An overview of key social indicators. Select a category for detailed trends, charts, and insights.
Explore Social Domains
Demographics
Public Health
Education & Human Capital
Infrastructure & Connectivity
Current Social Overview of Thailand
A summary based on key social and demographic indicators.
- Thailand has an estimated population of 71.7M2023. The population exhibits near-stagnant growth at -0.0%2023, signaling potential demographic headwinds and an aging trend. The critically low fertility rate of 1.2 births per woman2023presents severe demographic challenges, including accelerated population aging and contraction, impacting economic and social systems. Net immigration is relatively minor, impacting the population by approximately 23K individuals annually (or 0.3 per 1,000 inhabitants)2024.
- Regarding public health, the country maintains a reasonable health standard with a life expectancy of 76.4 years2023, though there is scope for further improvements to achieve higher global benchmarks. Concurrently, maternal and child health indicators show solid progress, with child mortality (under 5 years) at 9.2 per 1,000 live births2023and maternal mortality at 34 per 100,000 live births2023, indicating improving but still developing services. These outcomes are supported by limited healthcare spending, at 5.4% of GDP2022, which may constrain comprehensive health system improvements and the attainment of higher health outcomes.
- Strong educational foundations are evident in the high adult literacy rate of 91%2022, which significantly contributes to human capital development. Complementing this, the educational pipeline demonstrates high efficiency with 98% primary enrollment2009and 110% secondary participation2023, ensuring comprehensive skill development and a prepared workforce. This educational framework is supported by limited educational investment, at 2.5% of GDP2023, which may constrain the scale and quality of future human capital development initiatives.
- In terms of infrastructure and connectivity, a still balanced urban-rural distribution (54% urban population2023) creates diverse economic opportunities but necessitates coordinated infrastructure development to bridge potential disparities. Furthermore, infrastructure development shows strong progress with 100% electricity access2023and 90% internet penetration2023, supporting ongoing modernization efforts and enhancing quality of life.
Key Development Insights
Population Dynamics
Managing demographic trends is crucial for long-term economic planning and workforce stability.
Public Health System
Public health outcomes are a core indicator of national development and quality of life. Access to healthcare is essential for sustainable growth.
Human Capital Formation
Educational attainment is a direct driver of economic innovation and global competitiveness. Investment in education is key to unlocking human potential.
Infrastructure & Connectivity
Infrastructure shapes economic efficiency, urbanization patterns, and digital integration, being critical for modern economies.
Note: The information on this page has been compiled from authoritative sources. While every effort is made to ensure accuracy, please note that some figures may not be current or entirely precise.