Thailand

Abstract

© 2018 selection and editorial matter, Long Thanh Giang and Theresa W. Devasahayam. The number of older persons (OPs) in Thailand has grown rapidly and will continue to do so in future decades. Since 1960, the number of OPs aged 60 and over in the Thai population has increased seven-fold from approximately 1. 5 million to 11.3 million in 2017, or 17 percent of the total population. The latest population projections for Thailand illustrate just how extensive the future growth of both the number of OPs and their share of the population are likely to be in the next three and a half decades. Future population ageing will occur even more rapidly, with the proportion of OPs projected to increase to 20 percent by 2021 and 28 percent by 2031, at which point Thailand will be considered a “Complete Aged Society” and a “Super Aged Society”, respectively.