Ageing in Thailand: Challenges and policy responses

Introduction Thailand has the second oldest population in Southeast Asia after Singapore. Like many other developing countries, the age composition of Thailand has changed because of declines in mortality and fertility. Thailand’s family planning programme began in 1970 and played an important role in facilitating fertility decline (Bundhamcharoen, 1997). The numbers of older people grew at an exceptional rate, especially between 1960 and 2000 (Ananta and Arifin, 2007). The increase in the numbers of older people aged 60 years and over in Thailand is faster than has happened in developed countries (Jitapunkul and Bunnag, 1998). With the rapid speed of these changes, Thailand has less time to prepare for the consequences. Demographic changes will move Thailand forward to an ageing society in the next seven years (International Monetary Fund, 2007). Furthermore, the proportion of people aged 60 years and over is expected to exceed the share of children aged under 15 for the first time in 2024 (Institute for Population and Social Research, 2005).