With the second-largest economy in Southeast Asia, Thailand is a relatively wealthy country. Its vibrant culture, delicious food and beautiful scenery attract millions of visitors a year, greatly contributing to its economy. In addition to the tourism industry, Thailand exports many commodities like rice, rubber and coconuts. The country also produces goods like textiles, cement and plastics.

Though Thailand’s poverty rate has decreased by 65% since 1988, impoverished living conditions are still a pressing issue in the country. Here are five facts about poverty in Thailand.

1. Poverty is decreasing in Thailand: In 2015, the poverty rate was 7.2%, but this figure decreased to 5.4% in 2022. However, more than 3.7 million of its population still live below the national poverty line.
2. Income-based inequality exists in Thailand: With a 2.6% gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate in 2022 (one of the lowest in the region), Thailand’s lack of economic progression greatly affects its citizens. Additionally, Thailand has one of the highest income-based inequality rates in the world, at 43.3%, meaning there is a huge disparity between the richest and most impoverished people in the country. Without economic development and wealth equality, cycles of impoverishment will continue to trap the people of the nation.
3. Environmental disasters have pushed more Thai people into poverty: Agriculturists (who make up 31.8% of the workforce) are already an impoverished group in the country. However, the recent droughts in the past year have impoverished them even more. This combination of economic and environmental factors pushes farmers into even more poverty. Droughts are not the only natural disaster devastating the country. The floods and tsunamis that hit the country throughout the 2000s perpetuated even more poverty in Thailand. These natural disasters are inevitable, yet the lack of safety nets in the country is damaging the livelihoods of farmers.
4. One of the demographics that poverty affects the most in Thailand is children: As of 2012, 7% of children weighed in as underweight and 16% experienced stunting (impaired physical or psychological development due to a lack of nourishment during adolescence). The severe lack of resources could greatly impair future generations in the country. The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) is quite active in Thailand, working to alleviate child mortality and malnourishment. Due to its work, the child mortality rate has decreased four-fold, yet there is still more the country requires
5. An increase in social safety nets is one solution to the country’s poverty crisis: Considering that environmental disasters and economic factors contribute to the rise in poverty, government-sanctioned programs to protect the Thai people are one of the easiest solutions to this problem. Suppose Thailand can pinpoint which demographics are most susceptible to poverty. In that case, the government can create specific jobs and policies to protect its most vulnerable people.

Despite these five facts about poverty in Thailand, the country has many success stories in terms of poverty alleviation. Everyone in the country has access to electricity, water sanitation is excellent and education rates are high. However, to ensure every single citizen of Thailand is free from poverty, the government’s efforts are crucial in economic development and producing innovative jobs for vulnerable populations. 

– Borgen Team

Photo: Pixabay.

Updated: June 16, 2024