Declines in mortality and fertility have triggered the rapid expansion of the aged
population in Thailand. The proportion of older persons in the total population has more
than doubled, from 5.0 per cent in 1950 and 1975 to 11 per cent (about 7.2 million
persons) in 2007. That proportion will reach a predicted 19.2 per cent in 2025 and 27.8
per cent in 2050. The proportional growth of older persons in Thailand has been faster
than the average rate for Asia (from 6.8 per cent in 1950 to 9.6 per cent in 2007 and 23.6
per cent in 2050) and second fastest within South-East Asia, next to Singapore