Current demographic trends threaten to impact the nation’s competitiveness and
lead to a greater fiscal burden through social security costs.
The responsibility of looking after the entire population will fall on a smaller
working-age population in the future. Thus, Thailand needs to increase the working
efficiency of its new generation to be able to handle the increasing burden brought
by an ageing population. The “dependency ratio” – the number of children and the
elderly per 100 working-age people – is changing rapidly. Data from the Office
of the National Economic and Social Development Board reveals that in 2010, for
every 100 individuals of working age there were 30 children and 20 elderly persons.
But by 2040, the dependency ratio will be 100 working-age people having to take
care of 60 elderly persons and 20 children.
The concern is that 16 percent of present births are to adolescent mothers,3 and
that trend is increasing. The question is whether these teenage mothers and their
children will have the opportunity to become productive members of society at a
level demanded by the future Thai economy.