Organizational membership in Thai society is low. Only 39.1 percent of Thai
respondents claim membership in any formal organization. When informal
associations in groups are the subject of discussion, only 13.5 percent claim to
socialize with others in group activity. The overwhelming proportion of formal
memberships are accounted for by residential associations (21.7%) and agricultural
associations (17.0%). Trade association, labor union, volunteer group, and citizen
movement activity is negligible. Political memberships appear among the lowest of
the possible associations. The profile of Thai citizens represented by this indicator
suggests that civil society in Thailand is relatively weak. Very few Thais are members
of more than one association, whether of informal or formal groups, and that most of
these are members by virtue of residency or agricultural necessities. The results
show significantly higher levels of civil society in rural areas, steadily declining as the
society becomes more urban.