Over the last two decades Thailand has experienced sustained economic growth which has
contributed to a dramatic reduction in poverty. However, inequality at the national level has
remained constant (Figure I). The average annual real GDP growth rate over has been about 5.1
percent, with the poverty rate falling from more than 40 percent in 1988, to less than 10 percent
by 2009. However the inequality rate, as measured by the GINI index, has remained static – 0.49
in 1988 and 0.48 in 2009