While several developing countries worldwide are currently facing a youth bulge, Thailand is facing
an opposite situation. That is, the proportion of its youth population is expected to decline below 15 percent of
the total population in 2013 and to constantly diminish thereafter, implying a youth deficit from this year on.
The shrinking youth population will unavoidably cause a smaller workforce of the nation in 2018. Other things
being equal, Thailand may lose its competitive advantage, causing GDP per capita to grow more slowly and
the standards of living of Thai people to gradually decrease. To prevent such undesirable situations, youth
empowerment is needed so that they will become the productive human resources of Thailand in an ageing
society. This article presents the situation regarding youth population in Thailand and summarizes Thailand’s
opportunities and challenges for youth empowerment. It also proposes public policy recommendations for
youth empowerment.