Demographics of Thailand

Abstract

This article provides a comprehensive overview of Thailand’s demographic transformation, positioning it as a model for developing nations like Bangladesh. Prof. Dr. M. Azizur Rahman highlights Thailand’s shift from a high-growth population to a stable, industrialized society through a highly successful family planning programme that reduced the growth rate from 3.1% in 1960 to roughly 0.6% by 2011. The author notes that Thailand’s population of approximately 70 million is characterized by high literacy (92.6%) and a strong female presence in the workforce. A key focus of the article is the quality of life, citing a life expectancy that surpasses all South Asian countries due to a robust public health sector. However, the author also identifies a relative weakness in English language proficiency as a hurdle for Thailand’s global competitiveness.