Asia · South-Eastern Asia
Thailand Demographics
Thailand combines near-zero population growth, very low fertility, a rising median age, and a population structure moving from working-age concentration toward older-age growth.
Main sources used on this page: UNFPA World Population Dashboard 2025, UN ESCAP Asia-Pacific ageing profile based on UN World Population Prospects 2024, World Bank World Development Indicators, Thailand BOI and Bureau of Registration Administration registered population data, and Department of Provincial Administration vital-event figures reported in January 2025.
Last updated: June 25, 2026
Core Demographic Indicators
Detailed Demographic Indicators
| Indicator | Value | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population, mid-year estimate | 71,600,000 | 2025 | UNFPA World Population Dashboard |
| Total population, World Bank series | 71,668,011 | 2024 | World Bank World Development Indicators |
| Registered population | 65.81 million | 2025 | Thailand BOI / Bureau of Registration Administration |
| Population growth rate | -0.0% | 2024 | World Bank World Development Indicators |
| Net migration | 27,509 | 2025 | World Bank World Development Indicators |
| Median age | 40.6 years | 2025 | UN ESCAP, based on UN WPP 2024 |
| Total fertility rate | 1.2 births per woman | 2025 | UNFPA World Population Dashboard; UN ESCAP |
| Replacement-level benchmark | 2.1 births per woman | Reference | Standard demographic benchmark used for comparison |
| Life expectancy at birth, both sexes | 76.8 years | 2025 | UN ESCAP, based on UN WPP 2024 |
| Life expectancy at birth, male | 73 years | 2025 | UNFPA World Population Dashboard |
| Life expectancy at birth, female | 81 years | 2025 | UNFPA World Population Dashboard |
| Urban population share | 54.32% | 2024 | World Bank WDI / Data360 Economy Snapshot |
| Population aged 0-14 | 14.5% | 2025 | UN ESCAP, based on UN WPP 2024 |
| Population aged 15-64 | 69.5% | 2025 | UN ESCAP, based on UN WPP 2024 |
| Population aged 60+ | 22.7% | 2025 | UN ESCAP, based on UN WPP 2024 |
| Population aged 65+ | 16.0% | 2025 | UN ESCAP, based on UN WPP 2024 |
| Population aged 80+ | 3.4% | 2025 | UN ESCAP, based on UN WPP 2024 |
| Registered births | 462,240 | 2024 | Department of Provincial Administration, reported January 2025 |
| Registered deaths | 571,646 | 2024 | Department of Provincial Administration, reported January 2025 |
Table analysis
- The international mid-year estimate is 71.6 million for 2025, while the Thai registered population source reports 65.81 million for 2025.
- The difference reflects coverage and population definition, not a simple numerical error.
- Fertility is far below the 2.1 replacement-level benchmark.
- The 65+ share is 16.0% in the UN-based 2025 profile, while the registered 2025 source gives 14.97% for the official registration age grouping.
- Registered deaths exceeded registered births in 2024 by 109,406.
Population Change
Thailand Population Trend
Selected UN-based population estimates before the projection period
Source: UN ESCAP ageing profile, based on UN World Population Prospects 2024. Values are shown as people, using selected years.
Trend analysis
- Thailand rose from 20.4 million in 1950 to 54.8 million in 1990.
- The 2020 and 2025 values are almost flat in this selected series: 71.673 million and 71.697 million.
- The flat recent profile aligns with low fertility and a shrinking gap between births and deaths.
Historical Population and Age Structure
| Year | Total population | Age 0-14 | Age 15-64 | Age 65+ | 65+ share | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 20,427,000 | 8,608,000 | 11,164,000 | 655,000 | 3.2% | ESCAP / UN WPP 2024 |
| 1990 | 54,773,000 | 16,433,000 | 36,179,000 | 2,161,000 | 3.9% | ESCAP / UN WPP 2024 |
| 2020 | 71,673,000 | 11,614,000 | 50,819,000 | 9,240,000 | 12.9% | ESCAP / UN WPP 2024 |
| 2025 | 71,697,000 | 10,401,000 | 49,825,000 | 11,472,000 | 16.0% | ESCAP / UN WPP 2024 |
Table analysis
- The 0-14 population declined from 16.433 million in 1990 to 10.401 million in 2025.
- The 65+ population rose from 2.161 million in 1990 to 11.472 million in 2025.
- The working-age group remained the largest broad group in 2025 at 49.825 million.
- The 65+ share moved from 3.9% in 1990 to 16.0% in 2025.
Age Structure
Broad Age Structure, 2025
Population share by broad age group
Source: UN ESCAP, based on UN World Population Prospects 2024.
Chart analysis
- The 15-64 group accounts for 69.5% of the population in 2025.
- The 65+ share is higher than the 0-14 share: 16.0% compared with 14.5%.
- The chart uses broad age groups and is not a population pyramid.
Broad Age-Sex Structure
The registered age-sex table below uses broad official age groups from the 2025 Thailand BOI demographic page, citing the Bureau of Registration Administration. It is not a full population pyramid because detailed 5-year age-by-sex groups are not used here.
Registered Population by Broad Age Group and Sex
Official registered counts by sex, grouped into broad age bands
Source: Thailand BOI / Bureau of Registration Administration, 2025 registered population age structure.
| Age group | Male | Female | Total | Male share | Female share | Sex ratio | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0-14 | 4,945,472 | 4,672,090 | 9,617,562 | 51.42% | 48.58% | 105.85 males per 100 females | Thailand BOI / Bureau of Registration Administration, 2025 |
| 15-24 | 4,095,149 | 3,896,461 | 7,991,610 | 51.24% | 48.76% | 105.10 males per 100 females | Thailand BOI / Bureau of Registration Administration, 2025 |
| 25-54 | 14,385,710 | 14,589,975 | 28,975,685 | 49.65% | 50.35% | 98.60 males per 100 females | Thailand BOI / Bureau of Registration Administration, 2025 |
| 55-64 | 4,357,356 | 5,013,122 | 9,370,478 | 46.50% | 86.92 males per 100 females | Thailand BOI / Bureau of Registration Administration, 2025 | |
| 65+ | 4,261,386 | 5,592,258 | 9,853,644 | 43.25% | 56.75% | 76.20 males per 100 females | Thailand BOI / Bureau of Registration Administration, 2025 |
Age-sex analysis
- The 0-14 group has more males than females, with 105.85 males per 100 females.
- The 25-54 group is close to balance but slightly female-heavy, with 98.60 males per 100 females.
- The 65+ group is female-heavy: 5.592 million females compared with 4.261 million males.
- The 65+ sex ratio is 76.20 males per 100 females.
- The table is based on registered population data, not the UN mid-year estimate series.
Fertility Decline
Fertility Compared With Replacement Level
Births per woman, 2025
Source: UNFPA World Population Dashboard and UN ESCAP for Thailand 2025 fertility; replacement level shown as a demographic benchmark.
Chart analysis
- Thailand’s 2025 fertility rate is 1.2 births per woman.
- The value is 0.9 births per woman below the 2.1 replacement-level benchmark.
- Low fertility is consistent with the shrinking 0-14 population shown in the age-structure table.
Life Expectancy by Sex
Life Expectancy at Birth
Male and female values, 2025
Source: UNFPA World Population Dashboard, Thailand 2025.
Chart analysis
- Female life expectancy is 81 years, compared with 73 years for males.
- The female-male gap is 8 years in the 2025 UNFPA values.
- The older registered age groups are female-heavy, which is consistent with the life expectancy difference.
Urbanization
Urban Population Share
Share of population living in urban areas
Source: World Bank WDI / Data360 Economy Snapshot, 2024. Urban definitions follow the World Bank and UN urbanization source series.
| Indicator | Value | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Urban population share | 54.32% | 2024 | World Bank WDI / Data360 Economy Snapshot |
| Urban population count | Data not available | Data not available | Data not available in the current extracted dataset |
| Rural population share | 45.68% | 2024 | Calculated as 100 minus World Bank urban share |
Data analysis
- The World Bank urban share is 54.32% for 2024.
- The rural share implied by the same percentage is 45.68%.
- Urban population count is not shown because it was not extracted from the same visible source table.
Registered Births, Deaths and Natural Change
| Year | Registered births | Registered deaths | Natural change | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 462,240 | 571,646 | -109,406 | Department of Provincial Administration, reported January 2025 |
Table analysis
- Registered deaths were higher than registered births by 109,406 in 2024.
- This table uses civil registration events and should not be merged with UN mid-year population estimates without a definition note.
Population Projection Scenario
Population Projection Path
Selected UN-based future values
Source: UN ESCAP ageing profile, based on UN World Population Prospects 2024. Projection values are scenario-based estimates.
| Year | Projected population | 0-14 share | 15-64 share | 65+ share | Scenario | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 71,697,000 | 14.5% | 69.5% | 16.0% | UN WPP selected estimate | ESCAP / UN WPP 2024 |
| 2030 | 71,316,000 | 13.0% | 67.6% | 19.4% | UN WPP projection | ESCAP / UN WPP 2024 |
| 2050 | 66,420,000 | 11.6% | 58.9% | 29.6% | UN WPP projection | ESCAP / UN WPP 2024 |
Projection analysis
- The selected projection path moves from 71.697 million in 2025 to 66.420 million in 2050.
- The 65+ share rises from 16.0% in 2025 to 29.6% in 2050.
- The 0-14 share falls from 14.5% in 2025 to 11.6% in 2050.
- Population projections are scenario-based estimates, not guaranteed predictions.
Demographic Overview
The UN-based population estimate is near a plateau, with selected projection values showing decline after 2025.
The 65+ population share is already larger than the 0-14 share in the 2025 UN-based age structure.
The 2025 fertility rate is 1.2 births per woman, well below the 2.1 replacement-level benchmark.
Registered older-age groups are female-heavy, with 76.20 males per 100 females in the 65+ group.
The World Bank urban share for 2024 is 54.32%, using the WDI urban population definition.
Thailand’s registered population series and UN/World Bank mid-year estimates use different population coverage rules.
Data Sources and Methodology
Values are presented with their source year and population definition where available. UN and World Bank values are treated as internationally comparable estimates. Thai registration values are used as official registered-population data and are not forced to match UN mid-year estimates.
| Source | Year or release | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| UNFPA World Population Dashboard, Thailand | 2025 country dashboard | Total population, total fertility rate, male and female life expectancy, demographic definitions |
| UN ESCAP Asia-Pacific ageing profile, based on UN World Population Prospects 2024 | 2026 profile using WPP 2024 | Median age, 60+ share, 65+ share, 80+ share, selected historical age structure, projection table |
| World Bank World Development Indicators and Data360 Economy Snapshot | 2024 and 2025 values shown | World Bank population total, population growth, net migration, urban population share |
| Thailand BOI / Bureau of Registration Administration | 2025 | Registered population total and broad registered age-sex counts |
| Department of Provincial Administration, reported January 2025 | 2024 registered events | Registered births, registered deaths, and calculated natural change |
Method note
- Natural change is calculated as registered births minus registered deaths for the same year.
- Rural population share is calculated as 100 minus the World Bank urban share.
- Counts from ESCAP tables are shown after converting thousands to people.
- Small differences can occur because several sources round published values.
Methodological Safety Note
Methodological Safety Note: Thailand demographic values can differ by source because registered population, resident population, mid-year estimate, civil registration events, model estimates and projections do not measure the same thing. UN and World Bank estimates are useful for cross-country comparison, while Thai registration data reflects official registration coverage. Projection values are scenario-based estimates. Urban population depends on the source definition of urban areas. Sex ratio is calculated here as males per 100 females. Rounded source values may not sum exactly across age groups.