These aversions are reflected in Thailand’s fertility rate, which stood at 1.08 last year, the second lowest in Southeast Asia after Singapore’s 0.97 last year.
Deputy Prime Minister Somsak Thepsutin warned that if the kingdom persisted on this trajectory, its population could be halved, from its current 66 million to 33 million, within 60 years.
While declining fertility rates are a global phenomenon, Thailand is set to face unprecedented challenges ahead.
HOW THAILAND IS AN ANOMALY
Thailand already stands out from its neighbours at similar levels of development. Countries such as Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam and Indonesia have fertility rates close to or hovering around the replacement level of 2.1 births per woman.
Ironically, what laid the foundations for Thailand’s economic growth could have precipitated its current problems.
WATCH: “Kids are too expensive!” How Thailand became one of the world’ fastest-ageing countries (47:07)
