Baby boom: Thailand minister aims to boost nation’s population with Give Birth Great World campaign.

Thailand’s Public Health Minister is set to increase the population in Thailand by encouraging Thais to have more children in a campaign called, Give Birth Great World.

Cholnan Sikaew revealed in a meeting within the ministry yesterday, November 15, that the average fertility rate of women across the world would reduce to 1.7 children per woman by 2100 if the problem is not addressed. The world population was recorded at 9.7 billion people in 2016 and it will be reduced to 8.8 billion people in 2100 if changes aren’t made to boost the populace.

Cholnan added that China used to have the largest population in the world but it declined for the first time in 60 years. The country has 1.411 billion residents, making it the second most populated country in the world after India for the first time.

Cholnan stated that Thailand would be one of 23 countries affected by the fertility decline issue. The population of Thailand would reduce by 50%, so Thailand needed a measure to encourage people to have more children.

Cholnan mentioned the perspective that “having more children makes you poorer” needs to be removed from society. Thai people, especially those with a good education and financial security, would be encouraged to have children to increase the country’s competitiveness.

Cholnan said the Public Health Ministry would work with relevant departments to implement the Give Birth Great World campaign. The authorities would provide more fertility clinics with specialists and counsellors for couples and increase the number of clinics offering treatment to infertile residents.

Birth rate decline

Cholnan said the Give Birth Great World campaign would start at the national level before inviting other countries to participate and take the campaign to the global level.

The acting Director of the Department of Health, Autchara Nitiapinyasakun, reported that Thailand’s birth rate had fallen for the first time in 70 years. Less than 500,000 children were born in Thailand last year. The report showed that only 485,085 children were born in 2022.

Thailand had more than 12 million old people last year and the number of people aged over 65 years will increase over the next 60 years. It is predicted that the population of Thailand will be only 33 million, less than half of the current 71.6 million while there will be about 18 million old aged pensioners.

The numbers of the old population would affect the government budget in providing welfare to them. The decline in the number of people aged between 15 to 64 years old will also reduce the gross domestic product (GDP) and tax collection.

According to a survey conducted by the National Institute of Development Administration (NIDA) in September this year, 44% of the 759 participants who had not yet had children said that they did not want to have children.

Participants said they did not want the financial burden of caring for children, that the current social situation was not good enough for children, and that they wanted freedom to live.

All respondents also agreed that the government should provide more support for children and families. For example, free education for children beyond high school together with a support budget until the children reach the age of 15.