Shocking stats: Thailand’s hidden population crisis exposed

Thailand’s population secrets are out in the open, and the numbers are staggering. According to National Statistical Office (NSO) Deputy Director Suwannee Wangkan, a whopping 9.25 million people unofficially inhabit the Land of Smiles, with the vast majority flocking to Bangkok for work and study, shining a harsh spotlight on the nation’s deepening wealth gap.

This clandestine population, constituting 13.2% of Thailand’s total populace of 70 million, comprises two main groups: the 8.4 million non-registered population who reside outside their native province without formal registration, and an additional 850,000 commuter population who traverse daily for work or studies beyond their home turf.

Digging deeper into the figures, NSO’s data reveals that a staggering 610,000 individuals commute daily to work in other provinces, while 240,000 travel for educational pursuits outside their native area.

Unsurprisingly, Bangkok emerges as the magnet for aspirations, with 55.3% of the unofficial populace commuting to study and 52.5% to work in the bustling capital. However, other regions like Nakhon Pathom, Ayutthaya, Pathum Thani, and Khon Kaen also witness significant influxes of commuter students.

Ayutthaya steals the spotlight as the second hub for commuters working outside their home province, with 7.3% of the share, closely trailed by Samut Prakan, Pathum Thani, and Singburi.

Suwannee Wangkan stresses that these statistics vividly mirror Thailand’s educational and employment inequality. She urges state agencies to step up efforts in addressing the adverse effects of this clandestine populace, such as overcrowded living spaces, strained public health services, and increased pressure on utilities, reported The Nation.

The NSO, conducting its annual migration survey between October and December, releases these findings yearly to aid relevant agencies in crafting strategies for public welfare, education, healthcare, and utilities.

In related news, Deputy Prime Minister Somsak Thepsutin cautioned that Thailand’s population could plummet from 66 million to a mere 33 million within six decades. This alarming forecast, issued yesterday, spells out dire consequences for the nation’s economic vitality and security, with the working-age populace dwindling from 46 million to a mere 14 million, according to Somsak.