Thailand profile

Demography and Health

Thailand’s population in 2024 stands at about 71.67 million, placing it around the 20th globally by size. The demographic profile is characterized by a modest growth dynamic and aging tendencies typical of middle-income economies. The crude birth rate is 8.24 per 1,000 people and the crude death rate is 8.89 per 1,000, yielding a near-balance natural change that increasingly shifts households toward older cohorts. Life expectancy at birth is 76.4 years (2023), reflecting improvements in health services and living standards, though disparities persist regionally. Under-5 mortality is 9.2 per 1,000 live births, indicating ongoing challenges in child health that contrast with overall gains in life expectancy. The suicide mortality rate is 16.6 per 100,000 (2021), highlighting mental health as an important but often underemphasized public health issue. Health financing shows that current health expenditure accounts for 5.35% of GDP (2022), with domestic general government health expenditure per capita (PPP) at 805 international dollars (2022), suggesting a substantial public role in health while household spending remains relevant. Net migration is positive, with roughly 23,321 people moving into the country in 2024, indicating some pull factors for workers and students. The country also records relatively complete internet access (within this category), contributing to health information access and telemedicine potential. Overall, health outcomes are improving, but policy attention to child health, mental health, and regional disparities remains essential to sustain progress.

Economy

Thailand displays a mixed but increasingly outward-oriented economy with a strong export orientation. Gross domestic product per capita is 7,345 current US dollars (2024), while GDP per capita on a purchasing power parity basis is 24,708 international dollars (2024), signaling a middle-income regime with meaningful differences across cities and regions. The economy benefits from a robust external sector: exports of goods and services represent 70.1% of GDP (2024), and imports account for 66.7% of GDP, underscoring Thailand’s role as a manufacturing and trading hub that integrates closely with regional and global value chains. The inflation rate sits at a manageable 1.37% (2024), indicating price stability conducive to investment and consumer confidence. FDI net inflows amount to 1.94% of GDP (2024), reflecting continued foreign participation in Thai industry, though this is modest relative to the most open economies. The current account balance stands at 2.11% of GDP (2024), consistent with healthy external financing conditions. The country allocates around 1.16% of GDP to research and development (2022), pointing to ongoing but still developing innovation activity. High-technology exports are substantial, totaling about 61.3 billion USD (2024) and ranking Thailand among leading high-tech exporters globally, which supports productivity gains and higher-value manufacturing. Taken together, the data portray an economy leaning on external demand, with growing capabilities in science and technology, but with room to deepen investment in innovation and inclusive growth.

Trade and Investment

Trade and investment dynamics are central to Thailand’s development model. Exports of goods and services are 70.1% of GDP in 2024, illustrating the country’s dependence on external markets and its integration into regional supply chains. Imports are 66.7% of GDP, reinforcing the open, trade-driven structure where domestic manufacturing often relies on imported inputs. The logistics backbone supports this openness: the Logistics Performance Index for 2022 is 3.7 on a 1–5 scale, with the country ranked 9th globally in quality of trade and transport infrastructure, indicating efficient distribution channels and good connectivity for exporters. Foreign direct investment net inflows amount to 1.94% of GDP (2024), signaling continued overseas investment activity, even as competition for capital remains intense in the region. Thailand’s strong performance in high-technology exports—about 61.3 billion USD (2024)—highlights a successful shift toward tech-enabled manufacturing and value-added industries. Patent activity, with 867 resident patent applications in 2021, and a supportive, yet evolving, regulatory environment (regulatory quality 0.158, rule of law 0.245) underpin innovation-led growth. Overall, Thailand leverages its manufacturing prowess, regulatory improvements, and connectivity to sustain an open, investment-friendly economy, while continuing to strengthen the domestic innovation ecosystem.

Governance and Institutions

Thailand’s governance landscape shows a mix of strengths and challenges. Political stability and absence of violence/terrorism score -0.28 in 2023, suggesting periods of volatility or policy uncertainty that can affect business confidence and social cohesion. Regulatory quality stands at 0.158 (2023), indicating a moderately functioning rule-by-law framework that supports enterprise, though room remains for simplification and modernization of procedures. The rule of law is measured at 0.245 (2023), reflecting some judicial and institutional reliability but with scope for greater consistency and transparency in enforcement. Control of corruption is negative at -0.489 (2023), ranking lower among peers and signaling ongoing concerns about governance practices and public-sector integrity. Government effectiveness is 0.172 (2023), illustrating functional public administration with capacity to implement policies, while overall performance could improve in service delivery and accountability. These indicators collectively describe a governance system that has achieved certain institutional capabilities but continues to grapple with corruption challenges and political volatility, which can influence long-term reform trajectories and investor sentiment.

Infrastructure and Technology

Thailand’s infrastructure and technology profile combines strong connectivity with expanding capacity in digital and high-tech sectors. Internet usage is high at 89.5% of the population (2023), enabling e-services, digital commerce, and remote work. The country also exhibits notable human capital and innovation activity: high-technology exports reach 61.3 billion USD (2024), and residents filed 867 patent applications in 2021, showing active participation in knowledge-intensive industries. Research and development expenditure stands at 1.16% of GDP (2022), indicating ongoing but relatively modest investment in innovation relative to global leaders. Renewable energy constitutes 19% of total final energy consumption (2021), pointing to a growing but still evolving energy transition. The hospital bed supply sits at 2.34 per 1,000 people (2021), a moderate level that reflects ongoing needs for healthcare infrastructure expansion as the population ages. The Logistics Performance Index is 3.7 (2022), with Thailand ranked 9 in quality of trade and transport infrastructure, illustrating substantial logistics strength that supports manufacturing and exports. Water stress is measured at 23.0% (2021), signaling environmental pressures that call for water management and efficiency. Taken together, Thailand demonstrates solid digital connectivity, a strong export-oriented manufacturing base, and an expanding but still developing innovation ecosystem, alongside policy needs to accelerate infrastructure investment and sustainability.

Environment and Sustainability

Thailand faces environmental and sustainability challenges consistent with its development path. Total greenhouse gas emissions per capita, excluding LULUCF, are 6.15 t CO2e per capita (2023), indicating a meaningful carbon footprint driven by energy use and industrial activity. Renewable energy accounts for 19% of total final energy consumption (2021), signaling progress toward cleaner energy, but with substantial room to increase the share of renewables in the energy mix. Level of water stress, defined as freshwater withdrawal as a share of available resources, is 23.0% (2021), highlighting vulnerability to droughts and the importance of water management, efficiency, and resilient infrastructure. The prevalence of undernourishment is 5.6% (2022), showing relatively better food security than many peers but still warranting ongoing nutrition policies and rural development. The poverty headcount ratio at national poverty lines is 5.4% (2022), suggesting that considerable progress has reduced poverty, yet disparities persist across regions and socioeconomic groups. The environment-facing indicators collectively point to a country with growing economic activity and energy use that must be paired with intensified efforts in emissions reduction, water stewardship, and sustainable development to preserve natural resources for future generations.