Birth rate crisis: Why are young Thais refusing to have kids | The Disclosed EP.28
This week on The Disclosed, we investigate Thailand's birth rate crisis, exploring how skyrocketing living costs, broken education systems, and lack of state support are pushing young Thais away from parenthood.
👉 The Demographic Freefall: Total fertility rates dropping to 1.16, ageing populations, and the rise of the "pet humanisation" boom across Bangkok.
👉 The Economic Trap: High costs of raising a child, uneven public education forcing private tutoring, and inadequate maternity leave compared to global welfare states.
👉 The Workforce Crisis: The alarming gap in STEM education versus arts enrollment, leaving Thailand struggling to compete in the future AI and tech economy.
[00:00] Thailand's Declining Birth Rate: Introduction to Thailand's plummeting total fertility rate (dropping to around 1.16) and the looming threat of demographic extinction.
[00:59] The Financial Burden of Parenthood: Breakdown of the high costs of raising a child in urban Thailand (estimated at 1.5 million to 5 million baht) compared to local median wages.
[01:24] Education and Maternity Leave Shortcomings: Discussion on hidden out-of-pocket school costs, underfunded public education systems, and restrictive maternity leave policies (capped at 98 days) compared to Western welfare states.
[02:42] The Socioeconomic Paradox: Analysis from the Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI) showing that middle-class, highly educated Thais are opting out of parenthood due to high living costs.
[03:21] Education Pipeline & STEM Gap: Examination of higher education enrollment trends, highlighting that 70% to 75% of students enter humanities and social sciences while STEM fields lag behind.
[04:46] Global Comparisons: Looking at regional trends in South Korea, Singapore, and China, along with the heavy financial incentives used in Singapore versus the high-tax welfare models of Sweden and France.
[06:10] The Pet Humanisation Boom: How young Thais are shifting their disposable income and parental instincts toward pets instead of children amid mounting economic pressures. [06:50] Future Consequences and Conclusion: The broader macroeconomic risks of an ageing population, shrinking tax base, and the urgent need for structural economic and social reform.
🔎 Reported by @Tameryn.sh
#TheDisclosed #Thailand #DemographicCrisis #BirthRate #TheNationThailand #FutureOfWork #PopulationDecline #ThailandNews
