The birth rate dropped sharply, Thailand faced a population crisis 0
(Dan Tri) – Thailand is encouraging people to have more children to prevent a decline in the birth rate by providing child care and fertility centers for parents.
(Illustration photo: Reuters).
According to Reuters, the support campaign to encourage people to have children was launched by Thailand in the context that the birth rate in this country has decreased by nearly a third since 2013. Last year there were only 544,000 babies born, the lowest.
Thailand’s demographic development trend is similar to other Asian economies such as Japan or Singapore.
`The data reflect a demographic crisis, where thinking about having children has changed,` said Teera Sindecharak, a demography expert at Thammasat University.
Senior health official Suwannachai Wattanayingcharoenchai told Reuters the government recognized the need to intervene in the issue.
`We are trying to slow the decline in birth rates and reverse the trend by getting families ready to have children faster.`
Officials said plans include opening fertility centers, currently limited to Bangkok and other major cities, and using social media influencers to spread the message.
However, the above policy may come too late for some people.
`Super Age Society`
Thailand is not the only country in the region facing low birth rates, but its economy lags behind that of more developed countries that have been forced to rely on migrant workers to make ends meet.
Experts say it is difficult to reverse the situation as social conditions have changed and attitudes towards having children are now overshadowed by concerns about rising debt and benefits for the elderly.
Scholar Teera said Thailand is moving towards becoming a `super-aged society`, where the number of people over 60 years old will account for more than one-fifth of the population.
`Manufacturing sectors will face a decline in productivity, so we must develop labor,` the head of the state planning agency, Danucha Pichayanan, told a recent business forum.
Mr. Danucha also noted that demographic trends could also increase the strain on government finances, with social benefits increasing.
Thailand has also been rocked by political instability for most of the past two decades, with two military coups and a wave of anti-government protests.
But for many people who have chosen not to have children, cost remains the main issue.
