Though it comes off as a strange and exotic place to many outsiders, Thailand is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. But this, of course, is not all there is to the place, and much of it remains misunderstood.
Recently, Thailand as a whole has made significant improvements to its economy, road safety, and even the environment. To take a closer look, we have compiled 36 must-know Thailand statistics to help you understand the current state of Thailand across a variety of sectors. These statistics cover crime, demographics, tourism, healthcare, economics, and more.
1. Crime Statistics
In 2022, there were 1,092 murder cases, an increase from 817 in 2021. [Statistical Yearbook Thailand 2023]
Thailand recorded 7,562 assault cases in 2022, up from 2,910 in 2021. [Statistical Yearbook Thailand 2023]
In 2022, 1,442 rape cases were reported, showing a slight increase from 1,322 in 2021. [Statistical Yearbook Thailand 2023]
There were 21,230 theft cases in 2022, compared to 18,586 in 2021. [Statistical Yearbook Thailand 2023]
Robbery cases in 2022 totaled 454, up from 361 in the previous year. [Statistical Yearbook Thailand 2023]
2. Demographics Statistics
Thailand’s population was 71,801,279 people in 2023. [World Bank]
Thailand’s population growth rate in 2023 was 0.145%. [World Bank]
In 2023, the total fertility rate in Thailand was 1.461 births per woman. [Macrotrends]
In 2023, 53.61% of Thailand’s total population lived in urban areas. [World Bank]
3. Tourism and Travel
In 2023, over 28 million international tourists visited Thailand. [Thailand.go.th]
In 2020, tourism revenue fell by 81.4%, from 1,911.81 billion baht in 2019 to 355.37 billion baht. [Statistical Yearbook Thailand 2023]
In 2022, popular activities among tourists included taking photos (54.7%), shopping (36.09%), and road trips (33.18%). [Statistical Yearbook Thailand 2023]
4. Healthcare and Life Expectancy
In 2022, the life expectancy at birth was 79.68 years. [World Bank]
In 2020, Thailand’s maternal mortality ratio was 29 deaths per 100,000 live births. [World Bank]
In 2022, the incidence of HIV among individuals aged 15-49 was 0.27 per 1,000 uninfected people. [World Bank]
5. Economics Statistics
In 2023, Thailand’s GDP was $514.94 billion. [World Bank]
GDP per capita in 2023 was $7,171. [World Bank]
In 2023, average household income in Thailand was 29,030 baht per month, while average household expenses amounted to 23,695 baht per month. [National Statistical Office Thailand]
In 2023, GDP growth was recorded at 1.88%. [World Bank]
The unemployment rate in 2023 was 0.913%. [World Bank]
In 2022, foreign direct investment (FDI) net inflows were 2.26% of GDP. [World Bank]
In 2023, Thailand’s inflation rate, as measured by consumer prices, was 1.23%. [World Bank]
In 2022, Thailand’s central government debt amounted to 60.35% of GDP. [World Bank]
In 2020, 6.80% of Thailand’s urban population was living in slums. [World Bank]
6. Education Statistics
In 2023, Thailand’s primary school enrollment rate was 99.68% (gross). [World Bank]
In 2021, Thailand’s adult literacy rate for individuals aged 15 and above was 94.1%. [World Bank]
In 2021, government expenditure on education was 11.88% of total spending. [World Bank]
7. Culture and Religion
In 2022, there were 253,182 Buddhist monks in the Kingdom of Thailand. [Statistical Yearbook Thailand 2023]
In 2022, there were 596 Thai temples abroad. [Statistical Yearbook Thailand 2023]
In 2018, there were 54,355,597 Buddhists (over the age of 13 years old) in Thailand, approximately 8 million of which prayed every day. [Statistical Yearbook Thailand 2023]
8. Environment and Sustainability
As of 2020, Thailand’s CO2 emissions were 3.7 metric tons per capita. [World Bank]
In 2021, 38.8% of Thailand’s land was covered by forests. [World Bank]
9. Transportation and Infrastructure
In 2022, 99.9% of Thailand’s population had access to electricity. [World Bank]
In 2022, 87.98% of Thailand’s population was using the Internet. [World Bank]
In 2022, there were 14,737 road traffic deaths. [Bangkok Post]
Thailand Statistics: The Bottom Line
These 36 Thailand statistics are a quick look into the country as a whole. From economics to healthcare and tourism, Thailand seems to be making a lot of progress. Understanding these statistics can help outsiders get a more holistic view of the nation, rather than seeing it solely as a tourist destination.
