As the birth rate steadily declines to lower than the death rate, the Pheu Thai-led government is to add increasing the birth rate to the national agenda in March, said Kaenika Oonchit, deputy government spokesperson.
In 2022, a total of 485,085 babies were born, which was the fewest in more than 70 years. The birth rate fell below the death rate, meaning that the Thai population in 2021 declined for the first time. If this trend continues unchecked, it is predicted that, in the next 60 years, the population may shrink by half, to about 33 million, which will lead to a labour shortage and impact future economic, social and national security.
Kaenika said that the Ministry of Public Health has designated the Health Department to spearhead the policy for quality birth promotion, as part of which state-run hospitals will set up clinics for reproductive promotion.
She said that such clinics will provide counselling to couples, including child birth planning and fertility treatment for couples who have difficulty conceiving, adding that some hospitals will be developed to provide IVF services.
She added that the government is also considering financial support for couples, to ease their child raising burden, and amendments to laws which pose obstacles to accessing fertility treatment for single women, men or members of the LGBT community who want to have children.
