Demographic Shift: Thailand’s Ageing Society Meets Urban Flight
Thailand’s transition to an aged society is no longer distant—it’s here. According to the Department of Older Persons, 2023 saw the number of persons aged 60+ rapidly climbing. And per National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC), by 2037 seniors may approach ~30 % of the population.
Despite this, the urban wage-seekers continue to migrate from rural zones into cities: more than 53 % of Thais live in urban areas in 2025.
“Older people may be at risk of being left behind in rural Thailand if all their children migrate.” This creates a dual squeeze: ageing needs rise while traditional familial care networks erode.
The Risk Map: Workforce, Rural Isolation & Shortfall of Care Infrastructure
The risk profile is stark:
- Only ~785 registered elder-care homes across Thailand with capacity for around 20,000 residents—out of millions aged 60+.
- Regions with high out-migration of working-age adults face greater vulnerability of older dependents—social support weakens.
- The business advisory report from KPMG finds that by 2030 over 21 % of the population will be aged 65+—forcing surging health‐spending and care-service demand.
For families, the implications are real: long-term care costs rise, informal support vanishes, and choosing between relying on urban kids or moving to specialist care becomes unavoidable.
Care Resorts: A New Paradigm for Senior Living in Thailand
Enter the “care-resort”: resort-grade living + 24/7 medical/assisted-living support in Thailand’s secondary cities or scenic regions.
- Several publications cite senior-living resort pricing at USD 2,200–4,500/month in Thailand vs USD 6,500+ in Australia/UK.
- The Thailand-Business-News summary states that although 13 million people are aged over 60, capacity for senior-care centres remains limited (~20,000 beds).
- Analysts note the elder-care home sector is “booming” as investors and operators recognise the gap.
For families and foreigners, this adds an alternative: not just staying with children, nor institutional nursing home in the home country, but a hybrid luxury care resort in Thailand—leveraging the country’s strong private hospital system, favourable climate, and value-pricing.
Actionable Take-Aways for Families, Investors & Advisors
- For families: If your parents remain in a rural province with younger children gone urban, factor in cost, access and staffing shortfall now—not in 10 years.
- For investors/asset owners: Look at secondary city resort stock for conversion to senior-living. Evaluate regulation, visa link-ups, occupancy risks and paying-capacity of domestic vs foreign clients.
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Sources: WHO: Thailand’s leadership and innovations towards healthy ageing.: IOM Thailand Migration Report 2024: KPMG: Thailand’s Ageing Society – The Opportunities for Businesses in Thailand.
