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 The campaign comes as the number of births has dropped by nearly a
third since 2013, when they started declining. Last year saw 544,000
births, the lowest in at least six decades and below the 563,000
deaths, which were also swelled by coronavirus-related fatalities.
While Thailand's demographic path is similar to other Asian
economies like Japan or Singapore, as an emerging market relying on
cheap labour and a growing middle class the implications for
Southeast Asia's second-biggest economy are far more profound.
"The data reflects a population crisis ... where the mindset towards
having children has changed," said Teera Sindecharak, an expert on
demography at Thammasat University.
Senior health official Suwannachai Wattanayingcharoenchai told
Reuters the government recognised a need to intervene.
"We are trying to slow down the decline in births and reverse the
trend by getting families that are ready to have children faster,"
he said, describing plans to introduce policies so that newborns get
the full support of the state.
The plans include opening fertility centres, currently limited to
Bangkok and other major cities, in 76 provinces and also using
social media influencers to back up the message, officials said.
Such policies may come too late for people like Chinthathip
Nantavong, 44, who decided with her partner of 14 years not to have
children.
"Raising one child costs a lot. A semester for kindergarten is
already 50,000 to 60,000 baht ($1,520 to $1,850) and then it reaches
millions later," she said, adding that other countries have better
care facilities and welfare policies.
"SUPER-AGED SOCIETY"
Thailand is not alone in the region struggling with low fertility
rates, but is less wealthy than some more developed countries that
have been forced to rely on migrant workers to support their
economies.
Experts said it is hard to reverse a situation where social
conditions have changed and attitudes towards having children are
now coloured by concerns over rising debt and elderly care.
Thailand is heading towards becoming a "super-aged society" where
the number of people over 60 will account for more than a fifth of
the population, academic Teera said. About 18% of Thailand's
population is aged over 60.
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 The ratio of working-aged to elderly people last
year was 3.4, but by 2040 officials forecast it
could be 1.7. "The manufacturing
sector will face productivity slumps ... so we have to develop
skilled labour and adopt the use of automated technologies," the
head of the state-planning agency, Danucha Pichayanan, told a recent
business forum. Thailand is a major regional manufacturing sector
for automotive and electronics.
Danucha also noted the demographic trend could also strain
government finances and experts have said welfare for the elderly is
not seen as sufficient even today, with monthly allowances of 600 to
1,000 baht.
"WE HAVE A CAT"
"It's become more difficult in deciding to have children," said
Teera, noting in the last decade the economy had been sluggish,
while living costs increased and income growth slowed.
Political division, rising debt and education costs were also major
factors determining attitudes towards having children, and
short-term remedies may not be enough, experts said.
Household debt has grown to nearly 90% of gross domestic product,
from 59% in 2010, Bank of Thailand data showed.
Thailand has also been rocked by political instability over most of
the past two decades, with two military coups and large
anti-government protests.
But for many like Chinthathip, who has chosen not to have children,
the expense remains the main issue.
"The middle class, office workers or people that are trying make
ends meet think the same way," said Chinthathip.
 "Right now we have a cat and it's not as costly as a child."
($1 = 32.4700 baht)
(Reporting by Chayut Setboonsarng and Panarat Thepgumpanat; Editing
by Ed Davies and Christopher Cushing)
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