20250704UNFPA-EN
UNFPA Thailand Celebrates World Population Day and Launches the State of World Population Report 2025 “The Real Fertility Crisis,” Highlighting Global trends, Challenges and the Importance of Rights and Choices to Address Demographic shift challenges
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Thailand hosts the World Population Day celebration “UNFPA State of World Population (SWP) Report Launch towards World Population Day 2025: Celebration Advancing Rights and Choices for Everyone – Shaping a Sustainable Future”, alongside the official launch of the State of World Population Report 2025, titled The Real Fertility Crisis. The event takes place at Pullman King Power Bangkok and brings together over 200 participants from government, private sector, academia, civil society, and youth networks.
World Population Day, observed annually on 11 July, serves as a critical platform to reflect on population issues and reaffirm the global commitment to Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR). This year’s celebration coincides with the launch of the latest global population report, which reveals a key insight: the real population challenge is not declining birth rates, but the unmet desires of millions—particularly women and young people—who are still unable to decide freely about when and whether to have children. This event has wide-range of activities started from the opening session by Dr. Julitta Onabanjo, Country Director of UNFPA Thailand and an opening remark and keynote speech from H.E. Mr. VarawutSilpa-archa, the Minister of Social Development and Human Security. The event also includes keynote speeches from UNFPA, the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC), the Department of Health, MoPH, along with interactive sessions presenting TikTok challenge winners award, inviting participants to share views on fertility desires, live musical performances from Princess Galyani Vadhana Institute of Music, a panel discussion by multi-sectoral partner from private sector, academia, CSOs and person with disabilities. The event concluded with the launch of SoSafe Line Stickers to promote a safe society for population at every age and every gender.
Ms. Siriluck Chiengwong, Head of Office, UNFPA Thailand, states that this year, UNFPA has globally conducted surveys in 14 countries, including Thailand, focusing on fertility aspiration and reality. The findings reveal that many respondents wish to have children but choose to delay or forgo doing so. UNFPA’s approach to addressing the population crisis does not centre on increasing or decreasing birth rates. Instead, it emphasizes rights and choices for reproductive agent or individuals of reproductive age—whether women, men, or LGBTQAI+ community. Everyone should have the right to make decisions about their own bodies, including whether they want to have children, if so, with whom, when, and how many. Supportive policies from both government and private sectors are essential to create enabling environments that make these decisions easier. This includes parental leave, workplace childcare, and gender equality measures and a just society without violence. In addition, legal frameworks must be in place to protect the rights of children born into diverse family structures, especially following Thailand’s recent enactment of the Marriage Equality Law.
“Young people represent a new generation we aim to empower—with knowledge of sexual and reproductive health and rights. They need to understand family planning and access to the services if they are not yet ready to have children. But if they are ready—economically, socially, or in terms of lifestyle—support must come from government, private sector, communities, and families, so they can start families when they are ready.” Ms. Siriluck notes.
Ms. Siriluck also emphasizes that UNFPA encourages the government to develop policies that creates enabling environment for people to have children. This includes building a supportive society, providing adequate welfare for both children and parents, and ensuring gender equality including for LGBTQAI+, marginalized groups who may lack legal documentation, as well as single mothers and single fathers. The core mission of UNFPA is to foster a society where every person has the power to make choices about their life and future.
H.E. Mr. Varawut Silpa-archa, Minister of Social Development and Human Security (MSDHS), who presides over the opening ceremony, states that in the face of demographic challenges, on March 7, 2024, the Ministry—along with all other ministries in Thailand, United Nations agencies, and the World Bank—jointly organized a workshop that led to the formulation of a national policy called “5x5 Let's Turn the Tide”. This policy aims to address Thailand’s population crisis which is an invisible time bomb that may explode even before issues like climate change and others. This is due to the fact that Thailand is expected to become a super-aged society in the next ten years.
H.E. Mr. Varawut explains that the 5x5 Let's Turn the Tide policy consists of five strategies, each comprising five measures. The first strategy focuses on empowering and enhancing the capacity of the working-age population so they can support themselves and their families. The second strategy aims to improve the quality of early childhood development. The third strategy centres on caring for and empowering older persons. The fourth strategy emphasizes supporting and empowering persons with disabilities. The fifth strategy involves creating an ecosystem that enables people of all ages to coexist, support one another, build a safe society, and ensures that the new generation grows up in a better society.
“Encouraging people to have children isn’t just about matchmaking or offering financial rewards—like giving 500,000 or a million baht per child. What happens when the money runs out? If you ask young people what they need to have children, I believe the answer won’t be ‘money’ alone. It’s also about education, transport, communication, quality of life, safety, environment, housing, drug prevention, and much more. Population growth isn’t merely a reproductive health issue. It’s not the sole responsibility of the Ministry of Public Health or the Ministry of Social Development. It’s a national issue that requires collaboration from every ministry and agency,” says Mr. Varawut.
All activities served as a platform to share technical and practical insights from multiple stakeholders, raise awareness that sexual and reproductive health and rights are fundamental to social justice and national development. When people are empowered to make their own reproductive decisions—without pressure, fear, or limitation—they contribute to societies that are more resilient, just, and vibrant.
อ่านข่าวภาษาไทย : UNFPA ประเทศไทย ฉลองวันประชากรโลก เปิดตัว “The Real Fertility Crisis”
