UNFPA Thailand Unites Stakeholders for Demographic Resilience
UNFPA in Thailand Convened Multi-Stakeholders Dialogue To Recognise Achievements and Co-Create the Future Towards Thailand's Demographic Resilience
Bangkok, Thailand: On 19 November 2025, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in Thailand convened a multi-stakeholders meeting “Recognising Achievements and Co-Creating the Future,” at the Intercontinental Bangkok Hotel to mark key achievements and lessons learnt to collaboratively contribute to shape the future of Thailand’s sustainable Population and Development agenda. Bringing together nearly 200 representatives from senior government officials, civil society, youth networks, vulnerable population, academia, private sector partners, development agencies, and the media, the event marked a critical moment in Thailand's response to its accelerating demographic transition. The meeting was organized by UNFPA in Thailand with key partners including the National Statistical Office, the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society, the Ministry of Public Health, the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security, the Office National Economic and Social Development Council and the Ministry of Finance.
Currently, more than one-fifth of Thailand’s population is aged 60 and above, while the country’s fertility rate has fallen to a historic low of 1.08 births per woman. In less than a decade, Thailand is projected to become a super-aged society with more than 28% of its population aged over 60. These demographic shifts are reshaping labour markets, domestic consumption, social protection systems, and intergenerational dynamics, while inequalities, adolescent pregnancy, gender-based violence (GBV), and climate vulnerabilities continue to disproportionately affect women, young people, and vulnerable populations. UNFPA in Thailand has partnered with the Royal Thai Government and stakeholders for over 54 years, contributing to major successes including reduced maternal mortality, inclusive sexual and reproductive health access, advanced gender equality and progressive policies addressing adolescent pregnancy and population development.
The informative day with several key substantive sessions and dialogues started by the opening remarks from Dr. Julitta Onabanjo, UNFPA Country Director for Thailand and Ms. Hataichanok Chinauparawat, Deputy Director-General of the National Statistical Office, the Ministry of Digital for Economy and Society.
In her opening remarks, Dr. Julitta Onabanjo, UNFPA Country Director for Thailand underscored that the nation's demographic transition necessitates foresight, inclusion, and a rights-based approach. She positioned Thailand at a pivotal juncture where decisions regarding fertility, care systems, and gender equality will determine whether the transition results in a challenge or an opportunity.
“Thailand stands at a demographic crossroads. The question is not whether Thailand can adapt, but how we can collectively turn this demographic transition into a demographic dividend for all. The real fertility crisis is not one of numbers, but of choice when people cannot have the number of children they desire because of economic insecurity, care burdens, or unsupportive workplaces. Demographic resilience begins by empowering individuals to realize their choices and by building societies that work for every generation”, stated Dr. Onabanjo.
Dr. Onabanjo also emphasized that UNFPA’s direction for the coming years will be anchored in evidence-based policymaking, youth empowerment, and gender equality, in line with the UNFPA Global Strategic Plan (2026–2029) and Thailand’s 14th National Economic and Social Development Plan. She highlighted the agency’s “three zeros”, ending unmet need for family planning, preventable maternal deaths, and gender-based violence while announcing a new focus on demographic resilience as a fourth strategic pillar. “This is not only about population numbers but about investing in human potential, in gender equality, and in intergenerational solidarity that sustains progress”, she noted.
Ms. Hataichanok Chinauparawat, Deputy Director-General of the National Statistical Office, the Ministry of Digital for Economy and Society emphasized that reliable population data and digital innovation are essential foundations for Thailand’s demographic resilience. “Thailand’s rapidly ageing population and historically low fertility highlight the urgent need for high-quality, timely data to guide national policies. An aged society does not have to mean economic stagnation. With accurate evidence, intergenerational investment, gender equality, and a responsive care system, Thailand can turn demographic change into opportunity”, stated Ms. Chinauparawat. She also thanked UNFPA for the long partnerships and the support to Thailand, especially on data and the country's first-ever digital-first census conducted in 2025. She reaffirmed the National Statistical Office’s commitment to working closely with UNFPA and national partners to strengthen population data systems and support the implementation of the Long-Term Population Policy and the 15-Year Population and Development Plan (2022–2037) through evidence-driven decision-making.
A central feature of the event was the presentation of the Country Programme Evaluation (CPE) 2022–2026, providing an independent assessment of UNFPA’s relevance, coherence, effectiveness, efficiency and sustainability. The findings highlight Thailand’s achievements in areas such as fertility policy, family planning, the implementation of the Prevention and Management of Adolescent Pregnancy Act, the 15-year Population and Development Plan, and universal access to SRHR and GBV services, as well as promoting Thailand knowledge and good practices to other countries through South-South and Triangular Cooperation (SSTC) while underscoring the need to close persistent gaps for migrant workers, displaced communities, women with disabilities, youth and adolescents, older persons and other vulnerable groups while exploring for innovative financing to further advance ICPD agenda in Thailand.
The meeting also featured a presentation on the upcoming UNFPA Global Strategic Plan (2026–2029) in alignment with Thailand’s context, delivered by Ms. Siriluck Chiengwong, Head of Office, UNFPA in Thailand, demonstrating how global priorities are being aligned with Thailand’s specific demographic,economics, social and health goals. The outcomes of the global plan is built on the foundation of the original three transformative results: Ending Unmet Need for Family Planning, Ending Preventable Maternal Deaths, Ending Gender-Based Violence and Harmful Practiceswith the inclusion of a critical fourth pillar Demographic Resilience. The four interconnected overall outcomes for the period ending 2029: The achievement of the four global Outcomes will be contributed by six interlinked outputs focusing on data analysis and foresight, policy advocacy and accountability, sustainable financing and investment, social and gender norms, quality of care and services and humanitarian. Thailand has progressed well in all transformative results, however, there are still gaps in terms of inclusion of vulnerable populations in realising their rights and accessing inclusive services across life-cycle. UNFPA as a trusted partner in Thailand will continue to support the country in SRHR for all, GBV including technology-facilitated GBV, Financing for ICPD and SSTC. As UNFPA in Thailand is developing its new Country Programme Document (2027-2031), she invited all participants to advise UNFPA on the work area that they would like UNFPA to prioritise in 2026 -2031
There were three key technical presentations to emphasise Thailand’s situation, foresight and proposed recommendations from leading academia and experts in Thailand. These presentations are Population Situation Analysis, Life-Cycle Health Ageing analysis and Financing for ICPD Analysis. Common suggestions are to strategically and innovatively develop plans and policies that proactively address Aging Population and Aged Society with rights-based and gender-transformative approaches with multisectoral partners and networks to ensure that the most vulnerable population benefit from the interventions that leaves no one behind.
As part of UNFPA’s policy support to Thailand, Dr. Boonyarit Sookrat, the Director of the Bureau of Reproductive Health of the Department of Health of the Ministry of Public Health announced the National Commitment for rights-based Family Planning 2030. In Thailand, the commitment covered three key areas; access to modern contraceptives, medical fertility support and the prevention and management of unplanned pregnancy. After the National Commitment announcement, key partners including UNFPA, Planned Parenthood Association of Thailand (PPAT), and Population and Community Development Association (PDA) also joined the stage to deliver remarks to support the implementation of the commitments at the national and local levels.
The meeting also placed strong emphasis on youth empowerment through UNFPA’s Empowering Our Youth initiative to enhance access to SRHR services. After UNFPA in Thailand shared the overview results, success and lessons learnt from the 3-year project, representatives from UNFPA’s implementing partners: PPAT, Health Center for Ethnic Group, Marginal People and Migrant Worker and Regional Health Promotion Center 1 Chiang Mai, Raks Thai Foundation, the Creative Center for Social Development and Environment (Palang Jo) shared their stories and showcased solutions and community-driven projects, emphasizing their role as co-creators, not just beneficiaries. Existing and new initiatives by UNFPA and its partners were displayed in the UNFPA Marketplace such as the SoSafe life-cycle digital platform for GBV prevention and case management, ‘Her Power’ Project are sexual and reproductive health for every woman and adolescent girl, economic empowerment for women and girls and policy advocacy for positive norms change, and Orange Juice Troops community movement demonstrated how we can contribute to co-create Thailand’s future that we would like to see through a rapidly changing society.
In the afternoon, the meeting moved into a Voice from key population session presenting demand and recommendations on inclusive Population and Development Agenda from representatives of the vulnerable population in Thailand including older persons, persons with disabilities, women from the remote and mountainous ethnic groups from the North, women from the muslim community from the South, Women from the displaced person community along Thai-Myanmar border and young students from various universities.
Last but not least, ensure a whole-of-society dialogue, the meeting’s forward-looking session on “Partnerships and Financing for Demographic Resilience in Thailand,” brought together donors, private sector executives, media partners, academia and civil society organizations. The dialogue focused on the urgent need to mobilise innovative and sustainable financing models to support demographic transition policies, sexual and reproductive health and care systems, and gender equality initiatives. The session concluded with a Call to Action, urging stronger cross-sector partnerships and more targeted investment in people-centered development, particularly for women, young people, and vulnerable populations.
The meeting concluded with a shared commitment among government and partners to sustain investment, partnership, and innovation in demographic resilience. Participants agreed that ensuring the rights and choices of all people, particularly women and young people, must remain central to Thailand’s national development agenda. As Dr. Onabanjo reflected in closing, “This meeting is not an end, but a renewal, a shared promise to act with evidence, inclusivity, and vision so that demographic change becomes a force for dignity, security, and opportunity for all.
