Hanoi (VNA) - The National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC) revealed on February 16 that Thailand's GDP grew by 2.5% in the fourth quarter of 2025, with a full-year growth of 2.4%, beating expectations.
Private consumption and government spending rose by 2.7% and 0.6% respectively, both lower than the figures recorded a year earlier.
The main driver behind the late-year acceleration came from investment and consumption. Investment surged by 8.1% in the fourth quarter of 2025, a sharp improvement from the 1.4% growth seen in the previous three months. Household consumption also expanded by 3.3% during the same period.
On the back of this recovery momentum, the NESDC revised its 2026 economic growth outlook upward to a range of 1.5–2.5%, higher than its earlier forecast of 1.2–2.2%.
NESDC Secretary-General Danucha Pichayanan said the key supporting factors include growth in private consumption, government spending, and the recovery of tourism sector. In addition, the easing of trade restrictions is expected to boost exports.
He flagged global trade disruptions, climate change, and high household debt levels as major obstacles facing the Thai economy, warning that political uncertainty following the election could delay preparation of the next fiscal budget, potentially affecting Thailand’s economic recovery momentum./.
