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Thailand tops ASEAN in number of senior citizens

The Institute for Population and Social Research of the Mahidol University has indicated that Thailand has the most number of senior citizens in ASEAN, creating concerns for the economy in the future.
The Institute for Population and Social Research of the MahidolUniversity has indicated that Thailand has the most number of seniorcitizens in ASEAN, creating concerns for the economy in the future.

The institute has compared the number of population in the ASEANcommunity over the past year and found that Thailand tops the list forhaving the highest number of senior citizens.

There are8.1 million people aged 60 and over in Thailand , accounting for 12percent of all citizens. 800,000 of them are 80 years and over.

Theinstitute also indicated that people are at the same time having fewerchildren, saying the percentage of the elderly to the whole populationwill continue to rise. It said this will create a problem of elderlydependency.

As a result, Thailand now has the highestelderly dependency rate in ASEAN at 12.8 percent. Most countries inASEAN are also having increasing elderly dependency rate, exceptVietnam and Laos .

Wellness City executive BoonchaiIssarapisit, said the Thai society provides a great place for them tolive. He stated the happiness index of the elderly in Thailand is thehighest in ASEAN, explaining that physical fitness, public facilities,society and environment are the factors for their happiness./.
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