Old and poor: Thailand sleepwalking towards an ageing crisis
Thailand is one of the world's fastest ageing societies with more than 12 million people above the age of 60. They make up around 18% of the population, but with low incomes and insufficient government help, many seniors end up living in extreme poverty. "I have to borrow some money if I don't have enough to buy milk. I have to take a loan,” says 75-year-old Chusri Kaewkhio who looks after her ill husband of the same age. By 2029, Thailand is expected to join a list of super-ageing societies where more than 20% of the population are older than 65.
Transcript
00:00 [indistinct chatter]
00:03 This house right here, the one that's lime green,
00:14 that's his maid, works for him.
00:28 No, no, that's fine. So shall we then first go and see the cooking?
00:33 Yep.
00:35 [indistinct chatter]
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01:28 I think in about six years, by 2029,
01:34 I think over 20% of our population will be above 65 years old.
01:40 And this is, well, I mean, it is quite short, you know,
01:45 given that we are now in 2023.
01:48 No, we're not ready.
01:51 And not many people seem to be prepared.
01:54 In Thailand we say we've become old before we've become rich.
01:58 And, you know, we are one of the middle-income countries
02:02 who have become a super-rich society.
02:05 [BLANK_AUDIO]