Poverty Proportion in 77 Provinces of Thailand

Jan 04, 2018 | view 19,602

At the beginning of the year, I would like to present an article that may leave many feeling disheartened, but it is a reality that we should reflect on regarding our spending habits. According to a survey on the economic and social conditions of households by the National Statistical Office, TerraBKK Research found that the proportion of the poor in Thailand during the years 2014-2016 fluctuated between 7.5% - 10.5% of the Thai population, averaging around 5.8 - 7.06 million people. The poverty line (in terms of expenditure) averaged 2,653 baht/person/month across Thailand, with Bangkok having a slightly higher poverty line of 3,137 baht/person/month.

10 Provinces with the Highest Poverty Proportion in 2016 TerraBKK Research found that Mae Hong Son is the province with the highest poverty proportion in Thailand for the past three years, with a figure of 39.21% in 2016. When looking at the regional breakdown, it is clear that the Northeastern region has the highest number of poor provinces, with four provinces: Kalasin, Nakhon Phanom, Buriram, and Amnat Charoen. The Northern region has two provinces: Mae Hong Son and Nan, while the Southern region includes three provinces: Narathiwat, Pattani, and Yala, along with Chai Nat (Central region).

10 Provinces with the Lowest Poverty Proportion in 2016 For the provinces with the lowest poverty proportion, Chonburi has never exceeded 1% over the past three years. It is clear that the Central region also has a relatively low poverty proportion, as five provinces near Bangkok, namely Samut Sakhon, Nakhon Pathom, Nonthaburi, Samut Prakan, and Pathum Thani, all have poverty proportions not exceeding 2%. Additionally, Phichit (Northern region) and Surat Thani, Phuket (Southern region), as well as Bangkok, the capital of Thailand, are included.

Next, TerraBKK Research will provide detailed information on the poverty proportions divided by region, including the Central region (including the Eastern and Western regions), Northern region, Northeastern region, and Southern region as follows:

Central Region (including Eastern and Western regions)

Starting with the Central region, the average number of poor people (in terms of expenditure) is 926,000 or an average poverty proportion of 4.8%, with an average poverty line of 2,833 baht/person/month. The province with the highest poverty proportion is Chai Nat at 28.34%. The province that has seen a continuous increase in poverty proportion is Prachuap Khiri Khan at 10.71% in 2016 (6.38% in 2015, 4.21% in 2014). In contrast, Saraburi has seen a decrease over the past three years, with a proportion of 3.57% in 2016 (4.97% in 2015, 6.03% in 2014). The province with the lowest poverty proportion in the Central region is Chonburi at 0.03%.

Northeastern Region

In the Northeastern region, the average number of poor people (in terms of expenditure) is 2.52 million or 13.4%, the highest in Thailand, with an average poverty line of 2,369 baht/person/month. Kalasin has the highest poverty proportion in the region at 31.99%. When looking at the overall trend in this region, provinces that have consistently seen a decrease in poverty proportion are often border provinces, such as Loei with a poverty proportion of 4.01% in 2016 (9.64% in 2015, 10.01% in 2014) and Nong Khai with 3.77% in 2016 (4.26% in 2015, 6.49% in 2014). Additionally, major cities like Nakhon Ratchasima have a poverty proportion of 8.97% in 2016 (11.55% in 2015, 17.06% in 2014), along with less noticed provinces like Sakon Nakhon with a poverty proportion of 13.81% in 2016 (17.19% in 2015, 23.58% in 2014).

Northern Region

Moving on to the Northern region, the average poverty line (in terms of expenditure) is 2,387 baht/person/month, with an average of 1.22 million poor people or a poverty proportion of 10.6%. Although Mae Hong Son has the highest poverty proportion in Thailand at 39.21%, the neighboring province Chiang Rai has seen a continuous decrease in poverty proportion, with a figure of 15.78% in 2016 (17.22% in 2015, 26.83% in 2014). Additionally, provinces in the central northern area that are well-connected, such as Phitsanulok, Phetchabun, and Kamphaeng Phet, as well as Lamphun, all have poverty proportions not exceeding 5%, showing a decrease over the past three years.

Southern Region

Finally, we conclude with the Southern region, which has an average poverty line (in terms of expenditure) of 2,730 baht/person/month, with an average poverty proportion of 12.02% or an average of 1.10 million poor people. It should be noted that two standout provinces in this region, which many might expect, not only have the lowest poverty proportions in this region but are also showing continuous improvement in their figures: Phuket with a poverty proportion of 0.52% in 2016 (0.63% in 2015, 0.72% in 2014) and Surat Thani with a poverty proportion of 1.35% in 2016 (2.23% in 2015, 2.65% in 2014).