Officials panic Thailand hits lowest birth rate in 7 decades

Officials are panicking after Thailand hit its lowest birth rate in seven decades last year. The Social Development and Human Security Ministry announced today that the kingdom hit a 71-year low. 

Last year, Thailand’s target birth rate was 700,000, however, only 502,000 babies were born. The birth rate was therefore about 30% below the target. 

The ministry’s permanent secretary Anukul Pidkaew said the declining birth rate caused the number of Thai children to fall to 10.9 million, or 16.3% of the entire population, this year. The working-age population is 42.6 million, or 63.6% of the population, Nation Thailand reported. 

Meanwhile, the number of elderly people is 13.5 million, or 20.2% of the population. If the current trend continues, children will only make up 13.3% of the population in 2040, Anukul said. He said the working-age population will fall…