Thais' Attitudes to Ageing
As global populations continue to age, understanding attitudes towards growing older becomes increasingly vital. The Ipsos Attitudes to Ageing 2025 report, a comprehensive 32-country study, offers valuable insights into how people worldwide perceive old age, retirement, and life's milestones.
A Positive Outlook on Old Age in Thailand
While a majority globally express a less enthusiastic view towards old age, Thailand stands out with a notably positive outlook. The report reveals that 60% of Thais say they are looking forward to their old age, compared to just 34% who are not. This contrasts with the global average, where 57% of people across 32 countries are not looking forward to their old age (vs. 38% who are), suggesting a cultural disposition in Thailand that embraces the later stages of life.
Defining "Old Age" and Expected Lifespan
Perceptions of when "old age" begins vary across the globe. In Thailand, the average age people consider "old age" to begin is 68 years old, only slightly later than the global average of 66 years. Interestingly, in the Philippines, this threshold is even lower at 60 years.
Thais expect to live to an average age of 76 years, which is slightly below the global average of 78 years. Based on these figures, people in Thailand anticipate experiencing 8 years of old age, whereas globally, the expected duration of "old age" is 12 years.
Leadership and Age: A More Open View
The report also explores attitudes towards age and leadership. In Thailand, 34% of people believe that a person can be the leader of their country at any age. This figure is higher than the global average of 30%, indicating a slightly more flexible view on age requirements for national leadership among Thais.
Ideal Ages for Life's Milestones
The study also identifies the ideal ages for significant life events. For Thais, these milestones are envisioned at younger ages compared to global sentiments:
- Starting a degree course at a university: 21 years old
- Getting married or entering a civil partnership: 27 years old
- Buying a house or property for the first time: 31 years old
- For a woman, having a baby: 31 years old
- For a man, becoming the father of a new baby: 33 years old
Globally, the ideal moment to reach key milestones like getting married, buying a first house, and having a baby falls within the 28-35 year age range, suggesting that Thais tend to view these life events as occurring earlier in adulthood.
The Ipsos Attitudes to Ageing 2025 report provides crucial insights into the diverse perspectives on ageing worldwide. Thailand's findings highlight a unique and generally positive outlook on old age, distinct expectations for its duration, and earlier ideal ages for major life events compared to global averages. These insights can be relevant to gain an understanding of societal attitudes and adapt policies and services to the evolving demographic landscape in Thailand and across the region.
