Numbers of expats and pensioners in Thailand
Foreigners and Thais at an immigration desk in Bangkok's Chaeng Watthana Government Complex (Photo: David Bokuchava / Shutterstock.com)
Many foreigners have decided in the past to emigrate to Thailand and build a new life there. But how many expats live in Thailand is not known. The number is estimated to be between 500.000 and 1 million.
One of the reasons for the lack of numbers is the definition of expat. However, the number that immigration announced last year was that the number of expats was much lower than assumed. In 2019, this would be 150.707 expats, of which only 72.969 are pensioners. This message would then be derived from the visa regulation, which came into force in 2017. However, it is not clear whether these numbers really refer to a longer stay (Extension of Stay) or to just having a visa or also include, for example, consulates and ambassadors. Moreover, it is not clear who in Thailand is professional and who is not. If one assumes a global estimate, this would amount to 263.000 foreigners in Thailand.
In previous studies, the number of expats was estimated to be higher. For example, there is a study by Mahidol University, which used data from 2010 and found a number of 440.000 expats. A curious enumeration of nationalities, where Australians, Dutch and Belgians were missing! However, Chinese and Japanese were included in the list, which makes one wonder whether these belonged in the category of expats! It was also indicated that the number of expats would be closer to 500.000 people. Later data, on the other hand, speak of lower numbers.
In short, it remains a mystery how many expats actually live in Thailand, hibernators or long-term retirees despite all the paperwork, residence extension, 90-day notification, TM papers, and so on!
However, the series of new immigration measures and regulations in conjunction with the strong baht and the rising cost of living are forcing many expats to look to a friendlier and cheaper destination such as Vietnam and Malaysia, where it is easier and possible to buy land to to build a house on it.
One is not obliged to leave 800.000 baht in the bank for a number of months or to demonstrably receive 65.000 baht in income every month in a Thai bank.
A final heavy burden on the budget of pensioners aged 70 and older is the sky-high health insurance premium, which must be paid every month. Good Thai affordable health insurance does not exist. Either extension is refused at a certain age or after an intervention for a certain ailment, this is not reimbursed a second time. Having to pay for a treatment yourself first (if this is possible!) and then see how long it takes before it comes back. I don't know if this is better organized in other countries outside Europe.
Source: Hello magazine
You would expect that the computers of the immigration should be able to provide clarity about this.
With some noise of course, of people coming, going and dying, without reporting it, but still a pretty good approximation.
Incidentally, the people from neighboring countries who come to work in Thailand are also expats.
But they are probably not counted in the statistics, because then the numbers should be much higher.
'Incidentally, the people from neighboring countries who come to work in Thailand are also expats.'
Indeed. And that is already about 1.5 million legal and perhaps the same number of illegal migrant workers.
If it is stored somewhere, on central servers, then the data can also be retrieved. Mahidol University and research I read then I think yes yes. Just call in a database expert, if necessary Immigration will hire a foreigner for this, and then the figures will appear.
Why shouldn't a Japanese or Chinese or any other Asian be an expat. Look at the Netherlands, where many European headquarters are located with the necessary management and employees from Japan, hence the large Japanese community in the Netherlands. Same in Thailand, there are many companies, especially in the industry large and small, with the same again the Japanese top layer. And so you can fill it in for every country. Although Thailand is just a workplace for Japan because cheap wages and that is why Thailand has been the largest investor in Thailand for decades and has a large expat community in Thailand. And I also regularly read about Japanese pensioners who stay in Thailand and are therefore in the same situation as the Western pensioners, fleeing the cold weather and/or have a family here.
Japanese, Laotians, etc. also count as expats, don't they? According to the Dutch definition, you are an expat if you temporarily work across the border for work (sometimes that becomes permanent and you are a migrant). According to the English definition, an expat is a migrant and it doesn't seem to matter whether it's for 3 months, 3 years or 3 decades.
A settlement by age would also be nice, how many elderly Japanese are there in Thailand?
What kind of visa or residence status do the young people, seniors and the elderly have? How many live more or less permanently and how many come for a long holiday (overwintering)?
It has become clear from the article that the Thai government itself is struggling with some logistical insight in terms of numbers, ages and the like, but also origin or omission thereof, such as a large group of expats from several European countries.
It has still not been possible to get all immigrations from 67 provinces with their own interpretations or ignorance on the same line in order to arrive at a responsible overview with the government in Bangkok.
Although the term “expat” can be unambiguous, it is remarkable that in recent years no Chinese or Japanese person has been seen at the immigration.
Perhaps the term “aliens” is a good alternative.
In the story I read about Malaysia.
To be eligible for the Malaysia visa or malaysia your second home program, you must have a considerably high amount of around 60000 euros in a Malaysian bank account for a year, half of which can be withdrawn after a year and spent on purchases, among other things. house car etc.
The other half I thought around 35000 Euro should always stay here.
Also, health insurance in Malaysia has been mandatory for years.
The advantage of the visa is that it is valid for 10 years, no 90 days or TM 30 nonsense and no exit visa is required when leaving the country.
Jan Beute.
What I don't understand is the Thai immigration can't see in their computer systems how many live here on retirement and spouse extension.
That number already gives a nice indication of how many could live here permanently for the entire year.
Jan Beute.
They know exactly the numbers, to the person and for the whole of Thailand. The point is that they are not told. Recently on this blog I mentioned an overview of the numbers from the countries Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark and Iceland; data for visa renewals and the reason like retired, married and more. And the increase and decrease in the period. So the data is there, after all, a central database is used, but it is not published. I could only find an overview of these countries.
I can certainly advise against anyone who intends to emigrate to SE Asia after retirement. It's an endless red tape. You never know if you will be allowed to stay the following year. Even if you stay there for 15 years, you still have no rights and only obligations. The health insurance picture is a farce and after years of paying untold sums you are obliged with gentle coercion to return to the home country when serious health problems arise. And let it be pensioners who have to deal with this more.
Buying something there is quite an adventure and the time when everything was much cheaper is gradually becoming a thing of the past. Many things are even cheaper in Europe.
They are also not constitutional states and it is safe as long as you do not collide with one or another government service.
I think it's wonderful to spend the winter three months a year with a simple tourist visa, but that's it.
If you still want to relax somewhere after your retirement, choose a warm country but within Europe. Europe is a blessing for all of us. Enjoy it.
I can recommend everyone to come and live in Thailand after a life of working and paying taxes, complying with rules and obeying countless commands and prohibitions.
It is quite easy to make and keep your administration in order for this.
Hospitals and doctors are among the best in the world with no waiting times and you will always find an insurance policy that suits you.
Moreover, due to the pleasant climate plus a satisfying way of life, your health even improves so that you are not constantly thinking about disaster.
It is still a lot cheaper to live in Thailand than in Europe and that will continue for decades.
And as long as you comply with the laws and customs of the country, you will absolutely not get into trouble, not with the government, not privately.
Just watch out for the nonsensical claims of people who found the clapper but never the bell.
Thailand certainly has miracle doctors?
Where will you have to wait longer?:
– Sweden: 54 doctors per 1000 inhabitants
– The Netherlands: 35 doctors per 1000 inhabitants
– Belgium: 33 doctors per 1000 inhabitants
– USA: 26 doctors per 1000 inhabitants
– Thailand: 8 doctors per 1000 inhabitants
(And then you actually have to take regional differences into account: there are more specialists in economic centers such as Bangkok than, for example, the Isaan)
https://www.who.int/gho/health_workforce/physicians_density/en/
Just make sure you get to those first 8 out of 1000 😉
The waiting time will sometimes increase in state hospitals, but especially in private hospitals, the waiting time will not be too bad.
And usually things go a little faster with the “Farang” if he has the right financial resources with him.
It is not so much the number of available doctors per 1000, but the number of Baht per patient.
Numbers are per 10.000 inhabitants, dear Rob, I read in your appendix.
Agree.
Living on a pink cloud all day is good for those who can and nothing wrong with that if one is happy with it, but whining all day about everything that doesn't go according to the sentences doesn't help either.
It's all a matter of finding the right balance for yourself between the pros and cons.
Some can do that, others just continue with what they have been doing all their lives and that is complaining and whining about everything and anything. They usually forget to live, or therefore have no time to live.
I myself feel good and I don't think about leaving here. Yes, a few things have been added, but they don't affect my life in such a way that I would even consider leaving.
The day the balance tipped towards more negatives than positives for myself and I would no longer feel good in my situation, I would pack up and kick it off here. In any case, I wouldn't whine about it for years or threaten to leave, but I would do it. 😉
If you are staying here on a 3-month tourist visa, how can you judge the immigration service and healthcare costs.
After all, you are insured for healthcare costs in the Netherlands.
Your information is hearsay.
So he does not read the Thailand blog from hearsay.