The global narrative around aging has long been dominated by fears of a looming crisis: a “demographic time bomb” set to overwhelm economies as swelling ranks of elderly dependents outpace shrinking workforces. However, new research from Goldman Sachs challenges this view, suggesting that longer and healthier lifespans may bring more positive outcomes than commonly believed. These insights carry significant implications for Thailand, a nation perched on the threshold of becoming a “super-aged” society within the next decade.
For decades, policymakers and researchers alike have viewed population aging with trepidation, equating rising life expectancy and falling birth rates with economic threats such as spiraling pension costs and labor shortages. In Thailand, as with many developed and developing nations, these anxieties have shaped national debates. By 2024, roughly 20% of Thais were aged 60 or above, with projections from Statista and WHO indicating that this proportion will rise to 28%—marking Thailand’s emergence as a “super-aged society” by the 2030s. The transition is fueled by declining fertility (with global rates dropping from 5.4 births per woman in the 1960s to 2.1 today) and increasing longevity; in Thailand, life expectancy continues to climb in tandem with advances in healthcare and quality of living.
Contrary to widespread pessimism, Goldman Sachs Research—led by the co-head of Central & Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Africa economics team—highlights that societies are adapting to longevity in dynamic ways. Their findings, summarized in a June 2025 publication (Goldman Sachs), reveal that while the share of working-age individuals (15-64 years) in wealthy countries has declined, the actual share of the total population in employment has grown. Since 2000, effective working lives in developed economies have increased by 12%, thanks to more people working into their later years and women rejoining the workforce after childbirth. In richer countries, the so-called dependency ratio—dependents per working-age person—has fallen, defying gloomy forecasts.
This research undermines the fatalistic notion that longer lifespans inevitably translate into longer periods of frailty and dependence. Data cited by Goldman Sachs shows that a 70-year-old in 2022 enjoys cognitive abilities and physical robustness equal to a 53-56-year-old at the turn of the millennium. “In a very tangible sense, 70 is the new 53,” writes the lead researcher. Not only are people living longer, but they are staying healthier for far longer periods—reducing the burden on healthcare and social support systems and challenging stereotypes about aging.
Experts caution that the true economic impact of aging cannot be captured by simple metrics such as the “working-age ratio.” Age-specific employment rates, labor force participation, and productivity are all shifting in response to longevity. The Goldman Sachs team notes that employment does not fall strictly in line with the declining working-age ratio; even as this demographic measure drops, older adults continue contributing to the economy in significant ways. If the average effective working life increases by another 3% between now and 2075, this would fully offset declines in the working-age ratio projected for developed economies.
The implications for Thailand are profound. Thailand’s aging trend is among the world’s fastest, according to the WHO. Policymakers have anticipated these changes through reforms and innovation, culminating in the establishment of the ASEAN Centre for Active Ageing and Innovation (ACAI) during its ASEAN chairmanship in 2018. ACAI seeks to foster healthy aging by promoting active lifestyles and enabling older adults to remain engaged in their communities and workplaces. The centre also coordinates evidence-based strategies, policy research and capacity-building throughout the ASEAN region—a model referenced by Dr. Jos Vandelaer, WHO Representative to Thailand, as “crucial” to the region’s preparedness for demographic change.
Thailand’s health system already serves as a template for rapid adaptation. According to national experts cited in the WHO report, the country has rapidly increased investments in primary healthcare, expanded geriatric training, and rolled out new delivery systems—including telemedicine, which grew more prominent during the COVID-19 pandemic. Such innovations aim to extend healthy lifespans and ensure quality of life, not merely longevity.
The challenge ahead is multifaceted, however. Maintaining resilience among older persons, addressing disparities in access to care in rural areas, and ensuring continued economic participation are all priorities. Global research supports this approach; for example, a 2025 study in PubMed on burnout prevention in aging European workforces underscores the necessity of workplace health promotion programs to keep older adults healthy and productive. Meanwhile, trends in Southeast Asia echo similar concerns—not just about health, but about overcoming the isolation, mental health challenges, and economic vulnerabilities that may come with advanced age (PubMed).
The pandemic underscored the vulnerability of older Thais—not just to disease, but to social and economic disruption. Yet, as the ACAI Executive Director emphasized, recovery has spurred fresh innovation: new service delivery models, telehealth, and social engagement programs now bridge gaps exposed during COVID-19, supporting elders in living vibrant, independent lives.
Historically, Thai society’s deep respect for elders—rooted in Buddhist and familial traditions—has underpinned social cohesion. In rural provinces, community-based elder care remains strong, while Buddhist temples often provide social centers for retirees. This cultural context provides a foundation for innovative policy: adapting traditional intergenerational support systems alongside modern healthcare innovations allows Thailand to embrace aging as an opportunity, not just a challenge.
Moving forward, Thai experts, policymakers, and educators must expand investments in preventive healthcare, lifelong learning, and flexible work arrangements. The government has already committed initial funding to ACAI, while ongoing partnerships with ASEAN states promise broader social reforms and technological innovation. Enhanced social participation for older adults will not only ease fiscal pressures but invigorate the economy through mentorship, volunteerism, and entrepreneurship.
For Thai readers, actionable steps include supporting local initiatives designed for active aging, advocating for workplace policies accommodating elder participation, and encouraging intergenerational programs that strengthen family and community bonds. Continued engagement with regional partners and global research will be essential, as will policies that close health equity gaps across urban and rural divides.
The signal from the latest global research is clear: aging societies need not be feared. They can, and should, be managed with creativity and commitment—a path Thailand is poised to lead. By embracing longer, healthier lives through social innovation, evidence-based policy, and cultural adaptation, Thailand can transform what has long been viewed as a “crisis” into a legacy of wisdom, vitality, and shared prosperity.
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