Most Thais concerned about economic crisis amid limited savings: survey

Most Thais are worried about the economy, with nearly half saying their savings wouldn’t last a month without income, Suan Dusit Poll reveals.

A majority of Thais are worried about the country’s economic situation, with many saying their emergency savings would not last a month without income, according to a recent opinion survey.

The survey, conducted by Suan Dusit University (Suan Dusit Poll), was carried out among 1,229 people nationwide through both online and field methods between 6 and 9 May. The results were released on Sunday.

High Levels of Economic Insecurity

According to the poll, 92.19% of respondents said they felt insecure about the current economic climate. Of these, 51.59% were somewhat concerned, while 40.60% were very concerned.Unlike other polling organisations that release full questionnaires and all response options, Suan Dusit Poll presented its findings in analytical form, highlighting key results without disclosing full question-and-answer sets.

Emergency Savings Insufficient for Most

The poll found that:


48.32% of respondents said their emergency savings would not last even one month without new income.
35.24% said their savings could support them for one to three months.
Only 6.59% stated their savings would last more than six months.
Top Economic Concerns Among Respondents

The survey revealed the top three financial concerns were:


73.23%: Rising consumer goods prices
67.36%: Increasing cost of living
65.58%: Growing household debt


Confidence in Government’s Economic Response

When asked about the government’s handling of the economic impact from the US-China trade war:


76.06% said they lacked confidence
23.94% said they had faith in the government’s economic policies


Coping Strategies Among the Public

In response to economic challenges, the top three coping strategies cited were:


77.37%: Cutting spending on non-essential items
63.96%: Avoiding the creation of new debt
50.80%: Increasing personal savings

(2025/05/11-00:00)