Thai academic urges raising retirement age to 65 as Thailand transitions into a centenarian society with over 40,000 people aged 100+, ranking 5th globally. Dr. Nattaphat Sarobol warns current 60-year retirement leaves a 40-year income gap. She stresses private sector inclusion is crucial—only 1.75M civil servants vs 38M total workforce. Calls for anti-age discrimination laws alongside reform.

BANGKOK — A leading Thai academic is throwing her support behind a government proposal to raise the retirement age to 65, warning that without such reforms, elderly Thais could face decades without income as the nation transitions into what researchers call a "centenarian society."

Assistant Professor Dr. Nattaphat Sarobol, a social welfare expert specializing in elderly care at Thammasat University's Faculty of Social Administration, endorsed Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul's recent proposal to extend the retirement age from the current 60 years.

"Thailand isn't just becoming an aging society — we're moving toward a society of centenarians," Dr. Nattaphat said in October 2025, citing ongoing research at Thammasat University.

40,000 Centenarians and Counting

The university's research reveals that Thailand is home to more than 40,000 people aged 100 or older, ranking fifth globally in centenarian population. With that number expected to continue rising, Dr. Nattaphat posed a stark question: "If we continue retiring at 60, that means a 40-year gap without employment. Where will retirees get money to survive?"

The proposal, however, faces significant hurdles. While academics in social sciences and economics have consistently advocated for retirement age reform across multiple administrations, such proposals have repeatedly stalled due to fiscal concerns and legal complications.

Global Precedent

Dr. Nattaphat pointed to advanced aging societies like Japan, Finland, and the United States, which define elderly status as beginning at 65 or older. Japan extended its retirement age to 70 in 2021, while Thailand remains at 60.

The academic stressed that any retirement age extension must include the private sector to be effective. Currently, Thailand has only 1.75 million civil servants compared to a total workforce of 38 million, spanning business, private companies, and corporate employees.

"If this policy only covers civil servants, very few people will benefit, and it won't address the super-aged society crisis," she said.

Anti-Age Discrimination Laws Needed

Dr. Nattaphat emphasized that raising the retirement age must be accompanied by legislation protecting workers from age discrimination. This includes eliminating age caps for hiring, removing age requirements from job applications, and ensuring older workers have equal access to training programs and professional development opportunities.

"In the past, people aged 55 were often excluded from training because they were 'close to retirement' and not worth the investment," she explained. "Without changing these mindsets, pushing through retirement age extension will be difficult."

Impact on Workforce

The policy change would primarily affect Thailand's 18 million formal sector workers, rather than the 21 million informal workers who lack systematic retirement structures. Formal sector workers, Dr. Nattaphat noted, often find their pensions insufficient for actual living costs and wish to continue working.

Addressing concerns about declining work efficiency after 60, the academic drew on gerontology principles distinguishing between chronological age and biological age.

"Not everyone at 60 has problems with work skills, slowness, or keeping up with modern technology," she said. "These are individual matters not always related to age. If society continues to reject working with older people, Thailand's efforts to create intergenerational harmony will become increasingly distant and difficult to achieve."

The proposal remains under consideration as Thailand grapples with one of the world's most rapidly aging populations.