Thailand Tops Global Ranking as Citizens Cite Economic Crisis Blocking Future Opportunities for Young Generation

The Ipsos Education Monitor 2026 global survey report, conducted by Ipsos Research Institute from 19 June to 3 July 2026 with 23,537 respondents in 31 countries, revealed key findings that reflect a striking crisis of confidence among Thais regarding the future of the younger generation.

Thailand ranks first worldwide as economic pressures restrict growth opportunities for Thai youth.

The survey results show that when asked about the greatest obstacles and challenges facing young people in their country, as many as 51% of Thai respondents identified "the country's economic situation" as the top issue, the highest proportion among all 31 countries surveyed worldwide.

This proportion in Thailand surpasses countries facing inflation and chronic economic problems such as Argentina (49%), Turkey (48%), Indonesia (47%), Romania (40%), and Japan (40%), while the global average sees this as an obstacle at just 31%.

These figures reflect that Thais perceive economic tensions—including cost of living, scarce jobs, and limited opportunities for advancement—as the biggest barriers hindering the growth of the younger generation.

"Moving abroad" seen as the solution for a better life.

The impact of viewing the economic crisis as the number one obstacle leads a majority of Thai citizens (about 60-70%) to agree with the statement that "young people will have better opportunities if they move abroad to work or live."

This trend aligns with countries where citizens are deeply worried about the economy, such as Indonesia (87%), South Africa (80%), Italy (79%), and India (76%), indicating an intensifying brain drain as both adults and youth in Thailand begin to see fewer growth opportunities at home.

Views on technology and education: openness to AI but still valuing degrees.

Despite the economic crisis causing concern, Thais show an interesting openness in terms of technology and education.

1. Acceptance of AI in education: Thailand is among Asian countries supporting technology for learning, with only 25% agreeing with banning AI in schools—much lower than Western countries strongly opposing AI, such as Canada (59%) and the United States (56%).
2. Reduced momentum for social media bans: While most Thais support restricting social media use for children under 14, Thailand is one of the few countries where support for such bans decreased by 2% compared to 2024.
3. Degrees remain essential: Over 70% of Thais believe a university degree is crucial for life success and career growth, viewing further education as worthwhile compared to European countries like the UK or Germany, where the value of degrees is more questioned.

The Ipsos Education Monitor 2026 report clearly signals that the main issue facing Thai youth is not technological readiness or the education system itself, but rather "an economic structure that does not provide opportunities for young people to grow." The urgent task for government is not only education reform but also economic revitalization, quality job creation, and restoring confidence to prevent the migration of valuable human resources in the future.

Source:ipsos.com

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