The National Statistical Office revealed survey results on public opinion toward the new government in 2026, finding that "high cost of living" is the issue citizens worry about most, highlighting economic and quality of life challenges people currently face.
Dr. Ekaphong Rimcharoen, Director of the National Statistical Office, said, "The National Statistical Office conducted a public opinion survey on the new government in 2026 from 22 to 28 January 2026." The key findings are summarized as follows.
Cost of living, income, and debt are the main concerns among the public: Among respondents, 69.9% are most concerned about the high cost of living, followed by insufficient income to cover expenses (63.8%), debt (43.1%), inadequate government welfare (25.4%), and low prices for agricultural products (25.2%), among others.
Issues the public wants the new government to urgently address: Among respondents, 50.5% want urgent action to solve livelihood and cost of living issues, followed by job creation and income increase (10.8%), addressing public debt problems (9.1%), welfare and quality of life care (5.8%), and anti-corruption efforts (5.1%), among others.
Public expectations on government action to resolve debt problems: 44.2% of respondents think the government should prioritize reducing living costs and preventing new debts, followed by lowering interest rates on formal and informal loans (44.0%), increasing income alongside debt relief (42.2%), providing low-interest loans for low-income earners (30.8%), and restructuring debt according to repayment capacity (32.2%), among others.
Desired government management style for the new administration: 80.9% of respondents want the new government to manage the country with transparency and accountability, followed by listening to public opinion (59.7%), making quick decisions responsive to situations (46.7%), avoiding political games and working for the people (31.0%), and timely crisis management (29.8%), among others.
The most desired qualities for ministers are honesty, transparency, and accountability (67.7%), followed by no involvement in illegal activities (46.7%), no criminal record (42.2%), relevant knowledge and experience (39.0%).
Additionally, 31.6% want ministers who can solve problems promptly. Overall, 90.4% of respondents consider ministerial qualities important to national administration, with 31.5% rating it as very important and 58.9% as most important. These reflect clear public expectations for the new government's performance.
Dr. Ekaphong added that this survey is part of the "Quick Survey" project by the National Statistical Office, which will continuously gather public opinion on the government's administration. The public can follow monthly survey results on the National Statistical Office's website.www.nso.go.thand through all online channels under the name NSOOFTHAILAND.
Note: This survey collected data through interviews with individuals aged 18 and over living in private households nationwide. The sample size was 6,000, using a stratified two-stage sampling plan to represent all regions of the country, with a margin of error no greater than 0.05 at a 95.0% confidence level.
Read more news " State Policy " here.