The latest study by SCB EIC, a research centre under Siam Commercial Bank, reveals that the average household income in 2025 stood at B28,308 per month, a 2.5% decrease from the previous surveyed figure of B29,030 in 2023, reports the Bangkok Post.
This marks the first decline in six years, primarily driven by a 4.8% contraction in earned income, reflecting the fragility of the labour market and the concentration of household income among high-income households amid a slowly recovering economy over the past several years.
The EIC analysis is based on the 2025 Household Socio-Economic Survey conducted by the National Statistical Office (NSO), which covered 57,600 households nationwide.
The study also found that Thai households are relying more heavily on financial assistance, particularly those in lower-income segments.
Financial assistance includes old-age and disability allowances, as well as other forms of aid provided by the government and various organisations. It also covers financial support from individuals outside the household.
“Household income derived from financial assistance increased by 19.4% in 2025 compared with 2023. Meanwhile, 60% of lower-income households ‒ those earning no more than B15,000 per month ‒ relied on financial assistance,” EIC reported.
At the same time, the debt burden among lower-income households increased by 1.9% in 2025 from 2023. More than 50% of indebted households reported having insufficient income to cover their expenses, while more than two-thirds experienced income shortfalls.
Meanwhile, middle-income households, defined as those earning less than B50,000 per month, faced growing financial pressure from both essential living expenses and debt obligations.
As a result, this group is likely to face tighter liquidity and a reduced ability to cope with rising living costs in 2026, with inflation expected to accelerate.
EIC stated that rising household vulnerability could weigh on domestic consumption over the longer term. In the short term, the government’s B400-billion emergency loan decree is expected to help ease pressure on household spending.
Over the longer term, however, the government should focus on improving household income, enhancing labour skills and strengthening household financial resilience, the research institution suggested.
DISPROPORTIONATE IMPACT
Separately, Bnomics, a digital research platform under Bangkok Bank, reported that uneven labour income growth has disproportionately affected lower-income groups, despite Thailand’s GDP per capita continuing to rise over the past decade.
GDP per capita increased from B221,195 in 2016 to B288,315 in 2025, representing average annual growth of 3%, compared with average annual GDP growth of 1.1% over the same period.
According to NSO data, the top 10% of income earners accounted for 32% of total labour income in 2023, while the bottom 50% received only 22% combined. Workers in the top 10% earned an average of B36,706 per month, compared with B2,635 for those in the bottom 10% ‒ a gap of nearly 14 times.
Meanwhile, a Bank of Thailand study found that the ratio of labour income to GDP declined from 49% during 2001-05 to 44% during 2016-23.
The decline was attributed to various factors, including changes in labour productivity, automation, demographic shifts, evolving consumer lifestyles, an ageing society, rising household debt and other structural challenges.
“Although GDP per capita and overall economic growth have increased, lower-income groups have not experienced a corresponding improvement in their quality of life,” Bnomics noted.