Contemporary Urban Issues Effect On

Thailand’s Geography
By Michael

Thailand’s Urbanization
Thailand is in the midst of transforming itself from a predominantly rural country to an increasingly
urban one. In as little as ten years, the country has shifted from 36 percent urban to almost 50 percent
urban. While Thailand's urbanization rates are still low compared to other developed nations, this
transformation in Thailand is still significant.

The Bangkok urban area accounts for nearly 80% of the total urban area in Thailand, which is the fifth
largest in East Asia in terms of area.

Urbanization Leading To Flooding

Seasonal monsoon weather resulting in heavy rainfall experienced across Thailand and extensive
waterways connecting with the Mekong River, have made the country particularly susceptible to severe
flooding.

The flood in southern Thailand in 2016–17 was brought on by the northeast monsoon, which transports
humidity from the sea to land and causes persistently heavy rainfall in that region. Due to the
overwhelming amount of rain, the drainage system was unable to release the water into the sea hence
the floods.

Housing Problems to Pollution

Over 5.87 million households do not have home ownership and 2.72 million households continue to live
in inferior housing conditions or informal settlements, these houses often break down which creates
waste and pollution.

These issues have led to a 20-Year National Housing Development Master Plan being developed by the
government to help overcome these prevailing challenges.

Environmental Pollution
Thailand’s environmental pollution is mainly a result of a rapidly increasing population, industrial
activities, etc. Big cities like Bangkok suffer pollution issues such as an increasing volume of improperly
disposed of solid waste and bad air quality. Meanwhile, water quality in the country is also
compromised by agricultural deforestation, expansion of communities, and improper wastewater
drainage. In 2020, the number of complaints filed regarding environmental pollution in Thailand
amounted to over 18 thousand cases.