Thailand
Worked in Thailand? Any pension you built up here is yours to keep and can usually be paid to you abroad — but you have to claim it; it won't start automatically. The full state pension age is 55. On totalization, your Thailand contributions generally stand on their own. Below is Thailand's system at a glance and what expats should check.
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Overview
Thailand operates a multi-layered pension system covering formal private sector workers, civil servants, and informal workers through distinct schemes.
The Social Security Fund (SSF) under Section 33 is the mandatory earnings-related scheme for private sector employees, providing old-age pensions (from age 55 with 180+ months of contributions) or lump-sum settlements. The Government Pension Fund (GPF) is a defined contribution scheme for central government civil servants, supplementing the legacy non-contributory civil service defined benefit pension. The Old Age Allowance (OAA) provides a means-tested social pension to Thai citizens aged 60+ who lack other pension income. Voluntary savings vehicles include employer-sponsored Provident Funds, the National Savings Fund (NSF) for informal workers, and tax-advantaged Retirement Mutual Funds (RMF) and Thai ESG Funds.
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Thailand's pension system is undergoing significant reform. The SSF wage ceiling was raised from THB 15,000 to THB 17,500/month effective January 2026 (Phase 1), with further increases to THB 20,000 (2029–2031) and THB 23,000 (2032+), while the 5% contribution rate remains unchanged. In July 2026, the Cabinet approved in principle a landmark shift to the Career Average Revalued Earnings (CARE) formula, replacing the Final Average Earnings (FAE) formula that based pensions on the last 60 months of salary; CARE uses career-average earnings adjusted to present-day values via a pension points system, and credits 0.125% per month of contributions beyond 180 months (replacing the previous 1.5% per 12-month block). The CARE regulation is pending Council of State legal review (estimated 8–10 months) and will take effect 180 days after Royal Gazette publication. The Employee Welfare Fund (EWF), a new mandatory lump-sum savings scheme for private sector workers not covered by provident funds, is confirmed to launch on 1 October 2026. Proposals to raise the SSF retirement age from 55 to 65 remain under active discussion but are not yet legislated.
Coverage of informal sector workers remains a critical gap, with approximately 20 million informal workers lacking mandatory pension coverage. The OECD calculates Thailand's gross replacement rate for average earners at approximately 20% from mandatory schemes alone — among the lowest in Asia — reflecting the low contribution ceiling and the relatively early retirement age of 55. The Mercer CFA Institute Global Pension Index 2024 showed Thailand improving by 3.6 points versus 2023 (score 46.4), though Thailand remains among the lower-ranked systems globally in the 2025 index, with inadequate benefit levels and low coverage cited as key weaknesses.
~20% (average earner, mandatory SSF only, OECD); up to ~40% with full career and provident fund contributions
Four-pillar system: Pillar 0 (Old Age Allowance — means-tested social pension for Thai citizens 60+); Pillar 1 (Mandatory Social Security Fund/SSF Section 33 for private sector employees; legacy Civil Service Pension DB scheme); Pillar 2 (Government Pension Fund/GPF — mandatory DC for central government civil servants; employer-sponsored Provident Funds for private sector); Pillar 3 (Voluntary — National Savings Fund for informal workers, Retirement Mutual Funds/RMF, Thai ESG Funds)
Multi-pillar hybrid: mandatory defined benefit (SSF) for private sector, mandatory defined contribution (GPF) for civil servants, voluntary occupational DC (provident funds), and universal social assistance (OAA)
Employee
5
Employer
5
Notes
SSF Section 33: 5% each for employee and employer on wages between THB 1,650 and THB 17,500/month (from Jan 2026; previously THB 15,000 ceiling). Maximum contribution THB 875/month per party from Jan 2026 (up from THB 750). Of the total 10% combined rate, 3% each (employee + employer) is allocated to the old-age pension sub-fund, with the government contributing an additional ~2.75% subsidy. Section 39 (voluntary continuation): flat THB 432/month based on notional wage of THB 4,800. GPF (civil servants): minimum 3% employee + 5% government (3% match + 2% compensation). Provident Funds: 2–15% each. EWF (from Oct 2026): 0.25% each with no wage ceiling, rising to 0.50% from Oct 2031. A temporary reduction to 3% (max THB 450/month) applied Oct 2024–Mar 2025 for flood-affected provinces.
Common questions
What is the retirement age in Thailand?
The full state pension age in Thailand is 55.
Can I claim a Thailand pension if I live abroad?
Yes. A pension you've earned in Thailand stays yours wherever you retire, and can usually be paid into an overseas account once you reach pension age. It won't start automatically, though — you need to claim it, typically a few months in advance, through Thailand's pension authority.
Do totalization agreements affect my Thailand pension?
Our records show Thailand has limited or no bilateral totalization agreements, so your Thailand contributions generally can't be combined with other countries' to qualify. Confirm the latest position with the official authority.
How is the pension system structured in Thailand?
Multi-pillar hybrid: mandatory defined benefit (SSF) for private sector, mandatory defined contribution (GPF) for civil servants, voluntary occupational DC (provident funds), and universal social assistance (OAA) Four-pillar system: Pillar 0 (Old Age Allowance — means-tested social pension for Thai citizens 60+); Pillar 1 (Mandatory Social Security Fund/SSF Section 33 for private sector employees; legacy Civil Service Pension DB scheme); Pillar 2 (Government Pension Fund/GPF — mandatory DC for central government civil servants; employer-sponsored Provident Funds for private sector); Pillar 3 (Voluntary — National Savings Fund for informal workers, Retirement Mutual Funds/RMF, Thai ESG Funds) It includes 7 schemes in our directory.
How do I get a copy of my Thailand pension record?
Ask Social Security Office (SSO) for your ข้อมูลผู้ประกันตน (SSO) (the Social Security Fund contribution record). It's free and you can request it yourself — our step-by-step guide on this page walks through the portal, what to have ready, and what to do if the login fails.