Abstract

The Thailand Agricultural Census had been earlier conducted five times: 1950, 1963, 1978, 1993 and 2003. The census aims to provide basic information on the fundamental structure of agriculture which will constitute the bases for which policymakers and planners will continuously formulate plans for development, monitoring, and evaluation related to agriculture. Under the Statistics Act 2007, the National Statistical Office (NSO) is mandated to carry out censuses of the country. The 2013 Agricultural Census was also undertaken in accordance with the recommendation of the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) for conducting agricultural census every 10 years. This census round had extended the scope of agricultural activity to include sea salt farm, as according to the Cabinet approval (1st March 2011), as well as to include questions on marine fishery and coastal aquaculture into the enumeration form.

Census objectives:

1) To collect basic information on the fundamental structure of agriculture, such as number of agricultural holdings and agricultural holding, freshwater aquaculture, sea salt farm, utilization of land, land tenure status, area under crops/sea salt farm/freshwater aquaculture, number of livestock, use of fertilizer, use of agricultural machinery, manpower involved in agricultural activities, etc.,

2) To provide those information at administrative units (village) for developing policy and plans in both national and sub-national level

3) To provide the basis for sampling frame for other surveys undertakings related to agriculture marine fishery and coastal aquaculture

4) To determine changes of basic information on agricultural structure over the past 10 years

Geographic coverage

National coverage

Analysis unit

Households

Universe

The statistical (enumeration) unit was the agricultural holding, defined as an economic unit of agricultural production (cultivating crops, rearing livestock) and aquaculture production, under single management, comprising all livestock kept and all land used wholly or partly for agricultural production purposes, performing an agricultural activity on owned agricultural land, or on land owned by other persons, or on public land, regardless of legal permission. The holding's land could consist of one or more parcels, located in one or more separate areas; however, the land had to be in the same province.

Kind of data

Census/enumeration data [cen]

Sampling procedure

A systematic sampling method was applied to draw the sample of agricultural holders from each EA. The sampling fraction in each EA was 1 in 4 (the sample comprised 25 percent of the total number of holdings). The selected agricultural holders were enumerated using the entire questionnaire.

Mode of data collection

Face-to-face [f2f]

Research instrument

The questionnaire for the Agricultural Census, 2013 in Thailand collected information on agricultural activity and legal status of household; holding area by land use; livestock production; rice production; rubber production; permanent crop and forest; vegetable crop, herb, flower and ornamental plants; field crop; seasalt farming; fresh water culture; machinery, vehicle and agricultural equipment; fertilizer and pesticide; employment of agricultural labour; charactersitics of holder and household members; education and agricultural group membership of household holder; agricultural income and debt.

The questionnaire is attached as additional resource in the documentations tab.

Cleaning operations

1. Data processing:

After the data collection stage, during which the census information was collected using electronic devices (tablets), and after initial checking during the fieldwork, the data were sent to the NSO server for further processing, to verify data consistency, accuracy and coverage. After final checking for correctness and completeness, the census data were further processed for statistics tabulations and summarized to report the census results at provincial, regional and country level.

1. Data quality checks

After the completion of census field work, NSO has carried out the Post Enumeration Survey (PES) in order to evaluate the quality of census data. The PES was conducted for all households of the selected enumeration areas throughout the country. The Stratified Single-Stage Sampling was applied to this PES. That is, there were four stratums referring to four regions – Central, North, Northeast and South and provinces in each region were represented as sub-stratum. Within each sub-stratum, the enumeration areas were systematically selected; the total samples were 1,280 enumeration areas. After the PES field operation, information between the census and the PES were processed for matching check. And then the process for investigation was to analyse and evaluate errors of the census coverage and the census content, for example the information on the agricultural activity engagement such as livestock, growing rice, planting para rubber, planting permanent crops and planting field crops, etc.

Abstract

The National Statistical Office conducted the Fifth Agricultural Census in 2003 in order to collect the data on structure of agriculture obtained from the agricultural holdings throughout the country.

The objectives of the Agricultural Census were as follows: 1. To collect data on agricultural structures such as number and area of holdings, land use, land tenure, planted area of crops, number of inland fishery establishments, water area under fresh water culture, number of livestock, the use of fertilizer and pesticide, machinery and equipment, etc. 2. To provide data for small administrative units. 3. To provide a frame for other agricultural surveys. 4. To study changes of agricultural structures in 10 years.

Geographic coverage

National

Analysis unit

• Agricultural household (holder)
• Agricultural holding

1. Holding: A holding is an economic unit of agricultural production (cultivating crops, rearing livestock and culturing fresh water) under single management comprising all livestock kept and all land used wholly or partly for agricultural production purposes, without regard to title or legal form. The holding's land may consist of one or more parcels, located in one or more separate areas of the same province. The holding area includes farmyard, land occupied by farm buildings and holder's house located on the holding.
2. Holder: A holder refers to a civil or juridical person who exercises management control and takes major decisions over the agricultural holding operation. The holder has technical and economic responsibility for the holding and may undertake all responsibilities directly, or delegate responsibilities to a hired manager. A hired manager participating in economic and financial responsibilities in addition to managing the holding is considered a holder.
3. Area of Holding: Area of holding is the combined area of all the holding's parcels in the province, including land owned by the holder, rented from others and land under other tenure forms. (Land owned by the holder but rented to others are excluded).

Universe

The census covered the whole country: all holdings cultivating crops, rearing livestock and culturing fresh waters, were covered.

Kind of data

Census/enumeration data [cen]

Sampling procedure

A Stratified Two - Stage Sampling was adopted for the advanced report. Regions were constituted strata. The primary and secondary sampling units were enumeration districts and holdings respectively. 1) Stratification Group of provinces in each region were constituted strata. There were altogether 4 strata, i.e., Central, North, Northeast and South .

2) Selection of Primary Sampling Unit A number of sample enumeration districts were selected systematically in each stratum with a sampling fraction of 1 in 5. The total number of sample enumeration districts was 4,581 from 22,950

3) Selection of Secondary Sampling Unit Holdings were ultimate sampling units. Data of every holdings enumerated with the long form in every sample enumeration district were proceeded. Then these sample holdings were selected systematically with a sampling fraction of 1 in 5.

The overall sampling fraction was 1 in 100 .

Mode of data collection

Face-to-face [f2f]

Research instrument

The Agricultural Census data was collected using a questionnaire that consists of 15 sections.

A report on Thailand’s 2003 Agricultural Census. The report outlines the census aims, methodology and summarises the findings. Graphs are provided on number of agricultural holdings by area, land use, land tenure and region; household debt; fertiliser and pesticide use; and demographics and income of holders.

This dataset contains the results of a farmers’ survey in the Ping Catchment in Thailand. The aim of this survey was to identify the specific socioeconomic impacts that historical droughts in the Ping catchment have had for agricultural communities, and identify factors affecting adaptation decisions, as well as analyse the communications with and amongst farmers at the local scale in the Ping catchment during drought. Villages in the Ping catchment with a history of drought were selected to represent typical agricultural production typologies. In total, 176 questionnaires were completed with a close to even distribution of respondents coming from the provinces of Chiang Mai (n=41), Lamphun (n=45), Kamphaeng Phet (n=45) and Tak (n=45). Full details about this dataset can be found at https://doi.org/10.5285/155e1867-bc9d-44f0-9f85-0f682964f720

Thailand Employment: WK: Agriculture (AG) data was reported at 11,862.160 Person th in Sep 2025. This records an increase from the previous number of 10,943.500 Person th for Jun 2025. Thailand Employment: WK: Agriculture (AG) data is updated quarterly, averaging 11,993.490 Person th from Mar 2011 (Median) to Sep 2025, with 59 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 16,663.520 Person th in Sep 2012 and a record low of 10,592.250 Person th in Mar 2025. Thailand Employment: WK: Agriculture (AG) data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Bank of Thailand. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Thailand – Table TH.G: Labour Force Survey: Age 15 and Over: Employment by Industry: By ISIC: Quarterly.

Share of total agricultural land under wet season Thai eggplant(Refers to the wet season 2010)Data Source: Lao Agriculture Census 2011Contact: Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) URL: www.maf.gov.la Tel: 021-412345 Fax: 021-412344 E-mail: maf.infro@gmail.com P.O.BOX: 811ແບ່ງປັນເນື້ອທີ່ດິນກະສິກຳ ທັງໝົດ ພາຍໃຕ້ລະດູຝົນ eggplant ໄທ (ອີງຕາມລະດູຝົນ 2010)ການສຳຫລວດກະສີກຳ 2011ກະຊວງກະສີກຳ ແລະ ປ່າໄມ້ URL: www.maf.gov.la Tel: 021-412345 Fax: 021-412344 E-mail: maf.infro@gmail.com P.O.BOX: 811

Thailand Avg Monthly Wage: Agriculture (AG) data was reported at 8,293.780 THB in Dec 2024. This records a decrease from the previous number of 8,518.210 THB for Sep 2024. Thailand Avg Monthly Wage: Agriculture (AG) data is updated quarterly, averaging 5,778.095 THB from Mar 2011 (Median) to Dec 2024, with 56 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 8,518.210 THB in Sep 2024 and a record low of 4,593.550 THB in Dec 2011. Thailand Avg Monthly Wage: Agriculture (AG) data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Bank of Thailand. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Thailand – Table TH.G041: Labour Force Survey: Age 15 and Over: Average Monthly Wage (ISIC Rev. 4): Quarterly.

Share of total agricultural land under dry season Thai eggplant(Refers to the dry season 2010/11)Data Source: Lao Agriculture Census 2011Contact: Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) URL: www.maf.gov.la Tel: 021-412345 Fax: 021-412344 E-mail: maf.infro@gmail.com P.O.BOX: 811ແບ່ງປັນເນື້ອທີ່ດິນກະສິກຳ ທັງໝົດ ພາຍໃຕ້ລະດູແລ້ງຂອງ ໝາກເຂືອໄທ (ອີງຕາມລະດູແລ້ງ 2010/11)ການສຳຫລວດກະສີກຳ 2011ກະຊວງກະສີກຳ ແລະ ປ່າໄມ້ URL: www.maf.gov.la Tel: 021-412345 Fax: 021-412344 E-mail: maf.infro@gmail.com P.O.BOX: 811

The full text of this article can be freely accessed on the publisher's website.

Thailand Emp: NE: Skilled Agricultural & Fishery data was reported at 5,628.700 Person th in Jul 2018. This records a decrease from the previous number of 5,768.500 Person th for Jun 2018. Thailand Emp: NE: Skilled Agricultural & Fishery data is updated monthly, averaging 4,756.200 Person th from Jan 2014 (Median) to Jul 2018, with 55 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 5,857.600 Person th in Dec 2015 and a record low of 3,443.900 Person th in Apr 2016. Thailand Emp: NE: Skilled Agricultural & Fishery data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by National Statistical Office. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Thailand – Table TH.G020: Labour Force Survey: Age 15 and Over: Employment by Occupation.

From March to May 2021, the survey conducted on agricultural issues for farming communities in Thailand revealed that **** percent of every household in farming communities had received government support due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The same survey also revealed that most of the farming households experienced decreased sales of agricultural products as a result of the pandemic.

The project is carried out in Thailand under the direction of Khun Sombat Sakuntasathhien and dedicated staff. The project is administered in the United States at the National Opinion Research Center and the University of Chicago. Survey design and research collaborators include Anna Paulson of Northwestern University, Tae Joeng Lee of Yonse University, and Michael Binford of the University of Florida. Robert M. Townsend is overall project director and principal investigator. The initial purpose of the NICHD-NSF funded project was to evaluate the role of informal institutions such as the family and local networks in helping to support the welfare and well-being of individuals in semi-urban and rural areas of Thailand. Risk, and the potentially adverse and direct consequences of household- and firm-specific shocks is a key part of project. The mediating role of the family and social and economic networks in the mobilization of savings and allocation of c redit was also deemed essential. These networks are not viewed in isolation but rather are part of the larger village, regional, and national level financial system. Thus the project includes an evaluation of village-level financial institutions, such as Production Credit Groups and rice banks, and national-level financial institutions such as commercial banks and the government agricultural bank, the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC). Indeed, the project has both micro and macro aspects. It seeks to evaluate informal and formal financial institutions and markets and to construct and evaluate macro models of growth, fluctuations, and crisis. The macro models are based on the measured micro- underpinnings.

Share of farm households having perennial area for Thai giant jujube(Refers to the wet season 2010 and the dry season 2010/11)Data Source: Lao Agriculture Census 2011Contact: Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) URL: www.maf.gov.la Tel: 021-412345 Fax: 021-412344 E-mail: maf.infro@gmail.com P.O.BOX: 811ອັດຕາສ່ວນຂອງຄົວເຮືອນກະສິກຳ ທີ່ມີພື້ນທີ່ຫລາຍປີ ສຳລັບ jujube ຍັກໃຫຍ່ຂອງໄທ (ອີງຕາມລະດູຝົນ 2010 ແລະລະດູແລ້ງ 2010/11)ການສຳຫລວດກະສີກຳ 2011ກະຊວງກະສີກຳ ແລະ ປ່າໄມ້ URL: www.maf.gov.la Tel: 021-412345 Fax: 021-412344 E-mail: maf.infro@gmail.com P.O.BOX: 811

Thailand Emp: SR: NM: Skilled Agricultural & Fishery data was reported at 1,761.100 Person th in Jul 2018. This records a decrease from the previous number of 1,784.500 Person th for Jun 2018. Thailand Emp: SR: NM: Skilled Agricultural & Fishery data is updated monthly, averaging 1,761.100 Person th from Jan 2014 (Median) to Jul 2018, with 55 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 1,939.400 Person th in Feb 2015 and a record low of 1,509.000 Person th in Aug 2017. Thailand Emp: SR: NM: Skilled Agricultural & Fishery data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by National Statistical Office. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Thailand – Table TH.G020: Labour Force Survey: Age 15 and Over: Employment by Occupation.

Thailand Emp: SR: MA: Skilled Agricultural & Fishery data was reported at 312.800 Person th in Jul 2018. This records a decrease from the previous number of 382.200 Person th for Jun 2018. Thailand Emp: SR: MA: Skilled Agricultural & Fishery data is updated monthly, averaging 285.600 Person th from Jan 2014 (Median) to Jul 2018, with 55 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 382.200 Person th in Jun 2018 and a record low of 222.600 Person th in Jun 2015. Thailand Emp: SR: MA: Skilled Agricultural & Fishery data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by National Statistical Office. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Thailand – Table TH.G020: Labour Force Survey: Age 15 and Over: Employment by Occupation.

Share of farm households growing Thai eggplant(Refers to the wet season 2010 and the dry season 2010/11)Data Source: Lao Agriculture Census 2011Contact: Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) URL: www.maf.gov.la Tel: 021-412345 Fax: 021-412344 E-mail: maf.infro@gmail.com P.O.BOX: 811ອັດຕາສ່ວນຂອງຄົວເຮືອນກະສິກຳ ທີ່ປູກ eggplant ຂອງໄທ (ອີງຕາມລະດູຝົນ 2010 ແລະລະດູແລ້ງ 2010/11)ການສຳຫລວດກະສີກຳ 2011ກະຊວງກະສີກຳ ແລະ ປ່າໄມ້ URL: www.maf.gov.la Tel: 021-412345 Fax: 021-412344 E-mail: maf.infro@gmail.com P.O.BOX: 811

Thailand Emp: NR: Skilled Agricultural & Fishery data was reported at 2,458.900 Person th in Jul 2018. This records a decrease from the previous number of 2,726.800 Person th for Jun 2018. Thailand Emp: NR: Skilled Agricultural & Fishery data is updated monthly, averaging 2,499.830 Person th from Jan 2014 (Median) to Jul 2018, with 55 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 3,068.300 Person th in Aug 2014 and a record low of 1,982.200 Person th in Apr 2016. Thailand Emp: NR: Skilled Agricultural & Fishery data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by National Statistical Office. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Thailand – Table TH.G020: Labour Force Survey: Age 15 and Over: Employment by Occupation.

Thailand Emp: BKK: Agriculture (AG) data was reported at 29.300 Person th in Oct 2018. This records an increase from the previous number of 15.300 Person th for Sep 2018. Thailand Emp: BKK: Agriculture (AG) data is updated monthly, averaging 24.750 Person th from Jan 2014 (Median) to Oct 2018, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 109.800 Person th in Jun 2015 and a record low of 1.900 Person th in Sep 2016. Thailand Emp: BKK: Agriculture (AG) data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by National Statistical Office. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Thailand – Table TH.G018: Labour Force Survey: Age 15 and Over: Employment by Industry: By ISIC.

From March to May 2021, the survey conducted on agricultural issues for farming communities in Thailand revealed that **** percent of respondents stated that decreased sales of their agricultural products due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The same survey also revealed that the majority of impacted farming households received financial support from the Thai government.

Thailand Emp: SR: Agriculture (AG) data was reported at 2,075.500 Person th in Oct 2018. This records a decrease from the previous number of 2,347.100 Person th for Sep 2018. Thailand Emp: SR: Agriculture (AG) data is updated monthly, averaging 2,159.010 Person th from Jan 2014 (Median) to Oct 2018, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 2,390.500 Person th in Jan 2014 and a record low of 1,896.000 Person th in Aug 2017. Thailand Emp: SR: Agriculture (AG) data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by National Statistical Office. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Thailand – Table TH.G018: Labour Force Survey: Age 15 and Over: Employment by Industry: By ISIC.