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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Environment
Rebecca Ratcliffe in Bangkok

Border wars, rising costs or a marital reprieve: why are Thai men racing to enlist in the Army?

A man adjusts his cap after drawing a red ballot during Thai military conscription in Bangkok.
Nearly 50,000 men volunteered to enlist this year, according to the Royal Thai Army, a 22% increase compared with 2025. Photograph: Chanakarn Laosarakham/AFP/Getty Images

“Bored of your wife? This April, come and enlist in the military,” says a recent online post from the Thai military, ditching its traditional, stuffy tone for online memes ahead of the recent annual draft season.

It is not known how effective the campaign has been, but nearly 50,000 men volunteered to enlist this year, according to the Royal Thai Army, a 22% increase compared with 2025. This marks a continuation of a trend seen over the past five years in Thailand, and is a marked contrast to countries such as Japan, which are struggling to enlist military personnel.

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