Thailand’s digital economy forecast to grow 4.2% in 2026, twice the pace of national GDP

News 1: Thailand’s digital economy forecast to grow 4.2% in 2026, twice the pace of national GDP

Thailand’s digital economy is projected to grow by 4.2% in 2026 — twice the pace of national GDP growth — driven by increasing investment in technology, artificial intelligence, and data centre expansion. The National Board of Digital Economy and Society (BDE) forecasts that the country’s Digital GDP will reach 5.6 trillion baht next year, slightly moderating from 5.0% growth in 2025 but maintaining strong momentum.

Despite global economic slowdowns and trade tensions, Thailand’s digital sector remains a key driver of economic expansion. The International Monetary Fund expects global GDP to rise 3.1% and the World Trade Organization forecasts global trade growth at just 0.5%, yet Thailand’s digital economy is poised to benefit from a rebound in the electronics cycle and the rapid adoption of AI across industries.

The Ministry of Digital Economy and Society plans to strengthen investment, develop digital talent, and promote digital trust through the “Cloud First” policy, accelerating the transition toward a fully digital government.

Digital investment is forecast to grow by 3.0% in 2026, led by a 6.2% rise in private-sector spending supported by foreign direct investment in cloud services and data centres. Exports of digital goods and services are expected to expand by 4.5%, while imports rebound by 1.6%, reflecting rising demand for advanced technologies.

Key growth sectors include software, projected to grow 7.8%; digital content, up 6.9%; and smart devices, expanding 5.5%. Software will remain the main growth engine, supported by automation and platform development, while telecommunications and digital content industries continue to advance through 5G expansion, streaming services, and immersive AR/VR technologies.