Nearly 700,000 Myanmar nationals entered Thailand during the first four months of 2026, according to data released by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and cited by Thai media.
The IOM reported that 687,000 Myanmar citizens crossed into Thailand between January and April, mainly through border checkpoints in Tak, Kanchanaburi, Ranong, and Chiang Mai provinces.
A survey of more than 3,500 migrants found that 41% lacked legal travel documents. Respondents cited economic hardship, tourism, job opportunities, and fleeing armed conflict as their main reasons for entering Thailand.
Thai media also noted that Myanmar nationals are no longer viewed solely as migrant workers. A recent study by Thai consultancy Happioestimated that around 4 million Myanmar nationals living in Thailand spend more than 221 billion baht (about US$6.7 billion) annually, making them a significant but often overlooked consumer market for Thai businesses.
More than 520,000 Myanmar nationals are estimated to be living in Bangkok, with large communities also residing in Samut Sakhon, Chiang Mai, Tak, and Ranong. The report added that the number of Myanmar students enrolling in Thai universities has risen sharply, increasing nearly sixfold from fewer than 3,000 per year to more than 17,000 in 2025.
