Thailand’s road to becoming an upper middle income country in 2011 was paved by strong economic growth, particularly during the decade ending in 1996, which benefited from an average GDP growth of 10.08%. The country’s recent growth has been relatively low, compared to its East-Asian neighbors, with an average 3.6% annual GDP growth (2010-2014). Despite the global financial crisis, political instabilities and natural disasters, Thailand attained a 30% decrease in its poverty incidence, measured by the national poverty line, from 42.6% in 2000 to 12.6% in 2012.