NIDA Poll: Most Thais Unworried by Global Stockpiling Warnings
A nationwide NIDA Poll survey of 1,310 Thai adults found that while over three-quarters had heard global advisories to stockpile essentials for 3-7 days, most remain unconcerned. Nearly half believe the government should wait for a clearer threat before issuing similar warnings, and the leading feared scenario domestically is major flooding.
The NIDA Poll Center at the National Institute of Development Administration (NIDA) released results of its 'Stockpiling Food, Medicine, Water!' survey conducted November 2-3, 2026, sampling 1,310 Thai citizens aged 18 and older across all regions, education levels, occupations, and income brackets. The survey examined public reaction to news that multiple countries worldwide have advised citizens to stockpile food, medicine, water, and essential supplies sufficient for 3-7 days.
Among all respondents, 77.63% reported having heard the international warnings, while 22.37% had not. Of those aware (1,017 respondents), concern levels varied: 35.89% were not worried at all, 32.84% not very worried, 26.94% fairly worried, and 4.33% very worried.
Regarding whether the Thai government should issue similar preparedness warnings, 48.57% said officials should wait for a clearer situation before announcing, 36.09% urged immediate warnings, and 15.34% saw no need for any announcement.
Asked which future scenarios — domestic or international — might force Thailand into a 3-7 day emergency stockpiling situation, respondents identified major floods (34.58%), energy shortages (28.24%), no specific concerns (26.34%), nationwide internet collapse (24.27%), World War III (22.98%), cyberattacks on data, finance, utilities, and transport (21.15%), pandemics (18.02%), Middle East war (17.56%), severe drought (17.02%), major earthquakes (13.82%), conflict with neighboring countries (13.59%), heat waves (12.14%), war in Europe (11.68%), haze pollution (6.72%), internal unrest (6.41%), and rising consumer prices (0.61%).
