PATTAYA, Thailand – A closer look at foreign buyer nationalities in 2025 and the first half of 2026 reveals who is acquiring condominium property in Thailand and how demand is changing.
In 2025, a total of 14,899 condominium units in Thailand were transferred to foreign buyers, with a combined value of 60.921 billion baht. These official figures from the Real Estate Information Center (REIC), compiled from Land Department transfer records, provide a clear picture of completed foreign purchases.
During the first half of 2026, foreign ownership transfers totalled 6,533 units, worth 28.270 billion baht. Although the number of units declined by 8.8 percent compared with the same period a year earlier, the total value fell by only 1.5 percent. This indicates an increase in the average value per transferred unit.
Which nationalities buy the most Thai condos?
China remained the largest foreign buyer group in 2025, accounting for 4,940 units, or approximately one-third of all foreign transfers. Myanmar followed with 1,968 units, ahead of Russia with 1,172 and Taiwan with 1,036.
REIC publishes its top 10 nationalities by transfer value. When those nationalities are reordered by the number of units transferred in 2025, the figures are: China 4,940, Myanmar 1,968, Russia 1,172, Taiwan 1,036, France 657, United States 537, United Kingdom 476, Germany 459, Singapore 269 and India 237.
All other nationalities combined accounted for 3,148 units. Because REIC’s published list is based on transfer value, a nationality included in the “other” category could have purchased more units than some nationalities appearing in the table.
Foreign demand and turning points in 2026
The figures for 2025 and the first half of 2026 show significant changes in the composition of foreign demand.
Chinese buyers remained the largest group, but their transfer volumes declined by 12.9 percent in 2025 and by a further 23.8 percent year on year during the first half of 2026. Domestic economic pressures and liquidity constraints have contributed to weaker Chinese demand.
Russian buyers became a major source of growth in 2026. Their transfer volumes increased by 50.4 percent year on year in the first half, moving Russia into second place among foreign buyer nationalities.
Myanmar buyers recorded strong growth of 41.8 percent in 2025 before transfer volumes fell by 34.1 percent year on year during the first half of 2026.
Australian buyers entered REIC’s top 10 by transfer value in 2026, with the number of units transferred increasing by 63.7 percent year on year in the first half.
Where do foreign buyers purchase?
Foreign condominium demand is concentrated in a relatively small number of locations. Bangkok accounted for nearly half of all foreign transfers in 2025, while Chonburi, including Pattaya, accounted for more than one-quarter.
Chinese buyers concentrated their purchases in Bangkok, Chonburi and Chiang Mai. Myanmar buyers favoured Bangkok, Samut Prakan and Chiang Mai, while Russian buyers focused on destinations such as Phuket, Chonburi and Hua Hin.
This concentration can put pressure on the available foreign ownership quota in individual condominium developments. Strong demand in a particular project may bring it close to its quota even when foreign ownership represents a much smaller share of the national market.
What do the figures mean for buyers and investors?
These statistics help buyers understand the composition of foreign demand. However, national transfer figures cannot establish whether a particular condominium has sufficient foreign ownership quota available.
Average unit sizes also reveal differences in purchasing patterns. Chinese and Myanmar buyers purchased units averaging approximately 33–36 square metres. Buyers from the United States, France and the United Kingdom purchased larger units, averaging approximately 48–57 square metres. Indian buyers purchased the largest units among these groups, averaging approximately 76 square metres in 2025.
The distinction matters because the 49 percent foreign ownership ceiling is calculated by the combined floor area of all condominium units, rather than by the number of units. Smaller units therefore occupy less of the available quota per unit than larger ones.
Foreign buyers should request dated, written confirmation of the current foreign ownership ratio and the quota available for their intended purchase from the condominium juristic person before paying a deposit. This can help identify potential obstacles to registering the ownership transfer.
The figures also require careful interpretation: transfer records show completed ownership registrations, rather than the date a purchase agreement was signed. A unit bought off-plan in an earlier year appears in the statistics when ownership is transferred.
Sources: Real Estate Information Center (REIC), Government Housing Bank; and Brinkman Data, “Who Buys Thai Condos? Foreign Buyers by Nationality, 2025.”
