Updated
Overview
China has 20 times the population of Thailand: 1.41 billion people against 71.62 million (2025).
China's economy is 34 times the size of Thailand's, at $19.50T versus $577.01B.
Per person, China is the wealthier of the two: $13,862 against $8,057 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | China | Thailand | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $19.50T | $577.01B | 2025 | $18.74T / $526.41B |
| GDP per capita | Higher: $13,862 | $8,057 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 5.0% | 2.4% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 0.1% | Lower: -0.1% | 2025 | 0.2% / 1.4% |
| Unemployment | 4.6% | Lower: 0.8% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 47 | 31 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | Higher: $807 | $508 | 2022 / 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | Higher: $268 | $254 | 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $3.91 | $4.02 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 1.41 billion | 71.62 million | 2025 | 1.41 billion / 70.03 million |
| Population growth | -0.2% | -0.1% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 40.1 yrs | 40.6 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.02 | 1.19 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | Higher: 78.0 yrs | 76.6 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 66% | 63% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | Higher: 92% | 91% | 2025 / 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 9,596,960 km² | 513,120 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 146.6/km² | 139.6/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 12,289 Mt | Lower: 268 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | 8.7 t | Lower: 3.7 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $313.66B | $5.52B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 1.7% | 1.1% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 2.5 million | 455,000 | 2020 | — / — |
Sources by row: World Bank WDI, IMF WEO, UN WPP 2024, ILOSTAT, The Economist. Emphasis marks the stronger figure where one direction is meaningfully better.
Reading the numbers
Economy
China is growing faster: 5.0% annual GDP growth versus 2.4%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 0.1% in China and -0.1% in Thailand.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Thailand: a price level of 31 versus 47 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour China: $807 against $508 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Demographically the two are similar, with median ages of 40.1 (China) and 40.6 (Thailand).
Life expectancy is 1.5 years longer in China (78.0 vs 76.6).
Geography
By land area, China is 19 times the size of Thailand: 9,596,960 km² versus 513,120 km².
Both sit in the same broad region but do not share a border.
Military
China spends 57 times as much on defence as Thailand: $313.66B versus $5.52B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
China fields the larger armed forces: 2.5 million personnel against 455,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is China bigger than Thailand?
- China is larger by land area. China covers 9,596,960 km² while Thailand covers 513,120 km², so China is 19 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, China or Thailand?
- China has the larger population: 1.41 billion versus 71.62 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is China richer than Thailand?
- Measured by GDP per capita, China is richer: $13,862 against $8,057. Total GDP tells the same story: $19.50T for China versus $577.01B for Thailand.
- Who spends more on their military, China or Thailand?
- China spends more: $313.66B versus $5.52B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).