Updated
Overview
Germany has 17% more people than Thailand: 83.49 million against 71.62 million (2025).
Germany's economy is 8.8 times the size of Thailand's, at $5.05T versus $577.01B.
Per person, Germany is the wealthier of the two: $60,496 against $8,057 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Germany | Thailand | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $5.05T | $577.01B | 2025 | $4.66T / $526.41B |
| GDP per capita | Higher: $60,496 | $8,057 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 0.2% | Higher: 2.4% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 2.2% | Lower: -0.1% | 2025 | 2.3% / 1.4% |
| Unemployment | 3.7% | Lower: 0.8% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 80 | 31 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | Higher: $4,647 | $508 | 2022 / 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | Higher: $2,442 | $254 | 2025 / 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | — | $4.02 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 83.49 million | 71.62 million | 2025 | 84.01 million / 70.03 million |
| Population growth | 0.0% | -0.1% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 45.5 yrs | 40.6 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.46 | 1.19 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | Higher: 80.8 yrs | 76.6 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 82% | 63% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | Higher: 93% | 91% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 357,114 km² | 513,120 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 233.8/km² | 139.6/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 572 Mt | Lower: 268 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | 6.8 t | Lower: 3.7 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $88.46B | $5.52B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 1.9% | 1.1% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 183,000 | 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
Thailand is growing faster: 2.4% annual GDP growth versus 0.2%.
Germany runs the hotter price environment: 2.2% inflation versus -0.1%.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Thailand: a price level of 31 versus 80 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour Germany: $4,647 against $508 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Thailand is the younger society: median age 40.6 versus 45.5 years.
Life expectancy is 4.2 years longer in Germany (80.8 vs 76.6).
Germany is considerably more urbanized: 82% of people live in cities, against 63%.
Geography
By land area, Germany is 30% smaller than Thailand: 357,114 km² versus 513,120 km².
Military
Germany spends 16 times as much on defence as Thailand: $88.46B versus $5.52B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, Germany carries the heavier military burden: 1.9% of GDP versus 1.1%.
Thailand fields the larger armed forces: 455,000 personnel against 183,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Germany bigger than Thailand?
- Thailand is larger by land area. Germany covers 357,114 km² while Thailand covers 513,120 km², so Thailand is 44% larger than the other.
- Which has more people, Germany or Thailand?
- Germany has the larger population: 83.49 million versus 71.62 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Germany richer than Thailand?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Germany is richer: $60,496 against $8,057. Total GDP tells the same story: $5.05T for Germany versus $577.01B for Thailand.
- Who spends more on their military, Germany or Thailand?
- Germany spends more: $88.46B versus $5.52B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).