Updated
Overview
Japan has about 70% more people than Thailand: 123.37 million against 71.62 million (2025).
Japan's economy is 7.7 times the size of Thailand's, at $4.44T versus $577.01B.
Per person, Japan is the wealthier of the two: $35,951 against $8,057 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Japan | Thailand | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $4.44T | $577.01B | 2025 | $4.03T / $526.41B |
| GDP per capita | Higher: $35,951 | $8,057 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 1.2% | Higher: 2.4% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 3.2% | Lower: -0.1% | 2025 | 2.7% / 1.4% |
| Unemployment | 2.5% | Lower: 0.8% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 65 | 31 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | Higher: $2,801 | $508 | 2021 / 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | Higher: $1,207 | $254 | 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $3.08 | $4.02 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 123.37 million | 71.62 million | 2025 | 123.20 million / 70.03 million |
| Population growth | -0.5% | -0.1% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 49.8 yrs | 40.6 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.23 | 1.19 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | Higher: 84.0 yrs | 76.6 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 92% | 63% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 86% | Higher: 91% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 377,930 km² | 513,120 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 326.4/km² | 139.6/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 962 Mt | Lower: 268 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | 7.8 t | Lower: 3.7 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $55.27B | $5.52B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 1.4% | 1.1% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 261,000 | 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 1.2%.
Japan runs the hotter price environment: 3.2% inflation versus -0.1%.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Thailand: a price level of 31 versus 65 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour Japan: $2,801 against $508 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Thailand is the far younger society: median age 40.6 versus 49.8 years.
Life expectancy is 7.5 years longer in Japan (84.0 vs 76.6).
Japan is considerably more urbanized: 92% of people live in cities, against 63%.
Geography
By land area, Japan is 26% smaller than Thailand: 377,930 km² versus 513,120 km².
Both sit in the same broad region but do not share a border.
Japan is far more densely settled: 326 people per km² against 140.
Military
Japan spends 10 times as much on defence as Thailand: $55.27B versus $5.52B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Thailand fields the larger armed forces: 455,000 personnel against 261,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Japan bigger than Thailand?
- Thailand is larger by land area. Japan covers 377,930 km² while Thailand covers 513,120 km², so Thailand is 36% larger than the other.
- Which has more people, Japan or Thailand?
- Japan has the larger population: 123.37 million versus 71.62 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Japan richer than Thailand?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Japan is richer: $35,951 against $8,057. Total GDP tells the same story: $4.44T for Japan versus $577.01B for Thailand.
- Who spends more on their military, Japan or Thailand?
- Japan spends more: $55.27B versus $5.52B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).