Updated
Overview
The Philippines has about 65% more people than Thailand: 116.79 million against 71.62 million (2025).
Thailand's economy is 18% larger than the Philippines', at $577.01B versus $487.09B.
Per person, Thailand is the wealthier of the two: $8,057 against $4,171 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Philippines | Thailand | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | $487.09B | Higher: $577.01B | 2025 | $461.62B / $526.41B |
| GDP per capita | $4,171 | Higher: $8,057 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 4.4% | 2.4% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 1.7% | Lower: -0.1% | 2025 | 3.2% / 1.4% |
| Unemployment | 2.2% | Lower: 0.8% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 33 | 31 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $316 | Higher: $508 | 2023 / 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $145 | Higher: $254 | 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $2.74 | $4.02 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 116.79 million | 71.62 million | 2025 | 118.28 million / 70.03 million |
| Population growth | 0.8% | -0.1% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 26.1 yrs | 40.6 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.88 | 1.19 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 69.9 yrs | Higher: 76.6 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 56% | 63% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 67% | Higher: 91% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 342,353 km² | 513,120 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 341.1/km² | 139.6/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | Lower: 175 Mt | 268 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 1.5 t | 3.7 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $6.12B | $5.52B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 1.3% | 1.1% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 157,000 | 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
The Philippines is growing faster: 4.4% annual GDP growth versus 2.4%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 1.7% in the Philippines and -0.1% in Thailand.
Average monthly earnings favour Thailand: $508 against $316 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
The Philippines is the far younger society: median age 26.1 versus 40.6 years.
Life expectancy is 6.6 years longer in Thailand (76.6 vs 69.9).
Internet adoption is higher in Thailand (91% vs 67% of the population).
Geography
By land area, the Philippines is 33% smaller than Thailand: 342,353 km² versus 513,120 km².
Both sit in the same broad region but do not share a border.
The Philippines is far more densely settled: 341 people per km² against 140.
Military
Defence budgets are of similar magnitude: $6.12B (the Philippines) and $5.52B (Thailand).
Thailand fields the larger armed forces: 455,000 personnel against 157,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is the Philippines bigger than Thailand?
- Thailand is larger by land area. The Philippines covers 342,353 km² while Thailand covers 513,120 km², so Thailand is 50% larger than the other.
- Which has more people, the Philippines or Thailand?
- The Philippines has the larger population: 116.79 million versus 71.62 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is the Philippines richer than Thailand?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Thailand is richer: $8,057 against $4,171. Total GDP tells the same story: $487.09B for the Philippines versus $577.01B for Thailand.
- Who spends more on their military, the Philippines or Thailand?
- The Philippines spends more: $6.12B versus $5.52B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).