Updated
Overview
Russia has 2.0 times the population of Thailand: 143.51 million people against 71.62 million (2025).
Russia's economy is 4.4 times the size of Thailand's, at $2.56T versus $577.01B.
Per person, Russia is the wealthier of the two: $17,547 against $8,057 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Russia | Thailand | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $2.56T | $577.01B | 2025 | $2.17T / $526.41B |
| GDP per capita | Higher: $17,547 | $8,057 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 1.0% | Higher: 2.4% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 8.7% | Lower: -0.1% | 2025 | 6.7% / 1.4% |
| Unemployment | 2.1% | Lower: 0.8% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 32 | 31 | 2024 / 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | Higher: $777 | $508 | 2021 / 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $208 | Higher: $254 | 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $1.74 | $4.02 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 143.51 million | 71.62 million | 2025 | 140.13 million / 70.03 million |
| Population growth | -0.1% | -0.1% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 40.3 yrs | 40.6 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.46 | 1.19 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 73.4 yrs | Higher: 76.6 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 75% | 63% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | Higher: 94% | 91% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 17,098,242 km² | 513,120 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 8.4/km² | 139.6/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 1,781 Mt | Lower: 268 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | 12.3 t | Lower: 3.7 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $148.97B | $5.52B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 7.1% | 1.1% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 1.5 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
Thailand is growing faster: 2.4% annual GDP growth versus 1.0%.
Russia runs the hotter price environment: 8.7% inflation versus -0.1%.
Average monthly earnings favour Russia: $777 against $508 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Demographically the two are similar, with median ages of 40.3 (Russia) and 40.6 (Thailand).
Life expectancy is 3.1 years longer in Thailand (76.6 vs 73.4).
Russia is considerably more urbanized: 75% of people live in cities, against 63%.
Geography
By land area, Russia is 33 times the size of Thailand: 17,098,242 km² versus 513,120 km².
Thailand is far more densely settled: 140 people per km² against 8.
Military
Russia spends 27 times as much on defence as Thailand: $148.97B versus $5.52B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, Russia carries the heavier military burden: 7.1% of GDP versus 1.1%.
Russia fields the larger armed forces: 1.5 million personnel against 455,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Russia bigger than Thailand?
- Russia is larger by land area. Russia covers 17,098,242 km² while Thailand covers 513,120 km², so Russia is 33 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Russia or Thailand?
- Russia has the larger population: 143.51 million versus 71.62 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Russia richer than Thailand?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Russia is richer: $17,547 against $8,057. Total GDP tells the same story: $2.56T for Russia versus $577.01B for Thailand.
- Who spends more on their military, Russia or Thailand?
- Russia spends more: $148.97B versus $5.52B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).