Updated
Overview
Thailand has 6.0 times the population of Belgium: 71.62 million people against 11.94 million (2025).
Belgium's economy is 26% larger than Thailand's, at $725.47B versus $577.01B.
Per person, Belgium is the wealthier of the two: $60,750 against $8,057 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Thailand | Belgium | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | $577.01B | Higher: $725.47B | 2025 | $526.41B / $664.56B |
| GDP per capita | $8,057 | Higher: $60,750 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 2.4% | 1.0% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | Lower: -0.1% | 2.5% | 2025 | 1.4% / 3.1% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 0.8% | 5.9% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 31 | 81 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $508 | Higher: $7,044 | 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $254 | Higher: $2,387 | 2024 / 2025 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $4.02 | — | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 71.62 million | 11.94 million | 2025 | 70.03 million / 11.96 million |
| Population growth | -0.1% | 0.7% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 40.6 yrs | 41.9 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.19 | 1.39 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 76.6 yrs | Higher: 82.3 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 63% | 88% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 91% | Higher: 96% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 513,120 km² | 30,528 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 139.6/km² | 391.2/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 268 Mt | Lower: 85 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 3.7 t | 7.3 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $5.52B | $8.56B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 1.1% | 1.3% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 455,000 | 24,000 | 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%.
Belgium runs the hotter price environment: 2.5% inflation versus -0.1%.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Thailand: a price level of 31 versus 81 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour Belgium: $7,044 against $508 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Demographically the two are similar, with median ages of 40.6 (Thailand) and 41.9 (Belgium).
Life expectancy is 5.7 years longer in Belgium (82.3 vs 76.6).
Belgium is considerably more urbanized: 88% of people live in cities, against 63%.
Geography
By land area, Thailand is 17 times the size of Belgium: 513,120 km² versus 30,528 km².
Belgium is far more densely settled: 391 people per km² against 140.
Military
Belgium spends about 55% more on defence than Thailand: $8.56B versus $5.52B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Thailand fields the larger armed forces: 455,000 personnel against 24,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Thailand bigger than Belgium?
- Thailand is larger by land area. Thailand covers 513,120 km² while Belgium covers 30,528 km², so Thailand is 17 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Thailand or Belgium?
- Thailand has the larger population: 71.62 million versus 11.94 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Thailand richer than Belgium?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Belgium is richer: $60,750 against $8,057. Total GDP tells the same story: $577.01B for Thailand versus $725.47B for Belgium.
- Who spends more on their military, Thailand or Belgium?
- Belgium spends more: $8.56B versus $5.52B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).