Updated
Overview
Thailand has about 70% more people than Canada: 71.62 million against 41.65 million (2025).
Canada's economy is 4.0 times the size of Thailand's, at $2.32T versus $577.01B.
Per person, Canada is the wealthier of the two: $55,698 against $8,057 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Thailand | Canada | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | $577.01B | Higher: $2.32T | 2025 | $526.41B / $2.24T |
| GDP per capita | $8,057 | Higher: $55,698 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 2.4% | 1.7% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | Lower: -0.1% | 2.1% | 2025 | 1.4% / 2.4% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 0.8% | 6.9% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 31 | 83 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $508 | Higher: $4,121 | 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $254 | Higher: $2,106 | 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $4.02 | $5.81 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 71.62 million | 41.65 million | 2025 | 70.03 million / 39.19 million |
| Population growth | -0.1% | 0.9% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 40.6 yrs | 40.6 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.19 | 1.33 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 76.6 yrs | Higher: 82.1 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 63% | 83% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 91% | Higher: 94% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 513,120 km² | 9,984,670 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 139.6/km² | 4.2/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | Lower: 268 Mt | 533 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 3.7 t | 13.4 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $5.52B | $29.35B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 1.1% | 1.3% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 455,000 | 72,000 | 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 1.7%.
Canada runs the hotter price environment: 2.1% inflation versus -0.1%.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Thailand: a price level of 31 versus 83 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour Canada: $4,121 against $508 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Demographically the two are similar, with median ages of 40.6 (Thailand) and 40.6 (Canada).
Life expectancy is 5.5 years longer in Canada (82.1 vs 76.6).
Canada is considerably more urbanized: 83% of people live in cities, against 63%.
Geography
By land area, Thailand is only about 1/19 the size of Canada: 513,120 km² versus 9,984,670 km².
Thailand is far more densely settled: 140 people per km² against 4.
Military
Canada spends 5.3 times as much on defence as Thailand: $29.35B versus $5.52B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Thailand fields the larger armed forces: 455,000 personnel against 72,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Thailand bigger than Canada?
- Canada is larger by land area. Thailand covers 513,120 km² while Canada covers 9,984,670 km², so Canada is 19 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Thailand or Canada?
- Thailand has the larger population: 71.62 million versus 41.65 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Thailand richer than Canada?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Canada is richer: $55,698 against $8,057. Total GDP tells the same story: $577.01B for Thailand versus $2.32T for Canada.
- Who spends more on their military, Thailand or Canada?
- Canada spends more: $29.35B versus $5.52B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).