Updated
Overview
Thailand has 13 times the population of Ireland: 71.62 million people against 5.48 million (2025).
Ireland's economy is 25% larger than Thailand's, at $721.70B versus $577.01B.
Per person, Ireland is the wealthier of the two: $131,592 against $8,057 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Thailand | Ireland | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | $577.01B | Higher: $721.70B | 2025 | $526.41B / $577.39B |
| GDP per capita | $8,057 | Higher: $131,592 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 2.4% | Higher: 12.3% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | Lower: -0.1% | 2.2% | 2025 | 1.4% / 2.1% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 0.8% | 4.6% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 31 | 85 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $508 | Higher: $5,697 | 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $254 | Higher: $2,579 | 2024 / 2025 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $4.02 | — | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 71.62 million | 5.48 million | 2025 | 70.03 million / 5.23 million |
| Population growth | -0.1% | 1.6% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 40.6 yrs | 39.0 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.19 | 1.60 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 76.6 yrs | Higher: 83.0 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 63% | 65% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 91% | Higher: 97% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 513,120 km² | 70,273 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 139.6/km² | 78.0/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 268 Mt | Lower: 33 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 3.7 t | 6.3 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $5.52B | $1.33B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 1.1% | 0.2% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 455,000 | 9,000 | 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
Ireland is growing much faster: 12.3% annual GDP growth versus 2.4%.
Ireland runs the hotter price environment: 2.2% inflation versus -0.1%.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Thailand: a price level of 31 versus 85 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour Ireland: $5,697 against $508 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Demographically the two are similar, with median ages of 40.6 (Thailand) and 39.0 (Ireland).
Life expectancy is 6.4 years longer in Ireland (83.0 vs 76.6).
Geography
By land area, Thailand is 7.3 times the size of Ireland: 513,120 km² versus 70,273 km².
Military
Thailand spends 4.2 times as much on defence as Ireland: $5.52B versus $1.33B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, Thailand carries the heavier military burden: 1.1% of GDP versus 0.2%.
Thailand fields the larger armed forces: 455,000 personnel against 9,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Thailand bigger than Ireland?
- Thailand is larger by land area. Thailand covers 513,120 km² while Ireland covers 70,273 km², so Thailand is 7.3 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Thailand or Ireland?
- Thailand has the larger population: 71.62 million versus 5.48 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Thailand richer than Ireland?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Ireland is richer: $131,592 against $8,057. Total GDP tells the same story: $577.01B for Thailand versus $721.70B for Ireland.
- Who spends more on their military, Thailand or Ireland?
- Thailand spends more: $5.52B versus $1.33B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).