Updated
Overview
Thailand has 7.1 times the population of Israel: 71.62 million people against 10.12 million (2025).
Their economies are close in size: $577.01B for Thailand and $610.78B for Israel.
Per person, Israel is the wealthier of the two: $60,337 against $8,057 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Thailand | Israel | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | $577.01B | Higher: $610.78B | 2025 | $526.41B / $540.38B |
| GDP per capita | $8,057 | Higher: $60,337 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 2.4% | Higher: 2.9% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | Lower: -0.1% | 3.0% | 2025 | 1.4% / 3.1% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 0.8% | 3.5% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 31 | 101 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $508 | Higher: $3,383 | 2025 / 2021 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $254 | Higher: $1,589 | 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $4.02 | $7.67 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 71.62 million | 10.12 million | 2025 | 70.03 million / 9.40 million |
| Population growth | -0.1% | 1.2% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 40.6 yrs | 29.2 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.19 | 2.75 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 76.6 yrs | Higher: 83.2 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 63% | 92% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | Higher: 91% | 88% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 513,120 km² | 20,770 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 139.6/km² | 487.4/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 268 Mt | Lower: 53 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 3.7 t | 5.6 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $5.52B | $46.51B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 1.1% | 8.8% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 455,000 | 178,000 | 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
Both economies are growing at a similar pace (2.4% for Thailand, 2.9% for Israel).
Israel runs the hotter price environment: 3.0% inflation versus -0.1%.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Thailand: a price level of 31 versus 101 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour Israel: $3,383 against $508 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Israel is the far younger society: median age 29.2 versus 40.6 years.
Life expectancy is 6.6 years longer in Israel (83.2 vs 76.6).
Israel is considerably more urbanized: 92% of people live in cities, against 63%.
Geography
By land area, Thailand is 25 times the size of Israel: 513,120 km² versus 20,770 km².
Israel is far more densely settled: 487 people per km² against 140.
Military
Israel spends 8.4 times as much on defence as Thailand: $46.51B versus $5.52B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, Israel carries the heavier military burden: 8.8% of GDP versus 1.1%.
Thailand fields the larger armed forces: 455,000 personnel against 178,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Thailand bigger than Israel?
- Thailand is larger by land area. Thailand covers 513,120 km² while Israel covers 20,770 km², so Thailand is 25 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Thailand or Israel?
- Thailand has the larger population: 71.62 million versus 10.12 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Thailand richer than Israel?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Israel is richer: $60,337 against $8,057. Total GDP tells the same story: $577.01B for Thailand versus $610.78B for Israel.
- Who spends more on their military, Thailand or Israel?
- Israel spends more: $46.51B versus $5.52B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).