Updated
Overview
Thailand has 3.4 times the population of Kazakhstan: 71.62 million people against 20.84 million (2025).
Thailand's economy is about 90% larger than Kazakhstan's, at $577.01B versus $306.24B.
Per person, Kazakhstan is the wealthier of the two: $14,692 against $8,057 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Thailand | Kazakhstan | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $577.01B | $306.24B | 2025 | $526.41B / $288.41B |
| GDP per capita | $8,057 | Higher: $14,692 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 2.4% | Higher: 6.5% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | Lower: -0.1% | 11.4% | 2025 | 1.4% / 8.8% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 0.8% | 4.8% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 31 | 33 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $508 | Higher: $673 | 2025 / 2022 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | Higher: $254 | $181 | 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $4.02 | — | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 71.62 million | 20.84 million | 2025 | 70.03 million / 20.43 million |
| Population growth | -0.1% | 1.2% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 40.6 yrs | 29.7 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.19 | 2.95 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | Higher: 76.6 yrs | 74.5 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 63% | 62% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 91% | Higher: 93% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 513,120 km² | 2,724,900 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 139.6/km² | 7.6/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | Lower: 268 Mt | 287 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 3.7 t | 13.9 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $5.52B | $1.21B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 1.1% | 0.4% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 455,000 | 71,000 | 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
Kazakhstan is growing much faster: 6.5% annual GDP growth versus 2.4%.
Kazakhstan runs the hotter price environment: 11.4% inflation versus -0.1%.
Average monthly earnings favour Kazakhstan: $673 against $508 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Kazakhstan is the far younger society: median age 29.7 versus 40.6 years.
Life expectancy is 2.0 years longer in Thailand (76.6 vs 74.5).
Geography
By land area, Thailand is 81% smaller than Kazakhstan: 513,120 km² versus 2,724,900 km².
Thailand is far more densely settled: 140 people per km² against 8.
Military
Thailand spends 4.6 times as much on defence as Kazakhstan: $5.52B versus $1.21B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Thailand fields the larger armed forces: 455,000 personnel against 71,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Thailand bigger than Kazakhstan?
- Kazakhstan is larger by land area. Thailand covers 513,120 km² while Kazakhstan covers 2,724,900 km², so Kazakhstan is 5.3 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Thailand or Kazakhstan?
- Thailand has the larger population: 71.62 million versus 20.84 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Thailand richer than Kazakhstan?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Kazakhstan is richer: $14,692 against $8,057. Total GDP tells a different story: $577.01B for Thailand versus $306.24B for Kazakhstan.
- Who spends more on their military, Thailand or Kazakhstan?
- Thailand spends more: $5.52B versus $1.21B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).