Updated
Overview
Thailand has 9.1 times the population of Laos: 71.62 million people against 7.87 million (2025).
Thailand's economy is 32 times the size of Laos's, at $577.01B versus $18.30B.
Per person, Thailand is the wealthier of the two: $8,057 against $2,325 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Thailand | Laos | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $577.01B | $18.30B | 2025 | $526.41B / $16.50B |
| GDP per capita | Higher: $8,057 | $2,325 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 2.4% | Higher: 4.5% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | Lower: -0.1% | 7.7% | 2025 | 1.4% / 23.1% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 0.8% | 1.2% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 31 | 23 | 2025 / 2024 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | Higher: $508 | $178 | 2025 / 2022 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | Higher: $254 | $79 | 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $4.02 | — | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 71.62 million | 7.87 million | 2025 | 70.03 million / 7.95 million |
| Population growth | -0.1% | 1.3% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 40.6 yrs | 24.9 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.19 | 2.36 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | Higher: 76.6 yrs | 69.2 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 63% | 40% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | Higher: 91% | 66% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 513,120 km² | 236,800 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 139.6/km² | 33.2/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 268 Mt | Lower: 24 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | 3.7 t | Lower: 3.1 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $5.52B | $22.68M | 2024 / 2013 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 1.1% | 0.2% | 2024 / 2013 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 455,000 | 129,000 | 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
Laos is growing faster: 4.5% annual GDP growth versus 2.4%.
Laos runs the hotter price environment: 7.7% inflation versus -0.1%.
Average monthly earnings favour Thailand: $508 against $178 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Laos is the far younger society: median age 24.9 versus 40.6 years.
Life expectancy is 7.3 years longer in Thailand (76.6 vs 69.2).
Thailand is considerably more urbanized: 63% of people live in cities, against 40%.
Internet adoption is higher in Thailand (91% vs 66% of the population).
Geography
By land area, Thailand is 2.2 times the size of Laos: 513,120 km² versus 236,800 km².
The two share a land border, which shapes their trade, migration, and security relationship.
Thailand is far more densely settled: 140 people per km² against 33.
Military
Thailand spends 244 times as much on defence as Laos: $5.52B versus $22.68M (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 129,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Thailand bigger than Laos?
- Thailand is larger by land area. Thailand covers 513,120 km² while Laos covers 236,800 km², so Thailand is 2.2 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Thailand or Laos?
- Thailand has the larger population: 71.62 million versus 7.87 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Thailand richer than Laos?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Thailand is richer: $8,057 against $2,325. Total GDP tells the same story: $577.01B for Thailand versus $18.30B for Laos.
- Who spends more on their military, Thailand or Laos?
- Thailand spends more: $5.52B versus $22.68M per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).