Updated
Overview
Thailand has 31% more people than Myanmar (Burma): 71.62 million against 54.85 million (2025).
Thailand's economy is 7.1 times the size of Myanmar (Burma)'s, at $577.01B versus $81.67B.
Per person, Thailand is the wealthier of the two: $8,057 against $1,489 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Thailand | Myanmar (Burma) | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $577.01B | $81.67B | 2025 | $526.41B / $74.08B |
| GDP per capita | Higher: $8,057 | $1,489 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 2.4% | -2.0% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | Lower: -0.1% | 8.8% | 2025 / 2019 | 1.4% / — |
| Unemployment | Lower: 0.8% | 3.0% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 31 | — | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | Higher: $508 | $136 | 2025 / 2020 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | Higher: $254 | $90 | 2024 / 2020 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $4.02 | — | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 71.62 million | 54.85 million | 2025 | 70.03 million / 57.93 million |
| Population growth | -0.1% | 0.6% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 40.6 yrs | 30.1 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.19 | 2.08 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | Higher: 76.6 yrs | 67.1 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 63% | 31% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | Higher: 91% | 45% | 2024 / 2020 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 513,120 km² | 676,578 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 139.6/km² | 81.1/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 268 Mt | Lower: 32 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | 3.7 t | Lower: 0.6 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $5.52B | $5.01B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 1.1% | 6.8% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 455,000 | 463,000 | 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 grew while the other economy contracted: 2.4% against -2.0%.
Myanmar (Burma) runs the hotter price environment: 8.8% inflation versus -0.1%.
Average monthly earnings favour Thailand: $508 against $136 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Myanmar (Burma) is the far younger society: median age 30.1 versus 40.6 years.
Life expectancy is 9.5 years longer in Thailand (76.6 vs 67.1).
Thailand is considerably more urbanized: 63% of people live in cities, against 31%.
Internet adoption is higher in Thailand (91% vs 45% of the population).
Geography
By land area, Thailand is 24% smaller than Myanmar (Burma): 513,120 km² versus 676,578 km².
The two share a land border, which shapes their trade, migration, and security relationship.
Military
Defence budgets are of similar magnitude: $5.52B (Thailand) and $5.01B (Myanmar (Burma)).
Relative to its economy, Myanmar (Burma) carries the heavier military burden: 6.8% of GDP versus 1.1%.
Myanmar (Burma) fields the larger armed forces: 463,000 personnel against 455,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Thailand bigger than Myanmar (Burma)?
- Myanmar (Burma) is larger by land area. Thailand covers 513,120 km² while Myanmar (Burma) covers 676,578 km², so Myanmar (Burma) is 32% larger than the other.
- Which has more people, Thailand or Myanmar (Burma)?
- Thailand has the larger population: 71.62 million versus 54.85 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Thailand richer than Myanmar (Burma)?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Thailand is richer: $8,057 against $1,489. Total GDP tells the same story: $577.01B for Thailand versus $81.67B for Myanmar (Burma).
- Who spends more on their military, Thailand or Myanmar (Burma)?
- Thailand spends more: $5.52B versus $5.01B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).
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