Updated
Overview
Thailand has 13 times the population of Norway: 71.62 million people against 5.61 million (2025).
Their economies are close in size: $577.01B for Thailand and $530.76B for Norway.
Per person, Norway is the wealthier of the two: $94,594 against $8,057 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Thailand | Norway | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $577.01B | $530.76B | 2025 | $526.41B / $483.73B |
| GDP per capita | $8,057 | Higher: $94,594 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 2.4% | 1.1% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | Lower: -0.1% | 3.1% | 2025 | 1.4% / 3.1% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 0.8% | 4.6% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 31 | 91 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $508 | Higher: $6,440 | 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $254 | — | 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $4.02 | $8.05 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 71.62 million | 5.61 million | 2025 | 70.03 million / 5.51 million |
| Population growth | -0.1% | 0.7% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 40.6 yrs | 39.8 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.19 | 1.42 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 76.6 yrs | Higher: 83.2 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 63% | 84% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 91% | Higher: 99% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 513,120 km² | 323,802 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 139.6/km² | 17.3/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 268 Mt | Lower: 37 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 3.7 t | 6.7 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $5.52B | $10.44B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 1.1% | 2.1% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 455,000 | 25,000 | 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 is growing faster: 2.4% annual GDP growth versus 1.1%.
Norway runs the hotter price environment: 3.1% inflation versus -0.1%.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Thailand: a price level of 31 versus 91 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour Norway: $6,440 against $508 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Demographically the two are similar, with median ages of 40.6 (Thailand) and 39.8 (Norway).
Life expectancy is 6.6 years longer in Norway (83.2 vs 76.6).
Norway is considerably more urbanized: 84% of people live in cities, against 63%.
Geography
By land area, Thailand is 58% larger than Norway: 513,120 km² versus 323,802 km².
Thailand is far more densely settled: 140 people per km² against 17.
Military
Norway spends about 90% more on defence than Thailand: $10.44B versus $5.52B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, Norway carries the heavier military burden: 2.1% of GDP versus 1.1%.
Thailand fields the larger armed forces: 455,000 personnel against 25,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Thailand bigger than Norway?
- Thailand is larger by land area. Thailand covers 513,120 km² while Norway covers 323,802 km², so Thailand is 58% larger than the other.
- Which has more people, Thailand or Norway?
- Thailand has the larger population: 71.62 million versus 5.61 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Thailand richer than Norway?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Norway is richer: $94,594 against $8,057. Total GDP tells a different story: $577.01B for Thailand versus $530.76B for Norway.
- Who spends more on their military, Thailand or Norway?
- Norway spends more: $10.44B versus $5.52B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).