Updated
Overview
Thailand has 6.6 times the population of Portugal: 71.62 million people against 10.80 million (2025).
Thailand's economy is about 65% larger than Portugal's, at $577.01B versus $346.64B.
Per person, Portugal is the wealthier of the two: $32,082 against $8,057 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Thailand | Portugal | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $577.01B | $346.64B | 2025 | $526.41B / $308.68B |
| GDP per capita | $8,057 | Higher: $32,082 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 2.4% | 1.9% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | Lower: -0.1% | 2.3% | 2025 | 1.4% / 2.4% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 0.8% | 6.2% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 31 | 60 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $508 | Higher: $1,426 | 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $254 | Higher: $1,147 | 2024 / 2025 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $4.02 | — | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 71.62 million | 10.80 million | 2025 | 70.03 million / 10.19 million |
| Population growth | -0.1% | 1.0% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 40.6 yrs | 46.9 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.19 | 1.52 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 76.6 yrs | Higher: 82.4 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 63% | 61% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | Higher: 91% | 88% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 513,120 km² | 92,090 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 139.6/km² | 117.3/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 268 Mt | Lower: 36 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | 3.7 t | Lower: 3.4 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $5.52B | $4.64B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 1.1% | 1.5% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 455,000 | 52,000 | 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 1.9%.
Portugal runs the hotter price environment: 2.3% inflation versus -0.1%.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Thailand: a price level of 31 versus 60 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour Portugal: $1,426 against $508 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Thailand is the younger society: median age 40.6 versus 46.9 years.
Life expectancy is 5.8 years longer in Portugal (82.4 vs 76.6).
Geography
By land area, Thailand is 5.6 times the size of Portugal: 513,120 km² versus 92,090 km².
Military
Defence budgets are of similar magnitude: $5.52B (Thailand) and $4.64B (Portugal).
Thailand fields the larger armed forces: 455,000 personnel against 52,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Thailand bigger than Portugal?
- Thailand is larger by land area. Thailand covers 513,120 km² while Portugal covers 92,090 km², so Thailand is 5.6 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Thailand or Portugal?
- Thailand has the larger population: 71.62 million versus 10.80 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Thailand richer than Portugal?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Portugal is richer: $32,082 against $8,057. Total GDP tells a different story: $577.01B for Thailand versus $346.64B for Portugal.
- Who spends more on their military, Thailand or Portugal?
- Thailand spends more: $5.52B versus $4.64B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).