Updated
Overview
Thailand has 3.8 times the population of Romania: 71.62 million people against 19.02 million (2025).
Thailand's economy is 35% larger than Romania's, at $577.01B versus $428.68B.
Per person, Romania is the wealthier of the two: $22,538 against $8,057 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Thailand | Romania | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $577.01B | $428.68B | 2025 | $526.41B / $382.77B |
| GDP per capita | $8,057 | Higher: $22,538 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 2.4% | 0.7% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | Lower: -0.1% | 7.2% | 2025 | 1.4% / 5.7% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 0.8% | 6.0% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 31 | 44 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $508 | Higher: $1,722 | 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $254 | Higher: $906 | 2024 / 2025 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $4.02 | $4.01 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 71.62 million | 19.02 million | 2025 | 70.03 million / 18.15 million |
| Population growth | -0.1% | -0.2% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 40.6 yrs | 43.2 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.19 | 1.71 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | Higher: 76.6 yrs | 76.5 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 63% | 52% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 91% | Higher: 91% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 513,120 km² | 238,391 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 139.6/km² | 79.8/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 268 Mt | Lower: 69 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | 3.7 t | Lower: 3.6 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $5.52B | $8.72B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 1.1% | 2.3% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 455,000 | 128,000 | 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 0.7%.
Romania runs the hotter price environment: 7.2% inflation versus -0.1%.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Thailand: a price level of 31 versus 44 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour Romania: $1,722 against $508 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Thailand is the younger society: median age 40.6 versus 43.2 years.
Thailand is considerably more urbanized: 63% of people live in cities, against 52%.
Geography
By land area, Thailand is 2.2 times the size of Romania: 513,120 km² versus 238,391 km².
Military
Romania spends about 60% more on defence than Thailand: $8.72B versus $5.52B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, Romania carries the heavier military burden: 2.3% of GDP versus 1.1%.
Thailand fields the larger armed forces: 455,000 personnel against 128,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Thailand bigger than Romania?
- Thailand is larger by land area. Thailand covers 513,120 km² while Romania covers 238,391 km², so Thailand is 2.2 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Thailand or Romania?
- Thailand has the larger population: 71.62 million versus 19.02 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Thailand richer than Romania?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Romania is richer: $22,538 against $8,057. Total GDP tells a different story: $577.01B for Thailand versus $428.68B for Romania.
- Who spends more on their military, Thailand or Romania?
- Romania spends more: $8.72B versus $5.52B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).