Updated
Overview
Thailand has about 95% more people than Saudi Arabia: 71.62 million against 36.97 million (2025).
Saudi Arabia's economy is 2.2 times the size of Thailand's, at $1.28T versus $577.01B.
Per person, Saudi Arabia is the wealthier of the two: $34,537 against $8,057 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Thailand | Saudi Arabia | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | $577.01B | Higher: $1.28T | 2025 | $526.41B / $1.24T |
| GDP per capita | $8,057 | Higher: $34,537 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 2.4% | Higher: 4.5% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | Lower: -0.1% | 2.1% | 2025 | 1.4% / 1.7% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 0.8% | 3.0% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 31 | 47 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $508 | Higher: $1,799 | 2025 / 2022 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $254 | Higher: $1,067 | 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $4.02 | $5.06 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 71.62 million | 36.97 million | 2025 | 70.03 million / 36.54 million |
| Population growth | -0.1% | 4.6% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 40.6 yrs | 29.6 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.19 | 2.29 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 76.6 yrs | Higher: 79.0 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 63% | 85% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 91% | Higher: 100% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 513,120 km² | 2,149,690 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 139.6/km² | 17.2/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | Lower: 268 Mt | 692 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 3.7 t | 20.4 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $5.52B | $80.33B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 1.1% | 7.3% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 455,000 | 282,000 | 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
Saudi Arabia is growing faster: 4.5% annual GDP growth versus 2.4%.
Saudi Arabia runs the hotter price environment: 2.1% inflation versus -0.1%.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Thailand: a price level of 31 versus 47 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour Saudi Arabia: $1,799 against $508 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Saudi Arabia is the far younger society: median age 29.6 versus 40.6 years.
Life expectancy is 2.4 years longer in Saudi Arabia (79.0 vs 76.6).
Saudi Arabia is considerably more urbanized: 85% of people live in cities, against 63%.
Geography
By land area, Thailand is 76% smaller than Saudi Arabia: 513,120 km² versus 2,149,690 km².
Thailand is far more densely settled: 140 people per km² against 17.
Military
Saudi Arabia spends 15 times as much on defence as Thailand: $80.33B versus $5.52B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, Saudi Arabia carries the heavier military burden: 7.3% of GDP versus 1.1%.
Thailand fields the larger armed forces: 455,000 personnel against 282,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Thailand bigger than Saudi Arabia?
- Saudi Arabia is larger by land area. Thailand covers 513,120 km² while Saudi Arabia covers 2,149,690 km², so Saudi Arabia is 4.2 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Thailand or Saudi Arabia?
- Thailand has the larger population: 71.62 million versus 36.97 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Thailand richer than Saudi Arabia?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Saudi Arabia is richer: $34,537 against $8,057. Total GDP tells the same story: $577.01B for Thailand versus $1.28T for Saudi Arabia.
- Who spends more on their military, Thailand or Saudi Arabia?
- Saudi Arabia spends more: $80.33B versus $5.52B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).