Updated
Overview
Thailand has about 40% more people than South Korea: 71.62 million against 51.68 million (2025).
South Korea's economy is 3.2 times the size of Thailand's, at $1.87T versus $577.01B.
Per person, South Korea is the wealthier of the two: $36,227 against $8,057 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Thailand | South Korea | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | $577.01B | Higher: $1.87T | 2025 | $526.41B / $1.71T |
| GDP per capita | $8,057 | Higher: $36,227 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 2.4% | 1.0% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | Lower: -0.1% | 2.1% | 2025 | 1.4% / 2.3% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 0.8% | 2.7% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 31 | 57 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $508 | Higher: $3,168 | 2025 / 2022 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $254 | Higher: $1,511 | 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $4.02 | $3.84 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 71.62 million | 51.68 million | 2025 | 70.03 million / 51.49 million |
| Population growth | -0.1% | -0.1% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 40.6 yrs | 45.6 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.19 | 0.75 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 76.6 yrs | Higher: 83.6 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 63% | 81% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 91% | Higher: 98% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 513,120 km² | 100,210 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 139.6/km² | 515.8/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | Lower: 268 Mt | 584 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 3.7 t | 11.3 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $5.52B | $47.57B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 1.1% | 2.6% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 455,000 | 569,000 | 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 1.0%.
South Korea 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 57 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour South Korea: $3,168 against $508 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Thailand is the younger society: median age 40.6 versus 45.6 years.
Life expectancy is 7.1 years longer in South Korea (83.6 vs 76.6).
South Korea is considerably more urbanized: 81% of people live in cities, against 63%.
Geography
By land area, Thailand is 5.1 times the size of South Korea: 513,120 km² versus 100,210 km².
Both sit in the same broad region but do not share a border.
South Korea is far more densely settled: 516 people per km² against 140.
Military
South Korea spends 8.6 times as much on defence as Thailand: $47.57B versus $5.52B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, South Korea carries the heavier military burden: 2.6% of GDP versus 1.1%.
South Korea fields the larger armed forces: 569,000 personnel against 455,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Thailand bigger than South Korea?
- Thailand is larger by land area. Thailand covers 513,120 km² while South Korea covers 100,210 km², so Thailand is 5.1 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Thailand or South Korea?
- Thailand has the larger population: 71.62 million versus 51.68 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Thailand richer than South Korea?
- Measured by GDP per capita, South Korea is richer: $36,227 against $8,057. Total GDP tells the same story: $577.01B for Thailand versus $1.87T for South Korea.
- Who spends more on their military, Thailand or South Korea?
- South Korea spends more: $47.57B versus $5.52B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).