Updated
Overview
Thailand has about 45% more people than Spain: 71.62 million against 49.36 million (2025).
Spain's economy is 3.3 times the size of Thailand's, at $1.91T versus $577.01B.
Per person, Spain is the wealthier of the two: $38,627 against $8,057 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Thailand | Spain | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | $577.01B | Higher: $1.91T | 2025 | $526.41B / $1.72T |
| GDP per capita | $8,057 | Higher: $38,627 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 2.4% | Higher: 2.8% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | Lower: -0.1% | 2.7% | 2025 | 1.4% / 2.8% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 0.8% | 10.4% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 31 | 65 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $508 | Higher: $3,574 | 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $254 | Higher: $1,561 | 2024 / 2025 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $4.02 | — | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 71.62 million | 49.36 million | 2025 | 70.03 million / 47.28 million |
| Population growth | -0.1% | 1.0% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 40.6 yrs | 45.9 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.19 | 1.23 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 76.6 yrs | Higher: 83.9 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 63% | 81% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 91% | Higher: 96% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 513,120 km² | 505,992 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 139.6/km² | 97.5/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 268 Mt | Lower: 220 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 3.7 t | 4.6 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $5.52B | $24.62B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 1.1% | 1.4% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 455,000 | 199,000 | 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
Both economies are growing at a similar pace (2.4% for Thailand, 2.8% for Spain).
Spain runs the hotter price environment: 2.7% inflation versus -0.1%.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Thailand: a price level of 31 versus 65 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour Spain: $3,574 against $508 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Thailand is the younger society: median age 40.6 versus 45.9 years.
Life expectancy is 7.3 years longer in Spain (83.9 vs 76.6).
Spain is considerably more urbanized: 81% of people live in cities, against 63%.
Geography
By land area, Thailand is almost exactly the same size as Spain: 513,120 km² versus 505,992 km².
Military
Spain spends 4.5 times as much on defence as Thailand: $24.62B versus $5.52B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Thailand fields the larger armed forces: 455,000 personnel against 199,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Thailand bigger than Spain?
- The two are almost exactly the same size. Thailand covers 513,120 km² while Spain covers 505,992 km², a difference of under 1%.
- Which has more people, Thailand or Spain?
- Thailand has the larger population: 71.62 million versus 49.36 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Thailand richer than Spain?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Spain is richer: $38,627 against $8,057. Total GDP tells the same story: $577.01B for Thailand versus $1.91T for Spain.
- Who spends more on their military, Thailand or Spain?
- Spain spends more: $24.62B versus $5.52B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).