Updated
Overview
Thailand has 6.8 times the population of Sweden: 71.62 million people against 10.60 million (2025).
Sweden's economy is 16% larger than Thailand's, at $669.00B versus $577.01B.
Per person, Sweden is the wealthier of the two: $63,133 against $8,057 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Thailand | Sweden | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | $577.01B | Higher: $669.00B | 2025 | $526.41B / $610.12B |
| GDP per capita | $8,057 | Higher: $63,133 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 2.4% | 1.5% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | Lower: -0.1% | 0.7% | 2025 | 1.4% / 2.8% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 0.8% | 8.7% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 31 | 87 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $508 | Higher: $4,783 | 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $254 | — | 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $4.02 | $7.16 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 71.62 million | 10.60 million | 2025 | 70.03 million / 10.64 million |
| Population growth | -0.1% | 0.3% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 40.6 yrs | 40.3 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.19 | 1.44 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 76.6 yrs | Higher: 84.1 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 63% | 89% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 91% | Higher: 96% | 2024 / 2025 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 513,120 km² | 450,295 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 139.6/km² | 23.5/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 268 Mt | Lower: 38 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | 3.7 t | Lower: 3.6 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $5.52B | $12.04B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 1.1% | 2.0% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 455,000 | 15,000 | 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 1.5%.
Inflation is comparable in both: -0.1% in Thailand and 0.7% in Sweden.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Thailand: a price level of 31 versus 87 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour Sweden: $4,783 against $508 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Demographically the two are similar, with median ages of 40.6 (Thailand) and 40.3 (Sweden).
Life expectancy is 7.5 years longer in Sweden (84.1 vs 76.6).
Sweden is considerably more urbanized: 89% of people live in cities, against 63%.
Geography
By land area, Thailand is 14% larger than Sweden: 513,120 km² versus 450,295 km².
Thailand is far more densely settled: 140 people per km² against 24.
Military
Sweden spends 2.2 times as much on defence as Thailand: $12.04B versus $5.52B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, Sweden carries the heavier military burden: 2.0% of GDP versus 1.1%.
Thailand fields the larger armed forces: 455,000 personnel against 15,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Thailand bigger than Sweden?
- Thailand is larger by land area. Thailand covers 513,120 km² while Sweden covers 450,295 km², so Thailand is 14% larger than the other.
- Which has more people, Thailand or Sweden?
- Thailand has the larger population: 71.62 million versus 10.60 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Thailand richer than Sweden?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Sweden is richer: $63,133 against $8,057. Total GDP tells the same story: $577.01B for Thailand versus $669.00B for Sweden.
- Who spends more on their military, Thailand or Sweden?
- Sweden spends more: $12.04B versus $5.52B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).