Updated
Overview
Thailand has 6.2 times the population of the United Arab Emirates: 71.62 million people against 11.51 million (2025).
Their economies are close in size: $577.01B for Thailand and $552.32B for the United Arab Emirates.
Per person, the United Arab Emirates is the wealthier of the two: $50,274 against $8,057 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Thailand | United Arab Emirates | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $577.01B | $552.32B | 2025 / 2024 | $526.41B / $537.08B |
| GDP per capita | $8,057 | Higher: $50,274 | 2025 / 2024 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 2.4% | Higher: 4.0% | 2025 / 2024 | — / — |
| Inflation | Lower: -0.1% | 1.3% | 2025 | 1.4% / 1.7% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 0.8% | 2.2% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 31 | 63 | 2025 / 2024 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $508 | — | 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $254 | — | 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $4.02 | $5.17 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 71.62 million | 11.51 million | 2025 | 70.03 million / 10.09 million |
| Population growth | -0.1% | 4.7% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 40.6 yrs | 31.6 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.19 | 1.21 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 76.6 yrs | Higher: 83.1 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 63% | 86% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 91% | Higher: 100% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 513,120 km² | 83,600 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 139.6/km² | 137.7/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 268 Mt | Lower: 222 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 3.7 t | 20.1 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $5.52B | $22.76B | 2024 / 2014 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 1.1% | 5.6% | 2024 / 2014 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 455,000 | 63,000 | 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
The United Arab Emirates is growing faster: 4.0% annual GDP growth versus 2.4%.
Inflation is comparable in both: -0.1% in Thailand and 1.3% in the United Arab Emirates.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Thailand: a price level of 31 versus 63 on a US=100 scale.
People and society
The United Arab Emirates is the far younger society: median age 31.6 versus 40.6 years.
Life expectancy is 6.5 years longer in the United Arab Emirates (83.1 vs 76.6).
The United Arab Emirates is considerably more urbanized: 86% of people live in cities, against 63%.
Geography
By land area, Thailand is 6.1 times the size of the United Arab Emirates: 513,120 km² versus 83,600 km².
Military
The United Arab Emirates spends 4.1 times as much on defence as Thailand: $22.76B versus $5.52B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, the United Arab Emirates carries the heavier military burden: 5.6% of GDP versus 1.1%.
Thailand fields the larger armed forces: 455,000 personnel against 63,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Thailand bigger than the United Arab Emirates?
- Thailand is larger by land area. Thailand covers 513,120 km² while the United Arab Emirates covers 83,600 km², so Thailand is 6.1 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Thailand or the United Arab Emirates?
- Thailand has the larger population: 71.62 million versus 11.51 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Thailand richer than the United Arab Emirates?
- Measured by GDP per capita, the United Arab Emirates is richer: $50,274 against $8,057. Total GDP tells a different story: $577.01B for Thailand versus $552.32B for the United Arab Emirates.
- Who spends more on their military, Thailand or the United Arab Emirates?
- The United Arab Emirates spends more: $22.76B versus $5.52B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).
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