Updated
Overview
Vietnam has about 40% more people than Thailand: 101.60 million against 71.62 million (2025).
Thailand's economy is 12% larger than Vietnam's, at $577.01B versus $514.70B.
Per person, Thailand is the wealthier of the two: $8,057 against $5,066 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Vietnam | Thailand | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | $514.70B | Higher: $577.01B | 2025 | $476.39B / $526.41B |
| GDP per capita | $5,066 | Higher: $8,057 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 8.0% | 2.4% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 3.3% | Lower: -0.1% | 2025 | 3.6% / 1.4% |
| Unemployment | 1.5% | Lower: 0.8% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 29 | 31 | 2024 / 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $355 | Higher: $508 | 2024 / 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $205 | Higher: $254 | 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $2.89 | $4.02 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 101.60 million | 71.62 million | 2025 | 106.69 million / 70.03 million |
| Population growth | 0.6% | -0.1% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 33.4 yrs | 40.6 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.88 | 1.19 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 74.7 yrs | Higher: 76.6 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 39% | 63% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 84% | Higher: 91% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 331,212 km² | 513,120 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 306.7/km² | 139.6/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 371 Mt | Lower: 268 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 3.7 t | 3.7 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $5.50B | $5.52B | 2018 / 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 1.8% | 1.1% | 2018 / 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 522,000 | 455,000 | 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
Vietnam is growing much faster: 8.0% annual GDP growth versus 2.4%.
Vietnam runs the hotter price environment: 3.3% inflation versus -0.1%.
Average monthly earnings favour Thailand: $508 against $355 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Vietnam is the younger society: median age 33.4 versus 40.6 years.
Life expectancy is 1.8 years longer in Thailand (76.6 vs 74.7).
Thailand is considerably more urbanized: 63% of people live in cities, against 39%.
Geography
By land area, Vietnam is 35% smaller than Thailand: 331,212 km² versus 513,120 km².
Both sit in the same broad region but do not share a border.
Vietnam is far more densely settled: 307 people per km² against 140.
Military
Defence budgets are of similar magnitude: $5.50B (Vietnam) and $5.52B (Thailand).
Vietnam fields the larger armed forces: 522,000 personnel against 455,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Vietnam bigger than Thailand?
- Thailand is larger by land area. Vietnam covers 331,212 km² while Thailand covers 513,120 km², so Thailand is 55% larger than the other.
- Which has more people, Vietnam or Thailand?
- Vietnam has the larger population: 101.60 million versus 71.62 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Vietnam richer than Thailand?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Thailand is richer: $8,057 against $5,066. Total GDP tells the same story: $514.70B for Vietnam versus $577.01B for Thailand.
- Who spends more on their military, Vietnam or Thailand?
- Thailand spends more: $5.52B versus $5.50B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).