China vs Thailand
Every indicator for China and Thailand side by side, with the percentage gap between them. Sources are listed at the bottom of the page.
| Indicator | China | Thailand | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2025) (people) | 1,406,585,000 | 71,619,863 | +1,864.0% |
| GDP (nominal) (billion $) | 19,498 | 577 | +3,279.2% |
| GDP per capita ($) | 13,862 | 8,057 | +72.0% |
| Life expectancy (years) | 78.0 | 76.6 | — |
| Area (km²) | 9,562,910 | 513,115 | +1,763.7% |
| Population density (people/km²) | 147 | 140 | +5.4% |
| Median age (years) | 39.6 | 40.5 | — |
| Internet usage (%) | 91.6 | 90.9 | — |
| Unemployment rate (%) | 4.6 | 0.8 | — |
| Inflation (%) | 0.1 | -0.1 | — |
| Urban population (%) | 66.3 | 62.8 | — |
| Military expenditure (2024) (million $) | 313,658 | 5,522 | +5,580.2% |
| Military expenditure as a share of GDP (%) | 1.71 | 1.08 | +58.3% |
| Military expenditure as a share of government spending (%) | 5.06 | 4.54 | +11.5% |
| Military expenditure per capita ($) | 223 | 77 | +189.2% |
| Armed forces personnel (2020) (people) | 2,535,000 | 455,000 | +457.1% |
| Armed forces per 1,000 people (people) | 1.8 | 6.4 | −71.6% |
| Armed forces as a share of the labor force (%) | 0.33 | 1.13 | −70.8% |
The difference column shows the percentage gap of China relative to Thailand; a positive value favors China. Interpret it in context — for unemployment, a lower value is better.
At a glance
China is higher on 10 of the 12 indicators, while Thailand leads on the remaining 2. The widest separation is in military expenditure (2024), about 57 times; they are closest on population density.
Key differences
- Military expenditure (2024) shows the widest gap of all: China stands at 313,658 against Thailand's 5,522 — roughly 57 times as much.
- GDP (nominal) shows the widest gap of all: China stands at 19,498 against Thailand's 577 — roughly 34 times as much.
- Population (2025) shows the widest gap of all: China stands at 1,406,585,000 against Thailand's 71,619,863 — roughly 20 times as much.
- Area shows the widest gap of all: China stands at 9,562,910 against Thailand's 513,115 — roughly 19 times as much.
- China's armed forces personnel (2020) (2,535,000) is about 5.6 times Thailand's (455,000).
Frequently asked questions
Where do China and Thailand differ most?
In military expenditure (2024). China records 313,658 against Thailand's 5,522 — a ratio of roughly 57 to one.
Where are China and Thailand most alike?
In population density, at 147 and 140 — a gap of only %5.4.
On how many indicators is China ahead of Thailand?
China is higher on 10 of the 12 ratio-scale indicators and Thailand on 2. A higher number is not automatically better, though — population density, for instance, is a characteristic rather than an advantage.
ChinaThailand
The indicators use different scales, so the chart is a rough visual comparison only; use the table for exact figures.
Related comparisons
Other comparisons involving China or Thailand.
China profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
Thailand profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
Data sourcesUN World Population Prospects, IMF, World Bank, SIPRI