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Japan vs Thailand
Side-by-side comparison of Japan and Thailand from official statistics: size, economy, people, trade, natural resources, health, infrastructure and military, with world ranks, years and sources.
Thailand
East Asia & Pacific · nation age 788 years
In short
Japan scores 79.3 in the NationsTree Index (6th in the world) and Thailand scores 61.9 (53rd), a gap of 17.4 points. Their trees are 57 m and 27 m tall; tree height grows with real GDP and is adjusted by the index.
Japan has 72% more people than Thailand. Thailand has 36% more land area than Japan. Japan has an economy 3.6 times the size of Thailand (GDP at purchasing power parity). Population: Japan 123.4 million and Thailand 71.6 million (2025).
GDP per person at purchasing power parity is $55,422 in Japan and $26,250 in Thailand (2025, international dollars). People in Japan live on average 7.5 years longer (84.0 vs 76.6 years).
Of 33 indicators reported by both countries, Japan ranks higher in the world on 25 and Thailand on 8. Japan is clearly stronger in institutions & safety, society & health and science & innovation. Thailand is clearly stronger in trade, natural resources and tourism.
As a nation, Japan is the older of the two (statehood since 250, 1,776 years), compared with Thailand (since 1238). Over the last five years Thailand improved faster (direction score 59 vs 40 out of 100).
Where they differ most
The indicators with the biggest gap in world position between Japan and Thailand.
Japanbetter
99.2%
9th of 144
Thailand
26.7%
114th of 144
Political stabilityInstitutions & safety
Japanbetter
87.7
19th of 207
Thailand
55.8
159th of 207
Completed lower secondary, 25+Society & health
Japanbetter
98.6%
14th of 153
Thailand
53.6%
109th of 153
Control of corruptionInstitutions & safety
Japanbetter
77.4
22nd of 207
Thailand
38.1
131st of 207
Hospital bedsSociety & health
Japanbetter
12.6
2nd of 145
Thailand
2.4
78th of 145
Over time
How the two countries moved against each other, from the yearly data.
Japan has been ahead of Thailand in the NationsTree Index in every year since 1996.
Japan has been ahead of Thailand in GDP per person (PPP), GDP (PPP), life expectancy and population in every year since 1990.
Strength by category
Average world percentile of the indicators in each category (0–100, direction taken into account). i
JapanThailand All indicators
Latest available value for each country with its year and world rank. Green: the better world position of the two, red: the weaker one.
| Indicator | Japan | Thailand |
|---|---|---|
| Land & people | ||
| Surface area km² | 377,97563rd/216 · 2024 | 513,11552nd/216 · 2024 |
| Land area km² | 364,50062nd/216 · 2024 | 510,89050th/216 · 2024 |
| Population people | 123.4 m12th/217 · 2025 | 71.6 m20th/217 · 2025 |
| Population growth % | -0.49%197th/217 · 2025 | -0.07%176th/217 · 2025 |
| Population density people/km² | 340.136th/216 · 2024 | 140.383rd/216 · 2024 |
| Urban population % | 92.3%26th/217 · 2025 | 62.8%117th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 0–14 % | 11.2%215th/217 · 2025 | 14.4%189th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 65+ % | 30.0%2nd/217 · 2025 | 16.0%62nd/217 · 2025 |
| Economy | ||
| GDP USD | $4.44 trn4th/210 · 2025 | $577.01 bn29th/210 · 2025 |
| GDP (PPP) intl. USD | $6.84 trn5th/199 · 2025 | $1.88 trn22nd/199 · 2025 |
| Real GDP (PPP, constant 2021 prices) intl. USD 2021 | $5.96 trn5th/199 · 2025 | $1.61 trn22nd/199 · 2025 |
| GDP per person USD | $35,95148th/210 · 2025 | $8,057112th/210 · 2025 |
| GDP per person (PPP) intl. USD | $55,42245th/199 · 2025 | $26,25087th/199 · 2025 |
| GNI per person (Atlas) USD | $38,34035th/201 · 2025 | $7,690106th/201 · 2025 |
| GDP growth % | 1.2%167th/210 · 2025 | 2.4%134th/210 · 2025 |
| Inflation % | 3.2%90th/180 · 2025 | -0.1%12th/180 · 2025 |
| Unemployment % | 2.5%24th/187 · 2025 | 0.8%4th/187 · 2025 |
| Central government debt % of GDP | — | 61.9%32nd/55 · 2024 |
| General government gross debt % of GDP | 204.8%189th/189 · 2025 | 64.7%123rd/189 · 2025 |
| Government budget balance % of GDP | -0.7%52nd/192 · 2025 | -1.7%68th/192 · 2025 |
| Main industries | ||
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing % of GDP | 1.0%171st/197 · 2024 | 8.7%78th/197 · 2025 |
| Industry incl. construction % of GDP | 26.8%71st/200 · 2024 | 31.1%50th/200 · 2025 |
| Manufacturing % of GDP | 18.8%27th/192 · 2024 | 23.7%11th/192 · 2025 |
| Services % of GDP | 71.4%30th/200 · 2024 | 60.2%82nd/200 · 2025 |
| Trade | ||
| Exports of goods & services USD | $920.96 bn9th/182 · 2024 | $410.53 bn24th/182 · 2025 |
| Imports of goods & services USD | $958.38 bn6th/182 · 2024 | $388.13 bn26th/182 · 2025 |
| Exports % of GDP | 22.0%138th/183 · 2024 | 71.1%27th/183 · 2025 |
| Imports % of GDP | 22.9%157th/183 · 2024 | 67.3%41st/183 · 2025 |
| Trade openness % of GDP | 44.9%154th/183 · 2024 | 138.4%28th/183 · 2025 |
| Fuel exports % of merchandise exports | 1.2%115th/170 · 2025 | 2.4%97th/170 · 2025 |
| Manufactures exports % of merchandise exports | 80.6%18th/171 · 2025 | 73.1%35th/171 · 2025 |
| Food exports % of merchandise exports | 1.3%161st/171 · 2025 | 13.3%99th/171 · 2025 |
| Ores & metals exports % of merchandise exports | 3.6%79th/171 · 2025 | 3.6%77th/171 · 2025 |
| High-tech exports % of manufactured exports | 17.6%42nd/168 · 2024 | 28.3%19th/168 · 2024 |
| Current account balance % of GDP | 4.9%37th/191 · 2025 | 3.0%52nd/191 · 2025 |
| Foreign direct investment, inflows % of GDP | 1.0%141st/196 · 2025 | 3.2%68th/196 · 2025 |
| Natural resources | ||
| Natural resource rents % of GDP | 0.0%163rd/209 · 2021 | 1.8%100th/209 · 2021 |
| Oil rents % of GDP | 0.00%110th/197 · 2021 | 0.48%54th/197 · 2021 |
| Natural gas rents % of GDP | 0.01%83rd/197 · 2021 | 0.94%31st/197 · 2021 |
| Coal rents % of GDP | 0.00%63rd/195 · 2021 | 0.03%38th/195 · 2021 |
| Mineral rents % of GDP | 0.01%85th/209 · 2021 | 0.00%91st/209 · 2021 |
| Forest rents % of GDP | 0.03%138th/209 · 2021 | 0.36%76th/209 · 2021 |
| Arable land % of land area | 11.0%96th/206 · 2024 | 30.8%27th/206 · 2024 |
| Renewable freshwater per person m³ | 3,43777th/183 · 2022 | 3,13081st/183 · 2022 |
| Tourism | ||
| International tourist arrivals arrivals | 4.1 m43rd/194 · 2020 | 39.9 m5th/194 · 2019 |
| Tourism receipts USD | $11.40 bn16th/175 · 2020 | $15.36 bn10th/175 · 2020 |
| Tourism receipts % of exports | 1.4%142nd/168 · 2020 | 6.0%79th/168 · 2020 |
| Outbound trips departures | 3.2 m37th/107 · 2020 | 10.4 m19th/107 · 2019 |
| Society & health | ||
| Life expectancy years | 84.010th/217 · 2024 | 76.690th/217 · 2024 |
| Under-5 mortality per 1,000 births | 2.46th/196 · 2024 | 9.066th/196 · 2024 |
| Physicians per 1,000 people | 2.6569th/174 · 2022 | 0.54122nd/174 · 2021 |
| Hospital beds per 1,000 people | 12.62nd/145 · 2022 | 2.478th/145 · 2023 |
| DPT immunization % of children 12–23 months | 99%1st/193 · 2024 | 92%86th/193 · 2024 |
| Completed lower secondary, 25+ % of adults | 98.6%14th/153 · 2020 | 53.6%109th/153 · 2022 |
| Secondary enrolment % gross | 101.5%55th/173 · 2023 | 92.1%91st/173 · 2025 |
| Social protection coverage (incl. pensions) % of population | — | 87.2%7th/55 · 2021 |
| Old-age dependency ratio % of working-age population | 51.0%2nd/217 · 2025 | 23.0%65th/217 · 2025 |
| Health spending % of GDP | 10.7%20th/193 · 2023 | 4.5%137th/193 · 2023 |
| Adult literacy % | — | 91.1%49th/98 · 2022 |
| Tertiary enrolment % gross | 64.5%56th/150 · 2023 | 49.1%79th/150 · 2025 |
| Human Development Index index 0–1 | 0.92523rd/193 · 2023 | 0.79876th/193 · 2023 |
| Income inequality (Gini) index | 32.32020 | 33.343rd/108 · 2024 |
| Extreme poverty % of population | 1.2%2020 | 0.0%1st/108 · 2024 |
| Infrastructure & digital | ||
| Access to electricity % of population | 100.0%1st/215 · 2024 | 100.0%1st/215 · 2024 |
| Safely managed drinking water % of population | 98.7%34th/150 · 2024 | — |
| Safely managed sanitation % of population | 99.2%9th/144 · 2024 | 26.7%114th/144 · 2024 |
| Internet users % of population | 85.5%80th/186 · 2024 | 90.9%52nd/186 · 2024 |
| Mobile subscriptions per 100 people | 17812th/210 · 2023 | 16123rd/210 · 2024 |
| Fixed broadband per 100 people | 38.630th/208 · 2023 | 14.9102nd/208 · 2024 |
| Trade & transport infrastructure quality (LPI) score 1–5 | 4.205th/164 · 2022 | 3.7024th/164 · 2022 |
| Rail lines route-km | 20,0872011 | 4,09231st/82 · 2017 |
| Air passengers carried passengers | 120.3 m6th/161 · 2023 | 51.9 m21st/161 · 2023 |
| Environment & energy | ||
| CO₂ emissions per person t CO₂e | 7.84176th/203 · 2024 | 3.96131st/203 · 2024 |
| Renewable energy % of final energy use | 8.8%153rd/212 · 2021 | 19.0%110th/212 · 2021 |
| Air pollution (PM2.5) µg/m³ | 11.557th/200 · 2023 | 23.5135th/200 · 2023 |
| Forest area % of land area | 68.3%20th/214 · 2024 | 38.7%84th/214 · 2024 |
| Energy use per person kg oil eq. | 3,00434th/149 · 2024 | 1,83562nd/149 · 2024 |
| Institutions & safety | ||
| Government effectiveness score 0–100 | 94.12nd/205 · 2025 | 57.780th/205 · 2025 |
| Control of corruption score 0–100 | 77.422nd/207 · 2025 | 38.1131st/207 · 2025 |
| Rule of law score 0–100 | 84.017th/207 · 2025 | 56.6104th/207 · 2025 |
| Political stability score 0–100 | 87.719th/207 · 2025 | 55.8159th/207 · 2025 |
| Regulatory quality score 0–100 | 76.520th/205 · 2025 | 57.683rd/205 · 2025 |
| Voice & accountability score 0–100 | 78.031st/205 · 2025 | 48.2129th/205 · 2025 |
| Homicide rate per 100,000 | 0.25th/145 · 2023 | 4.82011 |
| Military | ||
| Military expenditure USD | $62.16 bn10th/156 · 2025 | $5.98 bn45th/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of GDP | 1.4%92nd/156 · 2025 | 1.0%113th/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of government spending | 3.8%113th/154 · 2025 | 4.4%95th/154 · 2025 |
| Armed forces personnel people | 261,00027th/170 · 2020 | 455,00016th/170 · 2020 |
| Armed forces personnel % of labour force | 0.38%132nd/168 · 2020 | 1.13%59th/168 · 2020 |
| Arms imports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 1.7 bn5th/163 · 2025 | 33.0 m73rd/163 · 2025 |
| Arms exports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 28.0 m40th/65 · 2025 | 15.0 m46th/65 · 2024 |
| Science & innovation | ||
| R&D spending % of GDP | 3.44%6th/110 · 2023 | 0.94%45th/110 · 2023 |
| Patent applications by residents applications | 237,1693rd/137 · 2024 | 93033rd/137 · 2024 |
| Scientific articles articles | 96,5436th/197 · 2023 | 16,65630th/197 · 2023 |
Questions and answers
Which has more people, Japan or Thailand?
Japan has the larger population: 123.4 m (2025) compared with 71.6 m for Thailand (2025). Source: World Bank, SP.POP.TOTL.
Which is bigger by area, Japan or Thailand?
Thailand is larger: 513,115 km² (2024) compared with 377,975 km² for Japan (2024). Source: World Bank, AG.SRF.TOTL.K2.
Which economy is larger, Japan or Thailand?
Japan has the larger economy at purchasing power parity: $6.84 trn intl. (2025) compared with $1.88 trn intl. for Thailand (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.MKTP.PP.CD.
Which is richer per person, Japan or Thailand?
Japan has the higher GDP per person (PPP): $55,422 intl. (2025) compared with $26,250 intl. for Thailand (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.PCAP.PP.CD.
Where do people live longer, in Japan or Thailand?
Japan has the higher life expectancy at birth: 84.0 years (2024) compared with 76.6 years for Thailand (2024). Source: World Bank, SP.DYN.LE00.IN.
Which spends more on the military, Japan or Thailand?
Japan spends more on the military: $62.16 bn (2025) compared with $5.98 bn for Thailand (2025). Source: World Bank, MS.MIL.XPND.CD.
Which ranks higher in the NationsTree Index, Japan or Thailand?
Japan: 79.3 points (6th in the world); Thailand: 61.9 points (53rd). The index combines foundations, economic strength, quality of life, problems and 5-year direction from public statistics.
Argentina
Australia
Canada
Indonesia
Italy
Mexico
South Africa
Malaysia
Philippines
South Korea
VietnamSources
World Bank World Development Indicators and Worldwide Governance Indicators, compiling UN agencies, the IMF, WHO, SIPRI and national statistical offices; every row links to its world ranking with the source series. See Sources & licences and Methodology.
Cite as: NationsTree (2026). Japan vs Thailand — country comparison. https://nationstree.org/compare/japan-vs-thailand. Data as of 26 October 2026.