EnglishEnglish
中文Chinese (Simplified)
EspañolSpanish
हिन्दीHindi
العربيةArabic
FrançaisFrench
PortuguêsPortuguese
РусскийRussian
DeutschGerman
日本語Japanese
United States
Poland
Maldives
Iraq ↑ 54
Austria vs Czechia
Malaysia vs Thailand
Side-by-side comparison of Malaysia 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
Malaysia scores 69.7 in the NationsTree Index (38th in the world) and Thailand scores 61.9 (53rd), a gap of 7.8 points. Their trees are 25 m and 27 m tall; tree height grows with real GDP and is adjusted by the index.
Thailand has 99% more people than Malaysia. Thailand has 55% more land area than Malaysia. The economy of Thailand is 26% larger than that of Malaysia (GDP at purchasing power parity). Population: Malaysia 36.0 million and Thailand 71.6 million (2025).
GDP per person at purchasing power parity is $41,498 in Malaysia and $26,250 in Thailand (2025, international dollars). Life expectancy is almost the same: 76.8 and 76.6 years.
Of 36 indicators reported by both countries, Malaysia ranks higher in the world on 23 and Thailand on 13. Malaysia is clearly stronger in institutions & safety. Thailand is clearly stronger in tourism and military.
As a nation, Thailand is the older of the two (statehood since 1238, 788 years), compared with Malaysia (since 1963). Over the last five years Malaysia improved faster (direction score 59 vs 59 out of 100).
Where they differ most
The indicators with the biggest gap in world position between Malaysia and Thailand.
Malaysiabetter
85.8%
42nd of 144
Thailand
26.7%
114th of 144
Income inequality (Gini)Society & health
Malaysia
40.7
89th of 108
Thailandbetter
33.3
43rd of 108
GDP growthEconomy
Malaysiabetter
5.2%
46th of 210
Thailand
2.4%
134th of 210
Political stabilityInstitutions & safety
Malaysiabetter
71.6
88th of 207
Thailand
55.8
159th of 207
Control of corruptionInstitutions & safety
Malaysiabetter
59.4
63rd of 207
Thailand
38.1
131st of 207
Over time
How the two countries moved against each other, from the yearly data.
Malaysia overtook Thailand in life expectancy in 2022 and has stayed ahead since.
Malaysia has been ahead of Thailand in the NationsTree Index in every year since 1991.
Malaysia has been ahead of Thailand in GDP per person (PPP) in every year since 1990.
Thailand has been ahead of Malaysia in GDP (PPP) 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
MalaysiaThailand 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 | Malaysia | Thailand |
|---|---|---|
| Land & people | ||
| Surface area km² | 330,53468th/216 · 2024 | 513,11552nd/216 · 2024 |
| Land area km² | 328,55066th/216 · 2024 | 510,89050th/216 · 2024 |
| Population people | 36.0 m45th/217 · 2025 | 71.6 m20th/217 · 2025 |
| Population growth % | 1.17%91st/217 · 2025 | -0.07%176th/217 · 2025 |
| Population density people/km² | 108.298th/216 · 2024 | 140.383rd/216 · 2024 |
| Urban population % | 77.4%68th/217 · 2025 | 62.8%117th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 0–14 % | 21.3%111th/217 · 2025 | 14.4%189th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 65+ % | 8.0%118th/217 · 2025 | 16.0%62nd/217 · 2025 |
| Economy | ||
| GDP USD | $472.19 bn34th/210 · 2025 | $577.01 bn29th/210 · 2025 |
| GDP (PPP) intl. USD | $1.49 trn29th/199 · 2025 | $1.88 trn22nd/199 · 2025 |
| Real GDP (PPP, constant 2021 prices) intl. USD 2021 | $1.28 trn29th/199 · 2025 | $1.61 trn22nd/199 · 2025 |
| GDP per person USD | $13,12594th/210 · 2025 | $8,057112th/210 · 2025 |
| GDP per person (PPP) intl. USD | $41,49864th/199 · 2025 | $26,25087th/199 · 2025 |
| GNI per person (Atlas) USD | $12,38086th/201 · 2025 | $7,690106th/201 · 2025 |
| GDP growth % | 5.2%46th/210 · 2025 | 2.4%134th/210 · 2025 |
| Inflation % | 1.4%44th/180 · 2025 | -0.1%12th/180 · 2025 |
| Unemployment % | 3.8%64th/187 · 2025 | 0.8%4th/187 · 2025 |
| Central government debt % of GDP | 64.6%35th/55 · 2024 | 61.9%32nd/55 · 2024 |
| General government gross debt % of GDP | 70.5%136th/189 · 2025 | 64.7%123rd/189 · 2025 |
| Government budget balance % of GDP | -3.5%119th/192 · 2025 | -1.7%68th/192 · 2025 |
| Main industries | ||
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing % of GDP | 8.2%82nd/197 · 2025 | 8.7%78th/197 · 2025 |
| Industry incl. construction % of GDP | 35.7%28th/200 · 2025 | 31.1%50th/200 · 2025 |
| Manufacturing % of GDP | 22.1%14th/192 · 2025 | 23.7%11th/192 · 2025 |
| Services % of GDP | 54.8%122nd/200 · 2025 | 60.2%82nd/200 · 2025 |
| Trade | ||
| Exports of goods & services USD | $335.11 bn29th/182 · 2025 | $410.53 bn24th/182 · 2025 |
| Imports of goods & services USD | $308.95 bn29th/182 · 2025 | $388.13 bn26th/182 · 2025 |
| Exports % of GDP | 71.0%28th/183 · 2025 | 71.1%27th/183 · 2025 |
| Imports % of GDP | 65.4%46th/183 · 2025 | 67.3%41st/183 · 2025 |
| Trade openness % of GDP | 136.4%30th/183 · 2025 | 138.4%28th/183 · 2025 |
| Fuel exports % of merchandise exports | 11.2%45th/170 · 2025 | 2.4%97th/170 · 2025 |
| Manufactures exports % of merchandise exports | 72.8%36th/171 · 2025 | 73.1%35th/171 · 2025 |
| Food exports % of merchandise exports | 10.4%115th/171 · 2025 | 13.3%99th/171 · 2025 |
| Ores & metals exports % of merchandise exports | 3.8%74th/171 · 2025 | 3.6%77th/171 · 2025 |
| High-tech exports % of manufactured exports | 58.6%6th/168 · 2024 | 28.3%19th/168 · 2024 |
| Current account balance % of GDP | 1.6%61st/191 · 2025 | 3.0%52nd/191 · 2025 |
| Foreign direct investment, inflows % of GDP | 4.6%44th/196 · 2025 | 3.2%68th/196 · 2025 |
| Natural resources | ||
| Natural resource rents % of GDP | 6.9%60th/209 · 2021 | 1.8%100th/209 · 2021 |
| Oil rents % of GDP | 1.85%39th/197 · 2021 | 0.48%54th/197 · 2021 |
| Natural gas rents % of GDP | 3.35%19th/197 · 2021 | 0.94%31st/197 · 2021 |
| Coal rents % of GDP | 0.03%42nd/195 · 2021 | 0.03%38th/195 · 2021 |
| Mineral rents % of GDP | 0.00%91st/209 · 2021 | 0.00%91st/209 · 2021 |
| Forest rents % of GDP | 1.70%40th/209 · 2021 | 0.36%76th/209 · 2021 |
| Arable land % of land area | 2.6%163rd/206 · 2024 | 30.8%27th/206 · 2024 |
| Renewable freshwater per person m³ | 16,71736th/183 · 2022 | 3,13081st/183 · 2022 |
| Tourism | ||
| International tourist arrivals arrivals | 4.3 m40th/194 · 2020 | 39.9 m5th/194 · 2019 |
| Tourism receipts USD | $3.39 bn38th/175 · 2020 | $15.36 bn10th/175 · 2020 |
| Tourism receipts % of exports | 1.6%138th/168 · 2020 | 6.0%79th/168 · 2020 |
| Outbound trips departures | 30.8 m2004 | 10.4 m19th/107 · 2019 |
| Society & health | ||
| Life expectancy years | 76.886th/217 · 2024 | 76.690th/217 · 2024 |
| Under-5 mortality per 1,000 births | 8.360th/196 · 2024 | 9.066th/196 · 2024 |
| Physicians per 1,000 people | 2.3476th/174 · 2023 | 0.54122nd/174 · 2021 |
| Hospital beds per 1,000 people | 2.087th/145 · 2023 | 2.478th/145 · 2023 |
| DPT immunization % of children 12–23 months | 93%81st/193 · 2024 | 92%86th/193 · 2024 |
| Completed lower secondary, 25+ % of adults | 80.6%71st/153 · 2022 | 53.6%109th/153 · 2022 |
| Secondary enrolment % gross | 80.3%127th/173 · 2024 | 92.1%91st/173 · 2025 |
| Social protection coverage (incl. pensions) % of population | 76.7%2016 | 87.2%7th/55 · 2021 |
| Old-age dependency ratio % of working-age population | 11.4%120th/217 · 2025 | 23.0%65th/217 · 2025 |
| Health spending % of GDP | 4.0%156th/193 · 2023 | 4.5%137th/193 · 2023 |
| Adult literacy % | 95.8%34th/98 · 2022 | 91.1%49th/98 · 2022 |
| Tertiary enrolment % gross | 38.5%95th/150 · 2024 | 49.1%79th/150 · 2025 |
| Human Development Index index 0–1 | 0.81967th/193 · 2023 | 0.79876th/193 · 2023 |
| Income inequality (Gini) index | 40.789th/108 · 2021 | 33.343rd/108 · 2024 |
| Extreme poverty % of population | 0.0%1st/108 · 2021 | 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 | 94.7%53rd/150 · 2024 | — |
| Safely managed sanitation % of population | 85.8%42nd/144 · 2024 | 26.7%114th/144 · 2024 |
| Internet users % of population | 98.0%12th/186 · 2024 | 90.9%52nd/186 · 2024 |
| Mobile subscriptions per 100 people | 14043rd/210 · 2024 | 16123rd/210 · 2024 |
| Fixed broadband per 100 people | 13.5104th/208 · 2024 | 14.9102nd/208 · 2024 |
| Trade & transport infrastructure quality (LPI) score 1–5 | 3.6029th/164 · 2022 | 3.7024th/164 · 2022 |
| Rail lines route-km | 1,65557th/82 · 2021 | 4,09231st/82 · 2017 |
| Air passengers carried passengers | 46.7 m24th/161 · 2023 | 51.9 m21st/161 · 2023 |
| Environment & energy | ||
| CO₂ emissions per person t CO₂e | 8.32178th/203 · 2024 | 3.96131st/203 · 2024 |
| Renewable energy % of final energy use | 7.5%159th/212 · 2021 | 19.0%110th/212 · 2021 |
| Air pollution (PM2.5) µg/m³ | 15.991st/200 · 2023 | 23.5135th/200 · 2023 |
| Forest area % of land area | 57.7%37th/214 · 2024 | 38.7%84th/214 · 2024 |
| Energy use per person kg oil eq. | 3,17632nd/149 · 2024 | 1,83562nd/149 · 2024 |
| Institutions & safety | ||
| Government effectiveness score 0–100 | 71.941st/205 · 2025 | 57.780th/205 · 2025 |
| Control of corruption score 0–100 | 59.463rd/207 · 2025 | 38.1131st/207 · 2025 |
| Rule of law score 0–100 | 65.478th/207 · 2025 | 56.6104th/207 · 2025 |
| Political stability score 0–100 | 71.688th/207 · 2025 | 55.8159th/207 · 2025 |
| Regulatory quality score 0–100 | 67.344th/205 · 2025 | 57.683rd/205 · 2025 |
| Voice & accountability score 0–100 | 55.8108th/205 · 2025 | 48.2129th/205 · 2025 |
| Homicide rate per 100,000 | 0.727th/145 · 2023 | 4.82011 |
| Military | ||
| Military expenditure USD | $4.93 bn51st/156 · 2025 | $5.98 bn45th/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of GDP | 1.0%114th/156 · 2025 | 1.0%113th/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of government spending | 4.4%94th/154 · 2025 | 4.4%95th/154 · 2025 |
| Armed forces personnel people | 136,00045th/170 · 2020 | 455,00016th/170 · 2020 |
| Armed forces personnel % of labour force | 0.81%87th/168 · 2020 | 1.13%59th/168 · 2020 |
| Arms imports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 7.0 m117th/163 · 2024 | 33.0 m73rd/163 · 2025 |
| Arms exports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 20.0 m43rd/65 · 2024 | 15.0 m46th/65 · 2024 |
| Science & innovation | ||
| R&D spending % of GDP | 1.01%42nd/110 · 2022 | 0.94%45th/110 · 2023 |
| Patent applications by residents applications | 84135th/137 · 2024 | 93033rd/137 · 2024 |
| Scientific articles articles | 23,69121st/197 · 2023 | 16,65630th/197 · 2023 |
Questions and answers
Which has more people, Malaysia or Thailand?
Thailand has the larger population: 71.6 m (2025) compared with 36.0 m for Malaysia (2025). Source: World Bank, SP.POP.TOTL.
Which is bigger by area, Malaysia or Thailand?
Thailand is larger: 513,115 km² (2024) compared with 330,534 km² for Malaysia (2024). Source: World Bank, AG.SRF.TOTL.K2.
Which economy is larger, Malaysia or Thailand?
Thailand has the larger economy at purchasing power parity: $1.88 trn intl. (2025) compared with $1.49 trn intl. for Malaysia (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.MKTP.PP.CD.
Which is richer per person, Malaysia or Thailand?
Malaysia has the higher GDP per person (PPP): $41,498 intl. (2025) compared with $26,250 intl. for Thailand (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.PCAP.PP.CD.
Where do people live longer, in Malaysia or Thailand?
Malaysia has the higher life expectancy at birth: 76.8 years (2024) compared with 76.6 years for Thailand (2024). Source: World Bank, SP.DYN.LE00.IN.
Which spends more on the military, Malaysia or Thailand?
Thailand spends more on the military: $5.98 bn (2025) compared with $4.93 bn for Malaysia (2025). Source: World Bank, MS.MIL.XPND.CD.
Which ranks higher in the NationsTree Index, Malaysia or Thailand?
Malaysia: 69.7 points (38th 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.
Australia
Philippines
Singapore
Vietnam
Indonesia
South KoreaSources
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). Malaysia vs Thailand — country comparison. https://nationstree.org/compare/malaysia-vs-thailand. Data as of 26 October 2026.