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Philippines vs Thailand
Side-by-side comparison of Philippines and Thailand from official statistics: size, economy, people, trade, natural resources, health, infrastructure and military, with world ranks, years and sources.
Philippines
East Asia & Pacific · nation age 461 years
Thailand
East Asia & Pacific · nation age 788 years
In short
Thailand scores 61.9 in the NationsTree Index (53rd in the world) and Philippines scores 44.0 (113th), a gap of 18.0 points. Their trees are 22 m and 27 m tall; tree height grows with real GDP and is adjusted by the index.
Philippines has 63% more people than Thailand. Thailand has 71% more land area than Philippines. The economy of Thailand is 28% larger than that of Philippines (GDP at purchasing power parity). Population: Philippines 116.8 million and Thailand 71.6 million (2025).
GDP per person at purchasing power parity is $26,250 in Thailand and $12,577 in Philippines (2025, international dollars). People in Thailand live on average 6.6 years longer (76.6 vs 69.9 years).
Of 37 indicators reported by both countries, Philippines ranks higher in the world on 13 and Thailand on 24. Thailand is clearly stronger in tourism, infrastructure & digital and society & health.
As a nation, Thailand is the older of the two (statehood since 1238, 788 years), compared with Philippines (since 1565). Over the last five years Thailand improved faster (direction score 59 vs 26 out of 100).
Where they differ most
The indicators with the biggest gap in world position between Philippines and Thailand.
Philippines
94.8%
155th of 215
Thailandbetter
100.0%
1st of 215
Extreme povertySociety & health
Philippines
5.3%
77th of 108
Thailandbetter
0.0%
1st of 108
DPT immunizationSociety & health
Philippines
71%
166th of 193
Thailandbetter
92%
86th of 193
Internet usersInfrastructure & digital
Philippines
67.3%
129th of 186
Thailandbetter
90.9%
52nd of 186
Government budget balanceEconomy
Philippines
-4.5%
141st of 192
Thailandbetter
-1.7%
68th of 192
Over time
How the two countries moved against each other, from the yearly data.
Thailand has been ahead of Philippines in the NationsTree Index in every year since 1991.
Thailand has been ahead of Philippines in GDP per person (PPP), GDP (PPP) and life expectancy in every year since 1990.
Philippines has been ahead of Thailand in 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
PhilippinesThailand 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 | Philippines | Thailand |
|---|---|---|
| Land & people | ||
| Surface area km² | 300,00073rd/216 · 2024 | 513,11552nd/216 · 2024 |
| Land area km² | 298,17072nd/216 · 2024 | 510,89050th/216 · 2024 |
| Population people | 116.8 m14th/217 · 2025 | 71.6 m20th/217 · 2025 |
| Population growth % | 0.81%113th/217 · 2025 | -0.07%176th/217 · 2025 |
| Population density people/km² | 388.530th/216 · 2024 | 140.383rd/216 · 2024 |
| Urban population % | 55.8%140th/217 · 2025 | 62.8%117th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 0–14 % | 27.1%84th/217 · 2025 | 14.4%189th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 65+ % | 5.7%140th/217 · 2025 | 16.0%62nd/217 · 2025 |
| Economy | ||
| GDP USD | $487.09 bn33rd/210 · 2025 | $577.01 bn29th/210 · 2025 |
| GDP (PPP) intl. USD | $1.47 trn30th/199 · 2025 | $1.88 trn22nd/199 · 2025 |
| Real GDP (PPP, constant 2021 prices) intl. USD 2021 | $1.26 trn30th/199 · 2025 | $1.61 trn22nd/199 · 2025 |
| GDP per person USD | $4,171147th/210 · 2025 | $8,057112th/210 · 2025 |
| GDP per person (PPP) intl. USD | $12,577131st/199 · 2025 | $26,25087th/199 · 2025 |
| GNI per person (Atlas) USD | $4,850130th/201 · 2025 | $7,690106th/201 · 2025 |
| GDP growth % | 4.4%67th/210 · 2025 | 2.4%134th/210 · 2025 |
| Inflation % | 1.7%52nd/180 · 2025 | -0.1%12th/180 · 2025 |
| Unemployment % | 2.2%21st/187 · 2025 | 0.8%4th/187 · 2025 |
| Central government debt % of GDP | 43.4%2014 | 61.9%32nd/55 · 2024 |
| General government gross debt % of GDP | 59.1%110th/189 · 2025 | 64.7%123rd/189 · 2025 |
| Government budget balance % of GDP | -4.5%141st/192 · 2025 | -1.7%68th/192 · 2025 |
| Main industries | ||
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing % of GDP | 8.6%80th/197 · 2025 | 8.7%78th/197 · 2025 |
| Industry incl. construction % of GDP | 27.0%70th/200 · 2025 | 31.1%50th/200 · 2025 |
| Manufacturing % of GDP | 15.3%38th/192 · 2025 | 23.7%11th/192 · 2025 |
| Services % of GDP | 64.4%59th/200 · 2025 | 60.2%82nd/200 · 2025 |
| Trade | ||
| Exports of goods & services USD | $129.32 bn44th/182 · 2025 | $410.53 bn24th/182 · 2025 |
| Imports of goods & services USD | $196.02 bn34th/182 · 2025 | $388.13 bn26th/182 · 2025 |
| Exports % of GDP | 26.6%121st/183 · 2025 | 71.1%27th/183 · 2025 |
| Imports % of GDP | 40.2%103rd/183 · 2025 | 67.3%41st/183 · 2025 |
| Trade openness % of GDP | 66.8%117th/183 · 2025 | 138.4%28th/183 · 2025 |
| Fuel exports % of merchandise exports | 1.0%119th/170 · 2025 | 2.4%97th/170 · 2025 |
| Manufactures exports % of merchandise exports | 76.5%30th/171 · 2025 | 73.1%35th/171 · 2025 |
| Food exports % of merchandise exports | 10.8%112th/171 · 2025 | 13.3%99th/171 · 2025 |
| Ores & metals exports % of merchandise exports | 7.5%49th/171 · 2025 | 3.6%77th/171 · 2025 |
| High-tech exports % of manufactured exports | 60.4%4th/168 · 2024 | 28.3%19th/168 · 2024 |
| Current account balance % of GDP | -3.3%119th/191 · 2025 | 3.0%52nd/191 · 2025 |
| Foreign direct investment, inflows % of GDP | 1.7%118th/196 · 2025 | 3.2%68th/196 · 2025 |
| Natural resources | ||
| Natural resource rents % of GDP | 2.0%95th/209 · 2021 | 1.8%100th/209 · 2021 |
| Oil rents % of GDP | 0.03%89th/197 · 2021 | 0.48%54th/197 · 2021 |
| Natural gas rents % of GDP | 0.16%57th/197 · 2021 | 0.94%31st/197 · 2021 |
| Coal rents % of GDP | 0.09%30th/195 · 2021 | 0.03%38th/195 · 2021 |
| Mineral rents % of GDP | 1.52%39th/209 · 2021 | 0.00%91st/209 · 2021 |
| Forest rents % of GDP | 0.16%98th/209 · 2021 | 0.36%76th/209 · 2021 |
| Arable land % of land area | 18.7%59th/206 · 2024 | 30.8%27th/206 · 2024 |
| Renewable freshwater per person m³ | 4,20368th/183 · 2022 | 3,13081st/183 · 2022 |
| Tourism | ||
| International tourist arrivals arrivals | 1.5 m81st/194 · 2020 | 39.9 m5th/194 · 2019 |
| Tourism receipts USD | $2.77 bn42nd/175 · 2020 | $15.36 bn10th/175 · 2020 |
| Tourism receipts % of exports | 3.5%99th/168 · 2020 | 6.0%79th/168 · 2020 |
| Outbound trips departures | 1.5 m58th/107 · 2020 | 10.4 m19th/107 · 2019 |
| Society & health | ||
| Life expectancy years | 69.9154th/217 · 2024 | 76.690th/217 · 2024 |
| Under-5 mortality per 1,000 births | 26.5133rd/196 · 2024 | 9.066th/196 · 2024 |
| Physicians per 1,000 people | 0.79109th/174 · 2021 | 0.54122nd/174 · 2021 |
| Hospital beds per 1,000 people | 1.0121st/145 · 2021 | 2.478th/145 · 2023 |
| DPT immunization % of children 12–23 months | 71%166th/193 · 2024 | 92%86th/193 · 2024 |
| Completed lower secondary, 25+ % of adults | 61.9%98th/153 · 2022 | 53.6%109th/153 · 2022 |
| Secondary enrolment % gross | 85.3%118th/173 · 2024 | 92.1%91st/173 · 2025 |
| Social protection coverage (incl. pensions) % of population | 43.0%2018 | 87.2%7th/55 · 2021 |
| Old-age dependency ratio % of working-age population | 8.5%142nd/217 · 2025 | 23.0%65th/217 · 2025 |
| Health spending % of GDP | 5.1%124th/193 · 2023 | 4.5%137th/193 · 2023 |
| Adult literacy % | 98.5%19th/98 · 2020 | 91.1%49th/98 · 2022 |
| Tertiary enrolment % gross | 47.4%83rd/150 · 2024 | 49.1%79th/150 · 2025 |
| Human Development Index index 0–1 | 0.720117th/193 · 2023 | 0.79876th/193 · 2023 |
| Income inequality (Gini) index | 39.382nd/108 · 2023 | 33.343rd/108 · 2024 |
| Extreme poverty % of population | 5.3%77th/108 · 2023 | 0.0%1st/108 · 2024 |
| Infrastructure & digital | ||
| Access to electricity % of population | 94.8%155th/215 · 2024 | 100.0%1st/215 · 2024 |
| Safely managed drinking water % of population | 48.5%109th/150 · 2024 | — |
| Safely managed sanitation % of population | 62.2%72nd/144 · 2024 | 26.7%114th/144 · 2024 |
| Internet users % of population | 67.3%129th/186 · 2024 | 90.9%52nd/186 · 2024 |
| Mobile subscriptions per 100 people | 115106th/210 · 2024 | 16123rd/210 · 2024 |
| Fixed broadband per 100 people | 7.1132nd/208 · 2024 | 14.9102nd/208 · 2024 |
| Trade & transport infrastructure quality (LPI) score 1–5 | 3.2046th/164 · 2022 | 3.7024th/164 · 2022 |
| Rail lines route-km | 5092016 | 4,09231st/82 · 2017 |
| Air passengers carried passengers | 41.5 m27th/161 · 2023 | 51.9 m21st/161 · 2023 |
| Environment & energy | ||
| CO₂ emissions per person t CO₂e | 1.5077th/203 · 2024 | 3.96131st/203 · 2024 |
| Renewable energy % of final energy use | 28.0%84th/212 · 2021 | 19.0%110th/212 · 2021 |
| Air pollution (PM2.5) µg/m³ | 22.2130th/200 · 2023 | 23.5135th/200 · 2023 |
| Forest area % of land area | 24.8%119th/214 · 2024 | 38.7%84th/214 · 2024 |
| Energy use per person kg oil eq. | 612114th/149 · 2024 | 1,83562nd/149 · 2024 |
| Institutions & safety | ||
| Government effectiveness score 0–100 | 56.390th/205 · 2025 | 57.780th/205 · 2025 |
| Control of corruption score 0–100 | 36.5140th/207 · 2025 | 38.1131st/207 · 2025 |
| Rule of law score 0–100 | 50.9132nd/207 · 2025 | 56.6104th/207 · 2025 |
| Political stability score 0–100 | 51.0171st/207 · 2025 | 55.8159th/207 · 2025 |
| Regulatory quality score 0–100 | 58.581st/205 · 2025 | 57.683rd/205 · 2025 |
| Voice & accountability score 0–100 | 53.0117th/205 · 2025 | 48.2129th/205 · 2025 |
| Homicide rate per 100,000 | 4.392nd/145 · 2023 | 4.82011 |
| Military | ||
| Military expenditure USD | $6.38 bn41st/156 · 2025 | $5.98 bn45th/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of GDP | 1.3%100th/156 · 2025 | 1.0%113th/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of government spending | 5.4%74th/154 · 2025 | 4.4%95th/154 · 2025 |
| Armed forces personnel people | 157,00040th/170 · 2020 | 455,00016th/170 · 2020 |
| Armed forces personnel % of labour force | 0.37%135th/168 · 2020 | 1.13%59th/168 · 2020 |
| Arms imports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 846.0 m10th/163 · 2025 | 33.0 m73rd/163 · 2025 |
| Arms exports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 4.0 m2007 | 15.0 m46th/65 · 2024 |
| Science & innovation | ||
| R&D spending % of GDP | 0.28%76th/110 · 2020 | 0.94%45th/110 · 2023 |
| Patent applications by residents applications | 87334th/137 · 2024 | 93033rd/137 · 2024 |
| Scientific articles articles | 4,75262nd/197 · 2023 | 16,65630th/197 · 2023 |
Questions and answers
Which has more people, Philippines or Thailand?
Philippines has the larger population: 116.8 m (2025) compared with 71.6 m for Thailand (2025). Source: World Bank, SP.POP.TOTL.
Which is bigger by area, Philippines or Thailand?
Thailand is larger: 513,115 km² (2024) compared with 300,000 km² for Philippines (2024). Source: World Bank, AG.SRF.TOTL.K2.
Which economy is larger, Philippines or Thailand?
Thailand has the larger economy at purchasing power parity: $1.88 trn intl. (2025) compared with $1.47 trn intl. for Philippines (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.MKTP.PP.CD.
Which is richer per person, Philippines or Thailand?
Thailand has the higher GDP per person (PPP): $26,250 intl. (2025) compared with $12,577 intl. for Philippines (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.PCAP.PP.CD.
Where do people live longer, in Philippines or Thailand?
Thailand has the higher life expectancy at birth: 76.6 years (2024) compared with 69.9 years for Philippines (2024). Source: World Bank, SP.DYN.LE00.IN.
Which spends more on the military, Philippines or Thailand?
Philippines spends more on the military: $6.38 bn (2025) compared with $5.98 bn for Thailand (2025). Source: World Bank, MS.MIL.XPND.CD.
Which ranks higher in the NationsTree Index, Philippines or Thailand?
Thailand: 61.9 points (53rd in the world); Philippines: 44.0 points (113th). The index combines foundations, economic strength, quality of life, problems and 5-year direction from public statistics.
Australia
Hong Kong
Malaysia
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). Philippines vs Thailand — country comparison. https://nationstree.org/compare/philippines-vs-thailand. Data as of 26 October 2026.