Thailand vs Malaysia
Head-to-head on World Bank economic and development indicators.
Comparing Thailand and Malaysia: the larger economy is Thailand ($526.5B vs $422.2B GDP), while the higher GDP per capita belongs to Malaysia ($7,347 vs $11,874). Life expectancy is higher in Malaysia (76.6 vs 76.8 years). The full side-by-side table is below. All figures are World Bank, latest available year.
Source: World Bank Open Data. Data as of June 2026.
Thailand vs Malaysia: side by side
| Indicator | Thailand | Malaysia | Leads |
|---|---|---|---|
| GDP (current US$) | $526.5B | $422.2B | Thailand |
| GDP per capita (current US$) | $7,347 | $11,874 | Malaysia |
| Population, total | 71,668,011 | 35,557,673 | Thailand |
| Population growth (annual %) | -0.0% | 1.2% | Malaysia |
| GDP growth (annual %) | 2.5% | 5.1% | Malaysia |
| Inflation, consumer prices (annual %) | 1.4% | 1.8% | Thailand |
| Unemployment, total (% of labour force, modelled ILO) | 0.8% | 3.8% | Thailand |
| Life expectancy at birth, total (years) | 76.6 | 76.8 | Malaysia |
| Individuals using the Internet (% of population) | 90.9% | 98.0% | Malaysia |
| Urban population (% of total) | 61.9% | 76.9% | Malaysia |
| CO2 emissions per capita (tonnes) | 3.96 | 8.32 | Thailand |
Source: World Bank Open Data (CC BY 4.0), retrieved June 2026. Values are each indicator's latest available year, which can differ between the two countries.
Who leads on what
- GDP (size of economy): Thailand
- GDP per capita (income): Malaysia
- Life expectancy: Malaysia
- Internet users: Malaysia
- Lower inflation: Thailand
- Lower unemployment: Thailand
Frequently asked questions
Is Thailand or Malaysia richer?
Malaysia is richer on GDP per capita — Thailand at $7,347 versus $11,874 for Malaysia (World Bank). By total GDP, the larger economy is Thailand ($526.5B vs $422.2B).
Which has a bigger economy, Thailand or Malaysia?
Thailand has the larger economy: Thailand's GDP is $526.5B and Malaysia's is $422.2B in current US dollars (World Bank, latest available year).
Which is bigger by population, Thailand or Malaysia?
Thailand is more populous: Thailand has about 71.7 million people and Malaysia about 35.6 million.
Where do people live longer, Thailand or Malaysia?
Life expectancy is higher in Malaysia: 76.6 years in Thailand versus 76.8 in Malaysia (World Bank).
Full profiles & more comparisons
Last updated: 2026-06-20