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Geo Factbook

Malawi vs Thailand: Compare Statistics

Side-by-side comparison of 169 key metrics across economy, population, geography, and more ā€” latest data through 2026.

Malawi
mwi
Leads on 40 of 169 metrics
Thailand
tha
Leads on 117 of 169 metrics

Summary

Thailand has 3.1 times as many people as Malawi (71.57 million vs 22.78 million). Thailand's economy is 43.4 times the size of Malawi's ($533.67 billion vs $12.28 billion GDP).

Comparing Malawi and Thailand: Malawi leads on Electricity Installed Capacity (375,000) against Thailand (44.89); Malawi leads on Refined Petroleum Products Consumption (6,000) against Thailand (1.33); Thailand leads on Tourism Receipts per Capita (32.61 billion USD) against Malawi (30.00 million USD). Across 169 compared metrics, Malawi wins on 40 and Thailand wins on 117.

  • Communications: 9 metrics compared
  • Economy: 64 metrics compared
  • Environment: 11 metrics compared
  • Geography: 7 metrics compared
  • Government: 9 metrics compared
  • Health: 22 metrics compared
  • Military and Security: 3 metrics compared
  • People and Society: 39 metrics compared
  • Transportation: 3 metrics compared
  • Travel and Tourism: 1 metric compared
  • Other: 1 metric compared

Communications

9 metrics
MetricšŸ‡²šŸ‡¼ MalawišŸ‡¹šŸ‡­ ThailandShare
Fixed Broadband Penetration0.09 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants14.89 subscriptions per 100 inhabitantsā˜…
Internet Penetration Rate (%)18.96 %90.87 %ā˜…
Internet Usage Rate by Country (% of Population)17.99 %89.54 %ā˜…
Internet Userspercent of population: 18% (2023 est.)percent of population: 90% (2023 est.)
Mobile Internet Speed0.09 Mbps14.89 Mbpsā˜…
Press Freedom Index Score59.2 pointsā˜…56.72 points
Radios2.613.96ā˜…
TelevisionsNA15.19
Waterways7004,000ā˜…

Economy

64 metrics
MetricšŸ‡²šŸ‡¼ MalawišŸ‡¹šŸ‡­ ThailandShare
Agriculture Value Added as a Share of GDP by Country4.84B $45.86B $ā˜…
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by Country in Current US Dollars12.28B $533.67B $ā˜…
AI Investment (% of GDP)14.48 %22.46 %ā˜…
Apple Import Volume1.11M tonnes186.16M tonnesā˜…
Bank Account Ownership Rate50.37 %91.82 %ā˜…
Central Bank Discount Rate (%)16 %ā˜…1.5 %
Coal Revenue0.030.03
Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate (%)38.1 %ā˜…4.42 %
Current Health Expenditure (% of GDP)9.3 % of GDPā˜…3.8 % of GDP
Ease of Doing Business Index77.984.6ā˜…
Electricity Consumption1.32187.7ā˜…
Electricity Exports02.27ā˜…
Electricity from Fossil Fuels176ā˜…
Electricity from Hydroelectric Plants93ā˜…8
Electricity from Nuclear Fuels00
Electricity from Other Renewables616ā˜…
Electricity Imports019.83ā˜…
Electricity Installed Capacity375,000ā˜…44.89
Electricity Production1.42181.5ā˜…
Energy Consumption per Capita (USD)1.79 USD per capita80.6 USD per capitaā˜…
Female Labor Force Participation Rate58.96 %69.01 %ā˜…
Gini Index Coefficient38.5ā˜…33.5
Gross Fixed Investment23.128.8ā˜…
Gross National Saving3.934.1ā˜…
High-Tech Export Percentage52.07 %61.93 %ā˜…
Highest GDP per Capita Countries1,623.02 USD22,431.75 USDā˜…
Industrial Production Growth Rate (%)2.1 %ā˜…0.9 %
Inflation Rate28.37 %-0.13 %ā˜…
Inflation Rate (Consumer Prices)32.2 %1.4 %ā˜…
Military Expenditures (% of GDP)0.8 % of GDP1.1 % of GDPā˜…
Natural Gas Consumption052.64ā˜…
Natural Gas Exports00
Natural Gas Imports014.41ā˜…
Natural Gas Production038.59ā˜…
Natural Gas Proved Reserves0193.4ā˜…
Oil Consumption8,000988,000ā˜…
Oil Exports0269,100ā˜…
Oil Imports7,124807,100ā˜…
Oil Production0406,800ā˜…
Oil Proved Reserves0435ā˜…
Population Below Poverty Line50.7 people5.4 peopleā˜…
Public Debt55.6ā˜…61.1
R&D Expenditure (% of GDP)0.18 %1.14 %ā˜…
Real GDP Growth Rate (USD)1.8 USD2.5 USDā˜…
Real Interest Rate Trends9.96 %ā˜…3.62 %
Refined Petroleum Products Consumption6,000ā˜…1.33
Refined Petroleum Products Exports0278,300ā˜…
Refined Petroleum Products Imports4,769134,200ā˜…
Refined Petroleum Products Production01.33ā˜…
Remittances1.41.8ā˜…
Researchers in R&D per Million25.17 researchers1,744.16 researchersā˜…
Revenue from Forest Resources6.19ā˜…0.34
Robotics Research Funding0.18 USD1.14 USDā˜…
Share of population in poverty ($3 a day)75.440.13ā˜…
Tax Burden (% of GDP)15.6 %15.18 %ā˜…
Tax Revenue (% of GDP)15.6 % of GDPā˜…15.18 % of GDP
Taxes and Other Revenues13.515.4ā˜…
Top Exporting Countries1.50B USD337.63B USDā˜…
Top FDI Inflows (% of GDP)2.28 %2.7 %ā˜…
Tourism Contribution to GDP1.6 %2.25 %ā˜…
Tourism Revenue (% of GDP)1.6 %2.25 %ā˜…
Unemployment Rate5.1 %0.7 %ā˜…
Youth Labor Force Participation Rate62.58 %ā˜…66.68 %
Youth Unemployment Rate6.95 %4.53 %ā˜…

Environment

11 metrics
MetricšŸ‡²šŸ‡¼ MalawišŸ‡¹šŸ‡­ ThailandShare
Annual COā‚‚ Emissions Growth (abs)28,911ā˜…3.03M
Annual Forest Area Change Rate-42,000 %ā˜…-138,016.02 %
Average Annual Temperature22.29 Ā°C26.31 Ā°Cā˜…
Carbon Dioxide Emissions2.27ā˜…336.69
Global Precipitation Distribution1,548.92 mm1,756.8 mmā˜…
Population Distributionpopulation density is highest south of Lake Nyasa, as shown in this population distribution maphighest population density is found in and around Bangkok; significant population clusters throughout large parts of the country, particularly north and northeast of Bangkok and in the extreme southern region of the country
Protected Land Area for Adaptation23.16 sq kmā˜…18.37 sq km
Protected Land Area Percentage23.1 %ā˜…18.4 %
Total Renewable Groundwater Resources by Country2.5 Cubic meters per year41.9 Cubic meters per yearā˜…
Total Renewable Water Resources17.28438.61ā˜…
Total Threatened Mammal Species10 speciesā˜…64 species

Geography

7 metrics
MetricšŸ‡²šŸ‡¼ MalawišŸ‡¹šŸ‡­ ThailandShare
Percentage of land area by degree of urbanization19.72 %ā˜…5.23 %
Above-Ground Biomass in Forest (tonnes/ha)78.7142.5ā˜…
Agricultural land62,626 sq. km243,086.8 sq. kmā˜…
Airports per 1,000 Sq Km94,280510,890ā˜…
Coastline Length (km)0 km3,219 kmā˜…
Dam capacity per capita1.8 cubic meters per inhabitant1,098 cubic meters per inhabitantā˜…
Irrigated Land74064,150ā˜…

Government

9 metrics
MetricšŸ‡²šŸ‡¼ MalawišŸ‡¹šŸ‡­ ThailandShare
Rule of Law Index by Country48.89 %56.88 %ā˜…
Administrative Divisions2876ā˜…
Corruption Perception Index34 index34 index
Corruption Perceptions Index Score34 index34 index
Independence6123ā˜…
LGBT Rights Index Score0.466.07ā˜…
Prison Population Rate78 per 100,000ā˜…395 per 100,000
Public Sector Corruption Perception3434
Suffrage Participation Rate1818

Health

22 metrics
MetricšŸ‡²šŸ‡¼ MalawišŸ‡¹šŸ‡­ ThailandShare
Average BMI for Adults22.6 kg/mĀ²23.9 kg/mĀ²ā˜…
Change in Measles Immunization Rate89 %93 %ā˜…
Diabetes Prevalence (% of Population)5.710.2ā˜…
Female Life Expectancy Leaders67.56 years76.56 yearsā˜…
Global Stillbirth Rate Trends1.58 per 1,000 births0.39 per 1,000 birthsā˜…
Health Care Spending per Capita152.6 USD1,465.74 USDā˜…
Health Coverage Index Score52 score82 scoreā˜…
Health Expenditure (% of GDP)7.4 % of GDPā˜…5.2 % of GDP
Highest Male Life Expectancy67.56 years76.56 yearsā˜…
HIV/AIDS Adult Prevalence Rate7.7 %1 %ā˜…
Hospital Bed Density1.3 people/sq km2.1 people/sq kmā˜…
Hospital Beds per Capita1.3 beds per 1,0002.09 beds per 1,000ā˜…
Low Birth Weight Prevalence15.58 %10.3 %ā˜…
Malaria Incidence Rate294.53 cases per 1,0000.58 cases per 1,000ā˜…
Maternal Mortality Ratio (%)225 %34 %ā˜…
Mean Age at First Birth19.123.3ā˜…
Nurses and Midwives Density0.43 per 1,000 people2.68 per 1,000 peopleā˜…
Obesity Adult Prevalence Rate (%)5.8 %ā˜…10 %
Out-of-Pocket Health Spending12 %9.93 %ā˜…
People Living With HIV/AIDS990,000500,000ā˜…
Total Number of Doctors0.050.51ā˜…
Underweight Children Under 511.66.7ā˜…

Military and Security

3 metrics
MetricšŸ‡²šŸ‡¼ MalawišŸ‡¹šŸ‡­ ThailandShare
Active Military Personnel11,000 personnel361,000 personnelā˜…
Military Expenditure (% of GDP)1.15 %1.04 %ā˜…
Total Armed Forces Personnel (PPP)15,000455,000ā˜…

People and Society

39 metrics
MetricšŸ‡²šŸ‡¼ MalawišŸ‡¹šŸ‡­ ThailandShare
Currently married (Percent)59.17 %ā˜…50.17 %
Human Capital Index0.450.63ā˜…
Life expectancy at birth72.03 years80.78 yearsā˜…
Median age of population18.35 years41.03 yearsā˜…
Population Change579,788 personsā˜…-87,807.2 persons
Population density240.56 per sq. km140.16 per sq. kmā˜…
Total population22.78M persons71.57M personsā˜…
Academic Freedom Index0.8ā˜…0.38
Beer Consumption per Capita0.15 liters2.01 litersā˜…
Birth Rate (%)28.04 %ā˜…9.82 %
Contraceptive Prevalence Rate65.6 %73 %ā˜…
Crude Birth Rate31.14 per 1,000 peopleā˜…8.12 per 1,000 people
Death Rate (%)3.57 %ā˜…8.08 %
Education Expenditure (% of GDP)2.7 % of GDPā˜…2.5 % of GDP
Female population of reproductive age6.07M persons16.94M personsā˜…
Female Tertiary Enrollment Rate (%)2.23 %49.69 %ā˜…
Fixed Broadband Penetration Rate0.09 %14.89 %ā˜…
Global Average Sex Ratio at Birth100.76 male/female106.24 male/femaleā˜…
Human Development Index0.270.4ā˜…
Labor Force Participation Rate8.640.62ā˜…
Learning-adjusted years of school5.77 years8.95 yearsā˜…
Length of paid parental leave for mother0 days0 days
Major Urban Areas Population1.28 people11.07 peopleā˜…
Mean Male Height (cm)162.23169.16ā˜…
Mean Years of Schooling5.41 years9.32 yearsā˜…
Military Service Age and Obligation1818
Old-Age Dependency Ratio4.62 %ā˜…20.94 %
Percentage of population by degree of urbanization71.82 %ā˜…62.64 %
Physician Density0.05 people/sq km0.54 people/sq kmā˜…
Population Growth Rate2.16 %ā˜…0.13 %
Population living in slums33.18 %ā˜…2 %
Primary School Pupil-Teacher Ratio58.6816.64ā˜…
Total deaths110,901 personsā˜…685,767.7 persons
Total demand for family planning (Percent)61.79 %ā˜…44.11 %
Total fertility rate3.46 per womanā˜…1.18 per woman
Total net-migration-4,828.6 persons36,266.2 personsā˜…
Under-five mortality rate36.16 per live births10.25 per live birthsā˜…
Urban Population Annual Growth Rate4.43 %ā˜…1.43 %
Voting Age Population52.83 millions69.75 millionsā˜…

Transportation

3 metrics
MetricšŸ‡²šŸ‡¼ MalawišŸ‡¹šŸ‡­ ThailandShare
Air Travel Trips Per Capita (PPP)0.011.01ā˜…
Airports27105ā˜…
Civil Air Travel541ā˜…

Travel and Tourism

1 metric
MetricšŸ‡²šŸ‡¼ MalawišŸ‡¹šŸ‡­ ThailandShare
Tourism Receipts per Capita30.00M USD32.61B USDā˜…

Other

1 metric
MetricšŸ‡²šŸ‡¼ MalawišŸ‡¹šŸ‡­ ThailandShare
Current Bank Rate24 %ā˜…1.5 %

Frequently Asked Questions About Malawi vs Thailand

Which has a larger population, Malawi or Thailand?ā–¾

Thailand. Thailand has 3.1 times as many people as Malawi (71.57 million vs 22.78 million). Data for 2026.

Which has a bigger economy, Malawi or Thailand?ā–¾

Thailand. Thailand's economy is 43.4 times the size of Malawi's ($533.67 billion vs $12.28 billion GDP). Data for 2026.

Which is richer per person, Malawi or Thailand?ā–¾

Thailand is richer per person: GDP per capita is about $7,456 in Thailand vs $539.28 in Malawi (2026 GDP in current US dollars divided by population).

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