Maldives vs Thailand: Compare Statistics
Side-by-side comparison of 160 key metrics across economy, population, geography, and more — latest data through 2026.
Summary
Thailand has 135 times as many people as Maldives (71.57 million vs 531,553). Thailand's economy is 59.4 times the size of Maldives's ($533.67 billion vs $8.99 billion GDP).
Comparing Maldives and Thailand: Maldives leads on Major Urban Areas Population (177,000 people) against Thailand (11.07 people); Maldives leads on Refined Petroleum Products Consumption (11,000) against Thailand (1.33); Maldives leads on Labor Force Participation Rate (270,300) against Thailand (40.62). Across 160 compared metrics, Maldives wins on 64 and Thailand wins on 83.
- Communications: 9 metrics compared
- Economy: 61 metrics compared
- Environment: 9 metrics compared
- Geography: 7 metrics compared
- Government: 9 metrics compared
- Health: 22 metrics compared
- Military and Security: 2 metrics compared
- People and Society: 36 metrics compared
- Transportation: 4 metrics compared
- Travel and Tourism: 1 metric compared
Communications
9 metrics| Metric | 🇲🇻 Maldives | 🇹🇭 Thailand | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fixed Broadband Penetration | 19.65 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants★ | 14.89 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants | |
| Internet Penetration Rate (%) | 85.24 % | 90.87 %★ | |
| Internet Usage Rate by Country (% of Population) | 84.69 % | 89.54 %★ | |
| Internet Users | percent of population: 85% (2023 est.) | percent of population: 90% (2023 est.) | |
| Mobile Internet Speed | 19.65 Mbps★ | 14.89 Mbps | |
| Press Freedom Index Score | 52.46 points | 56.72 points★ | |
| Radios | 35,000★ | 13.96 | |
| Televisions | 10,000★ | 15.19 | |
| Waterways | none | 4,000 |
Economy
61 metricsEnvironment
9 metrics| Metric | 🇲🇻 Maldives | 🇹🇭 Thailand | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual CO₂ Emissions Growth (abs) | 100,876★ | 3.03M | |
| Annual Forest Area Change Rate | 0 %★ | -138,016.02 % | |
| Carbon Dioxide Emissions | 1.91★ | 336.69 | |
| Population Distribution | about a third of the population lives in the centrally located capital city of Male and almost a tenth in southern Addu City; the remainder of the populace is spread over the 200 or so populated islands of the archipelago | highest 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 Adaptation | 3.21 sq km | 18.37 sq km★ | |
| Protected Land Area Percentage | 3 % | 18.4 %★ | |
| Total Renewable Groundwater Resources by Country | 0.03 Cubic meters per year | 41.9 Cubic meters per year★ | |
| Total Renewable Water Resources | 30 | 438.61★ | |
| Total Threatened Mammal Species | 2 species★ | 64 species |
Geography
7 metrics| Metric | 🇲🇻 Maldives | 🇹🇭 Thailand | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percentage of land area by degree of urbanization | 4.29 % | 5.23 %★ | |
| Above-Ground Biomass in Forest (tonnes/ha) | 135 | 142.5★ | |
| Agricultural land | 53 sq. km | 243,086.8 sq. km★ | |
| Airports per 1,000 Sq Km | 298 | 510,890★ | |
| Coastline Length (km) | 644 km | 3,219 km★ | |
| Dam capacity per capita | 0 cubic meters per inhabitant | 1,098 cubic meters per inhabitant★ | |
| Irrigated Land | 0 | 64,150★ |
Government
9 metrics| Metric | 🇲🇻 Maldives | 🇹🇭 Thailand | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rule of Law Index by Country | 63.29 %★ | 56.88 % | |
| Administrative Divisions | 21 | 76★ | |
| Corruption Perception Index | 38 index | 34 index★ | |
| Corruption Perceptions Index Score | 38 index★ | 34 index | |
| Independence | 26 | 123★ | |
| LGBT Rights Index Score | -1.43 | 6.07★ | |
| Prison Population Rate | 225 per 100,000★ | 395 per 100,000 | |
| Public Sector Corruption Perception | 38 | 34★ | |
| Suffrage Participation Rate | 18 | 18 |
Health
22 metricsMilitary and Security
2 metrics| Metric | 🇲🇻 Maldives | 🇹🇭 Thailand | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Active Military Personnel | 0 personnel | 361,000 personnel★ | |
| Total Armed Forces Personnel (PPP) | 5,000 | 416,600★ |
People and Society
36 metricsTransportation
4 metrics| Metric | 🇲🇻 Maldives | 🇹🇭 Thailand | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Travel Trips Per Capita (PPP) | 6.12★ | 1.01 | |
| Airports | 20 | 105★ | |
| Civil Air Travel | 1 | 41★ | |
| Heliports | 0 | 2★ |
Travel and Tourism
1 metric| Metric | 🇲🇻 Maldives | 🇹🇭 Thailand | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tourism Receipts per Capita | 4.80B USD | 46.57B USD★ |
Frequently Asked Questions About Maldives vs Thailand
Which has a larger population, Maldives or Thailand?▾
Thailand. Thailand has 135 times as many people as Maldives (71.57 million vs 531,553). Data for 2026.
Which has a bigger economy, Maldives or Thailand?▾
Thailand. Thailand's economy is 59.4 times the size of Maldives's ($533.67 billion vs $8.99 billion GDP). Data for 2026.
Which is richer per person, Maldives or Thailand?▾
Maldives is richer per person: GDP per capita is about $16,916 in Maldives vs $7,456 in Thailand (2026 GDP in current US dollars divided by population).