Papua New Guinea vs Thailand: Compare Statistics

Side-by-side comparison of 166 key metrics across economy, population, geography, and more — latest data through 2026.

Summary

Thailand has 6.5 times as many people as Papua New Guinea (71.57 million vs 10.95 million). Thailand's economy is 14.4 times the size of Papua New Guinea's ($533.67 billion vs $37.09 billion GDP).

Comparing Papua New Guinea and Thailand: Papua New Guinea leads on Major Urban Areas Population (410,000 people) against Thailand (11.07 people); Papua New Guinea leads on Radios (410,000) against Thailand (13.96); Thailand leads on Tourism Receipts per Capita (46.57 billion USD) against Papua New Guinea (1.60 million USD). Across 166 compared metrics, Papua New Guinea wins on 61 and Thailand wins on 97.

  • Communications: 9 metrics compared
  • Economy: 60 metrics compared
  • Environment: 12 metrics compared
  • Geography: 7 metrics compared
  • Government: 10 metrics compared
  • Health: 23 metrics compared
  • Military and Security: 3 metrics compared
  • People and Society: 36 metrics compared
  • Transportation: 4 metrics compared
  • Travel and Tourism: 1 metric compared
  • Other: 1 metric compared

Communications

9 metrics
MetricšŸ‡µšŸ‡¬ Papua New GuineašŸ‡¹šŸ‡­ ThailandShare
Fixed Broadband Penetration0.23 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants14.89 subscriptions per 100 inhabitantsā˜…
Internet Penetration Rate (%)18.81 %90.87 %ā˜…
Internet Usage Rate by Country (% of Population)24.07 %89.54 %ā˜…
Internet Userspercent of population: 24% (2023 est.)percent of population: 90% (2023 est.)
Mobile Internet Speed0.23 Mbps14.89 Mbpsā˜…
Press Freedom Index Score58.35 pointsā˜…56.72 points
Radios410,000ā˜…13.96
Televisions59,841ā˜…15.19
Waterways11,000ā˜…4,000

Economy

60 metrics
MetricšŸ‡µšŸ‡¬ Papua New GuineašŸ‡¹šŸ‡­ ThailandShare
Agriculture Value Added as a Share of GDP by Country6.56B $45.86B $ā˜…
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by Country in Current US Dollars37.09B $533.67B $ā˜…
AI Investment (% of GDP)20 %25.68 %ā˜…
Central Bank Discount Rate (%)14 %ā˜…1.5 %
Coal Revenue00.03ā˜…
Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate (%)8.4 %ā˜…4.42 %
Current Health Expenditure (% of GDP)2.4 % of GDP3.8 % of GDPā˜…
Ease of Doing Business Index80.184.6ā˜…
Electricity Consumption3.24187.7ā˜…
Electricity Exports02.27ā˜…
Electricity from Fossil Fuels6376ā˜…
Electricity from Hydroelectric Plants30ā˜…8
Electricity from Nuclear Fuels00
Electricity from Other Renewables716ā˜…
Electricity Imports019.83ā˜…
Electricity Installed Capacity900,900ā˜…44.89
Electricity Production3.48181.5ā˜…
Energy Consumption per Capita (USD)8.78 USD per capita80.6 USD per capitaā˜…
Female Labor Force Participation Rate51.62 %69.01 %ā˜…
Gini Index Coefficient41.9ā˜…35
Gross Fixed Investment20.628.8ā˜…
Gross National Saving36.8ā˜…34.1
High-Tech Export Percentage5.24 %61.93 %ā˜…
Highest GDP per Capita Countries4,456.23 USD22,431.75 USDā˜…
Industrial Production Growth Rate (%)3.6 %ā˜…0.9 %
Inflation Rate4.42 %-0.13 %ā˜…
Inflation Rate (Consumer Prices)0.6 %ā˜…1.4 %
Military Expenditures (% of GDP)0.3 % of GDP1.1 % of GDPā˜…
Natural Gas Consumption99.11ā˜…52.64
Natural Gas Exports11.1ā˜…0
Natural Gas Imports014.41ā˜…
Natural Gas Production11.1838.59ā˜…
Natural Gas Proved Reserves210.5ā˜…193.4
Oil Consumption33,000988,000ā˜…
Oil Exports8,029269,100ā˜…
Oil Imports14,770807,100ā˜…
Oil Production30,570406,800ā˜…
Oil Proved Reserves88435ā˜…
Population Below Poverty Line37 people9.9 peopleā˜…
Public Debt52.4ā˜…61.1
R&D Expenditure (% of GDP)0.03 %0.78 %ā˜…
Real GDP Growth Rate (USD)4.1 USDā˜…2.5 USD
Real Interest Rate Trends4.86 %ā˜…3.62 %
Refined Petroleum Products Consumption37,000ā˜…1.33
Refined Petroleum Products Exports0278,300ā˜…
Refined Petroleum Products Imports17,110134,200ā˜…
Refined Petroleum Products Production22,170ā˜…1.33
Remittances01.8ā˜…
Researchers in R&D per Million33.16 researchers1,179.07 researchersā˜…
Revenue from Forest Resources2.08ā˜…0.34
Robotics Research Funding0.03 USD0.78 USDā˜…
Share of population in poverty ($3 a day)52.210.79ā˜…
Tax Burden (% of GDP)15.54 %15.18 %ā˜…
Tax Revenue (% of GDP)15.54 % of GDPā˜…15.18 % of GDP
Taxes and Other Revenues15.9ā˜…15.4
Top Exporting Countries2.83B USD114.06B USDā˜…
Top FDI Inflows (% of GDP)-0.64 %2.7 %ā˜…
Unemployment Rate2.8 %0.7 %ā˜…
Youth Labor Force Participation Rate52.07 %ā˜…66.68 %
Youth Unemployment Rate3.79 %ā˜…4.53 %

Environment

12 metrics
MetricšŸ‡µšŸ‡¬ Papua New GuineašŸ‡¹šŸ‡­ ThailandShare
Annual COā‚‚ Emissions Growth (abs)-12,308ā˜…3.03M
Annual Forest Area Change Rate-3,750 %ā˜…-138,016.02 %
Average Annual Temperature24.08 °C26.31 °Cā˜…
Carbon Dioxide Emissions5.8ā˜…336.69
Continental Shelf200not specific;
Global Precipitation Distribution4,152.24 mmā˜…1,756.8 mm
Population Distributionpopulation concentrated in the highlands and eastern coastal areas on the island of New Guinea; predominantly a rural distribution with only about one fifth of the population residing in urban areashighest 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 Adaptation3.7 sq km18.37 sq kmā˜…
Protected Land Area Percentage3.7 %18.4 %ā˜…
Total Renewable Groundwater Resources by Country211.6 Cubic meters per yearā˜…41.9 Cubic meters per year
Total Renewable Water Resources801ā˜…438.61
Total Threatened Mammal Species51 speciesā˜…64 species

Geography

7 metrics
MetricšŸ‡µšŸ‡¬ Papua New GuineašŸ‡¹šŸ‡­ ThailandShare
Percentage of land area by degree of urbanization0.86 %5.23 %ā˜…
Above-Ground Biomass in Forest (tonnes/ha)176ā˜…142.5
Agricultural land14,050 sq. km243,086.8 sq. kmā˜…
Airports per 1,000 Sq Km452,860510,890ā˜…
Coastline Length (km)5,152 kmā˜…3,219 km
Dam capacity per capita0 cubic meters per inhabitant1,098 cubic meters per inhabitantā˜…
Irrigated Land064,150ā˜…

Government

10 metrics
MetricšŸ‡µšŸ‡¬ Papua New GuineašŸ‡¹šŸ‡­ ThailandShare
Rule of Law Index by Country34.23 %56.88 %ā˜…
Administrative Divisions2076ā˜…
Corruption Perception Index31 indexā˜…34 index
Corruption Perceptions Index Score31 index34 indexā˜…
Independence16123ā˜…
LGBT Rights Index Score-0.396.07ā˜…
Political Stability Index27 index36 indexā˜…
Prison Population Rate60 per 100,000ā˜…529 per 100,000
Public Sector Corruption Perception31ā˜…34
Suffrage Participation Rate1818

Health

23 metrics
MetricšŸ‡µšŸ‡¬ Papua New GuineašŸ‡¹šŸ‡­ ThailandShare
Average BMI for Adults25.3 kg/mĀ²ā˜…23.9 kg/m²
Change in Measles Immunization Rate44 %93 %ā˜…
Diabetes Prevalence (% of Population)14.1ā˜…10.2
Female Life Expectancy Leaders66.26 years76.56 yearsā˜…
Global Stillbirth Rate Trends1.92 per 1,000 births0.39 per 1,000 birthsā˜…
Health Care Spending per Capita156.66 USD1,465.74 USDā˜…
Health Coverage Index Score32 score82 scoreā˜…
Health Expenditure (% of GDP)2.3 % of GDP5.2 % of GDPā˜…
Highest Male Life Expectancy66.26 years76.56 yearsā˜…
HIV/AIDS Adult Prevalence Rate0.9 %ā˜…1 %
Hospital Bed Density0.2 people/sq km2.3 people/sq kmā˜…
Hospital Beds per Capita0.62 beds per 1,0002.39 beds per 1,000ā˜…
Low Birth Weight Prevalence19.38 %10.3 %ā˜…
Malaria Incidence Rate151.76 cases per 1,0000.58 cases per 1,000ā˜…
Maternal Mortality Ratio (%)189 %34 %ā˜…
Mean Age at First Birth21.923.3ā˜…
Nurses and Midwives Density0.41 per 1,000 people3.07 per 1,000 peopleā˜…
Obesity Adult Prevalence Rate (%)21.3 %10 %ā˜…
Out-of-Pocket Health Spending8.55 %ā˜…9.93 %
People Living With HIV/AIDS55,000ā˜…500,000
Psychiatrist Density Per 100,000 People0 per 100,000 people1 per 100,000 peopleā˜…
Total Number of Doctors0.060.54ā˜…
Underweight Children Under 527.87.7ā˜…

Military and Security

3 metrics
MetricšŸ‡µšŸ‡¬ Papua New GuineašŸ‡¹šŸ‡­ ThailandShare
Active Military Personnel4,000 personnel361,000 personnelā˜…
Military Expenditure (% of GDP)0.35 %ā˜…1.04 %
Total Armed Forces Personnel (PPP)4,000455,000ā˜…

People and Society

36 metrics
MetricšŸ‡µšŸ‡¬ Papua New GuineašŸ‡¹šŸ‡­ ThailandShare
Currently married (Percent)65.19 %ā˜…50.17 %
Human Capital Index0.440.63ā˜…
Life expectancy at birth70.09 years80.78 yearsā˜…
Median age of population23 years41.03 yearsā˜…
Population Change183,015.8 personsā˜…-87,807.2 persons
Population density24.18 per sq. kmā˜…140.16 per sq. km
Total population10.95M persons71.57M personsā˜…
Academic Freedom Index0.85ā˜…0.38
Beer Consumption per Capita0.41 liters2.01 litersā˜…
Birth Rate (%)27.57 %ā˜…9.82 %
Contraceptive Prevalence Rate36.7 %73 %ā˜…
Crude Birth Rate24.29 per 1,000 peopleā˜…8.12 per 1,000 people
Death Rate (%)5.36 %ā˜…8.08 %
Education Expenditure (% of GDP)0.8 % of GDP2.5 % of GDPā˜…
Female population of reproductive age2.84M persons16.94M personsā˜…
Fixed Broadband Penetration Rate0.23 %14.89 %ā˜…
Global Average Sex Ratio at Birth107.13 male/femaleā˜…106.24 male/female
Labor Force Participation Rate3.6640.62ā˜…
Learning-adjusted years of school8.41 years8.95 yearsā˜…
Length of paid parental leave for mother0 days0 days
Major Urban Areas Population410,000 peopleā˜…11.07 people
Mean Male Height (cm)163.57169.16ā˜…
Mean Years of Schooling4.84 years9.32 yearsā˜…
Military Service Age and Obligation1818
Old-Age Dependency Ratio5.33 %ā˜…20.94 %
Percentage of population by degree of urbanization48.18 %62.64 %ā˜…
Physician Density0.06 people/sq km0.54 people/sq kmā˜…
Population Growth Rate2.22 %ā˜…0.13 %
Population living in slums23.07 %ā˜…2 %
Primary School Pupil-Teacher Ratio35.5216.66ā˜…
Total deaths69,009.6 personsā˜…685,767.7 persons
Total demand for family planning (Percent)46 %ā˜…44.11 %
Total fertility rate2.98 per womanā˜…1.18 per woman
Total net-migration-4,940.6 persons36,266.2 personsā˜…
Under-five mortality rate37.27 per live births10.25 per live birthsā˜…
Urban Population Annual Growth Rate4.14 %ā˜…1.43 %

Transportation

4 metrics
MetricšŸ‡µšŸ‡¬ Papua New GuineašŸ‡¹šŸ‡­ ThailandShare
Air Travel Trips Per Capita (PPP)0.251.01ā˜…
Airports569ā˜…105
Civil Air Travelabout 15 major transport aircraft41
Heliports35ā˜…

Travel and Tourism

1 metric
MetricšŸ‡µšŸ‡¬ Papua New GuineašŸ‡¹šŸ‡­ ThailandShare
Tourism Receipts per Capita1.60M USD46.57B USDā˜…

Other

1 metric
MetricšŸ‡µšŸ‡¬ Papua New GuineašŸ‡¹šŸ‡­ ThailandShare
Current Bank Rate5 %ā˜…1.5 %

Frequently Asked Questions About Papua New Guinea vs Thailand

Which has a larger population, Papua New Guinea or Thailand?ā–¾

Thailand. Thailand has 6.5 times as many people as Papua New Guinea (71.57 million vs 10.95 million). Data for 2026.

Which has a bigger economy, Papua New Guinea or Thailand?ā–¾

Thailand. Thailand's economy is 14.4 times the size of Papua New Guinea's ($533.67 billion vs $37.09 billion GDP). Data for 2026.

Which is richer per person, Papua New Guinea or Thailand?ā–¾

Thailand is richer per person: GDP per capita is about $7,456 in Thailand vs $3,387 in Papua New Guinea (2026 GDP in current US dollars divided by population).

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