South Korea vs Thailand: Compare Statistics
Side-by-side comparison of 179 key metrics across economy, population, geography, and more ā latest data through 2026.
Summary
Thailand has 39% more people than South Korea (71.57 million vs 51.62 million). South Korea's economy is 3.6 times the size of Thailand's ($1.91 trillion vs $533.67 billion GDP).
Comparing South Korea and Thailand: Thailand leads on Oil Consumption (988,000) against South Korea (2.25); Thailand leads on Oil Imports (807,100) against South Korea (3.07); Thailand leads on Refined Petroleum Products Exports (278,300) against South Korea (1.40). Across 179 compared metrics, South Korea wins on 98 and Thailand wins on 72.
- Communications: 9 metrics compared
- Economy: 68 metrics compared
- Environment: 11 metrics compared
- Geography: 7 metrics compared
- Government: 10 metrics compared
- Health: 24 metrics compared
- Military and Security: 3 metrics compared
- People and Society: 41 metrics compared
- Transportation: 4 metrics compared
- Travel and Tourism: 1 metric compared
- Other: 1 metric compared
Communications
9 metrics| Metric | š°š· South Korea | š¹š Thailand | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fixed Broadband Penetration | 47.8 subscriptions per 100 inhabitantsā | 14.89 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants | |
| Internet Penetration Rate (%) | 97.9 %ā | 90.87 % | |
| Internet Usage Rate by Country (% of Population) | 97.9 %ā | 90.87 % | |
| Internet Users | percent of population: 97% (2023 est.) | percent of population: 90% (2023 est.) | |
| Mobile Internet Speed | 47.8 Mbpsā | 14.89 Mbps | |
| Press Freedom Index Score | 64.06 pointsā | 56.72 points | |
| Radios | 47.5ā | 13.96 | |
| Televisions | 15.9ā | 15.19 | |
| Waterways | 1,600 | 4,000ā |
Economy
68 metricsEnvironment
11 metrics| Metric | š°š· South Korea | š¹š Thailand | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual COā Emissions Growth (abs) | -5.50Mā | 3.03M | |
| Annual Forest Area Change Rate | -3,774.02 %ā | -138,016.02 % | |
| Average Annual Temperature | 13.4 Ā°C | 26.31 Ā°Cā | |
| Carbon Dioxide Emissions | 644.23 | 336.69ā | |
| Global Precipitation Distribution | 1,270.38 mm | 1,756.8 mmā | |
| Population Distribution | the population is primarily concentrated in the lowland areas, where density is high; Gyeonggi Province in the northwest, which surrounds the capital of Seoul and contains the port of Incheon, is the most densely populated province; Gangwon in the northea | 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 | 17.76 sq km | 18.37 sq kmā | |
| Protected Land Area Percentage | 17.7 % | 18.4 %ā | |
| Total Renewable Groundwater Resources by Country | 13.3 Cubic meters per year | 41.9 Cubic meters per yearā | |
| Total Renewable Water Resources | 69.7 | 438.61ā | |
| Total Threatened Mammal Species | 12 speciesā | 64 species |
Geography
7 metrics| Metric | š°š· South Korea | š¹š Thailand | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percentage of land area by degree of urbanization | 11.86 %ā | 5.23 % | |
| Above-Ground Biomass in Forest (tonnes/ha) | 131.69 | 142.5ā | |
| Agricultural land | 15,174 sq. km | 243,086.8 sq. kmā | |
| Airports per 1,000 Sq Km | 97,600 | 510,890ā | |
| Coastline Length (km) | 2,413 km | 3,219 kmā | |
| Dam capacity per capita | 362.21 cubic meters per inhabitant | 1,098 cubic meters per inhabitantā | |
| Irrigated Land | 7,780 | 64,150ā |
Government
10 metrics| Metric | š°š· South Korea | š¹š Thailand | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rule of Law Index by Country | 85.98 %ā | 56.88 % | |
| Administrative Divisions | 9 | 76ā | |
| Corruption Perception Index | 64 index | 34 indexā | |
| Corruption Perceptions Index Score | 64 indexā | 34 index | |
| Independence | 15 | 123ā | |
| LGBT Rights Index Score | 2.94 | 6.07ā | |
| Political Stability Index | 68 indexā | 36 index | |
| Prison Population Rate | 105 per 100,000ā | 516 per 100,000 | |
| Public Sector Corruption Perception | 64 | 34ā | |
| Suffrage Participation Rate | 18 | 18 |
Health
24 metricsMilitary and Security
3 metrics| Metric | š°š· South Korea | š¹š Thailand | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Active Military Personnel | 555,000 personnelā | 361,000 personnel | |
| Military Expenditure (% of GDP) | 2.6 % | 1.04 %ā | |
| Total Armed Forces Personnel (PPP) | 569,000ā | 455,000 |
People and Society
41 metricsTransportation
4 metrics| Metric | š°š· South Korea | š¹š Thailand | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Travel Trips Per Capita (PPP) | 1.32ā | 1.01 | |
| Airports | 92 | 105ā | |
| Civil Air Travel | 93ā | 41 | |
| Heliports | 1,280ā | 5 |
Travel and Tourism
1 metric| Metric | š°š· South Korea | š¹š Thailand | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tourism Receipts per Capita | 22.00B USD | 46.57B USDā |
Other
1 metric| Metric | š°š· South Korea | š¹š Thailand | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Current Bank Rate | 2.5 %ā | 1.5 % |
Frequently Asked Questions About South Korea vs Thailand
Which has a larger population, South Korea or Thailand?ā¾
Thailand. Thailand has 39% more people than South Korea (71.57 million vs 51.62 million). Data for 2026.
Which has a bigger economy, South Korea or Thailand?ā¾
South Korea. South Korea's economy is 3.6 times the size of Thailand's ($1.91 trillion vs $533.67 billion GDP). Data for 2026.
Which is richer per person, South Korea or Thailand?ā¾
South Korea is richer per person: GDP per capita is about $36,950 in South Korea vs $7,456 in Thailand (2026 GDP in current US dollars divided by population).