Land
Size, shape and altitude
How big is it, really?
Thailand fits inside South Africa 2.4 times.
South Africa: 1,219,090 km² (2023) · Thailand: 513,115 km² (2023)
How much coast is there?
Thailand’s coastline is 15% longer than South Africa’s.
South Africa: 2,798 km (2026 edition) · Thailand: 3,219 km (2026 edition)
How high can you climb?
South Africa’s highest peak towers 885 m above Thailand’s.
South Africa: 3,450 m (2026 edition) · Thailand: 2,565 m (2026 edition)
People
Who lives there, and how closely
How many people live there?
Thailand has 11% more people than South Africa.
South Africa: 64.7 million (2025) · Thailand: 71.6 million (2025)
How crowded is it?
Thailand is 2.6 times as densely populated as South Africa.
South Africa: 53 per km² (2025) · Thailand: 140 per km² (2025)
How tall are the men?
Men in Thailand are 2.0 cm taller than in South Africa.
South Africa: 169.6 cm (2019) · Thailand: 171.6 cm (2019)
How tall are the women?
Women in Thailand are 0.8 cm taller than in South Africa.
South Africa: 158.6 cm (2019) · Thailand: 159.4 cm (2019)
How old is the typical person?
The typical person in Thailand is 11 years older than in South Africa.
South Africa: 28.2 years (2023) · Thailand: 39.7 years (2023)
How many children per woman?
Women in South Africa have 1.0 more children on average than in Thailand.
South Africa: 2.21 children per woman (2024) · Thailand: 1.2 children per woman (2024)
How many people are 65 or older?
16% of people in Thailand are 65 or older, versus 6.9% in South Africa.
South Africa: 6.9% (2025) · Thailand: 16% (2025)
How many Nobel laureates were born there?
South Africa has produced 1.4 Nobel laureates per 10 million people, Thailand 0.0.
South Africa: 1.4 (2025) · Thailand: 0 (2025)
How many official languages?
South Africa has 11 official languages, Thailand 1.
South Africa: 11 (2026) · Thailand: 1 (2026)
Money
What an economy looks like per person
How big is the economy?
Thailand’s economy is 35% larger than South Africa’s.
South Africa: $427 billion (2025) · Thailand: $577 billion (2025)
How much is produced per person?
Thailand produces 65% more per person than South Africa.
South Africa: Int$15,906 (2025) · Thailand: Int$26,250 (2025)
How evenly is income shared?
Income is more unequally shared in South Africa than in Thailand (Gini 20.8 points higher).
South Africa: 54.1 (2022) · Thailand: 33.3 (2024)
How many people are looking for work?
Unemployment is 32% in South Africa, versus 0.8% in Thailand.
South Africa: 32.4% (2025) · Thailand: 0.8% (2025)
How much goes to the military?
Thailand and South Africa are practically level.
South Africa: 0.7% (2024) · Thailand: 1.1% (2024)
How expensive is it?
South Africa’s price level (US = 100) is 1.4× Thailand’s.
South Africa: 41% (2025) · Thailand: 31% (2025)
Health
Long lives, small beginnings
How much is spent on health?
South Africa spends 64% more on health per person than Thailand.
South Africa: $537 (2023) · Thailand: $327 (2023)
How long do people live?
People in Thailand live 10 years longer than in South Africa.
South Africa: 66.3 years (2024) · Thailand: 76.6 years (2024)
How many babies don’t reach their first birthday?
A baby in South Africa is 3.1 times as likely to die before turning one as in Thailand.
South Africa: 24.2 per 1,000 (2024) · Thailand: 7.7 per 1,000 (2024)
How many doctors are there?
South Africa has 47% more doctors per person than Thailand.
South Africa: 0.8 per 1,000 (2022) · Thailand: 0.5 per 1,000 (2021)
How common is obesity?
31% of adults in South Africa are obese, versus 16% in Thailand.
South Africa: 31.3% (2024) · Thailand: 15.5% (2024)
How many adults smoke?
24% of adults in South Africa smoke, versus 18% in Thailand.
South Africa: 23.7% (2024) · Thailand: 17.8% (2024)
Everyday life
Plates, glasses and happiness
How do people rate their lives?
People in Thailand rate their lives 1.29 points higher than in South Africa.
South Africa: 5.01 (2025) · Thailand: 6.30 (2025)
How much do people drink?
Adults in South Africa drink 9% more alcohol than in Thailand.
South Africa: 8.6 litres (2023) · Thailand: 7.9 litres (2023)
How much meat is on the menu?
South Africa has 2.4 times as much meat per person as Thailand.
South Africa: 58.3 kg (2023) · Thailand: 24.5 kg (2023)
How much food is there per day?
Thailand has 161 kcal more food per person per day than South Africa.
South Africa: 2,694 kcal (2023) · Thailand: 2,855 kcal (2023)
How long do people work?
South Africa and Thailand are practically level.
South Africa: 2,181 hours (2023) · Thailand: 2,177 hours (2023)
How long do people go to school?
Adults in South Africa went to school 2.6 years longer than in Thailand.
South Africa: 11.6 years (2023) · Thailand: 9 years (2023)
How many tourists visit?
Thailand welcomed 4 times as many tourists per resident as South Africa (2019).
South Africa: 0.14 (2024) · Thailand: 0.56 (2019)
Connected
Online, electrified, urban
How many people are online?
91% of people in Thailand are online, versus 78% in South Africa.
South Africa: 78% (2024) · Thailand: 91% (2024)
Who has electricity at home?
100% of people in Thailand have electricity, versus 90% in South Africa.
South Africa: 90.2% (2024) · Thailand: 100% (2024)
How many live in cities?
64% of people in South Africa live in cities, versus 63% in Thailand.
South Africa: 64% (2025) · Thailand: 63% (2025)
How many phones per person?
South Africa has 179 mobile subscriptions per 100 people, Thailand 161.
South Africa: 179 (2024) · Thailand: 161 (2024)
How much railway is there?
South Africa’s railway network is 5.1 times as long as Thailand’s.
South Africa: 20,953 km (2021) · Thailand: 4,092 km (2017)
How much do they fly?
Airlines from Thailand fly 3 times as many passengers per resident as those from South Africa.
South Africa: 0.24 (2023) · Thailand: 0.72 (2023)
Planet
Air, forests and energy
How much of the land is forest?
Forest covers 39% of Thailand, but only 14% of South Africa.
South Africa: 14% (2023) · Thailand: 38.7% (2023)
How much CO₂ does each person emit?
The average person in South Africa emits 84% more CO₂ than someone in Thailand.
South Africa: 6.9 t (2024) · Thailand: 3.7 t (2024)
How green is the power grid?
17% of Thailand’s electricity is renewable, versus 14% in South Africa.
South Africa: 13.6% (2025) · Thailand: 16.6% (2025)
How clean is the air?
The air in South Africa carries 5% more fine dust than in Thailand.
South Africa: 24.4 µg/m³ (2024) · Thailand: 23.3 µg/m³ (2024)
Safety
Measured risk, not vibes
How common is murder?
South Africa: 43.7 per 100k (2022) · Thailand: no data
How dangerous are the roads?
Roads in Thailand are 4% deadlier than in South Africa.
South Africa: 24.5 per 100k (2021) · Thailand: 25.4 per 100k (2021)
Climate
What the year feels like
How warm is it?
Thailand is on average 8.3 °C warmer than South Africa.
South Africa: 18.4°C (2016–2025 avg) · Thailand: 26.8°C (2016–2025 avg)
How much rain falls?
Thailand gets 3.2 times as much rain as South Africa.
South Africa: 511 mm (2016–2025 avg) · Thailand: 1,657 mm (2016–2025 avg)
Quick answers
Is South Africa bigger than Thailand?
South Africa is larger. Thailand fits inside South Africa 2.4 times.
Which has more people, South Africa or Thailand?
Thailand has 11% more people than South Africa (2025 estimates).
Where do people live longer, South Africa or Thailand?
People in Thailand live 10 years longer than in South Africa. Life expectancy at birth is 66.3 years in South Africa and 76.6 in Thailand.
Are people taller in South Africa or Thailand?
Men in Thailand are 2.0 cm taller than in South Africa (NCD-RisC, cohort born 2019).
