Malaysia vs Thailand
Malaysia vs Thailand: Military spending per person
Military spending per person in 2025: $138 in Malaysia and $84 in Thailand, by SIPRI estimates. In 2025 the value was higher in Malaysia, by $54, or 1.65 times that in Thailand.
US dollars per person · SIPRI
What the numbers say
- Malaysia has been higher since 2021, when it overtook Thailand.
- In 2025, Malaysia ranked 71 and Thailand ranked 81 of 151 countries, counting from the highest.
Every year
US dollars per person · SIPRI
| Year | Malaysia | Thailand |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $138 | $84 |
| 2024 | $124 | $77 |
| 2023 | $112 | $80 |
| 2022 | $107 | $84 |
| 2021 | $108 | $99 |
| 2020 | $100 | $102 |
| 2019 | $98 | $100 |
| 2018 | $106 | $93 |
| 2017 | $109 | $86 |
| 2016 | $132 | $79 |
| 2015 | $146 | $77 |
| 2014 | $162 | $80 |
| 2013 | $164 | $80 |
| 2012 | $153 | $78 |
| 2011 | $162 | $75 |
| 2010 | $136 | $76 |
| 2009 | $142 | $64 |
| 2008 | $162 | $54 |
| 2007 | $149 | $40 |
| 2006 | $125 | $32 |
| 2005 | $122 | $28 |
| 2004 | $113 | $30 |
| 2003 | $118 | $29 |
| 2002 | $94 | $28 |
| 2001 | $83 | $27 |
| 2000 | $68 | $30 |
| 1999 | $75 | $33 |
| 1998 | $54 | $35 |
| 1997 | $99 | $54 |
| 1996 | $118 | $66 |
| 1995 | $122 | $66 |
| 1994 | $108 | $62 |
| 1993 | $101 | $55 |
| 1992 | $95 | $53 |
| 1991 | $87 | $47 |
| 1990 | $64 | $41 |
| 1989 | $60 | $36 |
| 1988 | $52 | $34 |
- Estimate
Each country on its own
Good to know
- What the country spends on its armed forces and defence for each person living there, in US dollars of each year, not adjusted for inflation.
- Source: Information from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) Military Expenditure Database, https://doi.org/10.55163/CQGC9685.
- Marked points are SIPRI’s own: a dot where it gives the figure as its estimate, a ring where it calls the figure highly uncertain.
- Ranks count the 151 countries with a value in 2025, highest first.
How the layers work, where their data comes from and what they can’t tell you: Countries through time
Malaysia vs Thailand
Health
- Life expectancyMalaysia: 76.7 years in 2023Thailand: 76.4 years in 2023
- Child mortalityMalaysia: 0.8 per 100 live births in 2024Thailand: 0.9 per 100 live births in 2024
- Infant mortalityMalaysia: 6.4 per 1,000 live births in 2023Thailand: 6.2 per 1,000 live births in 2023
- DepressionMalaysia: 3.52% in 2017Thailand: 3.09% in 2017
- Suicide rateMalaysia: 7.8 per 100,000 people in 2017Thailand: 10.4 per 100,000 people in 2017
People
- PopulationMalaysia: 35.1 million people in 2023Thailand: 71.7 million people in 2023
- Population growthMalaysia: 1.24% a year in 2023Thailand: -0.04% a year in 2023
- Fertility rateMalaysia: 1.55 births per woman in 2023Thailand: 1.21 births per woman in 2023
- Urban populationMalaysia: 77.4% in 2025Thailand: 62.8% in 2025
- Median ageMalaysia: 30.1 years in 2023Thailand: 39.7 years in 2023
- People aged 65 and overMalaysia: 7.5% in 2023Thailand: 14.7% in 2023
- Net migration rateMalaysia: 5.2 per 1,000 people in 2023Thailand: 0.3 per 1,000 people in 2023
Economy
Education
Politics
Conflict
Military
- Military spendingMalaysia: 1.04% of GDP in 2025Thailand: 1.04% of GDP in 2025
- Military spending in US dollarsMalaysia: $4.55B in 2025Thailand: $5.57B in 2025
- Military share of state spendingMalaysia: 4.4% of government spending in 2025Thailand: 4.4% of government spending in 2025
- Armed forces personnelMalaysia: 136,000 people in 2020Thailand: 455,000 people in 2020
- National powerMalaysia: 0.46% of world capability in 2022Thailand: 0.79% of world capability in 2022
- Armed forces, share of workersMalaysia: 0.81% of the labour force in 2020Thailand: 1.13% of the labour force in 2020
- Arms importsMalaysia: 7 million TIV in 2024Thailand: 33 million TIV in 2025
- Arms exportsMalaysia: 20 million TIV in 2024Thailand: 15 million TIV in 2024