GeoRealityMatch
Tranquil reflection of traditional architecture and bridge in Beihai Park, Beijing.China
Sunset view of Bangkok's skyline showcasing modern skyscrapers and historic buildings.Thailand

Compare countries · China vs Thailand

China vs Thailand

ChinaEastern AsiaThailandSouth-Eastern Asia

The FCDO advises against all but essential travel to parts of Thailand.China is cheaper (cost of living 30.5 vs 38.0) and has the higher income per person ($14,230 vs $7,690).Thailand is more peaceful (Global Peace Index 2.089 vs 2.231).About the same on human development (China 0.797, Thailand 0.798) and life expectancy (78.0, 76.6 years).

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Safety

Thailand is the more peaceful

Global Peace Indexlower is more peaceful
China2.231Medium safety#117 of 161IEP GPI · 2026
Thailand2.089Medium safety#100 of 161IEP GPI · 2026
Homicidesper 100,000 people a year
China0.5Very lowUNODC / World Bank · 2020
ThailandNo figure from UNODC / World Bank
Safety indexNumbeo's safety index, higher is safer
China76.9Very highNumbeo · 2026
Thailand63.4HighNumbeo · 2026
UK travel adviceFCDO, for British travellers
ChinaNo advice against travelFCDO foreign travel advice, GOV.UK · read 2026-10-12
ThailandAgainst all but essential travel to partsFCDO foreign travel advice, GOV.UK · read 2026-10-12
Money

Income per person is higher in China

GNI per personnational income per person, US dollars
China$14,230HighWorld Bank · 2025
Thailand$7,690ModerateWorld Bank · 2025
Cost of living indexexcluding rent, New York = 100
China30.5Very affordableNumbeo · 2026
Thailand38.0AffordableNumbeo · 2026
Rent indexNew York = 100
China10.4AffordableNumbeo · 2026
Thailand13.9ModerateNumbeo · 2026
Property price to incomeyears of median income to buy a median flat
China21.5Very expensiveNumbeo · 2026
Thailand24.0Very expensiveNumbeo · 2026
Health

Life expectancy: China 78.0, Thailand 76.6

Life expectancyyears, at birth
China78.0High#54 of 195World Bank · 2024
Thailand76.6High#72 of 195World Bank · 2024
Health coverageWHO universal health coverage index, 0 to 100
China85Very highWHO · 2023
Thailand82HighWHO · 2023
Air pollutionPM2.5, micrograms per cubic metre, national average
China31.6Very highWHO · 2023
Thailand25.0HighWHO · 2023
Work and internet

Broadband is faster in Thailand

Fixed broadbandmedian download speed
China212 MbpsVery fast#27 of 149Ookla Speedtest · 2025
Thailand274 MbpsVery fast#13 of 149Ookla Speedtest · 2025
English proficiencyEF English Proficiency Index score
China464LowEF EPI · 2025
Thailand402Very lowEF EPI · 2025
How it changed

Human development: Thailand 0.798, China 0.797

ChinaThailand

UNDP Human Development Report, 1990–2023.

Year by year:ChinaThailand

Practical facts

Capital
Beijing
Bangkok
Population
1.41B (2025)
71.6M (2025)
Languages
Chinese
Thai
Currency
Chinese yuan (CNY)
Thai baht (THB)
Area
9,388,210 km²
510,890 km²
Plug type
Type A/I
Type A/B/C/O
Drives on the
right
left
Short visit
Visa-free for EU; visa needed for UK and US
Visa-free for UK, EU and US passports

Short visits: passport-index-dataset, 2024, for UK, EU (German) and US passports. Population and area: World Bank. Languages, currency and driving side: restcountries.com. Plug types: worldstandards.eu.

Every figure

China and Thailand, side by side

The same figures as a facts file

Quick answers

Is China cheaper than Thailand?

Numbeo's 2026 cost-of-living index (NYC = 100) puts China at 30.5 and Thailand at 38.0. China is about 20% cheaper overall.

Is China or Thailand safer?

On the Global Peace Index (lower = more peaceful), China scores 2.23 and Thailand scores 2.09. Thailand ranks as the more peaceful of the two.

Which has the higher quality of life, China or Thailand?

On the UN Human Development Index, China scores 0.797 and Thailand scores 0.798. The two are effectively tied. Single indexes hide trade-offs; the full comparison above shows where each country wins.

What is life like in China compared to Thailand?

GNI per capita runs $14,230 in China against $7,690 in Thailand; people live 78.0 years on average against 76.6; Numbeo users rate healthcare 69 against 78. Those are national averages and they hide the thing you actually feel: capital-city costs run well ahead of the national figure in most countries, and rural provision of healthcare and internet often lags the number shown here. The table below splits it indicator by indicator.

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Every figure is sourced where it is shown. A dash means the country has no figure from that source.Photographs by zhang kaiyv, Darya Sannikova on Pexels