Military spending per armed forces personnel in Thailand
Thailand: Military spending per armed forces personnel was 15,664 constant 2024 US$ in 2020. ▼ Falling
Military spending per armed forces personnel in Thailand, 1985–2020
Source: Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (2026); The Military Balance - International Institute for Strategic Studies, via World Bank (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in constant 2024 US$.
Analysis
In 2020, military spending per armed forces personnel in Thailand stood at 15,664 constant 2024 US$.
The figure is up 3.6% on the previous year and up 13.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military spending per armed forces personnel in Thailand peaked at 18,471 constant 2024 US$ in 1994 and was at its lowest, 7,224 constant 2024 US$, in 2005.
That places Thailand 106th out of 160 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 33 years of available data.
Military spending per armed forces personnel in Thailand, year by year
| Year | constant 2024 US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 16,022 constant 2024 US$ | — |
| 1989 | 13,141 constant 2024 US$ | -18.0% |
| 1990 | 14,104 constant 2024 US$ | +7.3% |
| 1991 | 15,617 constant 2024 US$ | +10.7% |
| 1992 | 17,015 constant 2024 US$ | +9.0% |
| 1993 | 16,784 constant 2024 US$ | -1.4% |
| 1994 | 18,471 constant 2024 US$ | +10.0% |
| 1995 | 12,711 constant 2024 US$ | -31.2% |
| 1996 | 13,360 constant 2024 US$ | +5.1% |
| 1997 | 15,154 constant 2024 US$ | +13.4% |
| 1998 | 10,691 constant 2024 US$ | -29.4% |
| 1999 | 9,500 constant 2024 US$ | -11.1% |
| 2000 | 8,209 constant 2024 US$ | -13.6% |
| 2001 | 8,314 constant 2024 US$ | +1.3% |
| 2002 | 8,101 constant 2024 US$ | -2.6% |
| 2003 | 7,932 constant 2024 US$ | -2.1% |
| 2004 | 7,929 constant 2024 US$ | -0.0% |
| 2005 | 7,224 constant 2024 US$ | -8.9% |
| 2006 | 7,356 constant 2024 US$ | +1.8% |
| 2007 | 8,338 constant 2024 US$ | +13.4% |
| 2008 | 10,367 constant 2024 US$ | +24.3% |
| 2009 | 12,837 constant 2024 US$ | +23.8% |
| 2010 | 13,752 constant 2024 US$ | +7.1% |
| 2011 | 11,191 constant 2024 US$ | -18.6% |
| 2012 | 12,152 constant 2024 US$ | +8.6% |
| 2013 | 12,076 constant 2024 US$ | -0.6% |
| 2014 | 12,589 constant 2024 US$ | +4.2% |
| 2015 | 13,010 constant 2024 US$ | +3.3% |
| 2016 | 13,699 constant 2024 US$ | +5.3% |
| 2017 | 14,420 constant 2024 US$ | +5.3% |
| 2018 | 14,753 constant 2024 US$ | +2.3% |
| 2019 | 15,116 constant 2024 US$ | +2.5% |
| 2020 | 15,664 constant 2024 US$ | +3.6% |
Thailand compared with similar countries
- Thailand's 15,664 constant 2024 US$ is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 19,504 constant 2024 US$, 80% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Thailand's 15,664 constant 2024 US$ is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 23,831 constant 2024 US$, 66% of the median. (19 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 14,581 constant 2024 US$ | 13,141 constant 2024 US$ | 16,022 constant 2024 US$ | 2 |
| 1990s | 14,341 constant 2024 US$ | 9,500 constant 2024 US$ | 18,471 constant 2024 US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 8,661 constant 2024 US$ | 7,224 constant 2024 US$ | 12,837 constant 2024 US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 13,276 constant 2024 US$ | 11,191 constant 2024 US$ | 15,116 constant 2024 US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 15,664 constant 2024 US$ | 15,664 constant 2024 US$ | 15,664 constant 2024 US$ | 1 |
Countries ranked near Thailand
More reference data data for Thailand
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.67 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 1.89 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 13.08 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 1.45 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 13.08 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 5.58 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 7.72 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 10.67 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 65.23 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 7.92 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military spending per armed forces personnel in Thailand?
- Military spending per armed forces personnel in Thailand was 15,664 constant 2024 US$ in 2020, according to Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (2026); The Military Balance - International Institute for Strategic Studies, via World Bank (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest military spending per armed forces personnel recorded in Thailand?
- The highest recorded value was 18,471 constant 2024 US$ in 1994.
- What is the lowest military spending per armed forces personnel recorded in Thailand?
- The lowest recorded value was 7,224 constant 2024 US$ in 2005.
- How does Thailand rank for military spending per armed forces personnel?
- Thailand ranks 106th out of 160 countries with data for 2020.
- Is military spending per armed forces personnel rising or falling in Thailand?
- Over the last ten years it is up 13.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Thailand data come from?
- The figures come from Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (2026); The Military Balance - International Institute for Strategic Studies, via World Bank (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Military spending per armed forces personnel. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 33 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Total military expenditure divided by armed forces personnel. This data is expressed in US dollars. It is adjusted for inflation but does not account for differences in the cost of living between countries.