Thailand vs Malaysia
Thailand
Malaysia
| Metric | Thailand | Malaysia |
|---|---|---|
| Capital | Bangkok | Kuala Lumpur |
| Population | 71,619,863 | 35,977,838 |
| Area (km²) | 513,120 | 330,803 |
| Population density (/km²) | 140 | 109 |
| GDP per capita (USD) | $8,100 | $13,100 |
| Region | South-Eastern Asia | South-Eastern Asia |
| Currency | THB | MYR |
| Languages | Thai | Malay |
| Main religions | Buddhism | Islam, Buddhism |
| Time zone | UTC+7 | UTC+8 |
Green highlights the higher value (or higher GDP per capita). Figures are approximate.
At a glance
Thailand and Malaysia are both located in Asia (both in South-Eastern Asia). Thailand has the larger population — about 2.0× the population of Malaysia, while Thailand covers more land area.
For full geographic detail, see the Thailand map and the Malaysia map.
Where the border came from
Thailand and Malaysia share a land border across the Malay Peninsula. Its current line dates largely from the Anglo-Siamese Treaty of 1909, under which Siam (Thailand) transferred its claims over the northern Malay states of Kedah, Kelantan, Terengganu and Perlis to Britain, while keeping Pattani and the territory around it. Thailand was never colonised, a source of national pride; Malaysia's states came under British rule and became independent as Malaya in 1957.
The deep south
The 1909 line left a Malay-speaking, Muslim-majority population in Thailand's southern provinces of Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat. A separatist insurgency there has caused thousands of deaths since violence surged in 2004. Malaysia has acted as a facilitator of peace talks between the Thai government and insurgent groups, which have been held on and off over the years.
Religion, kings and languages
Thailand is overwhelmingly Theravada Buddhist; Malaysia's official religion is Islam, which most of its population follows, alongside Buddhist, Christian and Hindu minorities. Both are constitutional monarchies, but they work very differently: Thailand has a hereditary king, while Malaysia's king is chosen from among nine state rulers and serves a five-year term. Thai is a Tai-Kadai language with its own script; Malay is written in Latin letters, and English is widely used in Malaysian business.
Economies and tourism
Thailand has about twice Malaysia's population and a larger land area, while Malaysia's GDP per capita is higher. Both are major manufacturing bases for cars, electronics and rubber products, and tourism is especially important to Thailand. Malaysians are among the largest groups of visitors to southern Thai cities such as Hat Yai.
Crossing over
The main road crossing is at Bukit Kayu Hitam–Sadao on the north–south highway, and the rail crossing is at Padang Besar, where Malaysian electric trains meet Thai services toward Hat Yai and Bangkok. For flight distances see Bangkok to Kuala Lumpur.
Frequently asked questions
- Can you take a train from Malaysia to Thailand?
- Yes. Trains connect the two at Padang Besar on the border, where travellers can continue on Thai trains toward Hat Yai and Bangkok.
- Why do southern Thailand and northern Malaysia share a culture?
- The border was set largely by the 1909 Anglo-Siamese Treaty, which left Malay-speaking, Muslim-majority areas such as Pattani in Thailand while the states further south came under British rule.