Thailand vs. Cambodia Military Personnel Statistics: Who is Stronger?

A military clash between Thailand and Cambodia, two Southeast Asian nations, has resulted in 16 deaths, with 14 of the fatalities being Thai nationals. Dozens more were injured, and 120,000 residents living in the border region, the epicenter of the conflict, have been evacuated.

This armed conflict began on Thursday, July 24, 2025. According to Katadata, citing CNN, the violence erupted a day after a Thai soldier lost a leg due to a landmine explosion. This incident has plunged relations between Bangkok and Phnom Penh to their lowest point in years. Thailand has now closed all border crossings with Cambodia.

Reports from the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) and The Guardian indicate that Thailand possesses a superior military, with 360,850 active personnel.

The Thai army comprises 245,000 personnel, including approximately 115,000 conscripts. This branch boasts 400 battle tanks, over 1,200 armored fighting vehicles, and 2,600 artillery pieces.

"The army also has its own air fleet, including passenger aircraft, helicopters (including dozens of US-made Black Hawks), and drones," The Guardian wrote in its article analyzing IISS data on Thursday, July 24, 2025.

Cambodia, in contrast, has only 124,300 active personnel. The majority, approximately 75,000, are in the army. This branch possesses over 200 battle tanks and around 480 artillery units.

Thailand's navy is also significantly larger, with nearly 70,000 personnel. The Guardian details this figure as encompassing naval aviation, marines, coastal defense, and conscripts.

Thailand possesses 1 aircraft carrier, 7 frigates, 68 patrol and coastal combat vessels, several amphibious and landing ships capable of carrying hundreds of troops, plus 14 smaller landing craft.

"The Thai navy's aviation division has its own fleet, including helicopters and drones (UAVs), as well as a marine corps with 23,000 personnel, supported by dozens of armed fighting vehicles," states The Guardian.

Cambodia's navy, meanwhile, has approximately 2,800 personnel, including 1,500 marines, with 13 patrol and coastal combat vessels, and 1 amphibious landing ship.

Thailand's air force is considered one of the best-trained in Southeast Asia, with around 46,000 personnel, 112 combat-ready aircraft, including 28 F-16 fighter jets and 11 Swedish-made Gripen fighter jets, plus dozens of helicopters.

This contrasts sharply with Cambodia's air force, which has 1,500 personnel and a relatively small fleet, including 10 transport aircraft and 10 transport helicopters. They lack fighter jets but possess 16 multi-purpose helicopters, including 6 Soviet-era Mi-17s and 10 Chinese-made Z-9s.

In terms of economic backing, Thailand's defense budget was US$5.73 billion in 2024, compared to Cambodia's US$1.3 billion.

However, the ratio of defense spending to gross domestic product (GDP) is not significantly different between the two countries. In some periods, Cambodia's percentage was even higher than Thailand's. Nevertheless, Thailand's overall income surpasses that of Cambodia.

(Read: The Difference in Military Spending Ratios Between Cambodia and Thailand 2000-2024)