Imagine a nation where nearly 99 million people, a vibrant blend of 54 ethnic groups with a median age just over 33, are fueling one of the world's fastest-growing economies amidst rapid urbanization and a rich cultural tapestry.
Key Takeaways
- Vietnam's total population as of mid-2023 is estimated at 98,858,950 people, with an annual growth rate of 0.71%
- The median age in Vietnam is 33.4 years as of 2023, with males at 32.5 years and females at 34.3 years
- Vietnam's population density is 307 people per square kilometer as of 2023, ranking 37th globally
- Vietnam's GDP nominal in 2023 is $433.3 billion USD, ranking 35th globally
- GDP per capita in Vietnam reached $4,282 USD in 2023, up from $2,800 in 2020
- Real GDP growth rate was 5.05% in 2023, following 8.02% in 2022
- Vietnam's total land area is 331,210 square kilometers, ranking 65th globally
- Coastline length is 3,444 km, with over 4,000 islands
- Highest point is Fan Si Pan at 3,144 meters in the Hoang Lien Son mountains
- Life expectancy at birth is 75.7 years overall in 2022 (73.7 male, 77.8 female)
- Infant mortality rate is 15.3 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2022
- Maternal mortality ratio is 43 deaths per 100,000 live births as of 2020
- Vietnam is a unitary Marxist-Leninist one-party socialist republic led by the Communist Party since 1975
- National Assembly has 500 members elected for 5-year terms
- President Vo Van Thuong elected in 2023, head of state
Vietnam thrives as a vibrant, youthful nation fueled by surging urbanization and economic momentum.
Demographics
1Vietnam's total population as of mid-2023 is estimated at 98,858,950 people, with an annual growth rate of 0.71%
Verified2The median age in Vietnam is 33.4 years as of 2023, with males at 32.5 years and females at 34.3 years
Verified3Vietnam's population density is 307 people per square kilometer as of 2023, ranking 37th globally
Verified4Approximately 38.4% of Vietnam's population lives in urban areas as of 2023, up from 19% in 1989
Directional5Vietnam has 54 officially recognized ethnic groups, with the Kinh (Viet) comprising 85.7% of the population
Single source6Buddhism is practiced by 14.9% of Vietnamese, while 45.1% identify as unaffiliated or folk religion adherents as of recent surveys
Verified7Vietnamese is the official language spoken by 86% as a first language, with English increasingly used among youth
Verified8Life expectancy at birth in Vietnam is 73.6 years for males and 80.8 years for females as of 2023
Verified9The total fertility rate in Vietnam is 1.96 children per woman as of 2023, below the replacement level of 2.1
Directional10Net migration rate for Vietnam is -0.4 migrants per 1,000 population annually as of 2023
Single source11Vietnam's population pyramid shows a contracting top due to low fertility, with 23.3% under age 15
Verified12Hanoi, the capital, has a population of 8.4 million in its metropolitan area as of 2023
Verified13Ho Chi Minh City, the largest city, has 9.8 million residents as of 2023 estimates
Verified14Vietnam's sex ratio at birth is 1.06 males per female, with overall population sex ratio of 0.98
Directional15About 7.7% of Vietnam's population is over 65 years old as of 2023, indicating rapid aging
Single source16Vietnam ranks 66th in population size globally with 98.8 million people
Verified17The working-age population (15-64) constitutes 68.5% of Vietnam's total population in 2023
Verified18Vietnam's youth unemployment rate among 15-24 year olds was 7.2% in 2022
Verified19Internal migration from rural to urban areas reached 2.5 million people annually in recent years
Directional20Ethnic minorities make up 14.7% of the population, concentrated in highlands
Single source21Female literacy rate in Vietnam is 94.5% for ages 15 and above as of 2022
Verified22Vietnam's population is projected to peak at 105 million by 2040 before declining
Verified23Da Nang city's population grew to 1.25 million by 2023
Verified24Overseas Vietnamese diaspora numbers about 5.3 million as of 2023
Directional25Child population (0-14 years) is 22.7% of total in 2023
Single source26Vietnam's urbanization rate is projected to reach 50% by 2030
Verified27Male life expectancy improved from 68.5 in 2000 to 73.6 in 2023
Verified28Population below poverty line (daily $2.15) dropped to 1.8% by 2022
Verified29Hai Phong metro population is 2.1 million as of 2023
Directional30Vietnam's dependency ratio is 46.1% as of 2023
Single sourceDemographics Interpretation
Vietnam is a dynamic nation of nearly 99 million, where a youthful, urbanizing population is sprinting toward modernity only to find it's already getting older, slightly outnumbered by women, and living in increasingly cramped quarters while figuring out what comes next.
Economy
1Vietnam's GDP nominal in 2023 is $433.3 billion USD, ranking 35th globally
Verified2GDP per capita in Vietnam reached $4,282 USD in 2023, up from $2,800 in 2020
Verified3Real GDP growth rate was 5.05% in 2023, following 8.02% in 2022
Verified4Agriculture sector contributes 12.46% to GDP in 2022, employing 27.6% of workforce
Directional5Industry sector accounts for 37.54% of GDP in 2022, driven by manufacturing
Single source6Services sector makes up 41.68% of GDP as of 2022
Verified7Exports of goods and services were 93.1% of GDP in 2022, totaling $371 billion
Verified8Major exports include electronics ($114 billion in 2022), textiles, and footwear
Verified9Foreign direct investment inflows reached $17.9 billion in 2022
Directional10Unemployment rate in Vietnam was 1.92% in 2023, one of the lowest in Asia
Single source11Public debt as percentage of GDP is 37.1% as of 2023
Verified12Inflation rate (CPI) averaged 3.25% in 2023
Verified13Vietnam's stock market capitalization is $244 billion as of 2023, with VN-Index at 1,127 points
Verified14Remittances received $18.1 billion in 2022, 4.4% of GDP
Directional15Labor force totals 56.95 million as of 2022
Single source16Manufacturing value added grew 9.5% in 2022, contributing 25% to GDP
Verified17Tourism revenue reached $28 billion in 2023 with 12.6 million international visitors
Verified18Vietnam is the world's second-largest coffee exporter, shipping 1.78 million tons in 2022/23
Verified19Rice production hit 43.5 million tons in 2022, making Vietnam top 3rd globally
Directional20Corporate tax rate is 20%, with incentives for FDI in high-tech sectors
Single source21Ease of doing business rank improved to 70th in 2020 World Bank report
Verified22Foreign exchange reserves stood at $109 billion in 2023
Verified23Household consumption expenditure is 64.5% of GDP in 2022
Verified24Vietnam's credit rating is BB+ from Fitch as of 2023
Directional25Garment exports totaled $44 billion in 2022
Single source26Smartphone exports reached $52.4 billion in 2022, led by Samsung
Verified27Government expenditure is 33.8% of GDP in 2023
VerifiedEconomy Interpretation
Despite its global factory buzz and smartphone swagger, Vietnam's story is a delicate balancing act: a roaring industrial dragon tethered by the plow, sprinting forward on exports while carefully tending a vast, low-income workforce at home.
Geography and Environment
1Vietnam's total land area is 331,210 square kilometers, ranking 65th globally
Verified2Coastline length is 3,444 km, with over 4,000 islands
Verified3Highest point is Fan Si Pan at 3,144 meters in the Hoang Lien Son mountains
Verified4Lowest point is the South China Sea at 0 meters
Directional5Climate is tropical in south, monsoonal in north with average temperature 24°C
Single source6Natural resources include phosphates, coal, manganese, rare earth elements, bauxite
Verified7Arable land constitutes 20.6% of total land area as of 2021
Verified8Forest area covers 41.99% of land, or 138,950 sq km in 2021
Verified9Mekong Delta region comprises 12% of land but produces 50% of rice
Directional10Red River Delta has population density of 1,100 people/sq km
Single source11Annual mean rainfall is 1,500-2,000 mm, highest in central highlands
Verified12Vietnam is vulnerable to typhoons, with 6-10 per year affecting coasts
Verified13Protected areas cover 9.5% of land, including 31 national parks
Verified14Biodiversity includes 12,000 plant species, 1,030 birds, 290 mammals
Directional15Sea level rise threatens 10% of population in Mekong Delta by 2050
Single source16Renewable water resources per capita are 10,056 cubic meters annually
Verified17Air pollution PM2.5 concentration averaged 28.2 micrograms per cubic meter in 2022
Verified18Permanent crops occupy 11.5% of land area in 2021
Verified19Volcanic activity last noted in 1923 at Ile des Cendres
Directional20Major rivers include Mekong (4,220 km shared), Red River (1,149 km)
Single source21Elevation extremes range from 3,144 m to -5 m (delta areas)
Verified22Desert/other covers 0.07% of land, mostly sand dunes
Verified23Annual deforestation rate slowed to 0.13% from 1990-2020
Verified24Coral reefs span 1,100 km along coast
Directional25Central Highlands average elevation 500-1,500 m, coffee production hub
Single source26Typhoon season peaks September-November, causing $1.5B damage yearly avg
Verified27Carbon dioxide emissions totaled 286.7 million metric tons in 2021
Verified28Mangrove forests cover 200,000 hectares, vital for coastal protection
Verified29Vietnam lies on Pacific Ring of Fire, moderate earthquake risk
Directional30Freshwater withdrawal is 75.4 billion cubic meters annually, 96% for agriculture
Single sourceGeography and Environment Interpretation
Vietnam's geography is a study in precarious abundance: it is a nation whose soaring highlands cradle rare earths while its drowning deltas feed half the country, all while bracing against an annual siege of typhoons and the slow creep of the sea.
Government and Infrastructure
1Vietnam is a unitary Marxist-Leninist one-party socialist republic led by the Communist Party since 1975
Verified2National Assembly has 500 members elected for 5-year terms
Verified3President Vo Van Thuong elected in 2023, head of state
Verified4Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh appointed in 2021, head of government
Directional5Constitution adopted in 2013, effective 1 January 2014
Single source6Suffrage age is 18 years, universal
Verified7Administrative divisions include 58 provinces and 5 municipalities
Verified8Active military personnel number 482,000, with 5 million reserves
Verified9Defense budget is 2.3% of GDP in 2023, about $8 billion
Directional10Paved roadways total 130,467 km as of 2021
Single source11Airports number 45 with paved runways over 3,000m: 11 as of 2023
Verified12Internet users are 78.5 million, 79.1% penetration in 2023
Verified13Mobile cellular subscriptions are 158 per 100 people in 2022
Verified14Fixed broadband subscriptions are 21.7 per 100 in 2022
Directional15Railways total 2,600 km, mostly single track meter gauge
Single source16Merchant marine fleet has 1,873 ships totaling 8.98 million DWT as of 2022
Verified17Electricity production is 282 billion kWh annually, access 99.4% in 2022
Verified18Hanoi metro system (Cat Linh–Ha Dong line) opened 2021, 13 km
Verified19Corruption Perceptions Index score is 42/100 in 2022, ranking 77th
Directional20Human Freedom Index rank is 117th with score 5.57 in 2022
Single source21Press Freedom Index rank 178th out of 180 in 2023
Verified22Women in parliament constitute 30.3% as of 2023
Verified23HDI value is 0.726 (high), ranking 115th in 2022
Verified24Rule of Law Index score 0.44, ranking 73rd in 2023
Directional25Ports handle 692 million tons cargo annually, Cai Mep-Thi Vai largest
Single source265G coverage launched in major cities in 2022, subscribers growing
Verified27Judicial review by Supreme People's Court, no constitutional court
VerifiedGovernment and Infrastructure Interpretation
One might charitably describe Vietnam's system as a single-party democracy with impressive infrastructure and digital growth, which nevertheless operates with the firm ideological hand and media control of its long-ruling Communist Party, leaving its high human development in a curious tension with its notably low rankings for press and political freedoms.
Health and Social Services
1Life expectancy at birth is 75.7 years overall in 2022 (73.7 male, 77.8 female)
Verified2Infant mortality rate is 15.3 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2022
Verified3Maternal mortality ratio is 43 deaths per 100,000 live births as of 2020
Verified4HIV/AIDS prevalence among adults 15-49 is 0.2% in 2022
Directional5Physicians density is 0.9 per 1,000 people in 2020
Single source6Hospital beds per 1,000 people is 2.6 as of 2020
Verified7Adult literacy rate is 95.8% (95.0% male, 96.5% female) ages 15+ in 2022
Verified8Primary school enrollment net rate is 98.7% for relevant age group in 2021
Verified9Secondary school enrollment gross rate is 89.4% in 2021
Directional10Tertiary enrollment gross rate reached 30.2% in 2021
Single source11Immunization coverage for DTP3 among 1-year-olds is 95% in 2022
Verified12Obesity rate among adults is 2.1% in 2016 (latest)
Verified13Diabetes prevalence among adults 20-79 is 6.1% in 2021
Verified14Tuberculosis incidence is 105 per 100,000 people in 2022
Directional15Government health expenditure is 5.3% of GDP in 2021
Single source16Access to improved drinking water is 98% of population in 2022
Verified17Suicide mortality rate is 7.9 per 100,000 in 2019
Verified18Malnutrition prevalence (weight for age) in children under 5 is 13.6% in 2020
Verified19Female labor force participation is 71.5% ages 15+ in 2022
Directional20Youth literacy rate (15-24) is 98.1% in 2022
Single source21PISA math score average is 461 in 2018, above OECD average
Verified22Government education expenditure is 4.2% of GDP in 2021
Verified23Contraceptive prevalence is 71% among women 15-49 in 2021
Verified24Access to improved sanitation is 89% of population in 2022
Directional25Mean years of schooling is 8.6 for adults 25+ in 2021
Single source26Gender parity index in primary education is 0.99 in 2021
Verified27Hepatitis B prevalence reduced to 1% among children under 5 in 2019
Verified28Expected years of schooling is 12.9 years in 2022
Verified29Under-5 mortality rate is 18.5 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2022
Directional30Road traffic death rate is 26.4 per 100,000 in 2019
Single sourceHealth and Social Services Interpretation
Vietnam's portrait is one of paradox: its people are living longer and learning more while its roads are perilous and its hospital beds are scarce, proving that national health is a complex equation where educational gains don't always subtract infrastructural pains.
Sources & References
- Reference 1CIAcia.govVisit source
- Reference 2WORLDOMETERSworldometers.infoVisit source
- Reference 3DATAdata.worldbank.orgVisit source
- Reference 4WORLDPOPULATIONREVIEWworldpopulationreview.comVisit source
- Reference 5DATAdata.un.orgVisit source
- Reference 6WORLDBANKworldbank.orgVisit source
- Reference 7UNun.orgVisit source
- Reference 8GOVgov.vnVisit source
- Reference 9ADBadb.orgVisit source
- Reference 10IMFimf.orgVisit source
- Reference 11OECoec.worldVisit source
- Reference 12TRADINGECONOMICStradingeconomics.comVisit source
- Reference 13STATISTAstatista.comVisit source
- Reference 14ICOico.orgVisit source
- Reference 15FAOfao.orgVisit source
- Reference 16ARCHIVEarchive.doingbusiness.orgVisit source
- Reference 17CEICDATAceicdata.comVisit source
- Reference 18FITCHRATINGSfitchratings.comVisit source
- Reference 19VIETNAM-BRIEFINGvietnam-briefing.comVisit source
- Reference 20ENen.wikipedia.orgVisit source
- Reference 21WORLDDATAworlddata.infoVisit source
- Reference 22PROTECTEDPLANETprotectedplanet.netVisit source
- Reference 23IQAIRiqair.comVisit source
- Reference 24PEAKVISORpeakvisor.comVisit source
- Reference 25UNEPunep.orgVisit source
- Reference 26RELIEFWEBreliefweb.intVisit source
- Reference 27UISuis.unesco.orgVisit source
- Reference 28DATAdata.who.intVisit source
- Reference 29DIABETESATLASdiabetesatlas.orgVisit source
- Reference 30OECDoecd.orgVisit source
- Reference 31HDRhdr.undp.orgVisit source
- Reference 32WHOwho.intVisit source
- Reference 33CONSTITUTEPROJECTconstituteproject.orgVisit source
- Reference 34SIPRIsipri.orgVisit source
- Reference 35DATAREPORTALdatareportal.comVisit source
- Reference 36TRANSPARENCYtransparency.orgVisit source
- Reference 37CATOcato.orgVisit source
- Reference 38RSFrsf.orgVisit source
- Reference 39DATAdata.ipu.orgVisit source
- Reference 40WORLDJUSTICEPROJECTworldjusticeproject.orgVisit source