Updated
Overview
Brazil has 2.1 times the population of Vietnam: 212.81 million people against 101.60 million (2025).
Brazil's economy is 4.4 times the size of Vietnam's, at $2.28T versus $514.70B.
Per person, Brazil is the wealthier of the two: $10,713 against $5,066 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Brazil | Vietnam | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $2.28T | $514.70B | 2025 | $2.18T / $476.39B |
| GDP per capita | Higher: $10,713 | $5,066 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 2.3% | Higher: 8.0% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 5.0% | Lower: 3.3% | 2025 | 4.4% / 3.6% |
| Unemployment | 6.0% | Lower: 1.5% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 46 | 29 | 2025 / 2024 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | Higher: $607 | $355 | 2025 / 2024 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | Higher: $262 | $205 | 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $4.71 | $2.89 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 212.81 million | 101.60 million | 2025 | 221.36 million / 106.69 million |
| Population growth | 0.4% | 0.6% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 34.8 yrs | 33.4 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.60 | 1.88 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | Higher: 76.0 yrs | 74.7 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 88% | 39% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | Higher: 84% | 84% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 8,515,767 km² | 331,212 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 25.0/km² | 306.7/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 483 Mt | Lower: 371 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 2.3 t | 3.7 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $20.95B | $5.50B | 2024 / 2018 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 1.0% | 1.8% | 2024 / 2018 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 762,000 | 522,000 | 2020 | — / — |
Sources by row: World Bank WDI, IMF WEO, UN WPP 2024, ILOSTAT, The Economist. Emphasis marks the stronger figure where one direction is meaningfully better.
Reading the numbers
Economy
Vietnam is growing much faster: 8.0% annual GDP growth versus 2.3%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 5.0% in Brazil and 3.3% in Vietnam.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Vietnam: a price level of 29 versus 46 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour Brazil: $607 against $355 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Demographically the two are similar, with median ages of 34.8 (Brazil) and 33.4 (Vietnam).
Life expectancy is 1.3 years longer in Brazil (76.0 vs 74.7).
Brazil is considerably more urbanized: 88% of people live in cities, against 39%.
Geography
By land area, Brazil is 26 times the size of Vietnam: 8,515,767 km² versus 331,212 km².
Vietnam is far more densely settled: 307 people per km² against 25.
Military
Brazil spends 3.8 times as much on defence as Vietnam: $20.95B versus $5.50B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, Vietnam carries the heavier military burden: 1.8% of GDP versus 1.0%.
Brazil fields the larger armed forces: 762,000 personnel against 522,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Brazil bigger than Vietnam?
- Brazil is larger by land area. Brazil covers 8,515,767 km² while Vietnam covers 331,212 km², so Brazil is 26 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Brazil or Vietnam?
- Brazil has the larger population: 212.81 million versus 101.60 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Brazil richer than Vietnam?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Brazil is richer: $10,713 against $5,066. Total GDP tells the same story: $2.28T for Brazil versus $514.70B for Vietnam.
- Who spends more on their military, Brazil or Vietnam?
- Brazil spends more: $20.95B versus $5.50B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).