Updated
Overview
Egypt has 17% more people than Vietnam: 118.37 million against 101.60 million (2025).
Vietnam's economy is about 40% larger than Egypt's, at $514.70B versus $365.25B.
Per person, Vietnam is the wealthier of the two: $5,066 against $3,086 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Egypt | Vietnam | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | $365.25B | Higher: $514.70B | 2025 | $389.06B / $476.39B |
| GDP per capita | $3,086 | Higher: $5,066 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 4.4% | Higher: 8.0% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 14.1% | Lower: 3.3% | 2025 | 28.3% / 3.6% |
| Unemployment | 6.8% | Lower: 1.5% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 15 | 29 | 2025 / 2024 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $109 | Higher: $355 | 2024 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $132 | Higher: $205 | 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $2.87 | $2.89 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 118.37 million | 101.60 million | 2025 | 112.87 million / 106.69 million |
| Population growth | 1.6% | 0.6% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 24.5 yrs | 33.4 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 2.71 | 1.88 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 71.8 yrs | Higher: 74.7 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 43% | 39% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 75% | Higher: 84% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 1,002,450 km² | 331,212 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 118.1/km² | 306.7/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | Lower: 258 Mt | 371 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 2.2 t | 3.7 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $2.40B | $5.50B | 2024 / 2018 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 0.7% | 1.8% | 2024 / 2018 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 836,000 | 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 4.4%.
Egypt runs the hotter price environment: 14.1% inflation versus 3.3%.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Egypt: a price level of 15 versus 29 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour Vietnam: $355 against $109 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Egypt is the far younger society: median age 24.5 versus 33.4 years.
Life expectancy is 2.9 years longer in Vietnam (74.7 vs 71.8).
Geography
By land area, Egypt is 3.0 times the size of Vietnam: 1,002,450 km² versus 331,212 km².
Vietnam is far more densely settled: 307 people per km² against 118.
Military
Vietnam spends 2.3 times as much on defence as Egypt: $5.50B versus $2.40B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, Vietnam carries the heavier military burden: 1.8% of GDP versus 0.7%.
Egypt fields the larger armed forces: 836,000 personnel against 522,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Egypt bigger than Vietnam?
- Egypt is larger by land area. Egypt covers 1,002,450 km² while Vietnam covers 331,212 km², so Egypt is 3.0 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Egypt or Vietnam?
- Egypt has the larger population: 118.37 million versus 101.60 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Egypt richer than Vietnam?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Vietnam is richer: $5,066 against $3,086. Total GDP tells the same story: $365.25B for Egypt versus $514.70B for Vietnam.
- Who spends more on their military, Egypt or Vietnam?
- Vietnam spends more: $5.50B versus $2.40B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).