Updated
Overview
Indonesia has 2.8 times the population of Vietnam: 285.72 million people against 101.60 million (2025).
Indonesia's economy is 2.8 times the size of Vietnam's, at $1.45T versus $514.70B.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Indonesia | Vietnam | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $1.45T | $514.70B | 2025 | $1.40T / $476.39B |
| GDP per capita | $5,060 | Higher: $5,066 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 5.1% | Higher: 8.0% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | Lower: 1.9% | 3.3% | 2025 | 3.7% / 3.6% |
| Unemployment | 3.2% | Lower: 1.5% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 29 | 29 | 2025 / 2024 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $182 | Higher: $355 | 2023 / 2024 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | Higher: $320 | $205 | 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $2.38 | $2.89 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 285.72 million | 101.60 million | 2025 | 283.59 million / 106.69 million |
| Population growth | 0.8% | 0.6% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 30.4 yrs | 33.4 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 2.10 | 1.88 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 71.3 yrs | Higher: 74.7 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 59% | 39% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 73% | Higher: 84% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 1,904,569 km² | 331,212 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 150.0/km² | 306.7/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 812 Mt | Lower: 371 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 2.9 t | 3.7 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $11.04B | $5.50B | 2024 / 2018 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 0.8% | 1.8% | 2024 / 2018 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 676,000 | 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 faster: 8.0% annual GDP growth versus 5.1%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 1.9% in Indonesia and 3.3% in Vietnam.
Average monthly earnings favour Vietnam: $355 against $182 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Indonesia is the younger society: median age 30.4 versus 33.4 years.
Life expectancy is 3.4 years longer in Vietnam (74.7 vs 71.3).
Indonesia is considerably more urbanized: 59% of people live in cities, against 39%.
Internet adoption is higher in Vietnam (84% vs 73% of the population).
Geography
By land area, Indonesia is 5.8 times the size of Vietnam: 1,904,569 km² versus 331,212 km².
Both sit in the same broad region but do not share a border.
Vietnam is far more densely settled: 307 people per km² against 150.
Military
Indonesia spends 2.0 times as much on defence as Vietnam: $11.04B versus $5.50B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, Vietnam carries the heavier military burden: 1.8% of GDP versus 0.8%.
Indonesia fields the larger armed forces: 676,000 personnel against 522,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Indonesia bigger than Vietnam?
- Indonesia is larger by land area. Indonesia covers 1,904,569 km² while Vietnam covers 331,212 km², so Indonesia is 5.8 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Indonesia or Vietnam?
- Indonesia has the larger population: 285.72 million versus 101.60 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Indonesia richer than Vietnam?
- They are effectively level on GDP per capita: $5,060 for Indonesia against $5,066 for Vietnam, a gap too small to call. Total GDP tells a different story: $1.45T for Indonesia versus $514.70B for Vietnam.
- Who spends more on their military, Indonesia or Vietnam?
- Indonesia spends more: $11.04B versus $5.50B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).