Updated
Overview
The Philippines has 15% more people than Vietnam: 116.79 million against 101.60 million (2025).
Their economies are close in size: $487.09B for the Philippines and $514.70B for Vietnam.
Per person, Vietnam is the wealthier of the two: $5,066 against $4,171 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Philippines | Vietnam | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | $487.09B | Higher: $514.70B | 2025 | $461.62B / $476.39B |
| GDP per capita | $4,171 | Higher: $5,066 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 4.4% | Higher: 8.0% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | Lower: 1.7% | 3.3% | 2025 | 3.2% / 3.6% |
| Unemployment | 2.2% | Lower: 1.5% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 33 | 29 | 2025 / 2024 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $316 | Higher: $355 | 2023 / 2024 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $145 | Higher: $205 | 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $2.74 | $2.89 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 116.79 million | 101.60 million | 2025 | 118.28 million / 106.69 million |
| Population growth | 0.8% | 0.6% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 26.1 yrs | 33.4 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.88 | 1.88 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 69.9 yrs | Higher: 74.7 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 56% | 39% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 67% | Higher: 84% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 342,353 km² | 331,212 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 341.1/km² | 306.7/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | Lower: 175 Mt | 371 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 1.5 t | 3.7 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $6.12B | $5.50B | 2024 / 2018 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 1.3% | 1.8% | 2024 / 2018 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 157,000 | 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%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 1.7% in the Philippines and 3.3% in Vietnam.
Average monthly earnings favour Vietnam: $355 against $316 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
The Philippines is the younger society: median age 26.1 versus 33.4 years.
Life expectancy is 4.8 years longer in Vietnam (74.7 vs 69.9).
The Philippines is considerably more urbanized: 56% of people live in cities, against 39%.
Internet adoption is higher in Vietnam (84% vs 67% of the population).
Geography
By land area, the Philippines is almost exactly the same size as Vietnam: 342,353 km² versus 331,212 km².
Both sit in the same broad region but do not share a border.
Military
Defence budgets are of similar magnitude: $6.12B (the Philippines) and $5.50B (Vietnam).
Vietnam fields the larger armed forces: 522,000 personnel against 157,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is the Philippines bigger than Vietnam?
- The two are almost exactly the same size. The Philippines covers 342,353 km² while Vietnam covers 331,212 km², a difference of under 3%.
- Which has more people, the Philippines or Vietnam?
- The Philippines has the larger population: 116.79 million versus 101.60 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is the Philippines richer than Vietnam?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Vietnam is richer: $5,066 against $4,171. Total GDP tells the same story: $487.09B for the Philippines versus $514.70B for Vietnam.
- Who spends more on their military, the Philippines or Vietnam?
- The Philippines spends more: $6.12B versus $5.50B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).