Updated
Overview
Russia has about 40% more people than Vietnam: 143.51 million against 101.60 million (2025).
Russia's economy is 5.0 times the size of Vietnam's, at $2.56T versus $514.70B.
Per person, Russia is the wealthier of the two: $17,547 against $5,066 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Russia | Vietnam | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $2.56T | $514.70B | 2025 | $2.17T / $476.39B |
| GDP per capita | Higher: $17,547 | $5,066 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 1.0% | Higher: 8.0% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 8.7% | Lower: 3.3% | 2025 | 6.7% / 3.6% |
| Unemployment | 2.1% | Lower: 1.5% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 32 | 29 | 2024 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | Higher: $777 | $355 | 2021 / 2024 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | Higher: $208 | $205 | 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $1.74 | $2.89 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 143.51 million | 101.60 million | 2025 | 140.13 million / 106.69 million |
| Population growth | -0.1% | 0.6% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 40.3 yrs | 33.4 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.46 | 1.88 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 73.4 yrs | Higher: 74.7 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 75% | 39% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | Higher: 94% | 84% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 17,098,242 km² | 331,212 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 8.4/km² | 306.7/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 1,781 Mt | Lower: 371 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | 12.3 t | Lower: 3.7 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $148.97B | $5.50B | 2024 / 2018 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 7.1% | 1.8% | 2024 / 2018 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 1.5 million | 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 1.0%.
Russia runs the hotter price environment: 8.7% inflation versus 3.3%.
Average monthly earnings favour Russia: $777 against $355 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Vietnam is the younger society: median age 33.4 versus 40.3 years.
Life expectancy is 1.3 years longer in Vietnam (74.7 vs 73.4).
Russia is considerably more urbanized: 75% of people live in cities, against 39%.
Internet adoption is higher in Russia (94% vs 84% of the population).
Geography
By land area, Russia is 52 times the size of Vietnam: 17,098,242 km² versus 331,212 km².
Vietnam is far more densely settled: 307 people per km² against 8.
Military
Russia spends 27 times as much on defence as Vietnam: $148.97B versus $5.50B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, Russia carries the heavier military burden: 7.1% of GDP versus 1.8%.
Russia fields the larger armed forces: 1.5 million personnel against 522,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Russia bigger than Vietnam?
- Russia is larger by land area. Russia covers 17,098,242 km² while Vietnam covers 331,212 km², so Russia is 52 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Russia or Vietnam?
- Russia has the larger population: 143.51 million versus 101.60 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Russia richer than Vietnam?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Russia is richer: $17,547 against $5,066. Total GDP tells the same story: $2.56T for Russia versus $514.70B for Vietnam.
- Who spends more on their military, Russia or Vietnam?
- Russia spends more: $148.97B versus $5.50B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).