Updated
Overview
The United States has 3.4 times the population of Vietnam: 341.78 million people against 101.60 million (2025).
The United States' economy is 60 times the size of Vietnam's, at $30.77T versus $514.70B.
Per person, the United States is the wealthier of the two: $90,027 against $5,066 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | United States | Vietnam | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $30.77T | $514.70B | 2025 | $29.18T / $476.39B |
| GDP per capita | Higher: $90,027 | $5,066 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 2.2% | Higher: 8.0% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | Lower: 2.9% | 3.3% | 2024 / 2025 | — / 3.6% |
| Unemployment | 4.2% | Lower: 1.5% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 100 | 29 | 2025 / 2024 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | Higher: $6,273 | $355 | 2025 / 2024 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | Higher: $1,257 | $205 | 2026 / 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $6.22 | $2.89 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 341.78 million | 101.60 million | 2025 | 338.02 million / 106.69 million |
| Population growth | 0.5% | 0.6% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 38.5 yrs | 33.4 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.62 | 1.88 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | Higher: 78.9 yrs | 74.7 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 80% | 39% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | Higher: 95% | 84% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 9,833,517 km² | 331,212 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 34.8/km² | 306.7/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 4,904 Mt | Lower: 371 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | 14.2 t | Lower: 3.7 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $997.31B | $5.50B | 2024 / 2018 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 3.4% | 1.8% | 2024 / 2018 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 1.4 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 2.2%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 2.9% in the United States and 3.3% in Vietnam.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Vietnam: a price level of 29 versus 100 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour the United States: $6,273 against $355 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Vietnam is the younger society: median age 33.4 versus 38.5 years.
Life expectancy is 4.2 years longer in the United States (78.9 vs 74.7).
The United States is considerably more urbanized: 80% of people live in cities, against 39%.
Internet adoption is higher in the United States (95% vs 84% of the population).
Geography
By land area, the United States is 30 times the size of Vietnam: 9,833,517 km² versus 331,212 km².
Vietnam is far more densely settled: 307 people per km² against 35.
Military
The United States spends 181 times as much on defence as Vietnam: $997.31B versus $5.50B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, the United States carries the heavier military burden: 3.4% of GDP versus 1.8%.
The United States fields the larger armed forces: 1.4 million personnel against 522,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is the United States bigger than Vietnam?
- The United States is larger by land area. The United States covers 9,833,517 km² while Vietnam covers 331,212 km², so the United States is 30 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, the United States or Vietnam?
- The United States has the larger population: 341.78 million versus 101.60 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is the United States richer than Vietnam?
- Measured by GDP per capita, the United States is richer: $90,027 against $5,066. Total GDP tells the same story: $30.77T for the United States versus $514.70B for Vietnam.
- Who spends more on their military, the United States or Vietnam?
- The United States spends more: $997.31B versus $5.50B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).