Updated
Overview
Vietnam has 2.4 times the population of Canada: 101.60 million people against 41.65 million (2025).
Canada's economy is 4.5 times the size of Vietnam's, at $2.32T versus $514.70B.
Per person, Canada is the wealthier of the two: $55,698 against $5,066 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Vietnam | Canada | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | $514.70B | Higher: $2.32T | 2025 | $476.39B / $2.24T |
| GDP per capita | $5,066 | Higher: $55,698 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 8.0% | 1.7% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 3.3% | Lower: 2.1% | 2025 | 3.6% / 2.4% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 1.5% | 6.9% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 29 | 83 | 2024 / 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $355 | Higher: $4,121 | 2024 / 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $205 | Higher: $2,106 | 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $2.89 | $5.81 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 101.60 million | 41.65 million | 2025 | 106.69 million / 39.19 million |
| Population growth | 0.6% | 0.9% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 33.4 yrs | 40.6 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.88 | 1.33 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 74.7 yrs | Higher: 82.1 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 39% | 83% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 84% | Higher: 94% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 331,212 km² | 9,984,670 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 306.7/km² | 4.2/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | Lower: 371 Mt | 533 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 3.7 t | 13.4 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $5.50B | $29.35B | 2018 / 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 1.8% | 1.3% | 2018 / 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 522,000 | 72,000 | 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 1.7%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 3.3% in Vietnam and 2.1% in Canada.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Vietnam: a price level of 29 versus 83 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour Canada: $4,121 against $355 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Vietnam is the younger society: median age 33.4 versus 40.6 years.
Life expectancy is 7.4 years longer in Canada (82.1 vs 74.7).
Canada is considerably more urbanized: 83% of people live in cities, against 39%.
Internet adoption is higher in Canada (94% vs 84% of the population).
Geography
By land area, Vietnam is only about 1/30 the size of Canada: 331,212 km² versus 9,984,670 km².
Vietnam is far more densely settled: 307 people per km² against 4.
Military
Canada spends 5.3 times as much on defence as Vietnam: $29.35B versus $5.50B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Vietnam fields the larger armed forces: 522,000 personnel against 72,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Vietnam bigger than Canada?
- Canada is larger by land area. Vietnam covers 331,212 km² while Canada covers 9,984,670 km², so Canada is 30 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Vietnam or Canada?
- Vietnam has the larger population: 101.60 million versus 41.65 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Vietnam richer than Canada?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Canada is richer: $55,698 against $5,066. Total GDP tells the same story: $514.70B for Vietnam versus $2.32T for Canada.
- Who spends more on their military, Vietnam or Canada?
- Canada spends more: $29.35B versus $5.50B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).