Updated
Overview
Vietnam has 10 times the population of Israel: 101.60 million people against 10.12 million (2025).
Israel's economy is 19% larger than Vietnam's, at $610.78B versus $514.70B.
Per person, Israel is the wealthier of the two: $60,337 against $5,066 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Vietnam | Israel | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | $514.70B | Higher: $610.78B | 2025 | $476.39B / $540.38B |
| GDP per capita | $5,066 | Higher: $60,337 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 8.0% | 2.9% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 3.3% | Lower: 3.0% | 2025 | 3.6% / 3.1% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 1.5% | 3.5% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 29 | 101 | 2024 / 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $355 | Higher: $3,383 | 2024 / 2021 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $205 | Higher: $1,589 | 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $2.89 | $7.67 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 101.60 million | 10.12 million | 2025 | 106.69 million / 9.40 million |
| Population growth | 0.6% | 1.2% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 33.4 yrs | 29.2 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.88 | 2.75 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 74.7 yrs | Higher: 83.2 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 39% | 92% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 84% | Higher: 88% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 331,212 km² | 20,770 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 306.7/km² | 487.4/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 371 Mt | Lower: 53 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 3.7 t | 5.6 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $5.50B | $46.51B | 2018 / 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 1.8% | 8.8% | 2018 / 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 522,000 | 178,000 | 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 2.9%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 3.3% in Vietnam and 3.0% in Israel.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Vietnam: a price level of 29 versus 101 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour Israel: $3,383 against $355 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Israel is the younger society: median age 29.2 versus 33.4 years.
Life expectancy is 8.5 years longer in Israel (83.2 vs 74.7).
Israel is considerably more urbanized: 92% of people live in cities, against 39%.
Geography
By land area, Vietnam is 16 times the size of Israel: 331,212 km² versus 20,770 km².
Military
Israel spends 8.5 times as much on defence as Vietnam: $46.51B versus $5.50B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, Israel carries the heavier military burden: 8.8% of GDP versus 1.8%.
Vietnam fields the larger armed forces: 522,000 personnel against 178,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Vietnam bigger than Israel?
- Vietnam is larger by land area. Vietnam covers 331,212 km² while Israel covers 20,770 km², so Vietnam is 16 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Vietnam or Israel?
- Vietnam has the larger population: 101.60 million versus 10.12 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Vietnam richer than Israel?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Israel is richer: $60,337 against $5,066. Total GDP tells the same story: $514.70B for Vietnam versus $610.78B for Israel.
- Who spends more on their military, Vietnam or Israel?
- Israel spends more: $46.51B versus $5.50B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).