Updated
Overview
Vietnam has about 70% more people than Italy: 101.60 million against 58.92 million (2025).
Italy's economy is 5.0 times the size of Vietnam's, at $2.55T versus $514.70B.
Per person, Italy is the wealthier of the two: $43,309 against $5,066 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Vietnam | Italy | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | $514.70B | Higher: $2.55T | 2025 | $476.39B / $2.37T |
| GDP per capita | $5,066 | Higher: $43,309 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 8.0% | 0.5% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 3.3% | Lower: 1.5% | 2025 | 3.6% / 1.0% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 1.5% | 6.4% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 29 | 69 | 2024 / 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $355 | Higher: $3,994 | 2024 / 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $205 | — | 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $2.89 | — | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 101.60 million | 58.92 million | 2025 | 106.69 million / 60.92 million |
| Population growth | 0.6% | -0.1% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 33.4 yrs | 48.2 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.88 | 1.21 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 74.7 yrs | Higher: 84.0 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 39% | 70% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 84% | Higher: 89% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 331,212 km² | 301,336 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 306.7/km² | 195.5/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 371 Mt | Lower: 302 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 3.7 t | 5.1 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $5.50B | $37.96B | 2018 / 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 1.8% | 1.6% | 2018 / 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 522,000 | 338,000 | 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 0.5%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 3.3% in Vietnam and 1.5% in Italy.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Vietnam: a price level of 29 versus 69 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour Italy: $3,994 against $355 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Vietnam is the far younger society: median age 33.4 versus 48.2 years.
Life expectancy is 9.2 years longer in Italy (84.0 vs 74.7).
Italy is considerably more urbanized: 70% of people live in cities, against 39%.
Geography
By land area, Vietnam is 10% larger than Italy: 331,212 km² versus 301,336 km².
Military
Italy spends 6.9 times as much on defence as Vietnam: $37.96B versus $5.50B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Vietnam fields the larger armed forces: 522,000 personnel against 338,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Vietnam bigger than Italy?
- Vietnam is larger by land area. Vietnam covers 331,212 km² while Italy covers 301,336 km², so Vietnam is 10% larger than the other.
- Which has more people, Vietnam or Italy?
- Vietnam has the larger population: 101.60 million versus 58.92 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Vietnam richer than Italy?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Italy is richer: $43,309 against $5,066. Total GDP tells the same story: $514.70B for Vietnam versus $2.55T for Italy.
- Who spends more on their military, Vietnam or Italy?
- Italy spends more: $37.96B versus $5.50B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).