Updated
Overview
Vietnam has 4.9 times the population of Kazakhstan: 101.60 million people against 20.84 million (2025).
Vietnam's economy is about 70% larger than Kazakhstan's, at $514.70B versus $306.24B.
Per person, Kazakhstan is the wealthier of the two: $14,692 against $5,066 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Vietnam | Kazakhstan | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $514.70B | $306.24B | 2025 | $476.39B / $288.41B |
| GDP per capita | $5,066 | Higher: $14,692 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 8.0% | 6.5% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | Lower: 3.3% | 11.4% | 2025 | 3.6% / 8.8% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 1.5% | 4.8% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 29 | 33 | 2024 / 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $355 | Higher: $673 | 2024 / 2022 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | Higher: $205 | $181 | 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $2.89 | — | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 101.60 million | 20.84 million | 2025 | 106.69 million / 20.43 million |
| Population growth | 0.6% | 1.2% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 33.4 yrs | 29.7 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.88 | 2.95 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | Higher: 74.7 yrs | 74.5 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 39% | 62% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 84% | Higher: 93% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 331,212 km² | 2,724,900 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 306.7/km² | 7.6/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 371 Mt | Lower: 287 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 3.7 t | 13.9 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $5.50B | $1.21B | 2018 / 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 1.8% | 0.4% | 2018 / 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 522,000 | 71,000 | 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 faster: 8.0% annual GDP growth versus 6.5%.
Kazakhstan runs the hotter price environment: 11.4% inflation versus 3.3%.
Average monthly earnings favour Kazakhstan: $673 against $355 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Kazakhstan is the younger society: median age 29.7 versus 33.4 years.
Kazakhstan is considerably more urbanized: 62% of people live in cities, against 39%.
Geography
By land area, Vietnam is 88% smaller than Kazakhstan: 331,212 km² versus 2,724,900 km².
Vietnam is far more densely settled: 307 people per km² against 8.
Military
Vietnam spends 4.5 times as much on defence as Kazakhstan: $5.50B versus $1.21B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, Vietnam carries the heavier military burden: 1.8% of GDP versus 0.4%.
Vietnam fields the larger armed forces: 522,000 personnel against 71,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Vietnam bigger than Kazakhstan?
- Kazakhstan is larger by land area. Vietnam covers 331,212 km² while Kazakhstan covers 2,724,900 km², so Kazakhstan is 8.2 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Vietnam or Kazakhstan?
- Vietnam has the larger population: 101.60 million versus 20.84 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Vietnam richer than Kazakhstan?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Kazakhstan is richer: $14,692 against $5,066. Total GDP tells a different story: $514.70B for Vietnam versus $306.24B for Kazakhstan.
- Who spends more on their military, Vietnam or Kazakhstan?
- Vietnam spends more: $5.50B versus $1.21B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).