Updated
Overview
Vietnam has 2.8 times the population of Malaysia: 101.60 million people against 35.98 million (2025).
Their economies are close in size: $514.70B for Vietnam and $472.19B for Malaysia.
Per person, Malaysia is the wealthier of the two: $13,125 against $5,066 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Vietnam | Malaysia | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $514.70B | $472.19B | 2025 | $476.39B / $421.97B |
| GDP per capita | $5,066 | Higher: $13,125 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 8.0% | 5.2% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 3.3% | Lower: 1.4% | 2025 | 3.6% / 1.8% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 1.5% | 3.8% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 29 | 32 | 2024 / 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $355 | Higher: $698 | 2024 / 2020 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $205 | Higher: $328 | 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $2.89 | $3.57 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 101.60 million | 35.98 million | 2025 | 106.69 million / 34.91 million |
| Population growth | 0.6% | 1.2% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 33.4 yrs | 31.0 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.88 | 1.53 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 74.7 yrs | Higher: 76.8 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 39% | 77% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 84% | Higher: 98% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 331,212 km² | 330,803 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 306.7/km² | 108.8/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 371 Mt | Lower: 290 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 3.7 t | 8.2 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $5.50B | $4.31B | 2018 / 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 1.8% | 1.0% | 2018 / 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 522,000 | 136,000 | 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 5.2%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 3.3% in Vietnam and 1.4% in Malaysia.
Average monthly earnings favour Malaysia: $698 against $355 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Malaysia is the younger society: median age 31.0 versus 33.4 years.
Life expectancy is 2.1 years longer in Malaysia (76.8 vs 74.7).
Malaysia is considerably more urbanized: 77% of people live in cities, against 39%.
Internet adoption is higher in Malaysia (98% vs 84% of the population).
Geography
By land area, Vietnam is almost exactly the same size as Malaysia: 331,212 km² versus 330,803 km².
Both sit in the same broad region but do not share a border.
Vietnam is far more densely settled: 307 people per km² against 109.
Military
Vietnam spends 28% more on defence than Malaysia: $5.50B versus $4.31B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, Vietnam carries the heavier military burden: 1.8% of GDP versus 1.0%.
Vietnam fields the larger armed forces: 522,000 personnel against 136,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Vietnam bigger than Malaysia?
- The two are almost exactly the same size. Vietnam covers 331,212 km² while Malaysia covers 330,803 km², a difference of under 1%.
- Which has more people, Vietnam or Malaysia?
- Vietnam has the larger population: 101.60 million versus 35.98 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Vietnam richer than Malaysia?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Malaysia is richer: $13,125 against $5,066. Total GDP tells a different story: $514.70B for Vietnam versus $472.19B for Malaysia.
- Who spends more on their military, Vietnam or Malaysia?
- Vietnam spends more: $5.50B versus $4.31B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).