Updated
Overview
Vietnam has 5.6 times the population of the Netherlands: 101.60 million people against 18.09 million (2025).
The Netherlands' economy is 2.6 times the size of Vietnam's, at $1.33T versus $514.70B.
Per person, the Netherlands is the wealthier of the two: $73,684 against $5,066 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Vietnam | Netherlands | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | $514.70B | Higher: $1.33T | 2025 | $476.39B / $1.23T |
| GDP per capita | $5,066 | Higher: $73,684 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 8.0% | 1.8% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 3.3% | Lower: 3.3% | 2025 | 3.6% / 3.3% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 1.5% | 3.9% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 29 | 84 | 2024 / 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $355 | Higher: $6,402 | 2024 / 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $205 | Higher: $2,538 | 2024 / 2025 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $2.89 | — | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 101.60 million | 18.09 million | 2025 | 106.69 million / 17.83 million |
| Population growth | 0.6% | 0.5% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 33.4 yrs | 41.5 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.88 | 1.44 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 74.7 yrs | Higher: 82.0 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 39% | 96% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 84% | Higher: 97% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 331,212 km² | 41,850 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 306.7/km² | 432.2/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 371 Mt | Lower: 115 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 3.7 t | 6.3 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $5.50B | $23.18B | 2018 / 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 1.8% | 1.9% | 2018 / 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 522,000 | 41,000 | 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 1.8%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 3.3% in Vietnam and 3.3% in the Netherlands.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Vietnam: a price level of 29 versus 84 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour the Netherlands: $6,402 against $355 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Vietnam is the far younger society: median age 33.4 versus 41.5 years.
Life expectancy is 7.2 years longer in the Netherlands (82.0 vs 74.7).
The Netherlands is considerably more urbanized: 96% of people live in cities, against 39%.
Internet adoption is higher in the Netherlands (97% vs 84% of the population).
Geography
By land area, Vietnam is 7.9 times the size of the Netherlands: 331,212 km² versus 41,850 km².
Military
The Netherlands spends 4.2 times as much on defence as Vietnam: $23.18B versus $5.50B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Vietnam fields the larger armed forces: 522,000 personnel against 41,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Vietnam bigger than the Netherlands?
- Vietnam is larger by land area. Vietnam covers 331,212 km² while the Netherlands covers 41,850 km², so Vietnam is 7.9 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Vietnam or the Netherlands?
- Vietnam has the larger population: 101.60 million versus 18.09 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Vietnam richer than the Netherlands?
- Measured by GDP per capita, the Netherlands is richer: $73,684 against $5,066. Total GDP tells the same story: $514.70B for Vietnam versus $1.33T for the Netherlands.
- Who spends more on their military, Vietnam or the Netherlands?
- The Netherlands spends more: $23.18B versus $5.50B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).