Updated
Overview
Vietnam has 18 times the population of Norway: 101.60 million people against 5.61 million (2025).
Their economies are close in size: $514.70B for Vietnam and $530.76B for Norway.
Per person, Norway is the wealthier of the two: $94,594 against $5,066 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Vietnam | Norway | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | $514.70B | Higher: $530.76B | 2025 | $476.39B / $483.73B |
| GDP per capita | $5,066 | Higher: $94,594 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 8.0% | 1.1% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 3.3% | Lower: 3.1% | 2025 | 3.6% / 3.1% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 1.5% | 4.6% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 29 | 91 | 2024 / 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $355 | Higher: $6,440 | 2024 / 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $205 | — | 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $2.89 | $8.05 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 101.60 million | 5.61 million | 2025 | 106.69 million / 5.51 million |
| Population growth | 0.6% | 0.7% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 33.4 yrs | 39.8 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.88 | 1.42 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 74.7 yrs | Higher: 83.2 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 39% | 84% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 84% | Higher: 99% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 331,212 km² | 323,802 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 306.7/km² | 17.3/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 371 Mt | Lower: 37 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 3.7 t | 6.7 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $5.50B | $10.44B | 2018 / 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 1.8% | 2.1% | 2018 / 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 522,000 | 25,000 | 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 1.1%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 3.3% in Vietnam and 3.1% in Norway.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Vietnam: a price level of 29 versus 91 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour Norway: $6,440 against $355 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Vietnam is the younger society: median age 33.4 versus 39.8 years.
Life expectancy is 8.4 years longer in Norway (83.2 vs 74.7).
Norway is considerably more urbanized: 84% of people live in cities, against 39%.
Internet adoption is higher in Norway (99% vs 84% of the population).
Geography
By land area, Vietnam is almost exactly the same size as Norway: 331,212 km² versus 323,802 km².
Vietnam is far more densely settled: 307 people per km² against 17.
Military
Norway spends about 90% more on defence than Vietnam: $10.44B versus $5.50B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Vietnam fields the larger armed forces: 522,000 personnel against 25,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Vietnam bigger than Norway?
- The two are almost exactly the same size. Vietnam covers 331,212 km² while Norway covers 323,802 km², a difference of under 2%.
- Which has more people, Vietnam or Norway?
- Vietnam has the larger population: 101.60 million versus 5.61 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Vietnam richer than Norway?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Norway is richer: $94,594 against $5,066. Total GDP tells the same story: $514.70B for Vietnam versus $530.76B for Norway.
- Who spends more on their military, Vietnam or Norway?
- Norway spends more: $10.44B versus $5.50B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).