Updated
Overview
Vietnam has 2.9 times the population of Peru: 101.60 million people against 34.58 million (2025).
Vietnam's economy is about 55% larger than Peru's, at $514.70B versus $334.85B.
Per person, Peru is the wealthier of the two: $9,684 against $5,066 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Vietnam | Peru | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $514.70B | $334.85B | 2025 | $476.39B / $289.22B |
| GDP per capita | $5,066 | Higher: $9,684 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 8.0% | 3.4% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 3.3% | Lower: 1.5% | 2025 | 3.6% / 2.0% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 1.5% | 5.1% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 29 | 51 | 2024 / 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $355 | Higher: $563 | 2024 / 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $205 | Higher: $273 | 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $2.89 | $4.99 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 101.60 million | 34.58 million | 2025 | 106.69 million / 32.77 million |
| Population growth | 0.6% | 1.0% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 33.4 yrs | 30.2 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.88 | 1.94 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 74.7 yrs | Higher: 77.9 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 39% | 86% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | Higher: 84% | 82% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 331,212 km² | 1,285,216 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 306.7/km² | 26.9/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 371 Mt | Lower: 70 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | 3.7 t | Lower: 2.1 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $5.50B | $2.57B | 2018 / 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 1.8% | 0.9% | 2018 / 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 522,000 | 158,000 | 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 3.4%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 3.3% in Vietnam and 1.5% in Peru.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Vietnam: a price level of 29 versus 51 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour Peru: $563 against $355 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Peru is the younger society: median age 30.2 versus 33.4 years.
Life expectancy is 3.2 years longer in Peru (77.9 vs 74.7).
Peru is considerably more urbanized: 86% of people live in cities, against 39%.
Geography
By land area, Vietnam is 74% smaller than Peru: 331,212 km² versus 1,285,216 km².
Vietnam is far more densely settled: 307 people per km² against 27.
Military
Vietnam spends 2.1 times as much on defence as Peru: $5.50B versus $2.57B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, Vietnam carries the heavier military burden: 1.8% of GDP versus 0.9%.
Vietnam fields the larger armed forces: 522,000 personnel against 158,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Vietnam bigger than Peru?
- Peru is larger by land area. Vietnam covers 331,212 km² while Peru covers 1,285,216 km², so Peru is 3.9 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Vietnam or Peru?
- Vietnam has the larger population: 101.60 million versus 34.58 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Vietnam richer than Peru?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Peru is richer: $9,684 against $5,066. Total GDP tells a different story: $514.70B for Vietnam versus $334.85B for Peru.
- Who spends more on their military, Vietnam or Peru?
- Vietnam spends more: $5.50B versus $2.57B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).