Updated
Overview
Vietnam has 2.8 times the population of Poland: 101.60 million people against 36.44 million (2025).
Poland's economy is 2.0 times the size of Vietnam's, at $1.04T versus $514.70B.
Per person, Poland is the wealthier of the two: $28,420 against $5,066 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Vietnam | Poland | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | $514.70B | Higher: $1.04T | 2025 | $476.39B / $914.70B |
| GDP per capita | $5,066 | Higher: $28,420 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 8.0% | 3.6% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | Lower: 3.3% | 3.8% | 2025 | 3.6% / 3.8% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 1.5% | 3.0% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 29 | 52 | 2024 / 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $355 | Higher: $2,302 | 2024 / 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $205 | Higher: $1,241 | 2024 / 2025 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $2.89 | $6.22 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 101.60 million | 36.44 million | 2025 | 106.69 million / 38.75 million |
| Population growth | 0.6% | -0.3% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 33.4 yrs | 42.5 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.88 | 1.31 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 74.7 yrs | Higher: 78.4 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 39% | 60% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 84% | Higher: 89% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 331,212 km² | 312,679 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 306.7/km² | 116.5/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 371 Mt | Lower: 273 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 3.7 t | 7.1 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $5.50B | $38.00B | 2018 / 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 1.8% | 4.2% | 2018 / 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 522,000 | 189,000 | 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 3.6%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 3.3% in Vietnam and 3.8% in Poland.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Vietnam: a price level of 29 versus 52 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour Poland: $2,302 against $355 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Vietnam is the far younger society: median age 33.4 versus 42.5 years.
Life expectancy is 3.7 years longer in Poland (78.4 vs 74.7).
Poland is considerably more urbanized: 60% of people live in cities, against 39%.
Geography
By land area, Vietnam is almost exactly the same size as Poland: 331,212 km² versus 312,679 km².
Vietnam is far more densely settled: 307 people per km² against 117.
Military
Poland spends 6.9 times as much on defence as Vietnam: $38.00B versus $5.50B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, Poland carries the heavier military burden: 4.2% of GDP versus 1.8%.
Vietnam fields the larger armed forces: 522,000 personnel against 189,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Vietnam bigger than Poland?
- The two are almost exactly the same size. Vietnam covers 331,212 km² while Poland covers 312,679 km², a difference of under 6%.
- Which has more people, Vietnam or Poland?
- Vietnam has the larger population: 101.60 million versus 36.44 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Vietnam richer than Poland?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Poland is richer: $28,420 against $5,066. Total GDP tells the same story: $514.70B for Vietnam versus $1.04T for Poland.
- Who spends more on their military, Vietnam or Poland?
- Poland spends more: $38.00B versus $5.50B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).