Updated
Overview
Vietnam has 9.4 times the population of Portugal: 101.60 million people against 10.80 million (2025).
Vietnam's economy is about 50% larger than Portugal's, at $514.70B versus $346.64B.
Per person, Portugal is the wealthier of the two: $32,082 against $5,066 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Vietnam | Portugal | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $514.70B | $346.64B | 2025 | $476.39B / $308.68B |
| GDP per capita | $5,066 | Higher: $32,082 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 8.0% | 1.9% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 3.3% | Lower: 2.3% | 2025 | 3.6% / 2.4% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 1.5% | 6.2% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 29 | 60 | 2024 / 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $355 | Higher: $1,426 | 2024 / 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $205 | Higher: $1,147 | 2024 / 2025 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $2.89 | — | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 101.60 million | 10.80 million | 2025 | 106.69 million / 10.19 million |
| Population growth | 0.6% | 1.0% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 33.4 yrs | 46.9 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.88 | 1.52 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 74.7 yrs | Higher: 82.4 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 39% | 61% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 84% | Higher: 88% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 331,212 km² | 92,090 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 306.7/km² | 117.3/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 371 Mt | Lower: 36 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | 3.7 t | Lower: 3.4 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $5.50B | $4.64B | 2018 / 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 1.8% | 1.5% | 2018 / 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 522,000 | 52,000 | 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 1.9%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 3.3% in Vietnam and 2.3% in Portugal.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Vietnam: a price level of 29 versus 60 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour Portugal: $1,426 against $355 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Vietnam is the far younger society: median age 33.4 versus 46.9 years.
Life expectancy is 7.6 years longer in Portugal (82.4 vs 74.7).
Portugal is considerably more urbanized: 61% of people live in cities, against 39%.
Geography
By land area, Vietnam is 3.6 times the size of Portugal: 331,212 km² versus 92,090 km².
Vietnam is far more densely settled: 307 people per km² against 117.
Military
Defence budgets are of similar magnitude: $5.50B (Vietnam) and $4.64B (Portugal).
Vietnam fields the larger armed forces: 522,000 personnel against 52,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Vietnam bigger than Portugal?
- Vietnam is larger by land area. Vietnam covers 331,212 km² while Portugal covers 92,090 km², so Vietnam is 3.6 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Vietnam or Portugal?
- Vietnam has the larger population: 101.60 million versus 10.80 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Vietnam richer than Portugal?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Portugal is richer: $32,082 against $5,066. Total GDP tells a different story: $514.70B for Vietnam versus $346.64B for Portugal.
- Who spends more on their military, Vietnam or Portugal?
- Vietnam spends more: $5.50B versus $4.64B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).