Updated
Overview
Vietnam has 17 times the population of Singapore: 101.60 million people against 6.11 million (2025).
Singapore's economy is 17% larger than Vietnam's, at $603.87B versus $514.70B.
Per person, Singapore is the wealthier of the two: $98,814 against $5,066 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Vietnam | Singapore | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | $514.70B | Higher: $603.87B | 2025 | $476.39B / $547.39B |
| GDP per capita | $5,066 | Higher: $98,814 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 8.0% | 5.0% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 3.3% | Lower: 0.9% | 2025 | 3.6% / 2.4% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 1.5% | 2.8% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 29 | 60 | 2024 / 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $355 | Higher: $3,483 | 2024 / 2021 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $205 | — | 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $2.89 | $5.77 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 101.60 million | 6.11 million | 2025 | 106.69 million / 6.08 million |
| Population growth | 0.6% | 1.2% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 33.4 yrs | 36.2 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.88 | 0.96 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 74.7 yrs | Higher: 83.3 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 39% | 100% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 84% | Higher: 94% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 331,212 km² | 719 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 306.7/km² | 8499.5/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 371 Mt | Lower: 54 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 3.7 t | 9.2 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $5.50B | $15.06B | 2018 / 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 1.8% | 2.8% | 2018 / 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 522,000 | 59,000 | 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 faster: 8.0% annual GDP growth versus 5.0%.
Vietnam runs the hotter price environment: 3.3% inflation versus 0.9%.
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 Singapore: $3,483 against $355 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Vietnam is the younger society: median age 33.4 versus 36.2 years.
Life expectancy is 8.6 years longer in Singapore (83.3 vs 74.7).
Singapore is considerably more urbanized: 100% of people live in cities, against 39%.
Internet adoption is higher in Singapore (94% vs 84% of the population).
Geography
By land area, Vietnam is 461 times the size of Singapore: 331,212 km² versus 719 km².
Both sit in the same broad region but do not share a border.
Singapore is far more densely settled: 8500 people per km² against 307.
Military
Singapore spends 2.7 times as much on defence as Vietnam: $15.06B versus $5.50B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, Singapore carries the heavier military burden: 2.8% of GDP versus 1.8%.
Vietnam fields the larger armed forces: 522,000 personnel against 59,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Vietnam bigger than Singapore?
- Vietnam is larger by land area. Vietnam covers 331,212 km² while Singapore covers 719 km², so Vietnam is 461 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Vietnam or Singapore?
- Vietnam has the larger population: 101.60 million versus 6.11 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Vietnam richer than Singapore?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Singapore is richer: $98,814 against $5,066. Total GDP tells the same story: $514.70B for Vietnam versus $603.87B for Singapore.
- Who spends more on their military, Vietnam or Singapore?
- Singapore spends more: $15.06B versus $5.50B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).