Updated
Overview
Vietnam has 8.8 times the population of the United Arab Emirates: 101.60 million people against 11.51 million (2025).
Their economies are close in size: $514.70B for Vietnam and $552.32B for the United Arab Emirates.
Per person, the United Arab Emirates is the wealthier of the two: $50,274 against $5,066 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Vietnam | United Arab Emirates | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | $514.70B | Higher: $552.32B | 2025 / 2024 | $476.39B / $537.08B |
| GDP per capita | $5,066 | Higher: $50,274 | 2025 / 2024 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 8.0% | 4.0% | 2025 / 2024 | — / — |
| Inflation | 3.3% | Lower: 1.3% | 2025 | 3.6% / 1.7% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 1.5% | 2.2% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 29 | 63 | 2024 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $355 | — | 2024 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $205 | — | 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $2.89 | $5.17 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 101.60 million | 11.51 million | 2025 | 106.69 million / 10.09 million |
| Population growth | 0.6% | 4.7% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 33.4 yrs | 31.6 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.88 | 1.21 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 74.7 yrs | Higher: 83.1 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 39% | 86% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 84% | Higher: 100% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 331,212 km² | 83,600 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 306.7/km² | 137.7/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 371 Mt | Lower: 222 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 3.7 t | 20.1 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $5.50B | $22.76B | 2018 / 2014 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 1.8% | 5.6% | 2018 / 2014 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 522,000 | 63,000 | 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 4.0%.
Vietnam runs the hotter price environment: 3.3% inflation versus 1.3%.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Vietnam: a price level of 29 versus 63 on a US=100 scale.
People and society
Demographically the two are similar, with median ages of 33.4 (Vietnam) and 31.6 (the United Arab Emirates).
Life expectancy is 8.3 years longer in the United Arab Emirates (83.1 vs 74.7).
The United Arab Emirates is considerably more urbanized: 86% of people live in cities, against 39%.
Internet adoption is higher in the United Arab Emirates (100% vs 84% of the population).
Geography
By land area, Vietnam is 4.0 times the size of the United Arab Emirates: 331,212 km² versus 83,600 km².
Vietnam is far more densely settled: 307 people per km² against 138.
Military
The United Arab Emirates spends 4.1 times as much on defence as Vietnam: $22.76B versus $5.50B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, the United Arab Emirates carries the heavier military burden: 5.6% of GDP versus 1.8%.
Vietnam fields the larger armed forces: 522,000 personnel against 63,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Vietnam bigger than the United Arab Emirates?
- Vietnam is larger by land area. Vietnam covers 331,212 km² while the United Arab Emirates covers 83,600 km², so Vietnam is 4.0 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Vietnam or the United Arab Emirates?
- Vietnam has the larger population: 101.60 million versus 11.51 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Vietnam richer than the United Arab Emirates?
- Measured by GDP per capita, the United Arab Emirates is richer: $50,274 against $5,066. Total GDP tells the same story: $514.70B for Vietnam versus $552.32B for the United Arab Emirates.
- Who spends more on their military, Vietnam or the United Arab Emirates?
- The United Arab Emirates spends more: $22.76B versus $5.50B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).
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