Updated
Overview
Vietnam has about 45% more people than the United Kingdom: 101.60 million against 69.49 million (2025).
The United Kingdom's economy is 7.8 times the size of Vietnam's, at $4.00T versus $514.70B.
Per person, the United Kingdom is the wealthier of the two: $57,602 against $5,066 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Vietnam | United Kingdom | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | $514.70B | Higher: $4.00T | 2025 | $476.39B / $3.64T |
| GDP per capita | $5,066 | Higher: $57,602 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 8.0% | 1.4% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | Lower: 3.3% | 3.9% | 2025 | 3.6% / 3.3% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 1.5% | 4.7% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 29 | 89 | 2024 / 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $355 | Higher: $3,567 | 2024 / 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $205 | Higher: $2,532 | 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $2.89 | $7.40 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 101.60 million | 69.49 million | 2025 | 106.69 million / 68.75 million |
| Population growth | 0.6% | 0.3% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 33.4 yrs | 40.1 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.88 | 1.54 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 74.7 yrs | Higher: 81.4 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 39% | 83% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 84% | Higher: 95% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 331,212 km² | 242,900 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 306.7/km² | 286.1/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 371 Mt | Lower: 313 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 3.7 t | 4.5 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $5.50B | $81.76B | 2018 / 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 1.8% | 2.3% | 2018 / 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 522,000 | 153,000 | 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 1.4%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 3.3% in Vietnam and 3.9% in the United Kingdom.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Vietnam: a price level of 29 versus 89 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour the United Kingdom: $3,567 against $355 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Vietnam is the younger society: median age 33.4 versus 40.1 years.
Life expectancy is 6.7 years longer in the United Kingdom (81.4 vs 74.7).
The United Kingdom is considerably more urbanized: 83% of people live in cities, against 39%.
Internet adoption is higher in the United Kingdom (95% vs 84% of the population).
Geography
By land area, Vietnam is 36% larger than the United Kingdom: 331,212 km² versus 242,900 km².
Military
The United Kingdom spends 15 times as much on defence as Vietnam: $81.76B versus $5.50B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Vietnam fields the larger armed forces: 522,000 personnel against 153,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Vietnam bigger than the United Kingdom?
- Vietnam is larger by land area. Vietnam covers 331,212 km² while the United Kingdom covers 242,900 km², so Vietnam is 36% larger than the other.
- Which has more people, Vietnam or the United Kingdom?
- Vietnam has the larger population: 101.60 million versus 69.49 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Vietnam richer than the United Kingdom?
- Measured by GDP per capita, the United Kingdom is richer: $57,602 against $5,066. Total GDP tells the same story: $514.70B for Vietnam versus $4.00T for the United Kingdom.
- Who spends more on their military, Vietnam or the United Kingdom?
- The United Kingdom spends more: $81.76B versus $5.50B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).