United States vs Vietnam
Every indicator for United States and Vietnam side by side, with the percentage gap between them. Sources are listed at the bottom of the page.
| Indicator | United States | Vietnam | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2025) (people) | 341,784,857 | 101,598,527 | +236.4% |
| GDP (nominal) (billion $) | 30,770 | 515 | +5,874.8% |
| GDP per capita ($) | 90,027 | 5,066 | +1,677.1% |
| Life expectancy (years) | 78.9 | 74.7 | — |
| Area (km²) | 9,831,510 | 331,338 | +2,867.2% |
| Population density (people/km²) | 35 | 307 | −88.7% |
| Median age (years) | 38.3 | 33.1 | — |
| Internet usage (%) | 94.7 | 84.2 | — |
| Unemployment rate (%) | 4.2 | 1.5 | — |
| Inflation (%) | 2.9 | 3.3 | — |
| Urban population (%) | 80.2 | 38.8 | — |
| Military expenditure (2024 / 2018) (million $) | 997,309 | 5,500 | +18,032.9% |
| Military expenditure as a share of GDP (%) | 3.42 | 1.81 | +89.0% |
| Military expenditure as a share of government spending (%) | 9.11 | 8.82 | +3.3% |
| Military expenditure per capita ($) | 2,918 | 54 | +5,290.2% |
| Armed forces personnel (2020) (people) | 1,395,000 | 522,000 | +167.2% |
| Armed forces per 1,000 people (people) | 4.1 | 5.1 | −20.6% |
| Armed forces as a share of the labor force (%) | 0.84 | 0.95 | −11.6% |
The difference column shows the percentage gap of United States relative to Vietnam; a positive value favors United States. Interpret it in context — for unemployment, a lower value is better.
At a glance
United States is higher on 9 of the 12 indicators, while Vietnam leads on the remaining 3. The widest separation is in military expenditure (2024 / 2018), about 181 times; they are closest on military expenditure as a share of government spending.
Key differences
- Military expenditure (2024 / 2018) shows the widest gap of all: United States stands at 997,309 against Vietnam's 5,500 — roughly 181 times as much.
- GDP (nominal) shows the widest gap of all: United States stands at 30,770 against Vietnam's 515 — roughly 60 times as much.
- Military expenditure per capita shows the widest gap of all: United States stands at 2,918 against Vietnam's 54 — roughly 54 times as much.
- Area shows the widest gap of all: United States stands at 9,831,510 against Vietnam's 331,338 — roughly 30 times as much.
- GDP per capita shows the widest gap of all: United States stands at 90,027 against Vietnam's 5,066 — roughly 18 times as much.
Frequently asked questions
Where do United States and Vietnam differ most?
Where are United States and Vietnam most alike?
On how many indicators is United States ahead of Vietnam?
The indicators use different scales, so the chart is a rough visual comparison only; use the table for exact figures.
Related comparisons
Other comparisons involving United States or Vietnam.
United States profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
Vietnam profile →
All statistics, series, and details.