China vs Vietnam

Every indicator for China and Vietnam side by side, with the percentage gap between them. Sources are listed at the bottom of the page.

Indicator comparison
IndicatorChinaVietnamDifference
Population (2025) (people)1,406,585,000101,598,527+1,284.5%
GDP (nominal) (billion $)19,498515+3,686.0%
GDP per capita ($)13,8625,066+173.6%
Life expectancy (years)78.074.7
Area (km²)9,562,910331,338+2,786.1%
Population density (people/km²)147307−52.0%
Median age (years)39.633.1
Internet usage (%)91.684.2
Unemployment rate (%)4.61.5
Inflation (%)0.13.3
Urban population (%)66.338.8
Military expenditure (2024 / 2018) (million $)313,6585,500+5,602.9%
Military expenditure as a share of GDP (%)1.711.81−5.5%
Military expenditure as a share of government spending (%)5.068.82−42.6%
Military expenditure per capita ($)22354+311.9%
Armed forces personnel (2020) (people)2,535,000522,000+385.6%
Armed forces per 1,000 people (people)1.85.1−64.9%
Armed forces as a share of the labor force (%)0.330.95−65.3%

The difference column shows the percentage gap of China relative to Vietnam; a positive value favors China. Interpret it in context — for unemployment, a lower value is better.

Key differences

  • On population (2025), China is 1,284.5% higher than Vietnam.
  • On gdp (nominal), China is 3,686.0% higher than Vietnam.
  • On gdp per capita, China is 173.6% higher than Vietnam.
China and Vietnam — core indicators
0500 mn1 mr1,5 mrPopulation (2025)GDP (nominal)GDP per capitaAreaPopulation (2025) — China: 1.406.585.000GDP (nominal) — China: 19.498GDP per capita — China: 13.862Area — China: 9.562.910Population (2025) — Vietnam: 101.598.527GDP (nominal) — Vietnam: 515GDP per capita — Vietnam: 5.066Area — Vietnam: 331.338
ChinaVietnam

The indicators use different scales, so the chart is a rough visual comparison only; use the table for exact figures.

Other comparisons involving China or Vietnam.

Data sourcesUN World Population Prospects, IMF, World Bank, SIPRI