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 | China | Vietnam | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2025) (people) | 1,406,585,000 | 101,598,527 | +1,284.5% |
| GDP (nominal) (billion $) | 19,498 | 515 | +3,686.0% |
| GDP per capita ($) | 13,862 | 5,066 | +173.6% |
| Life expectancy (years) | 78.0 | 74.7 | — |
| Area (km²) | 9,562,910 | 331,338 | +2,786.1% |
| Population density (people/km²) | 147 | 307 | −52.0% |
| Median age (years) | 39.6 | 33.1 | — |
| Internet usage (%) | 91.6 | 84.2 | — |
| Unemployment rate (%) | 4.6 | 1.5 | — |
| Inflation (%) | 0.1 | 3.3 | — |
| Urban population (%) | 66.3 | 38.8 | — |
| Military expenditure (2024 / 2018) (million $) | 313,658 | 5,500 | +5,602.9% |
| Military expenditure as a share of GDP (%) | 1.71 | 1.81 | −5.5% |
| Military expenditure as a share of government spending (%) | 5.06 | 8.82 | −42.6% |
| Military expenditure per capita ($) | 223 | 54 | +311.9% |
| Armed forces personnel (2020) (people) | 2,535,000 | 522,000 | +385.6% |
| Armed forces per 1,000 people (people) | 1.8 | 5.1 | −64.9% |
| Armed forces as a share of the labor force (%) | 0.33 | 0.95 | −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.
At a glance
China is higher on 7 of the 12 indicators, while Vietnam leads on the remaining 5. The widest separation is in military expenditure (2024 / 2018), about 57 times; they are closest on military expenditure as a share of gdp.
Key differences
- Military expenditure (2024 / 2018) shows the widest gap of all: China stands at 313,658 against Vietnam's 5,500 — roughly 57 times as much.
- GDP (nominal) shows the widest gap of all: China stands at 19,498 against Vietnam's 515 — roughly 38 times as much.
- Area shows the widest gap of all: China stands at 9,562,910 against Vietnam's 331,338 — roughly 29 times as much.
- Population (2025) shows the widest gap of all: China stands at 1,406,585,000 against Vietnam's 101,598,527 — roughly 14 times as much.
- China's armed forces personnel (2020) (2,535,000) is about 4.9 times Vietnam's (522,000).
Frequently asked questions
Where do China and Vietnam differ most?
Where are China and Vietnam most alike?
On how many indicators is China 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 China or Vietnam.
China profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
Vietnam profile →
All statistics, series, and details.