Japan vs Vietnam
Every indicator for Japan and Vietnam side by side, with the percentage gap between them. Sources are listed at the bottom of the page.
| Indicator | Japan | Vietnam | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2025) (people) | 123,366,734 | 101,598,527 | +21.4% |
| GDP (nominal) (billion $) | 4,435 | 515 | +761.2% |
| GDP per capita ($) | 35,951 | 5,066 | +609.7% |
| Life expectancy (years) | 84.0 | 74.7 | — |
| Area (km²) | 377,969 | 331,338 | +14.1% |
| Population density (people/km²) | 326 | 307 | +6.4% |
| Median age (years) | 49.4 | 33.1 | — |
| Internet usage (%) | 85.5 | 84.2 | — |
| Unemployment rate (%) | 2.5 | 1.5 | — |
| Inflation (%) | 3.2 | 3.3 | — |
| Urban population (%) | 92.3 | 38.8 | — |
| Military expenditure (2024 / 2018) (million $) | 55,274 | 5,500 | +905.0% |
| Military expenditure as a share of GDP (%) | 1.37 | 1.81 | −24.3% |
| Military expenditure as a share of government spending (%) | 3.25 | 8.82 | −63.2% |
| Military expenditure per capita ($) | 448 | 54 | +727.7% |
| Armed forces personnel (2020) (people) | 261,000 | 522,000 | −50.0% |
| Armed forces per 1,000 people (people) | 2.1 | 5.1 | −58.8% |
| Armed forces as a share of the labor force (%) | 0.38 | 0.95 | −60.0% |
The difference column shows the percentage gap of Japan relative to Vietnam; a positive value favors Japan. Interpret it in context — for unemployment, a lower value is better.
At a glance
Japan 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 10 times; they are closest on population density.
Key differences
- Military expenditure (2024 / 2018) shows the widest gap of all: Japan stands at 55,274 against Vietnam's 5,500 — roughly 10 times as much.
- Japan's gdp (nominal) (4,435) is about 8.6 times Vietnam's (515).
- Japan's military expenditure per capita (448) is about 8.3 times Vietnam's (54).
- Japan's gdp per capita (35,951) is about 7.1 times Vietnam's (5,066).
- Vietnam's military expenditure as a share of government spending (8.82) is about 2.7 times Japan's (3.25).
Frequently asked questions
Where do Japan and Vietnam differ most?
In military expenditure (2024 / 2018). Japan records 55,274 against Vietnam's 5,500 — a ratio of roughly 10 to one.
Where are Japan and Vietnam most alike?
In population density, at 326 and 307 — a gap of only %6.4.
On how many indicators is Japan ahead of Vietnam?
Japan is higher on 7 of the 12 ratio-scale indicators and Vietnam on 5. A higher number is not automatically better, though — population density, for instance, is a characteristic rather than an advantage.
JapanVietnam
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 Japan or Vietnam.
Japan profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
Vietnam profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
Data sourcesUN World Population Prospects, IMF, World Bank, SIPRI