and is among the countries with the highest population density. The population is, however, not evenly distributed across the country. The Red River Delta and the Mekong River Delta have the largest concentrations of inhabitants, historically due to the favorable conditions for important economic activities such as
and fisheries. After the Doi Moi economic reform in the 1980s, heavy urbanization further reinforced these areas as the most populated urban centers in Vietnam.
Population of Vietnam
Vietnam’s population increased rapidly between the 1960s and 1970s. Nevertheless,
population growth has slowed down drastically over the last two decades due to the government’s attempt to curb overpopulation with extensive family planning. As a result, the population growth rate of Vietnam had gone down from 2.6 percent in 1970 to less than one percent in recent years. In 2023,
the population of Vietnam exceeded 100 million. Although the country's demographic is relatively young,
the population has been aging fast in recent years. Meanwhile,
Vietnamese had an average life expectancy of approximately 73.7 years old, considerably high for countries at similar income levels. Accompanying Vietnam’s economic development is a growing middle-income population with the highest annual growth rate in ASEAN.
Urbanization in Vietnam
Vietnam has been experiencing rapid urbanization in recent years, leading to a significant population imbalance between urban and rural areas. In particular,
Ho Chi Minh City recorded a population density of 4,481 inhabitants per square kilometer in 2022, almost 15 times higher than the national average, and higher than that of any
major city in China. Industrialization, increased accessibility to social services, and better living standards have been the key drivers of urbanization in Vietnam. Besides contributing to economic development, heavy urbanization also brings about various challenges. These include inadequate housing, overcrowded healthcare facilities, and a competitive job market that has resulted in a
higher unemployment rate in urban areas compared to their rural counterparts, despite more job opportunities. The significant
disparity in poverty rates between urban and rural areas also continues to pose a great challenge for the Vietnamese government.
This text provides general information. Statista assumes no
liability for the information given being complete or correct.
Due to varying update cycles, statistics can display more up-to-date
data than referenced in the text.
