Land
Size, shape and altitude
How big is it, really?
Vietnam fits inside South Africa 3.7 times.
South Africa: 1,219,090 km² (2023) · Vietnam: 331,338 km² (2023)
How much coast is there?
Vietnam’s coastline is 23% longer than South Africa’s.
South Africa: 2,798 km (2026 edition) · Vietnam: 3,444 km (2026 edition)
How high can you climb?
South Africa’s highest peak towers 306 m above Vietnam’s.
South Africa: 3,450 m (2026 edition) · Vietnam: 3,144 m (2026 edition)
People
Who lives there, and how closely
How many people live there?
Vietnam has 57% more people than South Africa.
South Africa: 64.7 million (2025) · Vietnam: 102 million (2025)
How crowded is it?
Vietnam is 6.1 times as densely populated as South Africa.
South Africa: 53 per km² (2025) · Vietnam: 324 per km² (2025)
How tall are the men?
South Africa and Vietnam are practically level.
South Africa: 169.6 cm (2019) · Vietnam: 168.9 cm (2019)
How tall are the women?
South Africa and Vietnam are practically level.
South Africa: 158.6 cm (2019) · Vietnam: 158.4 cm (2019)
How old is the typical person?
The typical person in Vietnam is 4.2 years older than in South Africa.
South Africa: 28.2 years (2023) · Vietnam: 32.4 years (2023)
How many children per woman?
Women in South Africa have 0.3 more children on average than in Vietnam.
South Africa: 2.21 children per woman (2024) · Vietnam: 1.9 children per woman (2024)
How many people are 65 or older?
9.5% of people in Vietnam are 65 or older, versus 6.9% in South Africa.
South Africa: 6.9% (2025) · Vietnam: 9.5% (2025)
How many Nobel laureates were born there?
South Africa has produced 1.4 Nobel laureates per 10 million people, Vietnam 0.1.
South Africa: 1.4 (2025) · Vietnam: 0.1 (2025)
How many official languages?
South Africa has 11 official languages, Vietnam 1.
South Africa: 11 (2026) · Vietnam: 1 (2026)
Money
What an economy looks like per person
How big is the economy?
Vietnam’s economy is 20% larger than South Africa’s.
South Africa: $427 billion (2025) · Vietnam: $515 billion (2025)
How much is produced per person?
Vietnam produces 14% more per person than South Africa.
South Africa: Int$15,906 (2025) · Vietnam: Int$18,089 (2025)
How evenly is income shared?
Income is more unequally shared in South Africa than in Vietnam (Gini 18 points higher).
South Africa: 54.1 (2022) · Vietnam: 36.1 (2022)
How many people are looking for work?
Unemployment is 32% in South Africa, versus 1.5% in Vietnam.
South Africa: 32.4% (2025) · Vietnam: 1.5% (2025)
How much goes to the military?
Vietnam spends 1.8% of its GDP on the military, South Africa 0.7%.
South Africa: 0.7% (2024) · Vietnam: 1.8% (2018)
How expensive is it?
South Africa’s price level (US = 100) is 1.5× Vietnam’s.
South Africa: 41% (2025) · Vietnam: 28% (2025)
Health
Long lives, small beginnings
How much is spent on health?
South Africa spends 2.7 times as much on health per person as Vietnam.
South Africa: $537 (2023) · Vietnam: $197 (2023)
How long do people live?
People in Vietnam live 8.4 years longer than in South Africa.
South Africa: 66.3 years (2024) · Vietnam: 74.7 years (2024)
How many babies don’t reach their first birthday?
A baby in South Africa is 2 times as likely to die before turning one as in Vietnam.
South Africa: 24.2 per 1,000 (2024) · Vietnam: 12 per 1,000 (2024)
How many doctors are there?
Vietnam has 39% more doctors per person than South Africa.
South Africa: 0.8 per 1,000 (2022) · Vietnam: 1.1 per 1,000 (2021)
How common is obesity?
31% of adults in South Africa are obese, versus 2.5% in Vietnam.
South Africa: 31.3% (2024) · Vietnam: 2.5% (2024)
How many adults smoke?
24% of adults in South Africa smoke, versus 21% in Vietnam.
South Africa: 23.7% (2024) · Vietnam: 21.1% (2024)
Everyday life
Plates, glasses and happiness
How do people rate their lives?
People in Vietnam rate their lives 1.42 points higher than in South Africa.
South Africa: 5.01 (2025) · Vietnam: 6.43 (2025)
How much do people drink?
Adults in Vietnam drink 24% more alcohol than in South Africa.
South Africa: 8.6 litres (2023) · Vietnam: 10.7 litres (2023)
How much meat is on the menu?
Vietnam has 4% more meat per person than South Africa.
South Africa: 58.3 kg (2023) · Vietnam: 60.5 kg (2023)
How much food is there per day?
Vietnam has 392 kcal more food per person per day than South Africa.
South Africa: 2,694 kcal (2023) · Vietnam: 3,086 kcal (2023)
How long do people work?
Workers in South Africa put in 21 more hours a year than in Vietnam.
South Africa: 2,181 hours (2023) · Vietnam: 2,160 hours (2023)
How long do people go to school?
Adults in South Africa went to school 2.6 years longer than in Vietnam.
South Africa: 11.6 years (2023) · Vietnam: 9 years (2023)
How many tourists visit?
South Africa welcomed 71% more tourists per resident than Vietnam (2019).
South Africa: 0.14 (2024) · Vietnam: 0.08 (2015)
Connected
Online, electrified, urban
How many people are online?
84% of people in Vietnam are online, versus 78% in South Africa.
South Africa: 78% (2024) · Vietnam: 84% (2024)
Who has electricity at home?
100% of people in Vietnam have electricity, versus 90% in South Africa.
South Africa: 90.2% (2024) · Vietnam: 100% (2024)
How many live in cities?
64% of people in South Africa live in cities, versus 39% in Vietnam.
South Africa: 64% (2025) · Vietnam: 39% (2025)
How many phones per person?
South Africa has 179 mobile subscriptions per 100 people, Vietnam 128.
South Africa: 179 (2024) · Vietnam: 128 (2024)
How much railway is there?
South Africa’s railway network is 6.6 times as long as Vietnam’s.
South Africa: 20,953 km (2021) · Vietnam: 3,159 km (2021)
How much do they fly?
Airlines from Vietnam fly 2.3 times as many passengers per resident as those from South Africa.
South Africa: 0.24 (2023) · Vietnam: 0.54 (2023)
Planet
Air, forests and energy
How much of the land is forest?
Forest covers 47% of Vietnam, but only 14% of South Africa.
South Africa: 14% (2023) · Vietnam: 47.4% (2023)
How much CO₂ does each person emit?
The average person in South Africa emits 87% more CO₂ than someone in Vietnam.
South Africa: 6.9 t (2024) · Vietnam: 3.7 t (2024)
How green is the power grid?
45% of Vietnam’s electricity is renewable, versus 14% in South Africa.
South Africa: 13.6% (2025) · Vietnam: 45.4% (2025)
How clean is the air?
The air in Vietnam carries 5% more fine dust than in South Africa.
South Africa: 24.4 µg/m³ (2024) · Vietnam: 25.6 µg/m³ (2024)
Safety
Measured risk, not vibes
How common is murder?
South Africa: 43.7 per 100k (2022) · Vietnam: no data
How dangerous are the roads?
Roads in South Africa are 38% deadlier than in Vietnam.
South Africa: 24.5 per 100k (2021) · Vietnam: 17.7 per 100k (2021)
Climate
What the year feels like
How warm is it?
Vietnam is on average 5.9 °C warmer than South Africa.
South Africa: 18.4°C (2016–2025 avg) · Vietnam: 24.4°C (2016–2025 avg)
How much rain falls?
Vietnam gets 4.2 times as much rain as South Africa.
South Africa: 511 mm (2016–2025 avg) · Vietnam: 2,132 mm (2016–2025 avg)
Quick answers
Is South Africa bigger than Vietnam?
South Africa is larger. Vietnam fits inside South Africa 3.7 times.
Which has more people, South Africa or Vietnam?
Vietnam has 57% more people than South Africa (2025 estimates).
Where do people live longer, South Africa or Vietnam?
People in Vietnam live 8.4 years longer than in South Africa. Life expectancy at birth is 66.3 years in South Africa and 74.7 in Vietnam.
Are people taller in South Africa or Vietnam?
South Africa and Vietnam are practically level (NCD-RisC, cohort born 2019).
