Which has more people, South Africa or Vietnam?

South Africa has a population of 65,453,084 (24th of 235 countries) and Vietnam has 102,177,431 (16th of 235).

How do South Africa and Vietnam compare on Life Expectancy at Birth (Years)?

Life Expectancy at Birth (Years): South Africa 66.3 (181st of 215), Vietnam 74.7 (106th of 215) among countries. Vietnam ranks better.

How do South Africa and Vietnam compare on GDP per Person at PPP (International $)?

GDP per Person at PPP (International $): South Africa $15,906 (108th of 184), Vietnam $18,088 (101st of 184) among countries. Vietnam ranks better.

Where does South Africa beat Vietnam most clearly?

South Africa ranks far ahead on % of Population at High Flood Risk (Flooding by Country): 6.1% vs 46.0%; Mean Speed Score (Road Quality by Country): 100 vs 51; Head of Government Annual Salary (What Country has the Highest Paid Government Leader?): $223,500 vs $10,676.

Where does Vietnam beat South Africa most clearly?

Vietnam ranks far ahead on Unemployment Rate - CIA (Unemployment by Country): 1.5% vs 33.2%; Community Safety 2022 to 2024 (Most Dangerous Countries for Women): 86.0% vs 25.0%; Unemployment Rate (%) (Economic Indicators by Country (World Bank)): 1.52% vs 32.4%.

South Africa vs Vietnam

Vietnam comes out ahead of South Africa on 348 of 556 statistics where one end is better, to 200 with 8 ties. South Africa leads on Law, Politics & Government and Travel. Vietnam leads on Manufacturing & Mining, Crime & Safety and Education and 7 more categories.

556 statistics with a better end, compared

Each counts once for the place that ranks better; 8 ties. Totals that mostly track population are left out.

South Africa

Wins: 200
Avg. percentile: 43
Categories led: 3

Vietnam

Wins: 348
Avg. percentile: 52
Categories led: 10

At a glance

Headline statistics, each ranked among all countries.

Statistic	South Africa	Vietnam
Population	65,453,084 24th of 235	102,177,431 16th of 235
Life Expectancy at Birth (Years)Health Indicators by Country (World Bank)	66.3 181st of 215	74.7 106th of 215
GDP per Person at PPP (International $)Economic Indicators by Country (World Bank)	$15,906 108th of 184	$18,088 101st of 184
Unemployment Rate (%)Economic Indicators by Country (World Bank)	32.4% 180th of 181	1.52% 11th of 181
Access to Electricity (% of People)Development Indicators by Country (World Bank)	90.2% 160th of 214	100.0% tied 1st of 214
Infant Deaths per 1,000 BirthsHealth Indicators by Country (World Bank)	24.2 138th of 195	12.0 tied 92nd of 195
GDP per Person (US$)Economic Indicators by Country (World Bank)	$6,598 103rd of 185	$5,066 116th of 185

By category

Average percentile on each category's widely ranked statistics.

LawSouth Africa · 8 statistics
Manufacturing & MiningVietnam · 3 statistics
Politics & GovernmentSouth Africa · 38 statistics
Crime & SafetyVietnam · 46 statistics
EducationVietnam · 9 statistics
HealthVietnam · 193 statistics
EconomicsVietnam · 80 statistics
Infrastructure & EnergyVietnam · 36 statistics
Tech & BusinessVietnam · 21 statistics
PopulationVietnam · 19 statistics
EnvironmentVietnam · 44 statistics
TravelSouth Africa · 10 statistics
CultureVietnam · 71 statistics

Biggest differences

The 30 statistics where their rankings differ most, among rankings of at least 118 countries.

Statistic	South Africa	Vietnam
% of Population at High Flood RiskFlooding by Country	6.1% tied 6th of 185	46.0% 183rd of 185
Unemployment Rate - CIAUnemployment by Country	33.2% 183rd of 184	1.5% tied 9th of 184
Community Safety 2022 to 2024Most Dangerous Countries for Women	25.0% tied 196th of 198	86.0% tied 10th of 198
Unemployment Rate (%)Economic Indicators by Country (World Bank)	32.4% 180th of 181	1.52% 11th of 181
Unemployment Rate - ILOUnemployment by Country	28.8% 154th of 155	1.5% tied 11th of 155
Female Obesity Rate (WHO)Obesity Rates by Country	47.6% 173rd of 196	2.64% 1st of 196
Mean Speed ScoreRoad Quality by Country	100 8th of 155	51 tied 142nd of 155
Real GDP GrowthFastest Growing Economies	0.1% 178th of 189	5.8% tied 17th of 189
Misery IndexWorst Countries to Live in	79 172nd of 178	10.7 23rd of 178
Head of Government Annual SalaryWhat Country has the Highest Paid Government Leader?	$223,500 20th of 158	$10,676 150th of 158
Female Obesity Rate (GOO)Obesity Rates by Country	41.0% tied 165th of 199	1.7% tied 3rd of 199
GDP Growth IMFGDP Growth by Country	1.5% tied 170th of 189	6.1% tied 18th of 189
Press Freedom Index Score (RSF)Freedom Index by Country	75.71 27th of 176	19.74 169th of 176
Vacc. Rate DTP1Vaccination Rates by Country	76.0% tied 171st of 193	99.0% tied 1st of 193
Cocaine Use Disorder Rate (GBD)Most Cocaine Use by Country	117.79 per 100k 169th of 203	2.3 per 100k tied 11th of 203
GDP Growth (%)Economic Indicators by Country (World Bank)	1.11% 153rd of 185	8.02% 10th of 185
Women’s Employment 2020 to 2024Most Dangerous Countries for Women	45.0% 163rd of 198	82.6% 11th of 198
Crude IncidenceCervical Cancer Rates by Country	35.6 per 100k tied 170th of 176	8.5 per 100k 36th of 176
EIU Political Participation ScoreDemocracy Index by Country	7.78 tied 18th of 165	2.78 tied 141st of 165
Women’s Employment 2018 to 2022Most Dangerous Countries for Women	46.0% 150th of 188	82.0% 7th of 188
Head of State Annual SalaryWhat Country has the Highest Paid Government Leader?	$223,500 34th of 179	$11,103 170th of 179
New HIV Infection RateHIV Rates by Country	3.1 per 1k 127th of 128	0.1 per 1k tied 4th of 128
Mean BMIEuropean Obesity Rates by Country	27.3 kg/m² tied 147th of 190	21.9 kg/m² tied 9th of 190
Heart Disease Age-Standardized Prevalence Rate - FemaleHeart Disease Rates by Country	7,738 per 100k 160th of 204	4,578 per 100k 11th of 204
% of Population Given at Least 1 Dose COVID Vacc.COVID Vaccines by Country	41.0% tied 159th of 200	93.0% tied 13th of 200
% of Population Who Completed Primary Series COVID Vacc.COVID Vaccines by Country	35.0% tied 157th of 200	88.0% tied 14th of 200
Pct Stomach Cancer Risk at 74Stomach Cancer Rates by Country	0.4% tied 35th of 184	1.6% tied 167th of 184
% Stomach Cancer Mortality at 74Stomach Cancer Rates by Country	0.32% tied 40th of 184	1.3% tied 174th of 184
COVID Vaccination RateCOVID Vaccines by Country	70 doses per 100k 156th of 200	274 doses per 100k 12th of 200
ASR IncidenceCervical Cancer Rates by Country	35.3 per 100k 156th of 176	6.6 per 100k tied 29th of 176

See every statistic they shareSearch and sort all of them, adjust for cost of living or population, or add up to two more places.

Quick answers

Which is better, South Africa or Vietnam?: Vietnam comes out ahead of South Africa on 348 of 556 statistics where one end is better, to 200 with 8 ties. South Africa leads on Law, Politics & Government and Travel. Vietnam leads on Manufacturing & Mining, Crime & Safety and Education and 7 more categories. Statistics where neither end is better, and totals that mostly track population, are not counted.
Which has more people, South Africa or Vietnam?: South Africa has a population of 65,453,084 (24th of 235 countries) and Vietnam has 102,177,431 (16th of 235).
How do South Africa and Vietnam compare on Life Expectancy at Birth (Years)?: Life Expectancy at Birth (Years): South Africa 66.3 (181st of 215), Vietnam 74.7 (106th of 215) among countries. Vietnam ranks better.
How do South Africa and Vietnam compare on GDP per Person at PPP (International $)?: GDP per Person at PPP (International $): South Africa $15,906 (108th of 184), Vietnam $18,088 (101st of 184) among countries. Vietnam ranks better.
Where does South Africa beat Vietnam most clearly?: South Africa ranks far ahead on % of Population at High Flood Risk (Flooding by Country): 6.1% vs 46.0%; Mean Speed Score (Road Quality by Country): 100 vs 51; Head of Government Annual Salary (What Country has the Highest Paid Government Leader?): $223,500 vs $10,676.
Where does Vietnam beat South Africa most clearly?: Vietnam ranks far ahead on Unemployment Rate - CIA (Unemployment by Country): 1.5% vs 33.2%; Community Safety 2022 to 2024 (Most Dangerous Countries for Women): 86.0% vs 25.0%; Unemployment Rate (%) (Economic Indicators by Country (World Bank)): 1.52% vs 32.4%.

More matchups

Other comparisons with South Africa or Vietnam.

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