Viet Nam vs Thailand: population pyramids in 1959
Viet NamThailand
Each bar is the share of the total population at that single year of age (men left, women right), so countries of different sizes can be compared.
Viet Nam and Thailand compared
In 1959, Viet Nam has a population of 31.1 million and Thailand 25.7 million; Viet Nam is about 1.2 times the size of Thailand.
The share aged 65 and over is 4.7% in Viet Nam and 2.8% in Thailand, 1.9 points higher in Viet Nam. The median age is 22.0 years in Viet Nam and 18.1 years in Thailand.
The total fertility rate is 6.25 in Viet Nam and 6.33 in Thailand, both above the replacement level of about 2.1. Life expectancy at birth is 57.4 years in Viet Nam and 50.1 years in Thailand.
By 2050, the population of Viet Nam is projected to grow by 253.5% and that of Thailand to grow by 158.6% compared with 1959.
GDP per person is $5,066 in Viet Nam (2025) and $8,057 in Thailand (2025).
Key figures (1959)
| Viet Nam | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 31.1 million | 25.7 million |
| Aged 0–14 | 39.7% | 43.8% |
| Aged 15–64 | 55.6% | 53.4% |
| Aged 65+ | 4.7% | 2.8% |
| Median age | 22.0 yrs | 18.1 yrs |
| Old-age dependency | 8.5 | 5.3 |
| Total fertility rate | 6.25 | 6.33 |
| Life expectancy | 57.4 yrs | 50.1 yrs |
| Population growth | +2.97% | +2.86% |
| Net migration (per year) | +0 | -2,027 |
| GDP | $515B (2025) | $577B (2025) |
| GDP per person | $5,066 (2025) | $8,057 (2025) |
| Unemployment | 1.5% (2025) | 0.8% (2025) |
Economic figures are the latest year published for each country.