Composition, growth and much more: Vietnam's population

Vietnam was reunited on July 2nd, 1976. At that time, the population was 49.81 million people. Today, that number is almost twice as high at around 95.5 million. And a lot has happened in the Southeast Asian country and continues to do so. This article by VIETNAM VISA ONLINE gives an overview of the Vietnamese demographics.

Interesting: The country is regarded as the world's leading exporter of natural rubber, black pepper and cashew nuts. Other important export products are textiles and shoes as well as seafood and various agricultural products.

Vietnam's population and Vietnam's demographics: the population groups

88 percent of the country's population are Vietnamese. The remaining part is made up of 53 other ethnic groups, the so-called overseas Chinese called Hoa being one of the oldest groups. They have been living in the big cities of Vietnam for generations. The Cham and the Khmer live in particular in the rural lowlands. The former are increasingly at home in Phan Rang, Qui Nhon and other central Vietnamese cities; the latter mainly feel at home in the Mekong Delta.

Additional knowledge of Vietnam's population: People are generally considered very young – the average age in the country is 27.8 years.

Vietnam population: Hill tribes with their own culture and language

Of course, the locals don't just live in cities and in the lowlands! The 50 mountain peoples of Vietnam inhabit almost 65 percent of the country's territory. Two ethnic groups are particularly well represented: the Sino-Tibetan tribes of the north (Dao, Nung etc.) and the Malay-Polynesian peoples of the central highlands (Cotu, Ede and others).

What is special about the hill tribes as part of the Vietnamese population: Each ethnic group has its own culture and language. Similarities in customs and customs do occur.

Vietnam population has faith in the country

If you deal with the Vietnamese demographics, you obviously cannot avoid the topic of religion. And there are some of them in the country! Buddhism, Confucianism and Taoism are particularly significant. These are the most common beliefs. They find their "climax" in the principle of Tam giao – a religion that unites the three "views".

The ancestor cult is even more important than the Tam giao. This can be described as the "main religion" of Vietnam. Almost every household has at least one altar with which to honor the deceased and ask them for advice. In addition, there are many festivals and celebrations in honor of the ancestors in the land of smiles.

Additional knowledge of Vietnam's demographics: Most locals describe themselves as atheists. In contrast to the western world, such a statement is by no means to be equated with disbelief. Rather, a Vietnamese describes himself as an atheist if he feels or can be influenced by several beliefs and philosophies.

Vietnam's demographics: metropolises and economic developments

The cities in the country are subject to continuous, rapid change: people move in every day and the city limits are constantly being shifted. The associated construction projects, however, do not meet with enthusiasm – not a few citizens in Ho Chi Minh City and the like. refuse to leave their apartments to make way for high-rise office buildings etc. This is partly due to economic inequalities: the poverty rate fell from 60 percent in the early 1990s to only 9.8 percent in 2016. Nevertheless, many people in the Vietnamese population are doing very (!) badly, while other prestigious bodies drive and can afford other luxury goods.

Note: In 2017 there were about 200 so-called super-rich people in the Southeast Asian country. According to estimates, this number is increasing faster than in any other country than in Vietnam. There are an above-average number of women among the extremely successful.

Incidentally, the economic upswing in the country is due to a reform policy. Among other things, led Vietnam's population to catch up on nutritionally what was not possible during a long period of deprivation. That means: Vietnamese love doner kebab, Thuringian bratwurst and various other "foods of globalization".

Good to know: The country's goal is to develop into an industrialized country by 2020.

More facts about Vietnamese demographics and Vietnam's population

• Most of the country's major cities are in the south.
• The capital Hanoi (approx. 8 million inhabitants) is the only one of the most important cities not to be on the coast.
• The most populous city is Ho Chi Minh City (just under 9 million inhabitants).
• The official language is Vietnamese. It is spoken by almost 80 percent of the population.
• In addition, English and French serve as the educational and commercial language.
• Small parts of the city population also speak Russian.

Progress is very important in Vietnam

We hope you enjoyed this Vietnamese demographics overview. One thing is clear: the country has changed a lot since reunification in 1976 and is still subject to great change. We recommend that you travel through the Southeast Asian jewel and experience the dynamism and diversity of Vietnam firsthand. So don't wait and apply now for an online visa and get to know the magnificent Vietnam!