Place comparison

Vietnam compared with Taiwan: area, population and density

Vietnam has about nine times Taiwan’s area and more than four times its population, while Taiwan remains more densely populated on average.

Place A Grouped by country or region Place B Grouped by country or region

Equal-area outline comparison

Outlines are centered and scaled by official land area; position does not show geographic location.

Area

Population

Population density

Area data date

Population data date

The detailed guide below compares Vietnam with Taiwan. Use the selector above to explore any other pair.

Direct answer

How different are Vietnam and Taiwan?

Vietnam covers 331,338.3 km²; Vietnam's area is 9.15 times Taiwan's. Its reported population is 101,343,800; Vietnam's population is 4.33 times Taiwan's. By average density, Vietnam's population density is about 47.3% of Taiwan's.

Area difference

Vietnam's area is 9.15 times Taiwan's 331,338.3 km² · 36,197.3 km²

Population difference

Vietnam's population is 4.33 times Taiwan's 101,343,800 · 23,400,220

Density difference

Vietnam's population density is about 47.3% of Taiwan's 305.9 /km² · 646.5 /km²

On a familiar scale

Vietnam ≈ 112.2 × Kaohsiung City 3,269 m² of land per resident
Taiwan ≈ 12.3 × Kaohsiung City 1,547 m² of land per resident

Reference scales come from Department of Household Registration, Ministry of the Interior: Land area, households and population density by township and district (year-end 2025) , as of 2025-12-31.

How to read it

Vietnam’s long S-shaped outline stretches far beyond what its area ratio alone suggests, making shape as important as total land.

Geography and shape

Vietnam follows a long coastline between northern and southern population centres, with a narrow central section. Taiwan is shorter and more compact. The same-scale display helps explain why crossing Vietnam can involve far greater north–south distance than crossing Taiwan.

Population context

Vietnam’s average population is more than four times Taiwan’s registered population, but its land is roughly nine times larger. Taiwan therefore has the higher nationwide density despite Vietnam’s much larger population total.

Boundaries and definitions

Vietnam uses national area and 2024 average population from its official statistical summary. Taiwan uses administrative land area and year-end registered population. Average and year-end population are related but not identical measures.

Vietnam: National area and 2024 average population from the Statistical Summary Book of Viet Nam 2024.

Taiwan: Registered population and official administrative land area.

In-depth guide

How should Vietnam and Taiwan be understood in context?

Vietnam combines a long S-shaped territory with a population above one hundred million. Comparing it with Taiwan reveals a ninefold land gap, a smaller population gap and a travel distance that area alone cannot communicate.

Shape changes the meaning of size

Vietnam’s northern and southern population centres are connected through a narrow central coast. Its shape makes end-to-end distance especially important even before transport speed is considered.

Taiwan’s mountain spine also channels movement along coastal plains, but the entire main island occupies a much shorter north–south range.

Why Taiwan remains denser

Vietnam has more than four times Taiwan’s reported population and roughly nine times its land. Population does not rise as fast as area, leaving Taiwan with the higher average.

This comparison does not describe the density of Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Taipei or Kaohsiung. National totals include rural and mountain areas.

Average population and registered population

Vietnam’s source reports average population for 2024, while Taiwan reports a year-end registered total. Both are official, but their time concepts are not identical.

The difference is small enough for a broad scale comparison, but any reused ratio should retain the date and definition.

Questions people ask

About this geographic comparison

How many times larger is Vietnam than Taiwan?

The area calculation above places Vietnam at a little over nine times Taiwan’s official land area.

Which has the higher average density?

Taiwan. Vietnam has more people, but its land area grows by a larger multiple.

Is this a city-to-country comparison?

No. Both sides represent complete national-scale territories rather than Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Taipei or another city.

Sources

Outline data:

Natural Earth · Public domain