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 guide below belongs to this pair: Vietnam and Taiwan. Change the selector above and the page follows, so the reading always matches the tool.

Direct answer

How different are Vietnam and Taiwan?

Vietnam covers 331,338.3 km² (127,930 sq mi); Vietnam's area is 9.15 times Taiwan's. Its reported population is 101,343,800; Vietnam's population is 4.35 times Taiwan's. By average density, Vietnam's population density is about 47.5% of Taiwan's.

Area difference

Vietnam's area is 9.15 times Taiwan's 331,338.3 km² (127,930 sq mi) · 36,197.3 km² (13,976 sq mi)

Population difference

Vietnam's population is 4.35 times Taiwan's 101,343,800 · 23,299,132

Density difference

Vietnam's population density is about 47.5% of Taiwan's 305.9 /km² (792 /sq mi) · 643.7 /km² (1,667 /sq mi)

Full data and sources for each place: Vietnam area & population, Taiwan area & population

Straight-line distance between geometric centres: about 1602 km; time difference: 1 hour.

On a familiar scale

Vietnam ≈ 82% of California 3,269 m² of land per resident
Taiwan ≈ 1.44 × Maryland (reference rung) 1,554 m² of land per resident

Reference scales come from U.S. Census Bureau: 2025 Gazetteer Files: land area of states and counties , as of 2025-01-01.

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

Which is bigger, Vietnam or Taiwan?

Vietnam is bigger, with a land area about 9.15× that of Taiwan (Vietnam 331,338.3 vs Taiwan 36,197.3 km², or 127,930 sq mi vs 13,976 sq mi).

How big is Vietnam compared to Taiwan?

Vietnam has 331,338.3 km² (127,930 sq mi) and Taiwan has 36,197.3 km² (13,976 sq mi): the ratio is 9.15×. Conversely, Taiwan has 10.9% of Vietnam's area.

Does Vietnam or Taiwan have more people?

Vietnam has 101,343,800 people (2024-07-01), versus 23,299,132 in Taiwan (2025-12-31): 4.35×. In reverse, Taiwan has 23% of Vietnam's population. Vietnam is 9.15× the size of Taiwan — 331,338.3 km² vs 36,197.3 km² (127,930 sq mi vs 13,976 sq mi). Population is 4.35× higher; average density is 47.5% as high. Each side’s scope and reference date are set out under “Boundaries and definitions” on this page.

Is Vietnam bigger than Taiwan?

Yes. Vietnam is bigger, with a land area about 9.15× that of Taiwan (Vietnam 331,338.3 vs Taiwan 36,197.3 km², or 127,930 sq mi vs 13,976 sq mi). The area difference is 295,141 km². Vietnam has 331,338.3 km² (127,930 sq mi) and Taiwan has 36,197.3 km² (13,976 sq mi): the ratio is 9.15×. Conversely, Taiwan has 10.9% of Vietnam's area.

How many times larger is Vietnam than Taiwan?

Vietnam is 9.15× the size of Taiwan — 331,338.3 km² vs 36,197.3 km² (127,930 sq mi vs 13,976 sq mi).

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