In 2023, the poverty rate in Vietnam was around *** percent. In recent years, the rate of poverty has been decreasing steadily in the country thanks to economic progress and its positive impact on the living standards of the population.

Poverty headcount ratio at national poverty lines (% of population) in Vietnam was reported at 4.3 % in 2022, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Vietnam - Poverty headcount ratio at national poverty line (% of population) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

In 2023, the poverty rate in Vietnam was around *** percent in urban areas, while that of rural areas was around *** percent. In that year, the poverty rate in the country was *** percent.

Northern midlands and mountain areas recorded the highest poverty rate among other regions in Vietnam, reaching **** percent in 2023. That year, the national average poverty rate was *** percent. In recent years, the rate of poverty has been decreasing steadily in the country.

Vietnam VN: Poverty Headcount Ratio at National Poverty Lines: Rural: % of Rural Population data was reported at 18.600 % in 2014. This records a decrease from the previous number of 22.100 % for 2012. Vietnam VN: Poverty Headcount Ratio at National Poverty Lines: Rural: % of Rural Population data is updated yearly, averaging 22.100 % from Dec 2010 (Median) to 2014, with 3 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 26.900 % in 2010 and a record low of 18.600 % in 2014. Vietnam VN: Poverty Headcount Ratio at National Poverty Lines: Rural: % of Rural Population data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Vietnam – Table VN.World Bank.WDI: Poverty. Rural poverty headcount ratio is the percentage of the rural population living below the national poverty lines.; ; World Bank, Global Poverty Working Group. Data are compiled from official government sources or are computed by World Bank staff using national (i.e. country–specific) poverty lines.; ; This series only includes estimates that to the best of our knowledge are reasonably comparable over time for a country. Due to differences in estimation methodologies and poverty lines, estimates should not be compared across countries.

Vietnam VN: Poverty Headcount Ratio at National Poverty Lines: % of Population data was reported at 9.800 % in 2016. This records a decrease from the previous number of 13.500 % for 2014. Vietnam VN: Poverty Headcount Ratio at National Poverty Lines: % of Population data is updated yearly, averaging 15.350 % from Dec 2010 (Median) to 2016, with 4 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 20.700 % in 2010 and a record low of 9.800 % in 2016. Vietnam VN: Poverty Headcount Ratio at National Poverty Lines: % of Population data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Vietnam – Table VN.World Bank: Poverty. National poverty headcount ratio is the percentage of the population living below the national poverty lines. National estimates are based on population-weighted subgroup estimates from household surveys.; ; World Bank, Global Poverty Working Group. Data are compiled from official government sources or are computed by World Bank staff using national (i.e. country–specific) poverty lines.; ; This series only includes estimates that to the best of our knowledge are reasonably comparable over time for a country. Due to differences in estimation methodologies and poverty lines, estimates should not be compared across countries.

Vietnam Poverty Headcount Ratio at Societal Poverty Lines: % of Population data was reported at 19.900 % in 2022. This records a decrease from the previous number of 20.200 % for 2020. Vietnam Poverty Headcount Ratio at Societal Poverty Lines: % of Population data is updated yearly, averaging 24.800 % from Dec 1992 (Median) to 2022, with 13 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 49.800 % in 1992 and a record low of 19.900 % in 2022. Vietnam Poverty Headcount Ratio at Societal Poverty Lines: % of Population data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Vietnam – Table VN.World Bank.WDI: Social: Poverty and Inequality. The poverty headcount ratio at societal poverty line is the percentage of a population living in poverty according to the World Bank's Societal Poverty Line. The Societal Poverty Line is expressed in purchasing power adjusted 2017 U.S. dollars and defined as max($2.15, $1.15 + 0.5*Median). This means that when the national median is sufficiently low, the Societal Poverty line is equivalent to the extreme poverty line, $2.15. For countries with a sufficiently high national median, the Societal Poverty Line grows as countries’ median income grows.;World Bank, Poverty and Inequality Platform. Data are based on primary household survey data obtained from government statistical agencies and World Bank country departments. Data for high-income economies are mostly from the Luxembourg Income Study database. For more information and methodology, please see http://pip.worldbank.org.;;The World Bank’s internationally comparable poverty monitoring database now draws on income or detailed consumption data from more than 2000 household surveys across 169 countries. See the Poverty and Inequality Platform (PIP) for details (www.pip.worldbank.org).

This poverty analysis is an important first step in the development of a new five-year country strategy for Vietnam. Its aim is to inform the process of identifying appropriate objectives, areas of focus, delivery mechanisms and performance indicators. To this end, the analysis draws on existing data and research to identify who the poor are, where they are located, and why they are poor. It discusses the Government of Vietnamís poverty reduction policies and the relevant programs of other donors. Drawing on all this, it suggests some elements of an analytical framework that can guide the choice of donor activities to support poverty reduction, and offers some ideas on directions and issues for the new strategy.

Vietnam VN: Poverty Headcount Ratio at National Poverty Lines: Urban: % of Urban Population data was reported at 3.800 % in 2014. This records a decrease from the previous number of 5.400 % for 2012. Vietnam VN: Poverty Headcount Ratio at National Poverty Lines: Urban: % of Urban Population data is updated yearly, averaging 5.400 % from Dec 2010 (Median) to 2014, with 3 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 6.000 % in 2010 and a record low of 3.800 % in 2014. Vietnam VN: Poverty Headcount Ratio at National Poverty Lines: Urban: % of Urban Population data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Vietnam – Table VN.World Bank.WDI: Poverty. Urban poverty headcount ratio is the percentage of the urban population living below the national poverty lines.; ; World Bank, Global Poverty Working Group. Data are compiled from official government sources or are computed by World Bank staff using national (i.e. country–specific) poverty lines.; ; This series only includes estimates that to the best of our knowledge are reasonably comparable over time for a country. Due to differences in estimation methodologies and poverty lines, estimates should not be compared across countries.

4.3 (%) in 2022. National poverty rate is the percentage of the population living below the national poverty line. National estimates are based on population-weighted subgroup estimates from household surveys.

4.20 (النسبة المئوية) in 2022. Population below $3.1 a day is the percentage of the population living on less than $3.1 a day at 2005 international prices. As a result of revisions in PPP exchange rates, poverty rates for individual countries cannot be compared with poverty rates reported in earlier editions.

Vietnam has achieved remarkable success in reducing poverty while controlling inequality. The country’s broad-based growth reflects the government’s focus on developing labor-intensive export sectors while investing heavily in human capital that saw the country exceed its peers. However, gains have been concentrated among the Kinh and Hoa ethnic majority, while minority groups have not only continued to experience poverty rates far above the national average, but have seen slower progress too. This report analyzes recent trends in poverty and shared prosperity. It presents the findings of the 2016 Vietnam household and living standards survey (VHLSS), highlighting important progress and identifying new challenges. The report is organized into two main sections. The first section reviews Vietnam’s progress in reducing poverty and promoting share prosperity. It describes updated poverty and shared prosperity trends, the nature of economic mobility, and the drivers of poverty reduction. The second section – titled leaving no one behind is more forward-looking, starting by identifying major constraints faced by the poor, then proceeding to lay out challenges for moving the poverty and shared prosperity agenda going forward.

This report examines the lives of poor men, women, and children and explores the constraints and opportunities they face today in rising out of poverty. It builds on a rich body of poverty analysis and an excellent base of knowledge from previous reports and aims to do three things. First, it proposes revisions to Vietnam's poverty monitoring system - via better data, updated welfare aggregates, and new poverty lines - to bring these more in line with economic and social conditions in present-day Vietnam. Second, it revisits the stylized facts about deprivation and poverty in Vietnam, and develops an updated profile of poverty using data from the 2010 Vietnam Household Living Standards Survey (VHLSS) and new qualitative field studies. Third, it analyzes some of the key challenges for poverty reduction in the next decade, including changing regional patterns of poverty and wealth, high and persistent poverty among ethnic minorities, and rising inequality in outcomes and opportunities.

Map and information about poorest districts in Vietnam defined in the Resolution No. 30/A/2008/NQ-CP on Speedy and Sustainable Poverty Reduction Programme For the 61 Poor Districts. For more information about each district, please click on the location symbol.

Part of the data were computed based on the Vietnamese population census that is available via IPUMS. For a complete list of data sources, please see the corresponding section of the paper.

Vietnam VN: Proportion of People Living Below 50 Percent Of Median Income: % data was reported at 13.400 % in 2022. This records a decrease from the previous number of 13.900 % for 2020. Vietnam VN: Proportion of People Living Below 50 Percent Of Median Income: % data is updated yearly, averaging 12.800 % from Dec 1992 (Median) to 2022, with 13 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 14.000 % in 2018 and a record low of 7.100 % in 1997. Vietnam VN: Proportion of People Living Below 50 Percent Of Median Income: % data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Vietnam – Table VN.World Bank.WDI: Social: Poverty and Inequality. The percentage of people in the population who live in households whose per capita income or consumption is below half of the median income or consumption per capita. The median is measured at 2017 Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) using the Poverty and Inequality Platform (http://www.pip.worldbank.org). For some countries, medians are not reported due to grouped and/or confidential data. The reference year is the year in which the underlying household survey data was collected. In cases for which the data collection period bridged two calendar years, the first year in which data were collected is reported.;World Bank, Poverty and Inequality Platform. Data are based on primary household survey data obtained from government statistical agencies and World Bank country departments. Data for high-income economies are mostly from the Luxembourg Income Study database. For more information and methodology, please see http://pip.worldbank.org.;;The World Bank’s internationally comparable poverty monitoring database now draws on income or detailed consumption data from more than 2000 household surveys across 169 countries. See the Poverty and Inequality Platform (PIP) for details (www.pip.worldbank.org).

Contains data from the World Bank's data portal covering the following topics which also exist as individual datasets on HDX: Agriculture and Rural Development, Aid Effectiveness, Economy and Growth, Education, Energy and Mining, Environment, Financial Sector, Health, Infrastructure, Social Protection and Labor, Poverty, Private Sector, Public Sector, Science and Technology, Social Development, Urban Development, Gender, Millenium development goals, Climate Change, External Debt, Trade.

This project examines a key assumption which underlies one of the main approaches to poverty reduction currently advocated and practised by many international development agencies. Enormous energies and resources are devoted to institutional reform in order to improve the investment climate and thus promote economic growth. The assumption is that institutional reform comes first and investment follows. The project investigates whether this widely assumed sequence applies in the real world or whether, in fact, investment and growth provide the impetus for institutional reform. The project suggests a new way of examining this issue by drawing on comparative intra-country evidence and by combining quantitative and qualitative methods. Vietnam has data on growth, investment and the quality of governance, disaggregated by province and component of governance reform, for five consecutive years. The availability of such panel data makes it possible to examine the sequencing and dynamics of reform. Complementary qualitative research methods will be used to check the quantitative results and explore political dynamics at work. The project was designed and will be executed jointly by a team of IDS Fellows and Vietnamese collaborators. Our source of firm data is the Vietnam Enterprise Census. This is an annual census of all firms with more than 10 employees with an additional random sample of smaller firms. The data includes a wide range of information on firm characteristics including: sector, employees, assets, legal type, performance, source of capital, and investment. We have data from 2000 to 2010. The number of enterprises increased rapidly over this period from 42,123 in 2000, to over 250,000 in the later years, reflecting the strong growth in private sector activity over the decade. Unfortunately, matching firms across years for the early years is extremely difficult. However, from 2006, a standardised firm identifier was used allowing us to construct an (unbalanced) panel of firms from 2006-2010. Our final panel dataset contains 391,631 firms. Fifteen percent of the firms are measured for all five years, but others are measured less frequently either because of firm entry and exit during the time period under investigation, or because they fell below the GSO threshold of ten employees for inclusion in the census in a particular year and therefore were only subject to random selection, leading to gaps in the data. To measure the quality of local economic governance we draw on the Provincial Competitiveness Index (PCI). The PCI is a composite index of provincial economic governance which has been calculated each year since 2006 by the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI). It is based upon a mail-out survey to a random sample of firms in each province. The survey asks a range of questions about firms’ perceptions of local economic governance, as well as concrete measures of their experience of local governance. A particular strength of the PCI is that it focuses on aspects of local governance which are under the control of the provincial administration. It therefore excludes factors such as the quality or availability of national roads, airports and ports which would bias the index in favour of larger cities or provinces. Firm responses to the questions are combined into a set of nine sub-indices reflecting provincial performance on: • Entry costs • Land access and tenure security • Transparency • Time costs of regulatory compliance • Informal charges • Proactivity of the provincial government • Business support services • Labour training • Legal institutions Provincial scores on each sub-index represent the province’s performance on that topic relative to the performance of other provinces in Vietnam. The overall PCI index is a combination of the sub-indices, yielding an overall score for the quality of economic governance in each province. The published PCI scores use a weighted sum of the sub-indices, with weights determined by the influence of each sub-index in predicting different aspects of firm performance. We use this published PCI, since it is observable to decision makers in firms and in government. In addition to the Enterprise Census and PCI data, we also draw on a range of provincial statistics from the GSO Statistical Yearbook.

This paper highlights the spatial linkages of forest quality with poverty incidence and poverty density in Vietnam. Most of the Vietnamese poor live in densely populated river deltas and cities while remote upland areas have the highest poverty incidences, gaps, and severities. Forests of high local and global value are located in areas where relatively few poor people live, but where the incidence, gap, and severity of poverty are strongest, and where the livelihood strategies are based on agricultural and forest activities. Analysis was conducted combining country-wide spatial data on commune-level poverty estimates and the geographic distribution of forest quality. The results suggest the usefulness of targeting investments in remote areas that combine poverty reduction and environmental sustainability.

In 2024, the average monthly income per capita in Vietnam reached approximately *** million Vietnamese dong, indicating a slight increase from the previous year. 2020 and 2021 were particularly difficult years for the country’s population when per capita income decreased due to the negative impacts of the COVID-19 epidemic. Income distribution in Vietnam As a rapidly developing country in Southeast Asia, Vietnam has made significant efforts to improve income distribution among its population. One of the key factors contributing to a more balanced income distribution is Vietnam’s robust economic growth. Although the COVID-19 pandemic posed challenges to the country’s economy, Vietnam has been enjoying gradual GDP growth over the past few years, which explains the increase in job opportunities and higher wages for many Vietnamese citizens. Over the years, the Vietnamese government has implemented various policies and strategies to reduce the poverty rate and narrow the income gap in the country. However, the difference in income between urban and rural areas is inevitable. According to a governmental report in 2022, earnings per capita improved steadily across the whole country regardless of area; nonetheless, the monthly average income in urban areas was 1.5 times higher than that of their rural counterparts. Among the five major cities, Ha Noi and Ho Chi Minh City recorded the highest income per capita due to their higher living expenses compared to other areas. Monthly household expenditures in Vietnam While Vietnam has made noticeable progress in reducing poverty and improving income distribution, challenges remain in shaping the overall living standard for the population. The cost of living varies across different regions, with urban areas generally having higher expenses compared to rural areas. The largest portions of household expenditures are mainly used for nutrition, followed by housing, transportation, and healthcare. Education and entertainment also contributed to the monthly expenses, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic recovery and many restrictions were lifted in the country.