While nearly two-thirds of Vietnam remains rural, urbanization has grown by seven percent from 2012 to 2022. Political reforms in the 1980s created greater economic stability in Vietnam in the decade that followed and led to higher urbanization. The growing population of Vietnam, as well as people migrating from rural areas, contributes to an escalating number of inhabitants in the country's already crowded cities. Agricultural sector becoming less prominent In 2008, nearly half the population of Vietnam worked in agriculture. Ten years later, as more people leave rural areas, the service sector is comparable in size, employing roughly a third of the population, while employment in the industry sector has grown to a quarter. Though agriculture has long had the most workers, the service and industry sectors accounted for larger shares of Vietnam’s GDP from 2007 to 2017. Costs in rural and urban areas In rural areas of Vietnam, investment in agriculture – such as the costs of farming – was the second-highest expense in 2019. In urban areas, around the same share was spent on aspirational living costs such as eating out and holidays, while investment was the category with the least amount of monthly spending. The expense associated with farming in rural areas is a possible cause for the increased migration to cities, with fewer people employed in the agricultural sector and more working in services such as health care, education, hospitality, and gastronomy.

Urban population (% of total population) in Vietnam was reported at 40.2 % in 2024, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Vietnam - Urban population (% of total) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

In 2024, the urban population in Vietnam stood at approximately 39 million people. The six largest urban agglomerations include Hanoi, Hai Phong, Da Nang, Bien Hoa, Ho Chi Minh City, and Can Tho. On the other hand, Ben Tre, Thai Binh, and Bac Giang had the lowest rates of urbanization in the country. Urbanization in Vietnam The rapid urbanization in Vietnam results in a disproportionate population density between its urban and rural areas. For instance, in 2022, Ho Chi Minh City recorded a population density of 4,481 inhabitants per square kilometer, nearly 15 times the country's average population density in the same year. The urban population is consistently increasing due to the country’s economic reforms and infrastructure development, as well as higher living standards. For example, the monthly income per capita in urban areas is nearly half as much as that in rural areas. Nevertheless, the poverty rate in Vietnam has been consistently diminishing each year, roughly at 4.2 percent as of 2022. Urban infrastructure in Vietnam Vietnam has made significant progress in developing its urban infrastructure, especially in major cities like Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. The expansion of highways, seaports, and airports has enhanced domestic and international connectivity, as well as greatly contributed to the country’s logistic industry. For instance, Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City are developing a metro system which is expected to be put into operation in 2024. The country has also invested in modern healthcare facilities, schools, and commercial centers. However, challenges such as traffic jams, limited public transportation services, and environmental pollution still require significant efforts to meet the growing demands of the Vietnamese urban population.

Vietnam VN: Urban Population: % of Total Population data was reported at 35.213 % in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 34.510 % for 2016. Vietnam VN: Urban Population: % of Total Population data is updated yearly, averaging 19.822 % from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 35.213 % in 2017 and a record low of 14.700 % in 1960. Vietnam VN: Urban Population: % of Total 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: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Urban population refers to people living in urban areas as defined by national statistical offices. The data are collected and smoothed by United Nations Population Division.; ; United Nations Population Division. World Urbanization Prospects: 2018 Revision.; Weighted average;

In 2024, the population living in urban areas in Vietnam accounted for 38.5 percent of the total population. Since the past years, the share of the urban population in the country has been growing steadily year on year.

VN: Population in Largest City data was reported at 7,870,501.000 Person in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 7,604,915.000 Person for 2016. VN: Population in Largest City data is updated yearly, averaging 2,905,317.000 Person from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 7,870,501.000 Person in 2017 and a record low of 1,400,000.000 Person in 1960. VN: Population in Largest City 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: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Population in largest city is the urban population living in the country's largest metropolitan area.; ; United Nations, World Urbanization Prospects.; ;

VN: Population: Total data was reported at 95,540,800.000 Person in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 94,569,072.000 Person for 2016. VN: Population: Total data is updated yearly, averaging 66,035,555.000 Person from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 95,540,800.000 Person in 2017 and a record low of 32,670,629.000 Person in 1960. VN: Population: Total 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: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Total population is based on the de facto definition of population, which counts all residents regardless of legal status or citizenship. The values shown are midyear estimates.; ; (1) United Nations Population Division. World Population Prospects: 2017 Revision. (2) Census reports and other statistical publications from national statistical offices, (3) Eurostat: Demographic Statistics, (4) United Nations Statistical Division. Population and Vital Statistics Reprot (various years), (5) U.S. Census Bureau: International Database, and (6) Secretariat of the Pacific Community: Statistics and Demography Programme.; Sum; Relevance to gender indicator: disaggregating the population composition by gender will help a country in projecting its demand for social services on a gender basis.

In 2023, the proportion of the trained labor force reached approximately ** percent in urban areas and **** percent in rural areas in Vietnam. The trained labor force constituted **** percent of Vietnam's total labor force during that period.

Vietnam VN: Urban Population data was reported at 33,642,782.000 Person in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 32,635,787.000 Person for 2016. Vietnam VN: Urban Population data is updated yearly, averaging 13,089,739.500 Person from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 33,642,782.000 Person in 2017 and a record low of 4,802,582.000 Person in 1960. Vietnam VN: 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: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Urban population refers to people living in urban areas as defined by national statistical offices. It is calculated using World Bank population estimates and urban ratios from the United Nations World Urbanization Prospects. Aggregation of urban and rural population may not add up to total population because of different country coverages.; ; World Bank staff estimates based on the United Nations Population Division's World Urbanization Prospects: 2018 Revision.; Sum;

Urban population growth (annual %) in Vietnam was reported at 2.4261 % in 2024, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Vietnam - Urban population growth (annual %) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on September of 2025.

Urban population in Vietnam was reported at 40592000 in 2024, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Vietnam - Urban population - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on September of 2025.

Vietnam VN: Rural Population: % of Total Population data was reported at 64.787 % in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 65.490 % for 2016. Vietnam VN: Rural Population: % of Total Population data is updated yearly, averaging 80.178 % from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 85.300 % in 1960 and a record low of 64.787 % in 2017. Vietnam VN: Rural Population: % of Total 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: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Rural population refers to people living in rural areas as defined by national statistical offices. It is calculated as the difference between total population and urban population.; ; World Bank staff estimates based on the United Nations Population Division's World Urbanization Prospects: 2018 Revision.; Weighted average;

In 2021, the share of households with two to four persons in urban areas in Vietnam was above 66 percent. In rural areas, the same household size accounted for 64.4 percent of the total rural households. This was the most popular size of households across the country, followed by five persons or more households.

According to a survey by Infocus Mekong conducted in January 2024, ** percent of urban and ** percent of rural respondents in Vietnam believed that the economy would worsen in 2024 compared to 2023. On the other hand, ** percent of respondents from each demographic held optimistic views regarding the economic outlook for the current year.

Vietnam VN: Rural Population Growth data was reported at -0.057 % in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of -0.004 % for 2016. Vietnam VN: Rural Population Growth data is updated yearly, averaging 2.030 % from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 2.630 % in 1960 and a record low of -0.057 % in 2017. Vietnam VN: Rural Population Growth 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: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Rural population refers to people living in rural areas as defined by national statistical offices. It is calculated as the difference between total population and urban population.; ; World Bank staff estimates based on the United Nations Population Division's World Urbanization Prospects: 2018 Revision.; Weighted average;

As of August 15, 2021, ready-to-drink coffee had a penetration rate of *** percent in urban areas of Vietnam. In comparison, the rural area of Vietnam recorded a much lower penetration rate for the same product category that year.

In 2021, the singulate mean age at marriage (SMAM) in urban regions in Vietnam was 27.5 years. Meanwhile, the SMAM of the rural population was around two years younger than that of the urban population. In that year, Vietnam recorded a SMAM of 26.2 years across the country.

VN: Population: Female: Ages 60-64: % of Female Population data was reported at 4.252 % in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 4.040 % for 2016. VN: Population: Female: Ages 60-64: % of Female Population data is updated yearly, averaging 2.729 % from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 4.252 % in 2017 and a record low of 2.260 % in 2004. VN: Population: Female: Ages 60-64: % of Female 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: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Female population between the ages 60 to 64 as a percentage of the total female population.; ; World Bank staff estimates based on age/sex distributions of United Nations Population Division's World Population Prospects: 2017 Revision.; ;

According to a survey by Infocus Mekong conducted in January 2024, ** percent of urban and ** percent of rural respondents in Vietnam noted a decline in their savings by more than ** percent in 2023. On the other hand, two percent of urban and five percent of rural respondents reported an increase of ** percent or more in their saving ability.

Vietnam VN: Urban Population Growth data was reported at 3.039 % in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 3.113 % for 2016. Vietnam VN: Urban Population Growth data is updated yearly, averaging 3.174 % from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 5.319 % in 1960 and a record low of 2.542 % in 1988. Vietnam VN: Urban Population Growth 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: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Urban population refers to people living in urban areas as defined by national statistical offices. It is calculated using World Bank population estimates and urban ratios from the United Nations World Urbanization Prospects.; ; World Bank staff estimates based on the United Nations Population Division's World Urbanization Prospects: 2018 Revision.; Weighted average;