South Korea vs Vietnam

South Korea scores 84.5 in the NationsTree Index (1st in the world) and Vietnam scores 59.0 (58th), a gap of 25.6 points. Their trees are 40 m and 27 m tall; tree height grows with real GDP and is adjusted by the index.

Vietnam has 97% more people than South Korea. Vietnam is 3.3 times larger than South Korea by land area. The economy of South Korea is 78% larger than that of Vietnam (GDP at purchasing power parity). Population: South Korea 51.7 million and Vietnam 101.6 million (2025).

GDP per person at purchasing power parity is $63,125 in South Korea and $18,088 in Vietnam (2025, international dollars). People in South Korea live on average 8.9 years longer (83.6 vs 74.7 years).

Of 34 indicators reported by both countries, South Korea ranks higher in the world on 26 and Vietnam on 8. South Korea is clearly stronger in institutions & safety, science & innovation and society & health. Vietnam is clearly stronger in natural resources and trade.

As a nation, South Korea is the older of the two (statehood since 57 BC, 2,082 years), compared with Vietnam (since 939). Over the last five years South Korea improved faster (direction score 75 vs 62 out of 100).