Quality of life comparison

compared to

If you lived in Vietnam instead of West Virginia, you would:

Health

live 2.7 years longer

In West Virginia, the average life expectancy is 73 years (72 years for men, 77 years for women) as of 2020. In Vietnam, that number is 76 years (73 years for men, 78 years for women) as of 2022.

View global rankings →

Economy

be 63.6% less likely to be unemployed

In West Virginia, 4.4% of adults are unemployed as of 2025. In Vietnam, that number is 1.6% as of 2023.

View global rankings →

be 70.6% less likely to live below the poverty line

In West Virginia, 16.3% live below the poverty line as of 2023. In Vietnam, however, that number is 4.8% as of 2020.

View global rankings →

make 70.7% less money

West Virginia has a GDP per capita of $46,834 as of 2024, while in Vietnam, the GDP per capita is $13,700 as of 2023.

View global rankings →

Basic Needs

be 12.6% less likely to have internet access

In West Virginia, approximately 84.7% of the population has internet access as of 2023. In Vietnam, about 74.0% do as of 2021.

View global rankings →

The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: The World Factbook, OECD Regional Demography, Bureau of Labor Statistics, US Census Bureau (American Community Survey), Bureau of Economic Analysis.

Compare further: West Virginia vs. Vietnam
Cost of Living Comparison · 7 categories - 2026 data
Vietnam is 50.6% cheaper than West Virginia
→
Size Comparison · See true size
West Virginia is about 5 times smaller than Vietnam.
→

Vietnam: At a glance

Vietnam (sometimes abbreviated SRV) is a sovereign country in East/Southeast Asia, with a total land area of approximately 310,070 sq km. The conquest of Vietnam by France began in 1858 and was completed by 1884. It became part of French Indochina in 1887. Vietnam declared independence after World War II, but France continued to rule until its 1954 defeat by communist forces under Ho Chi MINH. Under the Geneva Accords of 1954, Vietnam was divided into the communist North and anti-communist South. US economic and military aid to South Vietnam grew through the 1960s in an attempt to bolster the government, but US armed forces were withdrawn following a cease-fire agreement in 1973. Two years later, North Vietnamese forces overran the South reuniting the country under communist rule. Despite the return of peace, for over a decade the country experienced little economic growth because of conservative leadership policies, the persecution and mass exodus of individuals - many of them successful South Vietnamese merchants - and growing international isolation. However, since the enactment of Vietnam's "doi moi" (renovation) policy in 1986, Vietnamese authorities have committed to increased economic liberalization and enacted structural reforms needed to modernize the economy and to produce more competitive, export-driven industries. The communist leaders, however, maintain control on political expression and have resisted outside calls to improve human rights. The country continues to experience small-scale protests from various groups - the vast majority connected to land-use issues, calls for increased political space, and the lack of equitable mechanisms for resolving disputes. Various ethnic minorities, such as the Montagnards of the Central Highlands and the Khmer Krom in the southern delta region, have also held protests.
Read more

How big is Vietnam compared to West Virginia? See an in-depth size comparison.

Share this

Ask the Elsewhere Community

Join the Elsewhere community and ask a question about Vietnam or United States. It's a free, question-and-answer based forum to discuss what life is like in countries and cities around the world.