If you lived in Vietnam instead of Zimbabwe, you would:

Health

be 95.9% less likely to be living with HIV/AIDS

In Zimbabwe, 9.8% of people are living with AIDS/HIV as of 2024. In Vietnam, that number is 0.4% of people as of 2024.

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live 11.7 years longer

In Zimbabwe, the average life expectancy is 63 years (60 years for men, 65 years for women) as of 2024. In Vietnam, that number is 75 years (70 years for men, 79 years for women) as of 2024.

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be 83.7% less likely to be obese

In Zimbabwe, 14.7% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Vietnam, that number is 2.4% of people as of 2024.

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see 6.7 times more spent on your healthcare

Zimbabwe spends $103 per person on healthcare as of 2023 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). Vietnam spends $690 as of 2023.

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have 8.1 times more doctors per person

Zimbabwe has 1.4 doctors per 10,000 people as of 2023. Vietnam has 11.1 as of 2021.

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have 23.6% more access to essential health services

Zimbabwe scores 55 out of 100 on the universal health coverage index as of 2021. Vietnam scores 68 as of 2021.

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be 57.9% less likely to die by suicide

Zimbabwe has a suicide rate of 17.3 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Vietnam, it is 7.3 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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Economy

be 83.6% less likely to be unemployed

In Zimbabwe, 9.3% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Vietnam, that number is 1.5% as of 2025.

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be 89.0% less likely to live below the poverty line

In Zimbabwe, 38.3% live below the poverty line as of 2019. In Vietnam, however, that number is 4.2% as of 2022.

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make 67.7% more money

Zimbabwe has a GDP per capita of $3,021 as of 2025, while in Vietnam, the GDP per capita is $5,066 as of 2025.

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Life

be 86.6% less likely to die during childbirth

In Zimbabwe, approximately 358.0 women die from pregnancy or childbirth per 100,000 live births as of 2023. In Vietnam, 48.0 women do as of 2023.

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be 80.8% less likely to die during infancy

In Zimbabwe, approximately 62.4 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2024. In Vietnam, on the other hand, 12.0 children do as of 2024.

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have 55.1% fewer children

In Zimbabwe, there are approximately 29.9 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Vietnam, there are 13.4 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

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Basic Needs

be 61.0% more likely to have access to electricity

In Zimbabwe, approximately 62% of people have electricity access (84% in urban areas, and 51% in rural areas) as of 2023. In Vietnam, that number is 100% of people on average (100% in urban areas, and 100% in rural areas) as of 2023.

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be 2.0 times more likely to have internet access

In Zimbabwe, approximately 41.6% of the population has internet access as of 2024. In Vietnam, about 84.2% do as of 2024.

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be 46.9% more likely to have access to drinking water

In Zimbabwe, approximately 67% of people have access to drinking water (94% in urban areas, and 54% in rural areas) as of 2024. In Vietnam, that number is 99% of people on average (99% in urban areas, and 98% in rural areas) as of 2024.

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Expenditures

spend 7.6 times more on education

Zimbabwe spends 0.4% of its total GDP on education as of 2023. Vietnam spends 2.9% of total GDP on education as of 2022.

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spend 55.6% more on healthcare

Zimbabwe spends 2.9% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2023. In Vietnam, that number is 4.6% of GDP as of 2023.

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Safety

be 40.8% less likely to die in a road accident

In Zimbabwe, road accidents kill 29.9 people per 100,000 as of 2021. In Vietnam, they kill 17.7 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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Infrastructure

find 12.2 times more home broadband

Zimbabwe has 1.9 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2024. Vietnam has 23.7 as of 2024.

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live with 60.7% less strain on fresh water

Zimbabwe withdraws 46% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Vietnam withdraws 18% as of 2022.

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use 5.1 times more electricity

Zimbabwe uses 504 kWh of electricity per person each year as of 2023. Vietnam uses 2,585 kWh as of 2023.

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Environment

emit 5.5 times more CO2

Zimbabwe emits 0.8 tonnes of CO2 per person each year as of 2024. Vietnam emits 4.3 tonnes as of 2024.

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Sources: World Bank (2019–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2021), World Health Organization (2024). How we calculate this

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.
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