South Africa vs Vietnam
South Africa vs Vietnam: Median age
Median age in 2023: 28.2 years in South Africa and 32.4 years in Vietnam, by UN estimates. In 2023 the value was higher in Vietnam, by 4.2 years, or 1.15 times that in South Africa.
years · UN
What the numbers say
- Vietnam has been higher since 1995, when it overtook South Africa.
- In 2023, South Africa ranked 139 and Vietnam ranked 112 of 229 countries, counting from the highest.
- The UN projection (medium variant) puts South Africa at 38.3 years and Vietnam at 49.3 years in 2100.
- The world as a whole: 30.4 years in 2023.
Every year
years · UN
| Year | South Africa | Vietnam | World |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 28.2 | 32.4 | 30.4 |
| 2022 | 27.9 | 31.9 | 30.1 |
| 2021 | 27.6 | 31.5 | 29.8 |
| 2020 | 27.3 | 31 | 29.6 |
| 2019 | 26.9 | 30.6 | 29.3 |
| 2018 | 26.5 | 30.2 | 29 |
| 2017 | 26.1 | 29.8 | 28.8 |
| 2016 | 25.7 | 29.5 | 28.5 |
| 2015 | 25.4 | 29.2 | 28.3 |
| 2014 | 25 | 28.8 | 28.1 |
| 2013 | 24.7 | 28.4 | 27.8 |
| 2012 | 24.3 | 28 | 27.6 |
| 2011 | 24 | 27.6 | 27.4 |
| 2010 | 23.6 | 27.2 | 27.2 |
| 2009 | 23.3 | 26.8 | 27 |
| 2008 | 23 | 26.3 | 26.7 |
| 2007 | 22.7 | 25.8 | 26.5 |
| 2006 | 22.4 | 25.3 | 26.3 |
| 2005 | 22.1 | 24.8 | 26.1 |
| 2004 | 21.9 | 24.4 | 25.9 |
| 2003 | 21.6 | 24 | 25.7 |
| 2002 | 21.3 | 23.5 | 25.5 |
| 2001 | 21.1 | 23.1 | 25.3 |
| 2000 | 20.8 | 22.7 | 25.1 |
| 1999 | 20.6 | 22.2 | 24.9 |
| 1998 | 20.3 | 21.8 | 24.7 |
| 1997 | 20.1 | 21.4 | 24.4 |
| 1996 | 20.2 | 21 | 24.2 |
| 1995 | 20.5 | 20.6 | 24 |
| 1994 | 20.9 | 20.3 | 23.8 |
| 1993 | 20.9 | 20 | 23.5 |
| 1992 | 20.5 | 19.8 | 23.3 |
| 1991 | 20.5 | 19.6 | 23.1 |
| 1990 | 20.3 | 19.5 | 22.9 |
| 1989 | 20 | 19.3 | 22.8 |
| 1988 | 19.8 | 19.2 | 22.6 |
| 1987 | 19.7 | 19.1 | 22.4 |
| 1986 | 19.5 | 19 | 22.2 |
| 1985 | 19.4 | 18.9 | 22 |
| 1984 | 19.2 | 18.8 | 21.9 |
| 1983 | 19 | 18.7 | 21.8 |
| 1982 | 18.8 | 18.6 | 21.7 |
| 1981 | 18.6 | 18.5 | 21.6 |
| 1980 | 18.4 | 18.4 | 21.5 |
| 1979 | 18.2 | 18.3 | 21.3 |
| 1978 | 18.1 | 18.1 | 21.1 |
| 1977 | 18 | 17.9 | 21 |
| 1976 | 17.9 | 17.7 | 20.8 |
| 1975 | 17.9 | 17.6 | 20.7 |
| 1974 | 17.8 | 17.5 | 20.5 |
| 1973 | 17.8 | 17.4 | 20.4 |
| 1972 | 17.7 | 17.3 | 20.4 |
| 1971 | 17.7 | 17.3 | 20.3 |
| 1970 | 17.7 | 17.2 | 20.3 |
| 1969 | 17.7 | 17.2 | 20.3 |
| 1968 | 17.8 | 17.2 | 20.4 |
| 1967 | 17.8 | 17.2 | 20.5 |
| 1966 | 17.8 | 17.3 | 20.6 |
| 1965 | 17.8 | 17.7 | 20.8 |
| 1964 | 17.8 | 18.1 | 21 |
| 1963 | 17.8 | 18.7 | 21.2 |
| 1962 | 17.8 | 19.2 | 21.4 |
| 1961 | 17.9 | 19.7 | 21.4 |
| 1960 | 17.9 | 20.2 | 21.5 |
| 1959 | 18 | 20.7 | 21.5 |
| 1958 | 18.1 | 21.2 | 21.5 |
| 1957 | 18.3 | 21.6 | 21.6 |
| 1956 | 18.4 | 21.9 | 21.7 |
| 1955 | 18.6 | 22 | 21.8 |
| 1954 | 18.7 | 22.3 | 21.9 |
| 1953 | 18.9 | 22.5 | 22 |
| 1952 | 19 | 22.7 | 22.1 |
| 1951 | 19.1 | 22.9 | 22.1 |
| 1950 | 19.2 | 23.1 | 22.2 |
UN projection (medium variant) · 2024–2100
| Year | South Africa | Vietnam | World |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 28.528.3–28.6 | 32.932.9–33 | 30.6 |
| 2025 | 28.728.3–29 | 33.433.2–33.6 | 30.9 |
| 2026 | 28.928.3–29.4 | 33.933.6–34.3 | 31.1 |
| 2027 | 29.128.2–29.8 | 34.433.9–34.9 | 31.3 |
| 2028 | 29.328.2–30.1 | 34.834.2–35.5 | 31.6 |
| 2029 | 29.528.1–30.5 | 35.334.5–36.1 | 31.8 |
| 2030 | 29.628.1–30.8 | 35.734.8–36.7 | 32 |
| 2031 | 29.728–31.2 | 36.135–37.2 | 32.2 |
| 2032 | 29.927.9–31.5 | 36.535.2–37.8 | 32.4 |
| 2033 | 3027.9–31.8 | 36.835.4–38.3 | 32.6 |
| 2034 | 30.128–32.1 | 37.135.4–38.8 | 32.8 |
| 2035 | 30.228.1–32.3 | 37.435.5–39.3 | 33 |
| 2036 | 30.328.1–32.5 | 37.635.5–39.8 | 33.2 |
| 2037 | 30.528.3–32.8 | 37.735.6–40.2 | 33.4 |
| 2038 | 30.628.4–33 | 37.935.6–40.6 | 33.6 |
| 2039 | 30.828.4–33.2 | 3835.6–40.9 | 33.8 |
| 2040 | 3128.5–33.5 | 38.235.7–41.3 | 34 |
| 2041 | 31.228.6–33.8 | 38.335.9–41.6 | 34.2 |
| 2042 | 31.328.6–34.1 | 38.536–41.9 | 34.4 |
| 2043 | 31.528.7–34.4 | 38.736.2–42.2 | 34.6 |
| 2044 | 31.628.7–34.6 | 38.836.3–42.5 | 34.8 |
| 2045 | 31.828.7–34.9 | 3936.6–42.7 | 35 |
| 2046 | 31.928.7–35.1 | 39.236.8–43 | 35.2 |
| 2047 | 3228.8–35.3 | 39.437.1–43.2 | 35.4 |
| 2048 | 32.128.8–35.5 | 39.737.3–43.5 | 35.6 |
| 2049 | 32.228.9–35.7 | 4037.5–43.7 | 35.9 |
| 2050 | 32.329–35.9 | 40.237.8–44 | 36.1 |
| 2051 | 32.429.1–36.1 | 40.538.2–44.3 | 36.3 |
| 2052 | 32.629.2–36.3 | 40.838.5–44.5 | 36.5 |
| 2053 | 32.729.3–36.5 | 41.138.9–44.8 | 36.7 |
| 2054 | 32.929.4–36.6 | 41.439.2–45.2 | 36.9 |
| 2055 | 33.129.6–36.9 | 41.839.5–45.5 | 37.1 |
| 2056 | 33.329.7–37.1 | 42.239.8–45.8 | 37.3 |
| 2057 | 33.529.8–37.3 | 42.640–46.1 | 37.5 |
| 2058 | 33.630–37.6 | 42.940.2–46.4 | 37.6 |
| 2059 | 33.830.1–37.9 | 43.340.4–46.8 | 37.8 |
| 2060 | 3430.2–38.2 | 43.640.6–47.2 | 37.9 |
| 2061 | 34.130.3–38.5 | 43.940.7–47.7 | 38 |
| 2062 | 34.230.5–38.7 | 44.140.9–48.1 | 38.1 |
| 2063 | 34.430.6–39 | 44.441–48.5 | 38.3 |
| 2064 | 34.530.7–39.2 | 44.641–48.9 | 38.4 |
| 2065 | 34.630.8–39.4 | 44.841.1–49.3 | 38.5 |
| 2066 | 34.830.9–39.6 | 4541.1–49.7 | 38.6 |
| 2067 | 34.931–39.7 | 45.241.2–50.1 | 38.7 |
| 2068 | 3531.1–39.8 | 45.341.3–50.4 | 38.8 |
| 2069 | 35.131.2–39.9 | 45.541.3–50.7 | 38.9 |
| 2070 | 35.231.3–40 | 45.641.4–51 | 39 |
| 2071 | 35.331.4–40.1 | 45.741.4–51.3 | 39.1 |
| 2072 | 35.431.5–40.2 | 45.841.4–51.6 | 39.2 |
| 2073 | 35.531.5–40.3 | 45.841.4–51.9 | 39.3 |
| 2074 | 35.631.6–40.4 | 45.941.4–52.2 | 39.4 |
| 2075 | 35.731.7–40.5 | 4641.5–52.5 | 39.5 |
| 2076 | 35.831.8–40.7 | 4641.5–52.8 | 39.6 |
| 2077 | 35.931.9–40.7 | 46.141.6–53.1 | 39.7 |
| 2078 | 3632–40.8 | 46.241.6–53.3 | 39.8 |
| 2079 | 36.132.1–40.9 | 46.341.7–53.6 | 40 |
| 2080 | 36.232.2–41 | 46.341.7–53.8 | 40.1 |
| 2081 | 36.332.4–41.1 | 46.541.8–53.9 | 40.2 |
| 2082 | 36.432.5–41.2 | 46.641.9–54.1 | 40.3 |
| 2083 | 36.532.6–41.2 | 46.742–54.2 | 40.4 |
| 2084 | 36.632.6–41.3 | 46.842.1–54.4 | 40.5 |
| 2085 | 36.732.7–41.4 | 4742.2–54.5 | 40.6 |
| 2086 | 36.832.9–41.6 | 47.242.2–54.6 | 40.7 |
| 2087 | 36.933–41.7 | 47.342.3–54.8 | 40.9 |
| 2088 | 37.133.1–41.9 | 47.542.4–54.9 | 41 |
| 2089 | 37.233.2–42 | 47.742.4–55.1 | 41.1 |
| 2090 | 37.333.3–42.2 | 47.942.5–55.3 | 41.2 |
| 2091 | 37.433.4–42.3 | 4842.5–55.4 | 41.3 |
| 2092 | 37.533.5–42.4 | 48.242.5–55.6 | 41.4 |
| 2093 | 37.633.5–42.6 | 48.442.5–55.8 | 41.5 |
| 2094 | 37.733.6–42.7 | 48.542.5–56 | 41.6 |
| 2095 | 37.833.7–42.8 | 48.742.5–56.2 | 41.7 |
| 2096 | 37.933.8–43 | 48.842.5–56.4 | 41.8 |
| 2097 | 3833.9–43.1 | 4942.5–56.6 | 41.9 |
| 2098 | 38.134–43.2 | 49.142.5–56.8 | 42 |
| 2099 | 38.234.1–43.3 | 49.242.5–57.1 | 42 |
| 2100 | 38.334.1–43.4 | 49.342.4–57.3 | 42.1 |
Each country on its own
Good to know
- Half the people are older than this age and half are younger.
- Source: UN DESA, World Population Prospects 2024.
- The dashed line is the UN projection (medium variant), a scenario rather than a forecast; the band is its 95% prediction interval.
- Ranks count the 229 countries with a value in 2023, highest first.
- The faint line is the world as a whole, as the same source counts it.
How the layers work, where their data comes from and what they can’t tell you: Countries through time
South Africa vs Vietnam
Health
- Life expectancySouth Africa: 66.1 years in 2023Vietnam: 74.6 years in 2023
- Child mortalitySouth Africa: 3.5 per 100 live births in 2024Vietnam: 1.7 per 100 live births in 2024
- Infant mortalitySouth Africa: 27.9 per 1,000 live births in 2023Vietnam: 15.1 per 1,000 live births in 2023
- DepressionSouth Africa: 3.75% in 2017Vietnam: 2.88% in 2017
- Suicide rateSouth Africa: 11.2 per 100,000 people in 2017Vietnam: 7.4 per 100,000 people in 2017
People
- PopulationSouth Africa: 63.2 million people in 2023Vietnam: 100 million people in 2023
- Population growthSouth Africa: 1.32% a year in 2023Vietnam: 0.64% a year in 2023
- Fertility rateSouth Africa: 2.22 births per woman in 2023Vietnam: 1.91 births per woman in 2023
- Urban populationSouth Africa: 63.8% in 2025Vietnam: 38.8% in 2025
- People aged 65 and overSouth Africa: 6.5% in 2023Vietnam: 8.6% in 2023
- Net migration rateSouth Africa: 3.6 per 1,000 people in 2023Vietnam: -0.8 per 1,000 people in 2023
Economy
Education
Politics
Conflict
Military
- Military spendingSouth Africa: 0.74% of GDP in 2025Vietnam: 2.15% of GDP in 2025
- Military spending in US dollarsSouth Africa: $3B in 2025Vietnam: $10.9B in 2025
- Military spending per personSouth Africa: $49 in 2025Vietnam: $104 in 2025
- Military share of state spendingSouth Africa: 2.2% of government spending in 2025Vietnam: 9.9% of government spending in 2025
- Armed forces personnelSouth Africa: 89,000 people in 2020Vietnam: 522,000 people in 2020
- National powerSouth Africa: 0.55% of world capability in 2022Vietnam: 1.11% of world capability in 2022
- Armed forces, share of workersSouth Africa: 0.4% of the labour force in 2020Vietnam: 0.95% of the labour force in 2020
- Arms importsSouth Africa: 30 million TIV in 2025Vietnam: 177 million TIV in 2025
- Arms exportsSouth Africa: 115 million TIV in 2025Vietnam: 10 million TIV in 2018