Photo: Slaza : Sándor Laza · CC BY-SA 3.0 · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale
Topic 05 of 18 · Country Index 2026
Vietnam: Health & Wellbeing
How long, and how well fed, do people live?
Vietnam is placed 100th of 200 countries on health & wellbeing in the Country Index 2026, from 4 of its 4 key statistics. Readings behind it: Life Expectancy at Birth 74.59 (2023); Under-Five Mortality Rate 17.27 (2024).
Share
Health & Wellbeing
100th
of 200 countries placed
Placed from 4 of 4 key statistics
- 74.59Life Expectancy at Birth, 2023Years a newborn would live at current death rates
- 17.27Under-Five Mortality Rate, 2024Deaths before age five (per 1,000 live births)
- 18.2Stunting Prevalence in Children Under Five, 2024Children under 5 who are stunted (%)
- 1.8Prevalence of Severe Food Insecurity, 2024Population in severe food insecurity (%)
01The evidence
The 4 key statistics that decide it
Only these place Vietnam on health & wellbeing — one vote each. Every value is the publisher’s own, read at the edition the Country Index 2026 used — or, for a survey-based key, each country’s latest reading; the grey ticks are every other country it was compared with, lowest on the left.
Key 1 of 4
Life Expectancy at Birth
UN DESA Population Division
2023 edition · data for 2023 · CC BY 3.0 IGO
74.59
Years a newborn would live at current death rates
Higher is better
Vietnam: 74.59. Across the 222 countries in this edition, values run from 54.46 (Nigeria) to 86.37 (Monaco); the world median is 74.63.
- World median
- 74.63
- Best in South-eastern Asia
- 83.74 Singapore
- Land neighbours
- China 77.95 · Cambodia 70.67 · Laos 68.96
Key 2 of 4
Under-Five Mortality Rate
UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME)
2024 edition · data for 2024 · CC BY 3.0 IGO
17.27
Deaths before age five (per 1,000 live births)
Lower is better
Vietnam: 17.27. Across the 200 countries in this edition, values run from 1.26 (San Marino) to 115.65 (Nigeria); the world median is 14.54.
- World median
- 14.54
- Best in South-eastern Asia
- 2.68 Singapore
- Land neighbours
- China 5.724 · Cambodia 18.41 · Laos 29.35
Key 3 of 4
Stunting Prevalence in Children Under Five
UNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates)
Latest reading per country, 2014–2024 · Vietnam’s is from 2023 · CC BY 3.0 IGO
18.2
Children under 5 who are stunted (%)
Lower is better
Vietnam: 18.2. Across the 162 countries at their latest reading, values run from 0.518 (Latvia) to 52.8 (Burundi); the world median is 13.8.
- World median
- 13.8
- Best in South-eastern Asia
- 4.468 Singapore
- Land neighbours
- China 4.8 · Cambodia 21.91 · Laos 32.8
Key 4 of 4
Prevalence of Severe Food Insecurity
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
2024 edition · data for 2024 · CC BY 4.0
1.8
Population in severe food insecurity (%)
Lower is better
Vietnam: 1.8. Across the 125 countries in this edition, values run from 0.6 (Brazil) to 62.9 (South Sudan); the world median is 4.9.
- World median
- 4.9
- Best in South-eastern Asia
- 0.6 Thailand
- Land neighbours
- Cambodia 2.9 · Laos 5.5
02Over time
Which way Vietnam is moving
Each key’s published value, edition by edition, beside the world median. The Country Index 2026 is the first edition of the standing, so the standing itself has no history to chart yet.
Life Expectancy at Birth
Years a newborn would live at current death rates · higher is better
VietnamWorld median
Vietnam rose from 72.75 in 2000 to 74.59 in 2023; the world median went from 70.68 to 74.63.
Every year’s figures
Year Vietnam World median 2023 74.59 74.630 2022 74.50 74.313 2021 74.14 72.433 2020 75.38 73.063 2019 74.21 74.196 2018 74.10 74.081 2017 74.03 74.029 2016 73.98 74.013 2015 73.96 73.783 2014 73.89 73.330 2013 73.82 73.386 2012 73.76 73.210 2011 73.71 73.003 2010 73.61 72.827 2009 73.53 72.426 2008 73.46 72.264 2007 73.39 72.113 2006 73.29 72.027 2005 73.20 71.876 2004 73.06 71.477 2003 73.24 71.409 2002 73.14 71.173 2001 72.98 70.926 2000 72.75 70.678 Under-Five Mortality Rate
Deaths before age five (per 1,000 live births) · lower is better
VietnamWorld median
Vietnam fell from 30.28 in 2000 to 17.27 in 2024; the world median went from 30.43 to 14.54.
Every year’s figures
Year Vietnam World median 2024 17.3 14.5 2023 17.8 15.2 2022 18.4 14.7 2021 18.9 15.1 2020 19.5 15.3 2019 20.0 15.7 2018 20.5 16.3 2017 20.9 16.8 2016 21.3 17.5 2015 21.6 17.9 2014 22.0 18.3 2013 22.3 18.7 2012 22.5 18.8 2011 22.8 19.0 2010 23.1 19.2 2009 23.4 20.8 2008 23.8 20.7 2007 24.3 21.8 2006 24.8 22.8 2005 25.4 24.0 2004 26.1 25.9 2003 26.9 26.9 2002 27.9 28.0 2001 29.0 29.1 2000 30.3 30.4 Prevalence of Severe Food Insecurity
Population in severe food insecurity (%) · lower is better
VietnamWorld median
Vietnam rose from 0.5 in 2019 to 1.8 in 2024; the world median went from 4.95 to 4.9.
Every year’s figures
Year Vietnam World median 2024 1.8 4.9 2023 2.2 4.7 2022 2.1 5.4 2021 1.2 5.7 2020 0.6 5.6 2019 0.5 5.0 2018 — 4.2 2017 — 4.0 2016 — 3.4 2015 — 3.4
03In context
Vietnam beside its neighbours
A position reads best beside the countries around it. Every position below is a place among all 200 countries on health & wellbeing, never a place within the region.
Vietnam and the countries it borders
Standing among all 200; the key columns are the publishers’ own values.
| Country | Standing | Life Expectancy at BirthYears a newborn would live at current death rates | Under-Five Mortality RateDeaths before age five (per 1,000 live births) | Stunting Prevalence in Children Under FiveChildren under 5 who are stunted (%) | Prevalence of Severe Food InsecurityPopulation in severe food insecurity (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 China | 47th | 77.95 | 5.724 | 4.8 | — |
| Vietnam | 100th | 74.59 | 17.27 | 18.2 | 1.8 |
 Cambodia | 116th | 70.67 | 18.41 | 21.91 | 2.9 |
 Laos | 146th | 68.96 | 29.35 | 32.8 | 5.5 |
“—”: no published reading in that edition. What a standing is
Across South-eastern Asia
Every country in the sub-region, by its place among all 200.
Placed either side on health & wellbeing
The countries immediately above and below Vietnam in the topic’s list.
04Context, no vote
Where Vietnam is ahead of the world, and behind
53 more statistics filed under health & wellbeing, published in full and deliberately given no vote in the standing. Select a row for the publisher, the rank and the links.
Ahead of the world median29
Statistics on which Vietnam does better than the middle country measured.
Malaria Incidence (P. vivax)MAP · 2025 · world median 1.3820.0011.382▲ Improved since 2015
Vietnam: 0.001 · world median 1.382 · New P. vivax malaria cases per 1,000 people per year. Malaria Atlas Project (MAP), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.001 to 184.62; lower is better.
Malaria Incidence (P. falciparum)MAP · 2025 · world median 52.470.00252.47▲ Improved since 2015
Vietnam: 0.002 · world median 52.47 · New P. falciparum malaria cases per 1,000 people per year. Malaria Atlas Project (MAP), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 334.75; lower is better.
Malaria Mortality (P. falciparum)MAP · 2024 · world median 8.1060.0148.106▲ Improved since 2014
Vietnam: 0.014 · world median 8.106 · Deaths from P. falciparum malaria per 100,000 people per year. Malaria Atlas Project (MAP), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 133.27; lower is better.
Immunisation Coverage, Measles First Dose (MCV1)WUENIC · 2025 · world median 909890▲ Improved since 2015
Vietnam: 98 · world median 90 · Infants given a first dose of measles vaccine (%). WHO and UNICEF (WUENIC), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 13 to 99; higher is better.
Vegetable Supply per PersonFAO · 2023 · world median 102.69191.32102.69▲ Improved since 2013
Vietnam: 191.32 · world median 102.69 · Vegetables available as food (kg per person per year). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 6.89 to 412.72; higher is better.
Low Birthweight PrevalenceUNICEF and WHO (Joint Low Birthweight Estimates) · 2020 · world median 10.216.31110.21▲ Improved since 2010
Vietnam: 6.311 · world median 10.21 · Live births weighing under 2,500 g (%). UNICEF and WHO (Joint Low Birthweight Estimates), 2020 edition, data for 2020.
Published values in that edition run from 3.993 to 27.44; lower is better.
Position 130th of 158 · derived, 1st = worst.
Severe Child Food Poverty, Children Aged 6–23 MonthsUNICEF · 2024 · world median 21.268.52221.26No earlier reading
Vietnam: 8.522 · world median 21.26 · Children aged 6-23 months fed from at most 2 of 8 food groups (%). UNICEF, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 1.169 to 63.08; lower is better.
Position 93rd of 113 · derived, 1st = worst.
Immunisation Coverage, DTP3WUENIC · 2025 · world median 919791▲ Improved since 2015
Vietnam: 97 · world median 91 · Infants given a third dose of DTP vaccine (%). WHO and UNICEF (WUENIC), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 39 to 99; higher is better.
Human Capital IndexWorld Bank Group · 2020 · world median 0.5640.690.564▲ Improved since 2010
Vietnam: 0.69 · world median 0.564 · HCI score (0–1). World Bank Group, 2020 edition, data for 2020.
Published values in that edition run from 0.292 to 0.879; higher is better.
Position 38th of 172 · derived.
Oral Rehydration Salts for Children with DiarrhoeaUNICEF · 2024 · world median 41.558.141.5No earlier reading
Vietnam: 58.1 · world median 41.5 · Children under 5 with diarrhoea given oral rehydration salts (%). UNICEF, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 9.9 to 95.4; higher is better.
Position 29th of 127 · derived.
Share of Population Unable to Afford a Healthy DietFAO · 2025 · world median 26.4726.4No real change since 2017
Vietnam: 7 · world median 26.4 · Share of the population unable to afford a healthy diet (%). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.6 to 93.9; lower is better.
Position 111th of 145 · derived, 1st = worst.
Global Multidimensional Poverty IndexOPHI · 2025 · world median 0.0390.0080.039▲ Improved since 2018
Vietnam: 0.008 · world median 0.039 · MPI (0–1). Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 0.517; lower is better.
Position 83rd of 109 · derived, 1st = worst.
Minimum Dietary Diversity, Children Aged 6–23 MonthsUNICEF · 2025 · world median 37.5755.7137.57No earlier reading
Vietnam: 55.71 · world median 37.57 · Children aged 6-23 months fed from at least 5 of 8 food groups (%). UNICEF, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 8.089 to 85.88; higher is better.
Position 32nd of 115 · derived.
Prevalence of Moderate or Severe Food InsecurityFAO · 2024 · world median 20.99.420.9▼ Worsened since 2017
Vietnam: 9.4 · world median 20.9 · Population in moderate or severe food insecurity (%). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 1 to 88.8; lower is better.
Position 94th of 135 · derived, 1st = worst.
Demand for Family Planning Satisfied by Modern MethodsUN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 71.2577.871.25▼ Worsened since 2013
Vietnam: 77.8 · world median 71.25 · Share of women aged 15–49 wanting to avoid pregnancy who use a modern method (%). UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 8.4 to 92.4; higher is better.
Position 60th of 196 · derived.
Fruit Supply per PersonFAO · 2023 · world median 84.8399.6184.83▲ Improved since 2013
Vietnam: 99.61 · world median 84.83 · Fruit available as food, excluding wine (kg per person per year). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 4.27 to 379.63; higher is better.
Antenatal Care Coverage, At Least Four VisitsUNICEF · 2025 · world median 8187.781No earlier reading
Vietnam: 87.7 · world median 81 · Women with a live birth who had 4+ antenatal visits (%). UNICEF, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 22.6 to 100; higher is better.
Position 56th of 153 · derived.
Exclusive Breastfeeding Under Six MonthsUNICEF · 2024 · world median 40.7445.4340.74No earlier reading
Vietnam: 45.43 · world median 40.74 · Infants under 6 months exclusively breastfed (%). UNICEF, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 3.497 to 83.3; higher is better.
Position 53rd of 136 · derived.
Care-Seeking for Children with Symptoms of PneumoniaUNICEF · 2024 · world median 67.772.667.7No earlier reading
Vietnam: 72.6 · world median 67.7 · Children under 5 with pneumonia symptoms taken to a health provider (%). UNICEF, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 14 to 99.1; higher is better.
Position 50th of 127 · derived.
Life Expectancy at Age 65UN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 16.3917.3716.39▼ Worsened since 2013
Vietnam: 17.37 · world median 16.39 · Further years a 65-year-old would live at current death rates. UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 12.13 to 23.21; higher is better.
Position 90th of 222 · derived.
Stillbirth RateUN IGME · 2023 · world median 8.1636.5088.163No real change since 2013
Vietnam: 6.508 · world median 8.163 · Stillbirths (per 1,000 total births). UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 1.18 to 34.9; lower is better.
Position 119th of 200 · derived, 1st = worst.
Postnatal Care for Newborns Within Two DaysUNICEF · 2025 · world median 82.988.582.9No earlier reading
Vietnam: 88.5 · world median 82.9 · Newborns with a health check within 2 days of birth (%). UNICEF, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 7.3 to 99.9; higher is better.
Position 45th of 109 · derived.
Violent Discipline of ChildrenUNICEF · 2025 · world median 75.872.475.8No earlier reading
Vietnam: 72.4 · world median 75.8 · Children aged 1-14 experiencing violent discipline (%). UNICEF, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 37.6 to 94; lower is better.
Position 52nd of 90 · derived, 1st = worst.
Gender Inequality IndexUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 0.3510.2990.351▼ Worsened since 2013
Vietnam: 0.299 · world median 0.351 · GII (0 = full equality, 1 = maximum inequality). UNDP Human Development Report Office, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.003 to 0.838; lower is better.
Ranked 78th of 172 by UNDP Human Development Report Office.
Adult Mortality (Probability of Dying Between 15 and 60)UN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 133.7127.95133.7▼ Worsened since 2013
Vietnam: 127.95 · world median 133.7 · Deaths before age 60 per 1,000 people alive at 15, at that year's death rates. UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 25.15 to 415.44; lower is better.
Position 118th of 222 · derived, 1st = worst.
Mortality Rate, Ages 5–14UN IGME · 2024 · world median 2.8582.5772.858▲ Improved since 2014
Vietnam: 2.577 · world median 2.858 · Deaths between ages 5 and 14 (per 1,000 children aged 5). UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.392 to 59.04; lower is better.
Position 106th of 200 · derived, 1st = worst.
Dietary Energy SupplyFAO · 2024 · world median 2,9823,0152,982▲ Improved since 2014
Vietnam: 3,015 · world median 2,982 · Dietary energy supply (kcal per person per day). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 1,757 to 3,962; higher is better.
Position 75th of 155 · derived.
Human Development IndexUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 0.7620.7660.762▲ Improved since 2013
Vietnam: 0.766 · world median 0.762 · HDI score (0–1). UNDP Human Development Report Office, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.388 to 0.972; higher is better.
Ranked 93rd of 193 by UNDP Human Development Report Office.
Infant Mortality RateUN IGME · 2024 · world median 12.2612.0112.26No real change since 2014
Vietnam: 12.01 · world median 12.26 · Deaths before age one (per 1,000 live births). UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 1.214 to 71.87; lower is better.
Position 103rd of 200 · derived, 1st = worst.
Behind the world median13
Statistics on which Vietnam does worse than the middle country measured.
Prevalence of UndernourishmentFAO · 2023 · world median 5.25.35.2▲ Improved since 2013
Vietnam: 5.3 · world median 5.2 · Population undernourished (%). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 2.5 to 54.2; lower is better.
Position 81st of 104 · derived, 1st = worst.
Maternal Mortality RatioMMEIG · 2023 · world median 46.6547.6146.65No real change since 2013
Vietnam: 47.61 · world median 46.65 · Maternal deaths per 100,000 live births. UN Maternal Mortality Estimation Inter-Agency Group (MMEIG), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.11 to 992.83; lower is better.
Position 96th of 195 · derived, 1st = worst.
Institutional DeliveriesUNICEF · 2025 · world median 96.996.396.9No earlier reading
Vietnam: 96.3 · world median 96.9 · Live births delivered in a health facility (%). UNICEF, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 11.5 to 100; higher is better.
Neonatal Mortality RateUN IGME · 2024 · world median 8.1348.8428.134No real change since 2014
Vietnam: 8.842 · world median 8.134 · Deaths in the first 28 days (per 1,000 live births). UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.544 to 39.47; lower is better.
Position 95th of 200 · derived, 1st = worst.
Days Above 35°CECMWF · 2025 · world median 3.487.493.48▲ Improved since 2015
Vietnam: 7.49 · world median 3.48 · Days a year with a maximum temperature above 35°C, averaged over the country’s land. World Bank Group (Climate Change Knowledge Portal), from Copernicus ERA5 (ECMWF), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 222.89; lower is better.
Adolescent Birth Rate (Ages 15–19)UN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 27.4634.2827.46▼ Worsened since 2013
Vietnam: 34.28 · world median 27.46 · Live births per 1,000 women aged 15–19. UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.465 to 163.09; lower is better.
Position 94th of 222 · derived, 1st = worst.
Wasting Prevalence in Children Under FiveUNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates) · 2024 · world median 3.5464.43.546No earlier reading
Vietnam: 4.4 · world median 3.546 · Children under 5 who are wasted (%). UNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.1 to 22.74; lower is better.
Position 68th of 163 · derived, 1st = worst.
Agreement That Vaccines Are SafeWellcome Trust · 2018 · world median 77.6570.8477.65No earlier reading
Vietnam: 70.84 · world median 77.65 · People aged 15+ who agree that vaccines are safe (% of those who had heard of vaccines). Wellcome Trust, 2018 edition, data for 2018.
Published values in that edition run from 29.29 to 97.91; higher is better.
Position 100th of 144 · derived.
Coefficient of Variation of Habitual Caloric ConsumptionFAO · 2024 · world median 0.250.290.25No real change since 2014
Vietnam: 0.29 · world median 0.25 · Coefficient of variation of habitual calorie consumption across the population (standard deviation ÷ mean). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.17 to 0.4; lower is better.
Share of Dietary Energy Supply from Cereals, Roots and TubersFAO · 2022 · world median 415441▲ Improved since 2012
Vietnam: 54 · world median 41 · Share of dietary energy supply from cereals, roots and tubers (%). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from 21 to 82; lower is better.
Overweight Prevalence in Children Under FiveUNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates) · 2024 · world median 5.510.515.5▼ Worsened since 2014
Vietnam: 10.51 · world median 5.5 · Children under 5 who are overweight (%). UNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.623 to 26.43; lower is better.
Position 33rd of 163 · derived, 1st = worst.
PM2.5 Air Pollution ExposureAtmospheric Composition Analysis Group, Washington University in St. Louis · 2023 · world median 14.4527.814.45▲ Improved since 2013
Vietnam: 27.8 · world median 14.45 · Population-weighted PM2.5 concentration (µg/m³). Atmospheric Composition Analysis Group, Washington University in St. Louis, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 2.5 to 68.2; lower is better.
Position 43rd of 220 · derived, 1st = worst.
Early Initiation of BreastfeedingUNICEF · 2024 · world median 52.9523.4552.95No earlier reading
Vietnam: 23.45 · world median 52.95 · Newborns put to the breast within one hour of birth (%). UNICEF, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 7.749 to 93.1; higher is better.
Position 130th of 136 · derived.
No better end11
These describe the shape of a country — more is not better or worse, only different — so they are never ahead or behind.
Fish and Seafood Supply per PersonFAO · 2023 · world median 16.1740.0616.17Moved since 2013
Vietnam: 40.06 · world median 16.17 · Fish and seafood available as food (kg per person per year, live-weight equivalent). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.38 to 83.81.
Pesticide Use per HectareFAO · 2024 · world median 1.7313.91.73Moved since 2014
Vietnam: 13.9 · world median 1.73 · Pesticide use (kg per hectare of cropland). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 37.72.
Position 21st of 178 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Contraceptive Prevalence (Any Method)UN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 41.255841.25No real change since 2013
Vietnam: 58 · world median 41.25 · Share of all women aged 15–49 using any contraceptive method (%). UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 6.6 to 78.7.
Caesarean Section RateUNICEF · 2025 · world median 20.6534.420.65No earlier reading
Vietnam: 34.4 · world median 20.65 · Live births delivered by caesarean section (%). UNICEF, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.6 to 72.2.
Adults Who Have Been Too Anxious or Depressed to Carry OnWellcome Trust · 2020 · world median 20.0531.1620.05No earlier reading
Vietnam: 31.16 · world median 20.05 · People aged 15+ who have ever been too anxious or depressed to continue their usual activities for two weeks or more (%). Wellcome Trust, 2020 edition, data for 2020.
Published values in that edition run from 2.934 to 49.35.
Modern Contraceptive PrevalenceUN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 35.448.435.4Moved since 2013
Vietnam: 48.4 · world median 35.4 · Share of all women aged 15–49 using a modern contraceptive method (%). UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 2 to 73.8.
Average Weekly Hours WorkedILO · 2025 · world median 38.8941.7638.89Moved since 2015
Vietnam: 41.76 · world median 38.89 · Average weekly hours actually worked per employed person. International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 23.64 to 54.7.
Position 55th of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Catastrophic Out-of-Pocket Health SpendingWorld Bank Group · 2019 · world median 6.8810.036.88No earlier reading
Vietnam: 10.03 · world median 6.88 · Population in households spending more than 10% of their budget on health out of pocket (%). World Bank Group, 2019 edition, data for 2019.
Published values in that edition run from 0.133 to 31.21.
Cost of a Healthy DietFAO · 2025 · world median 4.554.594.55Moved since 2017
Vietnam: 4.59 · world median 4.55 · Cost of the cheapest locally available healthy diet, PPP dollars per person per day. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 2.66 to 8.27.
Meat Supply per PersonFAO · 2023 · world median 57.8360.4857.83Moved since 2013
Vietnam: 60.48 · world median 57.83 · Meat available as food (kg per person per year, carcass weight). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 3.49 to 156.95.
Children with Functional DifficultiesUNICEF · 2024 · world median 131.913No earlier reading
Vietnam: 1.9 · world median 13 · Children aged 5-17 with a functional difficulty (%). UNICEF, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.9 to 35.2.
No current reading for Vietnam
Births Attended by Skilled Health Staff (last 2022), Excess Mortality During the COVID-19 Pandemic, Fatal Occupational Injuries, Female Genital Mutilation Prevalence, Global Report on Food Crises, HPV Vaccination Coverage, Girls, INFORM Severity Index (last 2020) and Insecticide-Treated Net Use. Listed rather than hidden, so the page can be checked against it.
“Position · derived” is this site’s ordering of the published values, 1st = best unless the row says otherwise; the publisher ranks no country on it. Rank, position and standing
05Country Index 2026
Health & Wellbeing among Vietnam’s 15 topics
Health & Wellbeing is Vietnam’s 10th best-placed topic of 15. Strongest first, each marker at its share of that topic’s field.
- Mobility & Trade29th of 1773/4 keys
- Work & Labour35th of 1824/4 keys
- Digital & Technology62nd of 1984/4 keys
- Food & Agriculture59th of 1843/4 keys
- Education & Knowledge75th of 1983/4 keys
- Poverty & Inequality62nd of 1593/3 keys
- Peace & Security71st of 1773/4 keys
- Economy & Innovationjoint 73rd of 1764/4 keys
- Gender & Equality78th of 1834/4 keys
- Health & Wellbeing100th of 2004/4 keys
- Development & Human Capital105th of 1963/3 keys
- Governance & Institutions112th of 1944/4 keys
- Environment & Sustainabilityjoint 108th of 1864/4 keys
- Risk & Resilience114th of 1934/4 keys
- Democracy & Civil Liberties158th of 1984/4 keys
No standing on Energy: too few of those topics’ key statistics are published for this country.
06The top of the list
Who leads on health & wellbeing
The three countries placed highest of 200, and the leaders Vietnam can most readily be measured against.
1
San MarinoSouthern Europe
1st of 200 · 2 of 4 keys
Photo: Matl derivative work: Jjtkk · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
2
MonacoWestern Europe
2nd of 200 · 2 of 4 keys
Photo: Martin Weber derivative work: Jjtkk · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
3
AndorraSouthern Europe
3rd of 200 · 2 of 4 keys
Photo: Tiia Monto derivative work: Jjtkk · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
Placed highest nearby
Highest placed on all 4 keys
South Korea5th4/4 keysHighest in South-eastern Asia
Singapore28th3/4 keysThis page
Vietnam100th4/4 keys
Positions out of 200 placed on the topic. A country needs readings on enough keys to be placed, and the top of the list is often held on fewer of them.
07Analysis
Charts and analysis about Vietnam and health & wellbeing
On health & wellbeing
Global Hunger Index 2025: Countries with the Most Alarming Hunger Crisis
Thirteen countries scored across four editions — 2000, 2008, 2016 and 2025 — and five the report could not score at all. DR Congo and South Sudan share 121st place on 37.5.
On health & wellbeing
World Happiness Report 2025: Finland Leads Again as the US and UK Face Major Declines
The ten highest life evaluations of 2025, drawn on a world map, and the six things the report uses to explain them. Costa Rica and Mexico are the only two outside Europe and the Middle East.
08Questions
Vietnam on health & wellbeing: questions answered
Every answer is built from the numbers on this page, so none can say something the page does not.
How does Vietnam rank on health & wellbeing?
Vietnam is placed 100th of 200 countries on Health & Wellbeing in the Country Index 2026, from 4 of its 4 key statistics (Life Expectancy at Birth, Under-Five Mortality Rate, Stunting Prevalence in Children Under Five and Prevalence of Severe Food Insecurity). The position is this site’s ordering of published statistics, not a rank any publisher printed.
What is the latest Life Expectancy at Birth figure for Vietnam?
74.59 in 2023 (years a newborn would live at current death rates), according to UN DESA Population Division. The world median in the same edition was 74.63.
What is the latest Under-Five Mortality Rate figure for Vietnam?
17.27 in 2024 (deaths before age five (per 1,000 live births)), according to UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME). The world median in the same edition was 14.54.
How does Vietnam compare with China on health & wellbeing?
China is placed 47th of 200, and Vietnam 100th. Life Expectancy at Birth: China 77.95, Vietnam 74.59; Under-Five Mortality Rate: China 5.724, Vietnam 17.27; Stunting Prevalence in Children Under Five: China 4.8, Vietnam 18.2.
How have Vietnam’s health & wellbeing figures changed?
Life Expectancy at Birth rose from 72.75 in 2000 to 74.59 in 2023; Under-Five Mortality Rate fell from 30.28 in 2000 to 17.27 in 2024; Prevalence of Severe Food Insecurity rose from 0.5 in 2019 to 1.8 in 2024.
Which health & wellbeing statistics are missing for Vietnam?
No current reading is published for Vietnam on Births Attended by Skilled Health Staff, Excess Mortality During the COVID-19 Pandemic, Fatal Occupational Injuries, Female Genital Mutilation Prevalence, Global Report on Food Crises, HPV Vaccination Coverage, Girls, INFORM Severity Index and Insecticide-Treated Net Use. They are listed rather than hidden, so the evidence on the page can be checked against it.
09Method
Method, sources and how to cite
What this topic does not measure
Health spending, hospital beds and doctors per person are not measured, because more of any of them does not guarantee better outcomes. Mental health and self-reported happiness are not part of this topic. Food supply per person is measured under Food & Agriculture. Maternal mortality and many other indicators are published here as context; maternal mortality is a key in Development & Human Capital instead.
How the Health & Wellbeing standing is decided
A standing is this site’s ordering, named with its edition — never a publisher’s rank. 4 key statistics vote, one vote each; every country’s published value becomes a place within that key’s own field, the places are averaged, and the average is never published. A country needs 2 of the 4 keys to be placed.
The health & wellbeing method, step by stepHow every standing on this site is built
The key statistics and their licences
- Life Expectancy at Birth — UN DESA Population Division, CC BY 3.0 IGO
- Under-Five Mortality Rate — UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), CC BY 3.0 IGO
- Stunting Prevalence in Children Under Five — UNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates), CC BY 3.0 IGO
- Prevalence of Severe Food Insecurity — Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), CC BY 4.0
The other 53 statistics on this page come from 16 publishers, each named beside its numbers, with every edition and licence on the datasets pages.
The standing itself is part of the Country Index 2026, published under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Photographs
Vietnam’s banner and the countries placed highest, from their profiles: Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale, each used under the licence named.
- Vietnam (banner) — Slaza : Sándor Laza, CC BY-SA 3.0
- San Marino — Matl derivative work: Jjtkk, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Monaco — Martin Weber derivative work: Jjtkk, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Andorra — Tiia Monto derivative work: Jjtkk, CC BY-SA 3.0
Cite this page
Nations Inquiry (2026). Vietnam: Health & Wellbeing — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/vietnam/health