Vietnam is approaching a massive demographic shift as its population surpasses 100 million
While Vietnam celebrates reaching a milestone of 100 million people, a quiet transformation is underway. The nation is navigating a complex transition from rapid growth to an aging society, shaped by historical migrations, shifting ethnic landscapes, and decades of deliberate family planning.
In 2023, Vietnam's population officially exceeded 100 million, making it the 16th largest nation globally. However, this growth is not indefinite. Projections suggest that by 2035, the country will transition into an aged society. This shift follows decades of influence from the government's two-child family planning policy, which has played a significant role in shaping the nation's total fertility rate.
The country's ethnic composition is equally dynamic. The Viet people, officially known as the Kinh, constitute the largest group, accounting for 85.3% of the population according to 2019 census data. Historically, the Viets originated in northern Vietnam and gradually migrated southward, a movement that displaced existing groups such as the Chams and Khmer Krom. Today, the government recognizes 54 distinct ethnic groups, including the Degar or Montagnards in the central highlands, who comprise Malayo-Polynesian and Mon–Khmer ethnolinguistic groups.
Historical tensions have also reshaped the demographic fabric. Following the 1976 reunification, relations with China declined during the Sino-Soviet split. Between 1978 and 1979, approximately 450,000 ethnic Chinese left Vietnam, either as refugees or through expulsion. While the ethnic Chinese population has declined since the 1970s due to lower birth rates and assimilation, the Vietnamese government has recently pivoted to encourage overseas Hoa to return and invest.
Cultural identity remains deeply tied to language and belief. The national language, Vietnamese, is a tonal, monosyllabic language within the Austroasiatic family, with an estimated 50–70% of its vocabulary originating from Chinese. Spiritually, the landscape is complex; while 86.32% of the population is identified with Vietnamese folk religion or is non-religious, researchers note that data may be skewed, as many individuals who identify as atheist still practice Mahayana Buddhism or traditional folk rituals.
Source: Demographics of Vietnam
