Vietnam’s population has reached over 96.2 million, being the world’s 15th most populous country and the third in Southeast Asia, announced the Central Population and Housing Census Steering Board at a conference on December 19.

The data obtained from the census showed that the male population amounts to over 47.88 million, accounting for 49.8% of the total, and the female population is over 48.3 million, representing 50.2%.

After ten years, Vietnam's population has increased by 10.4 million.

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Minister of Planning and Investment (MPI) and Standing Deputy Chairman of the Central Population and Housing Census Steering Committee Nguyen Chi Dung said that the population aged 15 to 64 still accounts for the majority, approximately 68% of the total, but the proportion of the population aged 65 and more is increasing, accounting for 7.7%.

According to experts at the conference, this shows that although Vietnam is in a period of demographic dividend, the older population is growing fast. Thus, the country needs to implement policies to adapt to the aging population. Besides, it is necessary to take advantage of demographic dividend for economic development.

The census data also showed that Vietnam’s average annual population growth rate during the period was 1.14%, down slightly from 1.18% in the decade between 1999 and 2009.

The population density is 290 people per square kilometer, an increase of 31 people per square kilometer compared to the figure in 2009, making Vietnam the third most densely populated country in Southeast Asia (after the Philippines and Singapore).

The average sex ratio is 99.1 males for every 100 females. The average life expectancy is 73.6 years, the figures are 71 for men and 76.3 for women.

The census results also indicate that the population of the Kinh ethnic group numbers over 82 million, accounting for 85.3% of the total.

Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City are the two most densely populated areas in the country, with 2,398 and 4,363 people per square kilometer, respectively.

The information from the census will be used for elaborating socio-economic development policies during the 2021-2030 period and national sustainable development goals.