Vietnam projected to surpass Indonesia in GDP per capita

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) projects that Vietnam will record a GDP per capita of 5,259 USD this year, surpassing Indonesia's projected 5,153 USD. According to the October 2026 World Economic Outlook, Vietnam's nominal GDP per capita has increased by 8.9 percent compared to last year and has nearly doubled over the past decade.

If these projections are realized, Vietnam will rank fifth among ASEAN nations, following Singapore, Brunei Darussalam, Malaysia, and Thailand. The IMF further estimates that Vietnam will maintain its lead over Indonesia through 2027, with a projected GDP per capita of 5,659 USD compared to Indonesia's 5,550 USD. Despite this, Indonesia remains the largest economy in Southeast Asia by total GDP due to its significantly larger population.

Vietnam's economic growth is being driven by its expanding role in high-tech manufacturing, particularly in semiconductors and electronics. Major foreign companies, including Foxconn and Samsung Electronics, have expanded production capacities within the country. Additionally, Vietnam's foreign trade has reached a record milestone, with total trade exceeding 1 trillion USD for the first time. This growth is largely fueled by foreign-owned enterprises, which contributed 778 billion USD to the trade total.