According to preliminary results from the 2025 Household Living Standards Survey, average income per capita in 2025 is estimated at 5.9 million VND (224 USD) per person per month, an increase of 9.3% compared with the average income in 2024, equivalent to approximately 500,000 VND (19 USD) per person per month.
Thus, the average income of the population in 2025 generally continued to increase and at a higher rate than the growth recorded in 2024 compared with 2023 (9.1%). Part of this growth is attributed to income received by civil servants and public employees who retired under Decree 178.
The income structure has shifted in a more progressive and sustainable direction, as the proportion of income from wages, salaries, and wage-equivalent payments in total household income has continued to rise.
Alongside the increase in average income per capita, assessments from households participating in the survey indicate that household living conditions remained stable in 2025.
Aggregated data from the Statistics Department under the Ministry of Finance show that household income during the months of 2025 tended to increase and remained more stable compared with the same months of 2024. Specifically, more than one quarter of surveyed households (31.3%) reported an increase in income; nearly two thirds (65.0%) stated that their income remained unchanged, and only 2.8% reported a decrease in income, while 0.9% were uncertain compared with the same months of 2024.
Analysing why average income per capita increased and why living standards remained stable in 2025, the Statistics Department attributed this to several factors:
First, production and business results across all three economic sectors improved, as noted in the recently published report, helping to create jobs and increase income for workers and households.
Second, social security programmes and policies were implemented promptly and effectively, positively affecting people’s living standards.
Several notable programmes and policies include social security measures providing support and allowances for people with meritorious service to the revolution and their relatives, poor households, disadvantaged individuals, and social protection beneficiaries. They also include emergency assistance and disaster relief following natural disasters and storms, implemented promptly with a total value of 92.4 trillion VND (3.51 billion USD), an increase of 22.6 trillion VND (859.5 million USD), equivalent to 32.4% compared with 2024.
Other key initiatives comprise the programme “The whole country joins hands to eliminate temporary and dilapidated houses”, the social pension allowance policy for elderly people without pensions or monthly social insurance benefits (aged 75 and above), effective from July 1, 2025, and the policy of presenting gifts to the public on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution and National Day on September 2.
Third, the average income of workers continued to rise by 8.9% compared with 2024. Employment rates remained stable, the unemployment rate stayed low and improved compared with 2024, indicating a positive trend in the labour market. The increase in workers’ average income also contributed to higher household income.
Fourth, policies and benefits for civil servants, public employees, workers, and the armed forces in the process of restructuring the organisational apparatus of the political system (Decree 178) contributed to higher incomes and created new livelihoods for a portion of the population.
Fifth, policies supporting health insurance cards and free medical examination and treatment cards for eligible groups continued to be implemented, helping reduce healthcare expenditure burdens for part of the population.
However, the Statistics Department also pointed out that, despite the positive factors contributing to rising incomes and improved living standards, a small segment of the population continued to face negative impacts and difficulties.
First, among surveyed households reporting decreased income (2.8%) in 2025, the main reasons were job loss or temporary job suspension affecting household members (37.5%); reduced scale of production and business activities (24.1%); increased input costs for household production and business activities (21.2%); and declining selling prices for products from household production and business activities (19.5%).
Second, natural disasters such as floods, storms, and droughts continued to cause damage to housing and livelihoods and increased the vulnerability of residents, particularly in rural, mountainous, and coastal areas.
The Statistics Department recommends that, in order for average income per capita to continue increasing in 2026 and for living standards to improve, the Government and local authorities at all levels should continue effectively implementing social security programmes and policies; improve job quality and create employment opportunities for workers; and maintain timely support policies for disadvantaged and vulnerable groups.
At the same time, it is necessary to strengthen disaster response capacity and climate change adaptation by investing in early warning systems, planning safe residential areas, and supporting people in transitioning to more resilient livelihoods in order to reduce risks and damage.
