At the online conference (Photo: VNA)

Preliminary results of the 2019 census show that the country’s population expanded by more than 10 million in the course of a decade. Vietnam has an average population density of 290 people per square kilometre, with Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh being the most densely populated cities. Nguyen Doan Toan, Vice Chairman of Ho Chi Minh City’s People’s Committee, said: “After 25 days we managed to collect data on more than 8 million people in the city. The result was attributed to the participation of the local political system at all levels.”

At the event, Deputy Prime Minister Vuong Dinh Hue, who is also head of the Central Population and Housing Census Steering Committee, underlined the purpose of the national census, which is to ensure no one is left behind. Mr. Hue said: “Until the official result of the census is released we still need to see many analyses and evaluations. Experts have warned that Vietnam is in the gold population period but is also facing a rapidly aging population . The census will help us work out prompt population policies to assure that the residents are  in stable circumstances before they get old.”