The average life expectancy of population in Viet Nam this year was 73.2 years, of which it was 70.6 years for men and 76.0 years for women. As of the time of the survey, death rate of babies under one year of age (number of deaths under one year of age per 1000 live births) was 14.9‰; death rate of babies under five years of age (number of deaths under five years of age per 1000 live births)was 22.4%.

 Labor and employment: Laborers aged 15 and above working in all economic activities in 2014 reached an estimate of 53.0 million persons, grew by 0.8 million persons (+1.56%) against 2013. Persons aged 15 and above doing in the sector of agriculture, forestry and fishery accounted for 46.6% of the total laborers (2012: 47.4%; 2013: 46.8%); workers in the sector of industry and construction accounted for 21.4% (both 2012 and 2013: 21.2%); workers in the sector of services accounted for 32.0% (2012: 31.4%; 2013: 32%).

Persons having job was estimated to be 52526.2 thousand in the first quarter of this year, rose 616,100 compared with the similar period last year; 52838.4 thousand in the second quarter, rose 436,100; 53258.4 thousand in the third quarter, rose 520,700; 53471.1 thousand, rose 678,000.

The underemployment rate of laborers within the working age group in 2014 was 2.45%, lower than 2012’s rate of 2.74% and 2013’s rate of 2.75%. Of which it was 1.18% (2012: 1.56%; 2013: 1.48%) for the urban area and 1.58% (2012: 3.27%; 2013: 3.31%) for the rural area. The underemployment rate had a tendency to increase at the end of the year (1^st quarter: 2.78%; 2^nd quarter: 2.25%; 3^rd quarter: 2.3%; 4^th quarter: 2.46%) and increase mainly in the rural area (1^st quarter: 3.37%; 2^nd quarter: 2.77%; 3^rd quarter: 2.83%; 4^th quarter: 3.08%).

The unemployment rate of laborers within the working age group in 2014 was 2.08% (1^st quarter: 2.21%; 2^nd quarter: 1.84%; 3^rd quarter: 2.17%; 4^th quarter: 2.1%), of which it was 3.43% for the urban area, lower than the previous year’s rate of 3.59%; 1.47% for the rural area, lower than the rate of 1.54% in 2013.

Unemployment rate of youths aged 15-24 in 2014 was 6.3%, higher than 2013’s rate of 6.17%. Of which it was 11.49% for the urban area, higher than the rate of 11.12% in 2013, and 4.63% for the rural area, approximate to the rate of 2013. Unemployment rate of adults aged 25 and above in 2014 was 1.12%, lower than 2013’s rate of 1.21%. Of which, it was 2.07% for the urban area, lower than the previous year’s rate of 2.29%; 0.7% for the rural area, lower than 2013’s rate of 0.72%. Estimated non-official labor rate of the non-agricultural household sector in 2014 was 56.1%, reduced 1 percentage points compared with 2013.

Labor productivity: Social labor productivity[3] in 2014 at current prices of the entire economy was estimated to reach 74.3 million dongs per laborer (equivalent to US $ 3515 per laborer), of which labor productivity for the agricultural, forestry and fishery sector gained 28.9 million dongs per laborer, equaling 38.9% of the general labor productivity of the whole economy; the sector of industry and construction achieved 133.4 million dongs per laborer, 1.8 times; the service sector reached 100.7 million dongs per laborer, 1.36 times. At 2010 comparative prices, labor productivity of the whole economy in 2014 was estimated to increase by 4.3% from 2013, of which labor productivity for the agricultural, forestry and fishery sector raised by 2.4%; the sector of industry and construction by 4.3%; the service sector by 4.4%.

People’s life and social security: According to the report of localities, in the year, the country had 314.9 thousand households suffering from food shortage, reduced by 26.2% from the previous year, corresponding with 1340.4 thousand hunger persons, 25.3% decrease. To overcome the problem, from the beginning of the year, all administrative levels, sectors and localities provided difficult families with 22.2 thousand tons of food and 19.7 billion dongs. The rate of poor households in 2014 was estimated about 8.2%, reduced 1.6 percentage points compared with 2013.

Education and training: As of December 2014, the country had 21/63 provinces and cities directly under the central management meeting standard for compulsory preschool education for under-5-years children; 63/63 provinces and cities directly under the central management meeting standard for compulsory primary education within right age group, of which 08 provinces and cities were recognized as meeting standard for compulsory primary education within right age group at 2^nd level.

According to results of the Multiple Indicatior Cluster Survey in Viet Nam 2014, the number of children within preschool age participating in the preschool program reached 71.3%, of which the number of children under 5 years attending school gained 96.8%; children entering from 1^st grade to 5^thgrade attained 98.6%; the rate of children within right age group of the primary school level was 96.2%; the secondary school level: 90.4%; and the high school level: 70.7% respectively. The rate of children completing the primary school level and continuing to the secondary school level achieved 98.6%; the percentage of children graduated from the secondary school attending the high school dropped to 89.5%.

As of the end of 2014, the country had 1340 vocational training institutions, of which 165 occupational colleges; 301 occupational intermediate schools; 874 occupational training centers 2013.

Epidemic diseases: In 2014, the country had 76,300 cases of hand, foot, mouth disease (9 died); 36,400 cases of measles suspected of roseola infantum, of which there were over 5,800 specified cases of measles (147 died); 33,600 cases of hemorrhagic fever (20 died); 1100 cases of virus encephalitis (42 died); 384cases of typhoid; 24 cases of meningococcal disease (3 died); and two cases died of A (H5N1) flu. Vaccination against measles and rubella wasimplemented in 2014 over the 63 provinces and cities with 12.7 millionvaccinated children, reaching 85.4%.

As of 17/12/2014, the total number of living HIV-infected persons over the country was 224,000, of which 71,600 cases turned to AIDS. The number of persons died of AIDS over the country as of above period was 74,400.

Traffic accidents: In 2014, the country had 25,322 cases of the traffic accidents, including 10,601 cases of traffic accidents and 14,721 cases of traffic crashing, killing8996 persons, injuring 6265 persons and injuring slightly 18152 others. In comparison with 2013, cases of the traffic accidents decreased by 13.8% (cases of traffic accidents from less serious and more reduced by 4.1%; cases of traffic collision slowed down 19.7%); the death fell by 4%; the injured persons reduced by 8.6%; slightly injured persons declined by 19.9%. On average, each day in 2014, the country had 69 cases of traffic accident, including 29 cases of traffic accidents and 40 cases of traffic crashing, killing 25 persons and injuring 17 persons and injuring somewhat 50 others.

Damage by natural calamity: According to the preliminary report of localities, in 2014, natural calamity made 145 persons died and lost; 165 persons injured; nearly 2000 houses collapsed, swept away and 51,300 houses blown off, flooded; 17,600 hectares of rice and vegetables lost; 171,900 hectares of rice and vegetables flooded and damaged. The total value of damage caused by the disaster in the year was estimated 2541 billion dongs.

Source: General statistics office