In 1400, Vietnam was estimated to have a population of five million, according to records from the Ming Dynasty. The Vietnamese did not conduct direct population censuses at that time, preferring instead to count the number of villages. Although the population experienced significant fluctuations due to wars and was further affected by internal conflicts and plagues in the early period, the northern and central regions likely had a population of approximately seven million. In the southernmost region, the Mekong River plain, the Han Chinese population—descendants of Ming-era settlers—exceeded 30,000 by 1744. By 1805, the number of Han Chinese paying taxes in that region reached 20,241（It only includes the Mo family and the Chen family (descendants of the Ming Dynasty)Excluding other Han people）. Even under conservative estimates, their population had surpassed 100,000 by 1836. Unfortunately, they took the wrong side in 1835. The Vua Minh Mạng revoked their vassal status and the descendants of the Ming Dynasty who lost their autonomy soon weakened and became indistinguishable from other Han Chinese immigrants.
This does not even include the local Vietnamese population, which was not systematically recorded. Despite extensive research, no reliable Vietnamese population data from that time could be found; only statistics on the Han Chinese population were available.
The population estimated by French scholars based on the number of villages
Above is the north, and below is the center.
The population of the Mekong River plain in the south is only based on the data of the Han people, and it is impossible to make an estimation.
If the population statistics of French Indochina are used, then the population of Annam was approximately the size of Tokyo. Even considering the time factor, the population of Annam in 1836 should have been less than half of that of Tokyo, which was about 300 0000.
This does not even include the local Vietnamese population, which was not systematically recorded. Despite extensive research, no reliable Vietnamese population data from that time could be found; only statistics on the Han Chinese population were available.
The population estimated by French scholars based on the number of villages
Above is the north, and below is the center.
The population of the Mekong River plain in the south is only based on the data of the Han people, and it is impossible to make an estimation.
If the population statistics of French Indochina are used, then the population of Annam was approximately the size of Tokyo. Even considering the time factor, the population of Annam in 1836 should have been less than half of that of Tokyo, which was about 300 0000.
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