Report No. 282/BC-GSO dated December 29th, 2021 prepared by the General Statistics Office, under the Ministry of Planning and Investment

- Gross domestic product (GDP): GDP in the fourth quarter of 2021 was estimated to increase by 5.22% over the same period last year, although higher than the growth rate of 4.61% in 2020 but lower than the growth rate of the fourth quarter over the same previous of years in 2011-2019.

GDP in 2021 was estimated to increase by 2.58% (the first quarter increased by 4.72%; the second quarter by 6.73%; the third quarter by 6.02%; the fourth quarter by 5.22%) over the previous year due to the Covid-19 seriously affected all areas of the economy, especially in the third quarter of 2021, many focused economic localities had to implement prolonged social distancing to prevent the Covid-19 epidemic. In the general growth rate of the whole economy, the agriculture, forestry, and fishery sector increased by 2.9%, contributing 13.97% to the growth rate of total value added of the economy; the industry and construction sector increased by 4.05%, contributing 63.80%; the service sector up 1.22%, contributing 22.23%.

- Agriculture, forestry, and fishery: The agriculture, forestry, and fishery sector in 2020 took place in relatively favorable weather conditions for crops and livestock to grow and develop. However, due to the complicated development of the Covid-19 pandemic, especially in the third quarter, many localities have implemented social distancing, affecting the supply chain of production - processing - consumption of agricultural, forestry, and fishery products. In a situation where both advantages and disadvantages were intertwined, the Agriculture sector has had many timely response solutions, together with the effective implementation of the Government’s Resolution No.128/NQ-CP to stabilize and develop production, reaching a high growth rate. The performance results of the agricultural sector in 2021 have demonstrated the role of the pedestal of the economy, ensuring the supply of food and essential goods, to be the important base to implement welfare and security during the pandemic.

- Industrial production: Industrial production in the fourth quarter of 2021 prospered right after localities across the country implemented the Government’s Resolution No. 128/NQ-CP dated October 11, 2021, on safe adaptation, flexibility, effectively controlling the Covid-19 pandemic with the value-added growth rate of 6.52% over the same period last year. The value-added of the industry in 2021 increased by 4.82% compared to 2020, of which the manufacturing increased by 6.37%.

- Enterprise activities: In the fourth quarter of 2021, the newly established enterprises had 31.4 thousand enterprises with a total registered capital of 415.3 trillion VND and a total number of registered employees of 205.1 thousand employees, up 70.4% in the number of enterprises, an increase of 64.1% in number the registered capital, and an increase of 24.7% in the number of employees compared to the third quarter in 2021. 

Generally, in 2021, the whole country had 116.8 thousand newly registered enterprises with a total registered capital of 1,611.1 trillion VND and a total number of registered employees nearly 854 thousand employees, down 13.4% in the number of enterprises, a decrease of 27.9% in number the registered capital, and a decrease of 18.1% in the number of employees compared last year. The average registered capital of a newly established enterprise in 2021 achieved 13.8 billion VND, down 16.8% compared to the previous year. If including 2,524.9 trillion VND of the additionally registered capital of 43.5 thousand enterprises that recorded an upward of capital adjustment, the total additional registered capital in the economy this year was 4,136 trillion VND, down 25.8% compared to 2020. Besides, there were 43.1 thousand re-operated enterprises (a decrease of 2.2% over the same period last year), bringing the total number of newly registered enterprises and re-operated enterprises in 2021 to nearly 160 thousand enterprises, a decrease of 10.7%. The average every month had 13.3 thousand newly established and re-operated enterprises.

- Service activities: Trade activities and consumer services recovered, total retail sales of consumer goods and services in the fourth quarter of 2021 increased by 28.1% compared to the previous quarter. However, for the whole year of 2021, the total retail sales of consumer goods and services decreased by 3.8% compared to the previous year (increased by 1.7% in 2020) due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.

- Transport and telecommunications: Transport activities in 2021 faced difficulties, especially when the fourth Covid-19 epidemic broke out on a large scale, many localities implemented social distancing according to Directive No. 16/CT-TTG dated March 31, 2020, of the Prime Minister.

Implementing Resolution No. 128/NQ-CP dated October 11, 2021, of the Government, domestic transport activities have been restored. Passenger and freight transport in the fourth quarter of 2021 both increased compared to the third quarter of 2021, of which passengers carried increased by 48.4%, passengers traffic increased by 51.3% and freight carried increased by 31.8 %, freight traffic increased by 28.4%. However, passenger transport in the fourth quarter of 2021 still decreased sharply compared to the same period last year due to the complicated situation of the epidemic in localities.

Generally, passenger carried in 2021 decreased by 33.0% compared to last year, passenger traffic decreased by 42.0%; freight carried decreased by 8.7% and freight traffic decreased by 1.8%.

- International visitors to Viet Nam: International visitors to our country in December increased by 14.2% compared to the previous month because Viet Nam has implemented a pilot route to welcome international tourists from November 2021, and international commercial flights have begun to be restored. In general, the number of international visitors to our country in 2021 was estimated at 157.3 thousand people, down 95.9% over the previous year and down 99.1% compared to 2019, in which mainly tourists foreign experts, and technical workers working on projects in Viet Nam.

- Banking, insurance, and securities activities: In 2021, in the context of the economy facing many difficulties due to the impact of the Covid-19 epidemic, the State Bank of Vietnam adjusted interest rates appropriately, creating conditions for credit institutions to continue reducing lending interest rates, supporting the recovery of the economy. Stable insurance business; The stock market developed fast with a stock market capitalization in 2021 increased by 45.5% compared to the end of last year.

- Development investment: The investment at current prices in 2021 increased by 3.2% over the previous year. Although this is the lowest increase in many years, it is a positive result in the complex context of the Covid-19 epidemic in the country and the world. Foreign direct investment (FDI) attraction recovered, newly registered and additionally registered capital increased again, showing that foreign investors believe in Vietnam’s investment environment.

Generally, in 2021, the investment at current prices estimated at 2,891.9 trillion VND, increasing by 3.2% over the last year, of which: the investment capital of the State sector reached 713.6 trillion VND, representing 24.7% of the total capital and decreasing by 2.9% compared to the same period last year; the non-State sector gained 1,720.2 trillion VND, accounting for 59.5% and rising by 7.2%; the foreign direct investment recorded 458.1 trillion VND, accounting for 15.8% and decreasing by 1.1%.

Foreign direct investment capital that implemented 2021 reached 19.74 billion USD, decreased by 1.2% over the last year, of which the manufacturing activity reached 14.30 billion USD, accounting for 72.5% of total realized foreign direct investment capital; real estate business activities gained 2.63 billion USD, making up 13.3%; electricity, gas, steam, and air conditioning supply recorded 1.54 billion USD, comprising of 7.8%.

Vietnam’s investment abroad in 2021, there were 61 projects newly granted investment certificates with a total investment capital of 409.1 million USD, increasing by 28.6% over the same period of last year; 22 turns of projects adjusted capital with decreased capital of 776 million USD.

- State budget revenues and expenditures: Production and business activities continued to recover, contributing to the estimated State budget revenue in 2021 to reach 1,523.4 trillion VND and exceed the annual plan. State budget expenditures focused on giving priority to the prevention and control of the Covid-19 epidemic, overcoming natural disasters, ensuring national defense and security, and supporting people facing difficulties due to the impact of the pandemic.

Total state budget revenue in 2021 was estimated to reach 1,523.4 trillion VND, equaling 113.4 % of the annual estimate (increasing by 180.1 trillion VND).

- Export and import: In December 2021, the import and export of goods continued to be the bright spot of the economy with the total import and export turnover estimated at 66.5 billion USD, up 6.4% compared to previous months and up 19.7% over the same period last year. Generally, in 2021, the total import and export turnover of goods reach 668.5 billion USD, up 22.6% over last year, of which exports increased by 19%; imports increased by 26.5%.

- Consumer price index (CPI): Petrol and gas prices in the month decreased according to world fuel prices; the Covid-19 epidemic has complicated developments throughout the country; tuition fees for the first semester of the academic year 2021-2022 continue to be exempted and reduced in some localities, which were the main reasons for the CPI in December 2021 decreased by 0.18% compared to the previous month and increased by 1.81% compared to December 2020. On average, in 2021, CPI increased by 1.84% over the previous year, the lowest increase since 2016. Core inflation in 12 months increased by 0.81%.

Ministry of Planning and Investment