Quick facts
Vanuatu population overview
Vanuatu is the 6th most populous of 23 countries and territories in Oceania. The United Nations put the population at 339,680 on 1 January 2026; with an annual growth rate of +2.2% the live estimate on this page rises by roughly 20 people per day.
Over a full year that means about 9,103 births (26.8 per 1,000 people) and 1,664 deaths (4.9 per 1,000), and net emigration of roughly 102 people. The infant mortality rate is 13.2 per 1,000 live births.
World Bank data show the population grew from 64,431 in 1960 to 335,169 in 2025 — a change of +420.2%, or +2.6% per year on average. The population is at its all-time high today.
Demographically, the median age is 20.3 years; life expectancy at birth is 72 years; women have on average 3.6 children (2024, above the 2.1 replacement level); 38% of residents are under 15 and 4.4% are 65 or older (2025); 22.3% of people live in urban areas (2025).
The capital is Port-Vila. Vanuatu covers 12,190 km², giving a population density of about 28.3 people per km². GDP was $1.35B in 2025 — about $4,039 per person (World Bank classification: lower middle income).
Vanuatu population statistics (2026)
| Population (live, October 2026) #183 of 238 → | 345,552 |
|---|---|
| UN estimate, 1 Jan 2026 | 339,680 |
| World rank | #184 of 238 |
| Rank in Oceania | #6 of 23 |
| Share of world population | 0.004% |
| Annual growth rate #33 of 238 → | +2.2% |
| Births per year est. | 9,103 |
| Deaths per year est. | 1,664 |
| Net migration per year est. · #126 of 238 → | -102 |
| Birth rate #40 of 216 → | 26.8 per 1,000 |
| Death rate #191 of 216 → | 4.9 per 1,000 |
| Infant mortality #84 of 238 → | 13.2 per 1,000 births |
| Sex ratio #50 of 238 → | 101.8 males per 100 females |
| Median age #198 of 238 → | 20.3 years |
| Life expectancy #140 of 216 → | 72 years |
| Fertility rate 2024 · #42 of 216 → | 3.6 births per woman |
| Urban population 2025 · #208 of 216 → | 22.3% |
| Surface area 2023 · #160 of 215 → | 12,190 km² |
| Population density #174 of 215 → | 28.3 per km² |
| Capital | Port-Vila |
| GDP (current US$) 2025 · #197 of 212 → | $1.35B |
| GDP per capita 2025 · #150 of 212 → | $4,039 |
| Income group World Bank | Lower middle income |
Vanuatu population by year
| Year | Population | Change | Annual growth |
|---|---|---|---|
| October 2026 (live, UN-based) | 345,552 | – | – |
| 2025 | 335,169 | +7,392 | +2.3% |
| 2024 | 327,777 | +7,368 | +2.3% |
| 2023 | 320,409 | +7,363 | +2.4% |
| 2022 | 313,046 | +7,178 | +2.3% |
| 2021 | 305,868 | +7,010 | +2.3% |
| 2020 | 298,858 | +32,757 | +2.3% |
| 2015 | 266,101 | +27,853 | +2.2% |
| 2010 | 238,248 | +27,488 | +2.5% |
| 2005 | 210,760 | +24,479 | +2.5% |
| 2000 | 186,281 | +19,144 | +2.2% |
| 1995 | 167,137 | +19,074 | +2.5% |
| 1990 | 148,063 | +17,707 | +2.6% |
| 1985 | 130,356 | +14,696 | +2.4% |
| 1980 | 115,660 | +15,391 | +2.9% |
| 1975 | 100,269 | +14,003 | +3.1% |
| 1970 | 86,266 | +11,908 | +3% |
| 1965 | 74,358 | +9,927 | +2.9% |
| 1960 | 64,431 | – | – |
Change and annual growth are measured against the previous row; growth is annualized where rows are five years apart. The live row extrapolates the UN estimate and is not directly comparable with the World Bank series.
Largest cities in Vanuatu
| # | City | Population | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Port-Vila Capital | 35,901 | 10.4% |
Port-Vila is the largest city with 35,901 people and is also the capital. City figures are the latest official estimates for the city proper, so shares are approximate. Full list of Vanuatu cities →
About Vanuatu
Population over time
- From 64,431 in 1960 to 345,552 today — up 436.3%.
- The population is at its all-time high right now.
- Average change over the last 10 years of data: +2.3% per year.
- World rank: Population #183 of 238 · Population growth rate #33 of 238.
Life expectancy & fertility
- Life expectancy at birth: 71.7 years (2024), up 21.8 years since 1960.
- Fertility: 3.6 births per woman (2024) — above the ~2.1 replacement level.
- World rank: Life expectancy #140 of 216 · Fertility rate #42 of 216.
Birth & death rates
- Latest: 27.7 births vs 5 deaths per 1,000 people (2024).
- Natural increase of 22.6 per 1,000 a year, before migration.
- World rank: Birth rate #40 of 216 · Death rate #191 of 216.
Age structure
- 38% of the population is under 15 and 4.4% is 65 or older (2025).
- The 65+ share has grown from 3.8% in 1960 — the population is aging.
- World rank: Population under 15 #34 of 216 · Population aged 65+ #157 of 216 · Median age #198 of 238.
CO₂ emissions
- Latest total: 0.29 Mt CO₂ (2024).
- Emissions peaked at 0.29 Mt in 2021 — down 2% since.
- Per person: 0.87 t in 2024, vs 0.87 t in 1970.
- World rank: CO₂ emissions #184 of 203 · CO₂ emissions per capita #145 of 203.
Energy use & renewables
- Energy use: 158.2 kg of oil equivalent per person (2007), up 0.5% since 1990.
- Renewables supplied 25% of final energy in 2022 (-2.6 points since 1990).
- World rank: Renewable energy share #93 of 212.
Forest area (% of land)
- Forest covers 36.3% of land area (2023).
- Cover has been essentially stable since 1990 (+0 points).
- World rank: Forest area #83 of 213.
Urban population (% of total)
- 22.3% of people live in urban areas (2025), vs 8% in 1960 (+14.3 points).
- Still majority-rural — less than half the population lives in cities.
- World rank: Urban population #208 of 216.
Water resources & stress
- Renewable freshwater per person: 31,944 m³ in 2022, down 78.2% since 1962.
- World rank: Freshwater resources per capita #17 of 183.
Economy
- GDP: $1.35B in 2025.
- Nominal GDP is up 58.3% since 2015.
- That works out to $4,039 per person.
- World rank: GDP #197 of 212 · GDP per capita #150 of 212.
Unemployment & inflation
- Unemployment: 5.1% of the labor force (2025, ILO estimate).
- Consumer-price inflation: 0.7% in 2025.
- World rank: Unemployment rate #97 of 186 · Inflation rate #163 of 191.
Internet & mobile
- 22.4% of people used the internet in 2015.
- Mobile subscriptions: 89.3 per 100 people (2023).
- World rank: Internet users #190 of 209 · Mobile subscriptions #159 of 210.
Vanuatu in the news
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Vanuatu in 2026?
As of October 2026, Vanuatu has an estimated population of 345,552. The United Nations estimated 339,680 residents on 1 January 2026; the live figure on this page extrapolates that estimate using the +2.2% annual growth rate.
Is the population of Vanuatu growing or shrinking?
It is growing at +2.2% per year — roughly 20 more people every day. Each year there are about 9,103 births and 1,664 deaths, with net migration of -102.
What is the population density of Vanuatu?
About 28.3 people per square kilometre: 345,552 people living on 12,190 km² of surface area (World Bank, 2023).
What is the median age in Vanuatu?
The median age is 20.3 years, and life expectancy at birth is 72 years. 38% of the population is under 15 and 4.4% is 65 or older (2025).
How does Vanuatu rank by population?
Vanuatu is the 184th most populous of 238 countries and territories worldwide and the 6th in Oceania, with 0.004% of the global population.
How has the population of Vanuatu changed over time?
In 1960 the population was 64,431; by 2025 it had grown to 335,169 (+420.2%). The year-by-year table above lists the full World Bank series.
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GuadeloupeCite or link to this page
Glostats. (2026). Vanuatu Population 2026 — Live Counter. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://glostats.com/country/vanuatu/<a href="https://glostats.com/country/vanuatu/">Vanuatu Population 2026 — Live Counter</a> — GlostatsFigures on this page may be quoted, charted or republished as long as the page is credited with a link. Terms · Download the data as CSV · Embed a live counter.
Sources & method: the live population is a linear extrapolation of the UN World Population Prospects estimate for 1 January 2026 using the annual growth rate (+2.2%); births, deaths and migration counters apply the UN crude rates to the live figure. Historical series, area, GDP and other indicators are from World Bank Open Data; the encyclopedic summary is from Wikipedia. Figures are statistical estimates, not census counts. Page generated 2026-10-20. More about our data.