Share of population living in urbanized areas in Vanuatu
Vanuatu: Share of population living in urbanized areas was 34.5% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
34.5%
Change on year
up 2.1%
World rank
178th
of 202 countries
All-time high
34.5%
in 2025
All-time low
0.0%
in 1000
Years of data
108
1000–2025
Share of population living in urbanized areas in Vanuatu, 1000–2025
Source: HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of population living in urbanized areas in Vanuatu is 34.5%, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 108 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.1% on the previous year and up 22.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in urbanized areas in Vanuatu peaked at 34.5% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 1000.
Vanuatu ranks 178th of 202 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Share of population living in urbanized areas in Vanuatu, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1000 | 0.0% | — |
| 1100 | 0.0% | +200.0% |
| 1200 | 0.0% | +200.0% |
| 1300 | 0.0% | +200.0% |
| 1400 | 0.0% | +200.0% |
| 1500 | 0.0% | +200.0% |
| 1600 | 0.0% | +200.0% |
| 1700 | 0.1% | +200.0% |
| 1710 | 0.2% | +116.4% |
| 1720 | 0.3% | +16.7% |
| 1730 | 0.3% | +16.7% |
| 1740 | 0.3% | +16.7% |
| 1750 | 0.4% | +16.7% |
| 1760 | 0.5% | +16.7% |
| 1770 | 0.5% | +16.7% |
| 1780 | 0.6% | +16.7% |
| 1790 | 0.7% | +16.7% |
| 1800 | 0.9% | +16.7% |
| 1810 | 1.0% | +16.7% |
| 1820 | 1.2% | +16.7% |
| 1830 | 1.4% | +16.7% |
| 1840 | 1.6% | +16.7% |
| 1850 | 1.9% | +16.7% |
| 1860 | 2.2% | +16.7% |
| 1870 | 2.5% | +16.7% |
| 1880 | 3.0% | +16.7% |
| 1890 | 3.5% | +16.7% |
| 1900 | 4.0% | +16.7% |
| 1910 | 4.7% | +16.7% |
| 1920 | 5.5% | +16.7% |
| 1930 | 6.4% | +16.7% |
| 1940 | 7.5% | +16.7% |
| 1950 | 8.8% | +16.7% |
| 1951 | 8.9% | +1.8% |
| 1952 | 9.1% | +1.8% |
| 1953 | 9.2% | +1.8% |
| 1954 | 9.4% | +1.7% |
| 1955 | 9.6% | +1.8% |
| 1956 | 9.7% | +1.8% |
| 1957 | 9.9% | +1.8% |
| 1958 | 10.1% | +1.8% |
| 1959 | 10.2% | +1.7% |
| 1960 | 10.4% | +1.7% |
| 1961 | 10.6% | +1.7% |
| 1962 | 10.8% | +1.7% |
| 1963 | 11.0% | +1.7% |
| 1964 | 11.2% | +1.7% |
| 1965 | 11.4% | +1.8% |
| 1966 | 11.6% | +1.8% |
| 1967 | 11.8% | +1.8% |
| 1968 | 12.0% | +1.8% |
| 1969 | 12.2% | +1.8% |
| 1970 | 12.4% | +1.8% |
| 1971 | 12.6% | +1.5% |
| 1972 | 12.8% | +1.7% |
| 1973 | 13.0% | +1.8% |
| 1974 | 13.3% | +1.9% |
| 1975 | 13.5% | +1.9% |
| 1976 | 13.8% | +1.7% |
| 1977 | 14.0% | +1.8% |
| 1978 | 14.3% | +1.7% |
| 1979 | 14.6% | +2.1% |
| 1980 | 14.9% | +2.5% |
| 1981 | 15.3% | +2.7% |
| 1982 | 15.7% | +2.6% |
| 1983 | 16.1% | +2.5% |
| 1984 | 16.5% | +2.6% |
| 1985 | 17.0% | +2.6% |
| 1986 | 17.4% | +2.3% |
| 1987 | 17.8% | +2.4% |
| 1988 | 18.2% | +2.5% |
| 1989 | 18.7% | +2.6% |
| 1990 | 19.1% | +1.9% |
| 1991 | 19.4% | +1.5% |
| 1992 | 19.7% | +1.7% |
| 1993 | 20.0% | +1.8% |
| 1994 | 20.4% | +1.6% |
| 1995 | 20.6% | +1.4% |
| 1996 | 21.0% | +1.6% |
| 1997 | 21.3% | +1.4% |
| 1998 | 21.5% | +1.3% |
| 1999 | 21.9% | +1.5% |
| 2000 | 22.2% | +1.7% |
| 2001 | 22.6% | +1.5% |
| 2002 | 22.9% | +1.5% |
| 2003 | 23.2% | +1.5% |
| 2004 | 23.6% | +1.4% |
| 2005 | 23.9% | +1.4% |
| 2006 | 24.2% | +1.4% |
| 2007 | 24.6% | +1.4% |
| 2008 | 24.9% | +1.4% |
| 2009 | 25.2% | +1.3% |
| 2010 | 25.6% | +1.3% |
| 2011 | 26.1% | +2.1% |
| 2012 | 26.6% | +2.1% |
| 2013 | 27.2% | +2.0% |
| 2014 | 27.7% | +2.0% |
| 2015 | 28.3% | +2.0% |
| 2016 | 28.8% | +1.9% |
| 2017 | 29.4% | +1.9% |
| 2018 | 29.9% | +1.9% |
| 2019 | 30.5% | +1.8% |
| 2020 | 31.0% | +1.8% |
| 2021 | 31.7% | +2.3% |
| 2022 | 32.4% | +2.2% |
| 2023 | 33.1% | +2.2% |
| 2024 | 33.8% | +2.1% |
| 2025 | 34.5% | +2.1% |
Vanuatu compared with similar countries
- Vanuatu's 34.5% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 47.0%, 73% of the median. (45 countries reporting)
- Vanuatu's 34.5% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 59.0%, 58% of the median. (27 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Share of population living in urbanized areas in Vanuatu changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1100 | +200.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 1200 | +200.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 1300 | +200.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 1400 | +200.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 1500 | +200.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 1600 | +200.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1 |
| 1100s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1 |
| 1200s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1 |
| 1300s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1 |
| 1400s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1 |
| 1500s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1 |
| 1600s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1 |
| 1700s | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.1% | 1 |
| 1710s | 0.2% | 0.2% | 0.2% | 1 |
| 1720s | 0.3% | 0.3% | 0.3% | 1 |
| 1730s | 0.3% | 0.3% | 0.3% | 1 |
| 1740s | 0.3% | 0.3% | 0.3% | 1 |
| 1750s | 0.4% | 0.4% | 0.4% | 1 |
| 1760s | 0.5% | 0.5% | 0.5% | 1 |
| 1770s | 0.5% | 0.5% | 0.5% | 1 |
| 1780s | 0.6% | 0.6% | 0.6% | 1 |
| 1790s | 0.7% | 0.7% | 0.7% | 1 |
| 1800s | 0.9% | 0.9% | 0.9% | 1 |
| 1810s | 1.0% | 1.0% | 1.0% | 1 |
| 1820s | 1.2% | 1.2% | 1.2% | 1 |
| 1830s | 1.4% | 1.4% | 1.4% | 1 |
| 1840s | 1.6% | 1.6% | 1.6% | 1 |
| 1850s | 1.9% | 1.9% | 1.9% | 1 |
| 1860s | 2.2% | 2.2% | 2.2% | 1 |
| 1870s | 2.5% | 2.5% | 2.5% | 1 |
| 1880s | 3.0% | 3.0% | 3.0% | 1 |
| 1890s | 3.5% | 3.5% | 3.5% | 1 |
| 1900s | 4.0% | 4.0% | 4.0% | 1 |
| 1910s | 4.7% | 4.7% | 4.7% | 1 |
| 1920s | 5.5% | 5.5% | 5.5% | 1 |
| 1930s | 6.4% | 6.4% | 6.4% | 1 |
| 1940s | 7.5% | 7.5% | 7.5% | 1 |
| 1950s | 9.5% | 8.8% | 10.2% | 10 |
| 1960s | 11.3% | 10.4% | 12.2% | 10 |
| 1970s | 13.4% | 12.4% | 14.6% | 10 |
| 1980s | 16.8% | 14.9% | 18.7% | 10 |
| 1990s | 20.5% | 19.1% | 21.9% | 10 |
| 2000s | 23.7% | 22.2% | 25.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 28.0% | 25.6% | 30.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 32.8% | 31.0% | 34.5% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Vanuatu
- 175 Burkina Faso 36.8% compare
- 176 Tanzania 35.0% compare
- 177 Tajikistan 35.0% compare
- 179 Guyana 34.2% compare
- 180 Comoros 33.7% compare
- 181 Saint Lucia 33.4% compare
More population data for Vanuatu
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.5164 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -0.7815 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.5164 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.6576 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 578.57 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 2.2 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.2172 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth 0.5% (2100)
- Population density 71.82 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 59,723 people (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population living in urbanized areas in Vanuatu?
- Share of population living in urbanized areas in Vanuatu was 34.5% in 2025, according to HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of population living in urbanized areas recorded in Vanuatu?
- The highest recorded value was 34.5% in 2025.
- What is the lowest share of population living in urbanized areas recorded in Vanuatu?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 1000.
- How does Vanuatu rank for share of population living in urbanized areas?
- Vanuatu ranks 178th out of 202 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of population living in urbanized areas rising or falling in Vanuatu?
- Over the last ten years it is up 22.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Vanuatu data come from?
- The figures come from HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of population living in urbanized areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 108 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Share of population living in urban areas in a country over time.