Population growth rate in Vanuatu
Vanuatu: Population growth rate was 2.3% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Latest (2023)
2.3%
Change on year
down 2.5%
World rank
40th
of 236 countries
All-time high
3.1%
in 1978
All-time low
1.5%
in 1951
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Population growth rate in Vanuatu, 1950–2023
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for population growth rate in Vanuatu is 2.3%, measured in 2023.
That represents a change of down 2.5% on the previous year and up 2.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population growth rate in Vanuatu peaked at 3.1% in 1978 and was at its lowest, 1.5%, in 1951.
Vanuatu ranks 40th of 236 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 74 years of available data.
Population growth rate in Vanuatu, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 1.6% | — |
| 1951 | 1.5% | -5.4% |
| 1952 | 1.9% | +22.7% |
| 1953 | 2.0% | +5.4% |
| 1954 | 2.1% | +6.6% |
| 1955 | 2.2% | +4.6% |
| 1956 | 2.3% | +4.3% |
| 1957 | 2.6% | +14.7% |
| 1958 | 2.7% | +2.0% |
| 1959 | 2.8% | +2.6% |
| 1960 | 2.8% | +0.5% |
| 1961 | 2.8% | +2.0% |
| 1962 | 2.8% | +0.5% |
| 1963 | 2.9% | +1.6% |
| 1964 | 2.9% | +0.2% |
| 1965 | 2.9% | +1.3% |
| 1966 | 3.0% | +1.4% |
| 1967 | 3.0% | +1.3% |
| 1968 | 3.0% | -1.9% |
| 1969 | 3.0% | -0.0% |
| 1970 | 3.0% | -0.3% |
| 1971 | 3.0% | +0.9% |
| 1972 | 3.0% | +1.1% |
| 1973 | 3.0% | +0.1% |
| 1974 | 3.0% | +0.8% |
| 1975 | 3.1% | +0.7% |
| 1976 | 3.1% | +0.5% |
| 1977 | 3.1% | +0.3% |
| 1978 | 3.1% | +0.6% |
| 1979 | 2.4% | -21.5% |
| 1980 | 2.2% | -11.4% |
| 1981 | 2.3% | +5.4% |
| 1982 | 2.4% | +5.1% |
| 1983 | 2.4% | +2.6% |
| 1984 | 2.5% | +2.3% |
| 1985 | 2.5% | +1.3% |
| 1986 | 2.6% | +0.7% |
| 1987 | 2.6% | +0.2% |
| 1988 | 2.6% | +0.4% |
| 1989 | 2.5% | -1.6% |
| 1990 | 2.5% | -1.7% |
| 1991 | 2.5% | -0.0% |
| 1992 | 2.5% | -0.5% |
| 1993 | 2.4% | -2.3% |
| 1994 | 2.4% | -2.6% |
| 1995 | 2.3% | -3.4% |
| 1996 | 2.2% | -3.7% |
| 1997 | 2.1% | -3.7% |
| 1998 | 2.1% | -1.9% |
| 1999 | 2.1% | +0.3% |
| 2000 | 2.5% | +21.2% |
| 2001 | 2.5% | +0.2% |
| 2002 | 2.5% | -1.7% |
| 2003 | 2.4% | -1.1% |
| 2004 | 2.4% | -0.4% |
| 2005 | 2.4% | -1.1% |
| 2006 | 2.4% | +0.7% |
| 2007 | 2.5% | +1.7% |
| 2008 | 2.5% | +3.2% |
| 2009 | 2.5% | -0.6% |
| 2010 | 2.2% | -14.7% |
| 2011 | 2.2% | +1.0% |
| 2012 | 2.2% | +1.5% |
| 2013 | 2.2% | +0.9% |
| 2014 | 2.2% | +0.3% |
| 2015 | 2.2% | -1.1% |
| 2016 | 2.2% | +0.9% |
| 2017 | 2.4% | +8.7% |
| 2018 | 2.4% | -2.7% |
| 2019 | 2.3% | -2.7% |
| 2020 | 2.4% | +2.4% |
| 2021 | 2.3% | -3.0% |
| 2022 | 2.4% | +3.1% |
| 2023 | 2.3% | -2.5% |
Vanuatu compared with similar countries
- Vanuatu's 2.3% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 1.7%, 1.3× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Vanuatu's 2.3% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 0.7%, 3.3× the median. (37 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 2.2% | 1.5% | 2.8% | 10 |
| 1960s | 2.9% | 2.8% | 3.0% | 10 |
| 1970s | 3.0% | 2.4% | 3.1% | 10 |
| 1980s | 2.5% | 2.2% | 2.6% | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.3% | 2.1% | 2.5% | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.5% | 2.4% | 2.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.3% | 2.2% | 2.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.3% | 2.3% | 2.4% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Vanuatu
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 population growth rate in Vanuatu?
- Population growth rate in Vanuatu was 2.3% in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest population growth rate recorded in Vanuatu?
- The highest recorded value was 3.1% in 1978.
- What is the lowest population growth rate recorded in Vanuatu?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.5% in 1951.
- How does Vanuatu rank for population growth rate?
- Vanuatu ranks 40th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is population growth rate rising or falling in Vanuatu?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Vanuatu data come from?
- The figures come from UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Population growth rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Annual rate at which the population is growing, expressed as a percentage.