Population in Vanuatu
Vanuatu: Population was 320,422 people in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
320,422 people
Change on year
up 2.4%
World rank
181st
of 236 countries
All-time high
320,422 people
in 2023
All-time low
51,557 people
in 1950
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Population in Vanuatu, 1950–2023
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
The most recent figure for population in Vanuatu is 320,422 people, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 74 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.4% on the previous year and up 25.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population in Vanuatu peaked at 320,422 people in 2023 and was at its lowest, 51,557 people, in 1950.
Vanuatu ranks 181st of 236 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Population in Vanuatu, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 51,557 people | — |
| 1951 | 52,378 people | +1.6% |
| 1952 | 53,285 people | +1.7% |
| 1953 | 54,316 people | +1.9% |
| 1954 | 55,435 people | +2.1% |
| 1955 | 56,650 people | +2.2% |
| 1956 | 57,941 people | +2.3% |
| 1957 | 59,391 people | +2.5% |
| 1958 | 60,999 people | +2.7% |
| 1959 | 62,683 people | +2.8% |
| 1960 | 64,446 people | +2.8% |
| 1961 | 66,279 people | +2.8% |
| 1962 | 68,188 people | +2.9% |
| 1963 | 70,171 people | +2.9% |
| 1964 | 72,232 people | +2.9% |
| 1965 | 74,375 people | +3.0% |
| 1966 | 76,605 people | +3.0% |
| 1967 | 78,935 people | +3.0% |
| 1968 | 81,334 people | +3.0% |
| 1969 | 83,770 people | +3.0% |
| 1970 | 86,283 people | +3.0% |
| 1971 | 88,881 people | +3.0% |
| 1972 | 91,578 people | +3.0% |
| 1973 | 94,379 people | +3.1% |
| 1974 | 97,273 people | +3.1% |
| 1975 | 100,288 people | +3.1% |
| 1976 | 103,402 people | +3.1% |
| 1977 | 106,634 people | +3.1% |
| 1978 | 109,980 people | +3.1% |
| 1979 | 113,061 people | +2.8% |
| 1980 | 115,683 people | +2.3% |
| 1981 | 118,268 people | +2.2% |
| 1982 | 121,051 people | +2.4% |
| 1983 | 124,013 people | +2.4% |
| 1984 | 127,125 people | +2.5% |
| 1985 | 130,375 people | +2.6% |
| 1986 | 133,737 people | +2.6% |
| 1987 | 137,206 people | +2.6% |
| 1988 | 140,769 people | +2.6% |
| 1989 | 144,410 people | +2.6% |
| 1990 | 148,073 people | +2.5% |
| 1991 | 151,807 people | +2.5% |
| 1992 | 155,619 people | +2.5% |
| 1993 | 159,475 people | +2.5% |
| 1994 | 163,328 people | +2.4% |
| 1995 | 167,155 people | +2.3% |
| 1996 | 170,926 people | +2.3% |
| 1997 | 174,638 people | +2.2% |
| 1998 | 178,322 people | +2.1% |
| 1999 | 182,056 people | +2.1% |
| 2000 | 186,290 people | +2.3% |
| 2001 | 191,047 people | +2.6% |
| 2002 | 195,871 people | +2.5% |
| 2003 | 200,760 people | +2.5% |
| 2004 | 205,720 people | +2.5% |
| 2005 | 210,772 people | +2.5% |
| 2006 | 215,939 people | +2.5% |
| 2007 | 221,291 people | +2.5% |
| 2008 | 226,908 people | +2.5% |
| 2009 | 232,740 people | +2.6% |
| 2010 | 238,256 people | +2.4% |
| 2011 | 243,483 people | +2.2% |
| 2012 | 248,894 people | +2.2% |
| 2013 | 254,495 people | +2.3% |
| 2014 | 260,247 people | +2.3% |
| 2015 | 266,115 people | +2.3% |
| 2016 | 272,097 people | +2.2% |
| 2017 | 278,518 people | +2.4% |
| 2018 | 285,273 people | +2.4% |
| 2019 | 291,995 people | +2.4% |
| 2020 | 298,867 people | +2.4% |
| 2021 | 305,882 people | +2.3% |
| 2022 | 313,061 people | +2.3% |
| 2023 | 320,422 people | +2.4% |
Vanuatu compared with similar countries
- Vanuatu's 320,422 people is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 12.20 million people, 3% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Vanuatu's 320,422 people is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 1.38 million people, 23% of the median. (37 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 56,464 people | 51,557 people | 62,683 people | 10 |
| 1960s | 73,634 people | 64,446 people | 83,770 people | 10 |
| 1970s | 99,176 people | 86,283 people | 113,061 people | 10 |
| 1980s | 129,264 people | 115,683 people | 144,410 people | 10 |
| 1990s | 165,140 people | 148,073 people | 182,056 people | 10 |
| 2000s | 208,734 people | 186,290 people | 232,740 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 263,937 people | 238,256 people | 291,995 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 309,558 people | 298,867 people | 320,422 people | 4 |
Countries ranked near Vanuatu
- 178 Iceland 387,559 people compare
- 179 Guadeloupe 376,518 people compare
- 180 Martinique 346,008 people compare
- 182 Mayotte 316,028 people compare
- 183 French Guiana 303,408 people compare
- 184 New Caledonia 289,879 people compare
More population data for Vanuatu
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.6576 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run 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 regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.5164 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development 0.5% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 59,723 people (2100)
- Population density 71.82 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth 0.5% (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.2172 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 2.2 Percent per annum (2030)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population in Vanuatu?
- Population in Vanuatu was 320,422 people in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest population recorded in Vanuatu?
- The highest recorded value was 320,422 people in 2023.
- What is the lowest population recorded in Vanuatu?
- The lowest recorded value was 51,557 people in 1950.
- How does Vanuatu rank for population?
- Vanuatu ranks 181st out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is population rising or falling in Vanuatu?
- Over the last ten years it is up 25.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- 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. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Total population, measured on 1 July of the year shown.