Share of population living in urban areas in Vanuatu
Vanuatu: Share of population living in urban areas was 22.3% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Share of population living in urban areas in Vanuatu, 1950–2025
Source: United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of population living in urban areas in Vanuatu is 22.3%, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of up 0.2% on the previous year and down 10.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in urban areas in Vanuatu peaked at 24.9% in 2016 and was at its lowest, 5.6%, in 1950.
Vanuatu ranks 225th of 236 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 76 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 6.6% | 5.6% | 7.7% | 10 |
| 1960s | 9.3% | 8.0% | 10.7% | 10 |
| 1970s | 12.7% | 11.0% | 14.4% | 10 |
| 1980s | 16.7% | 14.8% | 18.4% | 10 |
| 1990s | 20.1% | 18.8% | 21.4% | 10 |
| 2000s | 22.9% | 21.7% | 24.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 24.6% | 23.5% | 24.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 22.3% | 22.3% | 22.4% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Vanuatu
- 222 Antigua and Barbuda 24.3% compare
- 223 Ethiopia 24.1% compare
- 224 Micronesia (country) 22.5% compare
- 226 South Sudan 21.7% compare
- 227 Tonga 21.2% compare
- 228 Sri Lanka 20.5% compare
More population data for Vanuatu
- 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)
- Population growth rate, by level of development 0.5% (2100)
- Total fertility rate vs. contraceptive prevalence 3.57 births per woman (2024)
- Fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception 3.57 births per woman (2024)
- Refugees by country of asylum 0 people (2023)
- Total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate 3.57 births per woman (2024)
- Fertility rate vs. Share of people who are religious 3.6 live births per woman (2023)
- Fertility rate accounting for survival until childbearing age 3.48 children per women (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population living in urban areas in Vanuatu?
- Share of population living in urban areas in Vanuatu was 22.3% in 2025, according to United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of population living in urban areas recorded in Vanuatu?
- The highest recorded value was 24.9% in 2016.
- What is the lowest share of population living in urban areas recorded in Vanuatu?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.6% in 1950.
- How does Vanuatu rank for share of population living in urban areas?
- Vanuatu ranks 225th out of 236 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of population living in urban areas rising or falling in Vanuatu?
- Over the last ten years it is down 10.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Vanuatu data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of population living in urban areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the population living in urban areas, based on each country's national definition.