Number of people living in urban and rural areas in Vanuatu
Vanuatu: Number of people living in urban and rural areas was 74,816 people in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
74,816 people
Change on year
up 2.4%
World rank
192nd
of 236 countries
All-time high
74,816 people
in 2025
All-time low
2,898 people
in 1950
Years of data
76
1950–2025
Number of people living in urban and rural 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 people.
Analysis
The most recent figure for number of people living in urban and rural areas in Vanuatu is 74,816 people, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 76 years on record.
That represents a change of up 2.4% on the previous year and up 13.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of people living in urban and rural areas in Vanuatu peaked at 74,816 people in 2025 and was at its lowest, 2,898 people, in 1950.
Vanuatu ranks 192nd 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.
Number of people living in urban and rural areas in Vanuatu, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 2,898 people | — |
| 1951 | 3,049 people | +5.2% |
| 1952 | 3,212 people | +5.4% |
| 1953 | 3,392 people | +5.6% |
| 1954 | 3,587 people | +5.7% |
| 1955 | 3,797 people | +5.9% |
| 1956 | 4,023 people | +5.9% |
| 1957 | 4,271 people | +6.2% |
| 1958 | 4,542 people | +6.3% |
| 1959 | 4,831 people | +6.4% |
| 1960 | 5,139 people | +6.4% |
| 1961 | 5,466 people | +6.4% |
| 1962 | 5,814 people | +6.4% |
| 1963 | 6,182 people | +6.3% |
| 1964 | 6,572 people | +6.3% |
| 1965 | 6,985 people | +6.3% |
| 1966 | 7,421 people | +6.2% |
| 1967 | 7,888 people | +6.3% |
| 1968 | 8,406 people | +6.6% |
| 1969 | 8,949 people | +6.5% |
| 1970 | 9,520 people | +6.4% |
| 1971 | 10,122 people | +6.3% |
| 1972 | 10,758 people | +6.3% |
| 1973 | 11,429 people | +6.2% |
| 1974 | 12,136 people | +6.2% |
| 1975 | 12,883 people | +6.2% |
| 1976 | 13,670 people | +6.1% |
| 1977 | 14,500 people | +6.1% |
| 1978 | 15,373 people | +6.0% |
| 1979 | 16,241 people | +5.6% |
| 1980 | 17,081 people | +5.2% |
| 1981 | 17,956 people | +5.1% |
| 1982 | 18,895 people | +5.2% |
| 1983 | 19,891 people | +5.3% |
| 1984 | 20,936 people | +5.3% |
| 1985 | 22,024 people | +5.2% |
| 1986 | 23,145 people | +5.1% |
| 1987 | 24,291 people | +5.0% |
| 1988 | 25,454 people | +4.8% |
| 1989 | 26,621 people | +4.6% |
| 1990 | 27,786 people | +4.4% |
| 1991 | 28,965 people | +4.2% |
| 1992 | 30,163 people | +4.1% |
| 1993 | 31,376 people | +4.0% |
| 1994 | 32,599 people | +3.9% |
| 1995 | 33,830 people | +3.8% |
| 1996 | 35,069 people | +3.7% |
| 1997 | 36,317 people | +3.6% |
| 1998 | 37,586 people | +3.5% |
| 1999 | 38,900 people | +3.5% |
| 2000 | 40,343 people | +3.7% |
| 2001 | 41,901 people | +3.9% |
| 2002 | 43,484 people | +3.8% |
| 2003 | 45,096 people | +3.7% |
| 2004 | 46,756 people | +3.7% |
| 2005 | 48,479 people | +3.7% |
| 2006 | 50,286 people | +3.7% |
| 2007 | 52,211 people | +3.8% |
| 2008 | 54,292 people | +4.0% |
| 2009 | 56,522 people | +4.1% |
| 2010 | 58,948 people | +4.3% |
| 2011 | 60,348 people | +2.4% |
| 2012 | 61,769 people | +2.4% |
| 2013 | 63,215 people | +2.3% |
| 2014 | 64,683 people | +2.3% |
| 2015 | 66,160 people | +2.3% |
| 2016 | 67,656 people | +2.3% |
| 2017 | 68,971 people | +1.9% |
| 2018 | 69,241 people | +0.4% |
| 2019 | 68,624 people | -0.9% |
| 2020 | 67,000 people | -2.4% |
| 2021 | 68,056 people | +1.6% |
| 2022 | 69,666 people | +2.4% |
| 2023 | 71,340 people | +2.4% |
| 2024 | 73,051 people | +2.4% |
| 2025 | 74,816 people | +2.4% |
Vanuatu compared with similar countries
- Vanuatu's 74,816 people is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 6.62 million people, 1% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Vanuatu's 74,816 people is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 722,007 people, 10% of the median. (37 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 3,760 people | 2,898 people | 4,831 people | 10 |
| 1960s | 6,882 people | 5,139 people | 8,949 people | 10 |
| 1970s | 12,663 people | 9,520 people | 16,241 people | 10 |
| 1980s | 21,630 people | 17,081 people | 26,621 people | 10 |
| 1990s | 33,259 people | 27,786 people | 38,900 people | 10 |
| 2000s | 47,937 people | 40,343 people | 56,522 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 64,961 people | 58,948 people | 69,241 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 70,655 people | 67,000 people | 74,816 people | 6 |
Countries ranked near Vanuatu
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 number of people living in urban and rural areas in Vanuatu?
- Number of people living in urban and rural areas in Vanuatu was 74,816 people 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 number of people living in urban and rural areas recorded in Vanuatu?
- The highest recorded value was 74,816 people in 2025.
- What is the lowest number of people living in urban and rural areas recorded in Vanuatu?
- The lowest recorded value was 2,898 people in 1950.
- How does Vanuatu rank for number of people living in urban and rural areas?
- Vanuatu ranks 192nd out of 236 countries with data for 2025.
- Is number of people living in urban and rural areas rising or falling in Vanuatu?
- Over the last ten years it is up 13.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- 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 Number of people living in urban and rural areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Number of people living in urban areas, based on each country's national definition.