Share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050 in Vanuatu
Vanuatu: Share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050 was 22.3% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
22.3%
Change on year
up 0.2%
World rank
227th
of 238 countries
All-time high
24.9%
in 2016
All-time low
0.0%
in 1000
Years of data
108
1000–2025
Share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050 in Vanuatu, 1000–2025
Source: HYDE (2023); United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2025, share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050 in Vanuatu stood at 22.3%.
Compared with earlier readings it is 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 projected to 2050 in Vanuatu peaked at 24.9% in 2016 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 1000.
That places Vanuatu 227th out of 238 countries with data for 2025, putting it 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 urban areas projected to 2050 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 | 5.6% | -25.0% |
| 1951 | 5.8% | +3.5% |
| 1952 | 6.0% | +3.6% |
| 1953 | 6.2% | +3.6% |
| 1954 | 6.5% | +3.6% |
| 1955 | 6.7% | +3.6% |
| 1956 | 6.9% | +3.6% |
| 1957 | 7.2% | +3.6% |
| 1958 | 7.4% | +3.5% |
| 1959 | 7.7% | +3.5% |
| 1960 | 8.0% | +3.5% |
| 1961 | 8.2% | +3.4% |
| 1962 | 8.5% | +3.4% |
| 1963 | 8.8% | +3.3% |
| 1964 | 9.1% | +3.3% |
| 1965 | 9.4% | +3.2% |
| 1966 | 9.7% | +3.1% |
| 1967 | 10.0% | +3.2% |
| 1968 | 10.3% | +3.4% |
| 1969 | 10.7% | +3.4% |
| 1970 | 11.0% | +3.3% |
| 1971 | 11.4% | +3.2% |
| 1972 | 11.7% | +3.2% |
| 1973 | 12.1% | +3.1% |
| 1974 | 12.5% | +3.0% |
| 1975 | 12.8% | +3.0% |
| 1976 | 13.2% | +2.9% |
| 1977 | 13.6% | +2.9% |
| 1978 | 14.0% | +2.8% |
| 1979 | 14.4% | +2.8% |
| 1980 | 14.8% | +2.8% |
| 1981 | 15.2% | +2.8% |
| 1982 | 15.6% | +2.8% |
| 1983 | 16.0% | +2.8% |
| 1984 | 16.5% | +2.7% |
| 1985 | 16.9% | +2.6% |
| 1986 | 17.3% | +2.4% |
| 1987 | 17.7% | +2.3% |
| 1988 | 18.1% | +2.1% |
| 1989 | 18.4% | +1.9% |
| 1990 | 18.8% | +1.8% |
| 1991 | 19.1% | +1.7% |
| 1992 | 19.4% | +1.6% |
| 1993 | 19.7% | +1.5% |
| 1994 | 20.0% | +1.4% |
| 1995 | 20.2% | +1.4% |
| 1996 | 20.5% | +1.4% |
| 1997 | 20.8% | +1.4% |
| 1998 | 21.1% | +1.4% |
| 1999 | 21.4% | +1.4% |
| 2000 | 21.7% | +1.4% |
| 2001 | 21.9% | +1.3% |
| 2002 | 22.2% | +1.2% |
| 2003 | 22.5% | +1.2% |
| 2004 | 22.7% | +1.2% |
| 2005 | 23.0% | +1.2% |
| 2006 | 23.3% | +1.2% |
| 2007 | 23.6% | +1.3% |
| 2008 | 23.9% | +1.4% |
| 2009 | 24.3% | +1.5% |
| 2010 | 24.7% | +1.9% |
| 2011 | 24.8% | +0.2% |
| 2012 | 24.8% | +0.1% |
| 2013 | 24.8% | +0.1% |
| 2014 | 24.9% | +0.1% |
| 2015 | 24.9% | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 24.9% | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 24.8% | -0.4% |
| 2018 | 24.3% | -2.0% |
| 2019 | 23.5% | -3.2% |
| 2020 | 22.4% | -4.6% |
| 2021 | 22.3% | -0.8% |
| 2022 | 22.3% | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 22.3% | +0.0% |
| 2024 | 22.3% | +0.1% |
| 2025 | 22.3% | +0.2% |
Vanuatu compared with similar countries
- Vanuatu's 22.3% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 50.9%, 44% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Vanuatu's 22.3% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 65.4%, 34% of the median. (37 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050 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 | 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
- 224 Antigua and Barbuda 24.3% compare
- 225 Ethiopia 24.1% compare
- 226 Micronesia (country) 22.5% compare
- 228 South Sudan 21.7% compare
- 229 Tonga 21.2% compare
- 230 Sri Lanka 20.5% 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 urban areas projected to 2050 in Vanuatu?
- Share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050 in Vanuatu was 22.3% in 2025, according to HYDE (2023); 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 projected to 2050 recorded in Vanuatu?
- The highest recorded value was 24.9% in 2016.
- What is the lowest share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050 recorded in Vanuatu?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 1000.
- How does Vanuatu rank for share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050?
- Vanuatu ranks 227th out of 238 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050 rising or falling in Vanuatu?
- Over the last ten years it is down 10.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Vanuatu data come from?
- The figures come from HYDE (2023); 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 projected to 2050. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the population living in urban areas, combining UN estimates with modeled historical data.