Vanuatu

Republic of Vanuatu

Ripablik blong VanuatuVanuatuRépublique du Vanuatu

UN memberMelanesia, Oceania

Locate on Earth — opens the globe, focused on Vanuatu. This page does not load a map.

Population

338,868

2026 · UN WPPProjection

GDP

$1.35 billion

2025 · World Bank WDIActual

GDP / capita

$4,039

2025 · World Bank WDIActual

HDI

0.621 index (0–1)

2023 · UNDP HDRActual

Life expectancy

72 years

2026 · UN WPPProjection

Area

12,190 km²

2023 · World Bank WDIActual

UN WPP 2024 Revision (estimates through 2023; 2024–2100 medium-variant projections). World Bank WDI, 13 July 2026 release. UNDP HDR HDR 2025. UNESCO UIS UIS February 2026. ILOSTAT ILOSTAT December 2025. IMF WEO WEO April 2026. OWID CO₂ OWID CO₂ December 2025.

Overview

Vanuatu is a UN member state in Melanesia, Oceania.

Every figure names its source, year, and whether it is an actual value, an estimate, or a projection. Missing values stay missing.

ISO alpha-2: VU
ISO alpha-3: VUT
UN M49: 548
Wikidata: Q686

People

Population stocks and demographic rates are from the UN World Population Prospects 2024 medium variant unless another source is named. Years from 2024 onward are projections.

PopulationProjection: 338,868
2026 · UN WPP · Projection · WPP2024 Demographic Indicators Medium
Population (1 July)Projection: 342,564
2026 · UN WPP · Projection · WPP2024 Demographic Indicators Medium
Population growth rateProjection: 2.2 percent
2026 · UN WPP · Projection · WPP2024 Demographic Indicators Medium
Population densityProjection: 28.1 persons per km²
2026 · UN WPP · Projection · WPP2024 Demographic Indicators Medium
Vanuatu’s density is close to Melanesia median of 28.1 (5 profiles with 2026 data), and below the median of 90.1 among 195 core profiles with 2026 data. Unweighted medians of the same-year cohort; not a population-weighted world average.
Median ageProjection: 20.3 years
2026 · UN WPP · Projection · WPP2024 Demographic Indicators Medium
Vanuatu’s median age is below the Melanesia median of 23 (5 profiles with 2026 data), and below the median of 29.8 among 195 core profiles with 2026 data. Unweighted medians of the same-year cohort; not a population-weighted world average.
Population sex ratioProjection: 101.8 males per 100 females
2026 · UN WPP · Projection · WPP2024 Demographic Indicators Medium
Total fertility rateProjection: 3.5 live births per woman
2026 · UN WPP · Projection · WPP2024 Demographic Indicators Medium
Vanuatu’s tfr is above the Melanesia median of 3 (5 profiles with 2026 data), and above the median of 2 among 195 core profiles with 2026 data. Unweighted medians of the same-year cohort; not a population-weighted world average.
Crude birth rateProjection: 26.8 per 1,000 population
2026 · UN WPP · Projection · WPP2024 Demographic Indicators Medium
Net number of migrantsProjection: −113
2026 · UN WPP · Projection · WPP2024 Demographic Indicators Medium
Net migration rateProjection: −0.3 per 1,000 population
2026 · UN WPP · Projection · WPP2024 Demographic Indicators Medium
Urban population: 22.3%
2025 · World Bank WDI · Actual · World Development Indicators
Vanuatu’s urban is below the Melanesia median of 31.3% (5 profiles with 2025 data), and below the median of 63.4% among 194 core profiles with 2025 data. Unweighted medians of the same-year cohort; not a population-weighted world average.
Population ages 0–14: 38%
2025 · World Bank WDI · Actual · World Development Indicators
Population ages 15–64: 57.7%
2025 · World Bank WDI · Actual · World Development Indicators
Population ages 65 and above: 4.4%
2025 · World Bank WDI · Actual · World Development Indicators
Vanuatu’s ages 65+ is close to Melanesia median of 4.4% (5 profiles with 2025 data), and below the median of 7.4% among 194 core profiles with 2025 data. Unweighted medians of the same-year cohort; not a population-weighted world average.

Population of Vanuatu. Solid line: estimates (1950–2023). Dashed line: medium-variant projections (2024–2100). UN WPP, WPP2024 Demographic Indicators Medium.

Data table

Year	Population	Status
1950	51,124	estimate
1960	63,536	estimate
1970	84,994	estimate
1980	114,415	estimate
1990	146,220	estimate
2000	183,938	estimate
2010	235,676	estimate
2020	295,341	estimate
2030	368,642	projection
2040	447,403	projection
2050	530,264	projection
2060	610,836	projection
2070	688,283	projection
2080	759,755	projection
2090	821,745	projection
2100	873,271	projection
2101	877,686	projection

Age structure of Vanuatu as a share of population. World Bank WDI, World Development Indicators.

Data table

Year	Ages 65+	Status
1960	3.8% aged 65+	actual
1965	3.1% aged 65+	actual
1970	3.2% aged 65+	actual
1975	2.9% aged 65+	actual
1980	4.9% aged 65+	actual
1985	4.2% aged 65+	actual
1990	3.7% aged 65+	actual
1995	3.1% aged 65+	actual
2000	2.8% aged 65+	actual
2005	2.9% aged 65+	actual
2010	3.2% aged 65+	actual
2015	3.7% aged 65+	actual
2020	4.1% aged 65+	actual
2025	4.4% aged 65+	actual

Economy

National accounts and related World Bank series. Totals are not comparable as “averages” across countries; rates such as GDP per capita include same-year cohort medians where coverage allows.

Gross domestic product: $1.35 billion
2025 · World Bank WDI · Actual · World Development Indicators
GDP per capita: $4,039
2025 · World Bank WDI · Actual · World Development Indicators
Vanuatu’s gdp / capita is above the Melanesia median of $3,529 (4 profiles with 2025 data), and below the median of $7,411 among 181 core profiles with 2025 data. Unweighted medians of the same-year cohort; not a population-weighted world average.
GDP, PPP: Int’l $1.52 billion
2025 · World Bank WDI · Actual · World Development Indicators
GDP per capita, PPP: Int’l $4,525
2025 · World Bank WDI · Actual · World Development Indicators
Vanuatu’s gdp / capita (ppp) is below the Melanesia median of Int’l $4,870 (4 profiles with 2025 data), and below the median of Int’l $20,089 among 180 core profiles with 2025 data. Unweighted medians of the same-year cohort; not a population-weighted world average.
GDP growth: 3.1 percent
2025 · World Bank WDI · Actual · World Development Indicators
Vanuatu’s gdp growth is below the Melanesia median of 3.4 (4 profiles with 2025 data), and below the median of 3.2 among 181 core profiles with 2025 data. Unweighted medians of the same-year cohort; not a population-weighted world average.
GNI per capita: $4,410
2025 · World Bank WDI · Actual · World Development Indicators
Vanuatu’s gni / capita is above the Melanesia median of $3,650 (4 profiles with 2025 data), and below the median of $7,360 among 179 core profiles with 2025 data. Unweighted medians of the same-year cohort; not a population-weighted world average.
Inflation, consumer prices: 0.7 percent
2025 · World Bank WDI · Actual · World Development Indicators
Vanuatu’s inflation is below the Melanesia median of 2 (4 profiles with 2025 data), and below the median of 3 among 162 core profiles with 2025 data. Unweighted medians of the same-year cohort; not a population-weighted world average.
Unemployment, totalProjection: 5.1 percent of labour force
2026 · ILOSTAT · Projection · ILOSTAT modelled estimates (annual)
Vanuatu’s unemployment is close to Melanesia median of 5.1 (5 profiles with 2026 data), and close to median of 5.1 among 178 core profiles with 2026 data. Unweighted medians of the same-year cohort; not a population-weighted world average.
Trade: 73.4 percent of GDP
2024 · World Bank WDI · Actual · World Development Indicators
Access to electricity: 65.5%
2024 · World Bank WDI · Actual · World Development Indicators
Individuals using the Internet: 22.4%
2015 · World Bank WDI · Actual · World Development Indicators
Labour force participation rateProjection: 57.9 percent of population ages 15+
2026 · ILOSTAT · Projection · ILOSTAT modelled estimates (annual)
Vanuatu’s lfpr is close to Melanesia median of 57.1 (5 profiles with 2026 data), and below the median of 62 among 174 core profiles with 2026 data. Unweighted medians of the same-year cohort; not a population-weighted world average.
Employment-to-population ratioProjection: 55 percent of population ages 15+
2026 · ILOSTAT · Projection · ILOSTAT modelled estimates (annual)
Youth unemployment rateProjection: 11.2 percent of labour force ages 15–24
2026 · ILOSTAT · Projection · ILOSTAT modelled estimates (annual)
General government net lending/borrowingProjection: −4.2 percent of GDP
2026 · IMF WEO · Projection · World Economic Outlook April 2026
General government gross debtProjection: 43.2 percent of GDP
2026 · IMF WEO · Projection · World Economic Outlook April 2026

GDP of Vanuatu in current US dollars. World Bank WDI, World Development Indicators.

Data table

Year	GDP	Status
1979	$119 million	actual
1982	$115 million	actual
1985	$132 million	actual
1988	$158 million	actual
1991	$201 million	actual
1994	$234 million	actual
1997	$273 million	actual
2000	$272 million	actual
2003	$314 million	actual
2006	$439 million	actual
2009	$593 million	actual
2012	$748 million	actual
2015	$855 million	actual
2018	$1.03 billion	actual
2021	$1.09 billion	actual
2024	$1.3 billion	actual
2025	$1.35 billion	actual

Development

Human development indices are published only from the latest UNDP HDR series. This build does not invent a substitute index.

Human Development Index: 0.621 index (0–1)
2023 · UNDP HDR · Actual · HDR 2025 composite indices complete time series
Vanuatu’s hdi is above the Melanesia median of 0.603 (4 profiles with 2023 data), and below the median of 0.762 among 192 core profiles with 2023 data. Unweighted medians of the same-year cohort; not a population-weighted world average.
Inequality-adjusted Human Development Index: 0.521 index (0–1)
2023 · UNDP HDR · Actual · HDR 2025 composite indices complete time series
Vanuatu’s ihdi is above the Melanesia median of 0.502 (4 profiles with 2023 data), and below the median of 0.609 among 168 core profiles with 2023 data. Unweighted medians of the same-year cohort; not a population-weighted world average.
Gender Development Index: 0.952 index (female-to-male HDI ratio)
2023 · UNDP HDR · Actual · HDR 2025 composite indices complete time series
Vanuatu’s gdi is close to Melanesia median of 0.938 (4 profiles with 2023 data), and close to median of 0.971 among 183 core profiles with 2023 data. Unweighted medians of the same-year cohort; not a population-weighted world average.
Gender Inequality Index: 0.556 index (0–1)
2023 · UNDP HDR · Actual · HDR 2025 composite indices complete time series
Vanuatu’s gii is above the Melanesia median of 0.517 (4 profiles with 2023 data), and above the median of 0.352 among 172 core profiles with 2023 data. Unweighted medians of the same-year cohort; not a population-weighted world average.
Multidimensional Poverty Index: No comparable data
No internationally comparable figure in this build.

Health and education

Life expectancy and mortality are UN WPP series unless labelled otherwise. Education figures are UNESCO UIS (CC BY-SA, isolated) where a comparable series exists; otherwise they stay missing.

Life expectancy at birthProjection: 72 years
2026 · UN WPP · Projection · WPP2024 Demographic Indicators Medium
Vanuatu’s life expectancy is close to Melanesia median of 71 (5 profiles with 2026 data), and close to median of 74.1 among 195 core profiles with 2026 data. Unweighted medians of the same-year cohort; not a population-weighted world average.
Crude death rateProjection: 4.9 per 1,000 population
2026 · UN WPP · Projection · WPP2024 Demographic Indicators Medium
Life expectancy at birth (male)Projection: 69.9 years
2026 · UN WPP · Projection · WPP2024 Demographic Indicators Medium
Vanuatu’s life exp. male is close to Melanesia median of 69.6 (5 profiles with 2026 data), and close to median of 70.9 among 195 core profiles with 2026 data. Unweighted medians of the same-year cohort; not a population-weighted world average.
Life expectancy at birth (female)Projection: 74.5 years
2026 · UN WPP · Projection · WPP2024 Demographic Indicators Medium
Vanuatu’s life exp. female is close to Melanesia median of 72.5 (5 profiles with 2026 data), and below the median of 77.4 among 195 core profiles with 2026 data. Unweighted medians of the same-year cohort; not a population-weighted world average.
Infant mortality rateProjection: 13.2 per 1,000 live births
2026 · UN WPP · Projection · WPP2024 Demographic Indicators Medium
Vanuatu’s infant mortality is close to Melanesia median of 13.2 (5 profiles with 2026 data), and above the median of 11.1 among 195 core profiles with 2026 data. Unweighted medians of the same-year cohort; not a population-weighted world average.
Under-five mortality rateProjection: 15.8 per 1,000 live births
2026 · UN WPP · Projection · WPP2024 Demographic Indicators Medium
Vanuatu’s u5mr is close to Melanesia median of 16.2 (5 profiles with 2026 data), and above the median of 12.9 among 195 core profiles with 2026 data. Unweighted medians of the same-year cohort; not a population-weighted world average.
Maternal mortality ratio: 100 per 100,000 live births
2023 · World Bank WDI · Actual · World Development Indicators
Immunization, measles: 61%
2024 · World Bank WDI · Actual · World Development Indicators
Vanuatu’s measles immunization is below the Melanesia median of 69.5% (4 profiles with 2024 data), and below the median of 90% among 192 core profiles with 2024 data. Unweighted medians of the same-year cohort; not a population-weighted world average.
Current health expenditure: 4.1 percent of GDP
2023 · World Bank WDI · Actual · World Development Indicators
Vanuatu’s health expenditure is above the Melanesia median of 3.9 (4 profiles with 2023 data), and below the median of 5.8 among 170 core profiles with 2023 data. Unweighted medians of the same-year cohort; not a population-weighted world average.
Prevalence of undernourishment: 7.2 percent of population
2023 · World Bank WDI · Actual · World Development Indicators
Adult literacy rate: 88%
2023 · UNESCO UIS · Actual · UIS Bulk Data Download Service (February 2026)
Vanuatu’s adult literacy is close to median of 88% among 15 core profiles with 2023 data. Unweighted medians of the same-year cohort; not a population-weighted world average.
Youth literacy rate: 93.9%
2023 · UNESCO UIS · Actual · UIS Bulk Data Download Service (February 2026)
Mean years of schooling: 7.1 years
2023 · UNESCO UIS · Actual · UIS Bulk Data Download Service (February 2026)
Vanuatu’s mean years school is below the median of 7.7 among 27 core profiles with 2023 data. Unweighted medians of the same-year cohort; not a population-weighted world average.
School life expectancy: 10.2 years
2004 · UNESCO UIS · Actual · UIS Bulk Data Download Service (February 2026)

Life expectancy at birth in Vanuatu. Dashed line marks medium-variant projections. UN WPP, WPP2024 Demographic Indicators Medium.

Data table

Year	Years	Status
1950	43.9	estimate
1960	49.8	estimate
1970	55.3	estimate
1980	61.3	estimate
1990	66.7	estimate
2000	68.6	estimate
2010	69.6	estimate
2020	70.4	estimate
2030	72.7	projection
2040	74.3	projection
2050	75.8	projection
2060	77.4	projection
2070	78.9	projection
2080	80.3	projection
2090	81.7	projection
2100	83	projection

Environment

Forest cover is World Bank WDI. CO₂ is the Global Carbon Project series via Our World in Data — not IEA-EDGAR.

Land area: 12,190 km²
2023 · World Bank WDI · Actual · World Development Indicators
Surface area: 12,190 km²
2023 · World Bank WDI · Actual · World Development Indicators
Forest area: 36.3%
2023 · World Bank WDI · Actual · World Development Indicators
Vanuatu’s forest is below the Melanesia median of 63.5% (5 profiles with 2023 data), and above the median of 31.8% among 194 core profiles with 2023 data. Unweighted medians of the same-year cohort; not a population-weighted world average.
CO₂ emissions: 0.2 million tonnes
2024 · OWID / Global Carbon Project · Actual · OWID CO2 data (Global Carbon Project)
CO₂ emissions per capita: 0.6 tonnes per person
2024 · OWID / Global Carbon Project · Actual · OWID CO2 data (Global Carbon Project)
Vanuatu’s co₂ / capita is below the Melanesia median of 0.8 (5 profiles with 2024 data), and below the median of 2.8 among 192 core profiles with 2024 data. Unweighted medians of the same-year cohort; not a population-weighted world average.

CO₂ emissions of Vanuatu. Global Carbon Project via Our World in Data. OWID / Global Carbon Project, OWID CO2 data (Global Carbon Project).

Data table

Year	Million tonnes	Status
1962	0	actual
1966	0.1	actual
1970	0	actual
1974	0.1	actual
1978	0.1	actual
1982	0.1	actual
1986	0.1	actual
1990	0.1	actual
1994	0.1	actual
1998	0.1	actual
2002	0.1	actual
2006	0.1	actual
2010	0.1	actual
2014	0.2	actual
2018	0.2	actual
2022	0.2	actual
2024	0.2	actual

Geography

Region: Oceania
Subregion: Melanesia
Natural Earth ADM0_A3: VUT
Cartographic size: Tiny state on the 50m globe (point or small polygon)

Outline from Natural Earth 50m Admin 0. Made with Natural Earth. Not a locator map.

Government

Classification is descriptive and is not a recognition of legal claims.Map and status policy.

Status: UN member
Publication tier: Core profile
SIDS: Small island developing State

Sources

United Nations World Population Prospects

WPP2024 Demographic Indicators Medium. Vintage 2024 Revision. CC BY 3.0 IGO. Retrieved 2026-09-03. Source file.

Population (2026, projection; series TPopulation1Jan)
Life expectancy at birth (2026, projection; series LEx)
Population (1 July) (2026, projection; series TPopulation1July)
Population growth rate (2026, projection; series PopGrowthRate)
Population density (2026, projection; series PopDensity)
Median age (2026, projection; series MedianAgePop)
Population sex ratio (2026, projection; series PopSexRatio)
Total fertility rate (2026, projection; series TFR)
Crude birth rate (2026, projection; series CBR)
Crude death rate (2026, projection; series CDR)
Life expectancy at birth (male) (2026, projection; series LExMale)
Life expectancy at birth (female) (2026, projection; series LExFemale)
Infant mortality rate (2026, projection; series IMR)
Under-five mortality rate (2026, projection; series Q5)
Net number of migrants (2026, projection; series NetMigrations)
Net migration rate (2026, projection; series CNMR)

World Bank World Development Indicators

World Development Indicators. Vintage 13 July 2026. CC BY 4.0. Retrieved 2026-09-03. Source file.

Gross domestic product (2025, actual; series NY.GDP.MKTP.CD)
GDP per capita (2025, actual; series NY.GDP.PCAP.CD)
Land area (2023, actual; series AG.LND.TOTL.K2)
GDP, PPP (2025, actual; series NY.GDP.MKTP.PP.CD)
GDP per capita, PPP (2025, actual; series NY.GDP.PCAP.PP.CD)
GDP growth (2025, actual; series NY.GDP.MKTP.KD.ZG)
GNI per capita (2025, actual; series NY.GNP.PCAP.CD)
Inflation, consumer prices (2025, actual; series FP.CPI.TOTL.ZG)
Trade (2024, actual; series NE.TRD.GNFS.ZS)
Maternal mortality ratio (2023, actual; series SH.STA.MMRT)
Immunization, measles (2024, actual; series SH.IMM.MEAS)
Current health expenditure (2023, actual; series SH.XPD.CHEX.GD.ZS)
Prevalence of undernourishment (2023, actual; series SN.ITK.DEFC.ZS)
Urban population (2025, actual; series SP.URB.TOTL.IN.ZS)
Population ages 0–14 (2025, actual; series SP.POP.0014.TO.ZS)
Population ages 15–64 (2025, actual; series SP.POP.1564.TO.ZS)
Population ages 65 and above (2025, actual; series SP.POP.65UP.TO.ZS)
Surface area (2023, actual; series AG.SRF.TOTL.K2)
Access to electricity (2024, actual; series EG.ELC.ACCS.ZS)
Individuals using the Internet (2015, actual; series IT.NET.USER.ZS)
Forest area (2023, actual; series AG.LND.FRST.ZS)
Alternate: Population (2025, actual; series SP.POP.TOTL)
Alternate: Life expectancy at birth (2024, actual; series SP.DYN.LE00.IN)
Alternate: Population growth rate (2025, actual; series SP.POP.GROW)
Alternate: Population density (2023, actual; series EN.POP.DNST)
Alternate: Total fertility rate (2024, actual; series SP.DYN.TFRT.IN)
Alternate: Crude birth rate (2024, actual; series SP.DYN.CBRT.IN)
Alternate: Crude death rate (2024, actual; series SP.DYN.CDRT.IN)
Alternate: Life expectancy at birth (male) (2024, actual; series SP.DYN.LE00.MA.IN)
Alternate: Life expectancy at birth (female) (2024, actual; series SP.DYN.LE00.FE.IN)
Alternate: Infant mortality rate (2024, actual; series SP.DYN.IMRT.IN)
Alternate: Under-five mortality rate (2024, actual; series SH.DYN.MORT)
Alternate: Net number of migrants (2025, actual; series SM.POP.NETM)
Alternate: Unemployment, total (2025, actual; series SL.UEM.TOTL.ZS)

UNDP Human Development Report

HDR 2025 composite indices complete time series. Vintage HDR 2025. CC BY 3.0 IGO. Retrieved 2026-09-03. Source file.

Human Development Index (2023, actual; series hdi)
Inequality-adjusted Human Development Index (2023, actual; series ihdi)
Gender Development Index (2023, actual; series gdi)
Gender Inequality Index (2023, actual; series gii)
Alternate: Mean years of schooling (2023, actual; series mys)
Alternate: School life expectancy (2023, actual; series eys)

ILOSTAT

ILOSTAT modelled estimates (annual). Vintage ILOSTAT December 2025. CC BY 4.0. Retrieved 2026-09-03. Source file.

Unemployment, total (2026, projection; series UNE_2EAP_SEX_AGE_RT)
Labour force participation rate (2026, projection; series EAP_2WAP_SEX_AGE_RT)
Employment-to-population ratio (2026, projection; series EMP_2WAP_SEX_AGE_RT)
Youth unemployment rate (2026, projection; series UNE_2EAP_SEX_AGE_RT)

UNESCO Institute for Statistics

UIS Bulk Data Download Service (February 2026). Vintage UIS February 2026. CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO. Retrieved 2026-09-03. Source file.

Adult literacy rate (2023, actual; series LR.AG15T99)
Youth literacy rate (2023, actual; series LR.AG15T24)
Mean years of schooling (2023, actual; series MYS.1T8.AG25T99)
School life expectancy (2004, actual; series SLE.1T8)

IMF World Economic Outlook

World Economic Outlook April 2026. Vintage WEO April 2026. IMF data terms. Retrieved 2026-09-03. Source file.

General government net lending/borrowing (2026, projection; series GGXCNL_NGDP)
General government gross debt (2026, projection; series GGXWDG_NGDP)
Alternate: Gross domestic product (2026, projection; series NGDPD)
Alternate: GDP per capita (2026, projection; series NGDPDPC)
Alternate: GDP growth (2026, projection; series NGDP_RPCH)
Alternate: Inflation, consumer prices (2026, projection; series PCPIPCH)

Our World in Data (Global Carbon Project)

OWID CO2 data (Global Carbon Project). Vintage OWID CO₂ December 2025. CC BY 4.0. Retrieved 2026-09-03. Source file.

CO₂ emissions (2024, actual; series co2)
CO₂ emissions per capita (2024, actual; series co2_per_capita)

Names, classifications, and boundaries are for statistical and cartographic use and do not constitute recognition of legal claims.