Vanuatu Population: 304,661

Vanuatu is a country located in the South Pacific Ocean. The country is a chain of 13 large islands and many smaller islands. The archipelago is located at a distance of over 1700 kilometers from Australia. Vanuatu is a Y shaped archipelago. Both high and low plateaus, along with rugged mountains and rolling hills, are present in the country. Active volcanoes are also present in many islands. The total land area is 12,190 square kilometers.

Largest cities by population in Vanuatu

The only major city in Vanuatu with a significant population is Port-Vita.

CITY NAME POPULATION
Port-Vila 35,901

Vanuatu population history

The population of Vanuatu in the year 2020 is 307,145. The population had mainly increased at a rate of over 2% since 1955 when the population was just 54,921. The growth rate touched 3% only on three occasions in the period between 1955 and 1975. The share of Vanuatu in the world population is negligible.

Year Population Yearly % Change Yearly Change Migrants (net) Median Age Fertility Rate Density (P/Km²) Urban Pop % Urban Population Country’s Share of World Pop World Population Global Rank
2020 307,145 2.42% 7,263 120 21.1 3.8 25 24.40% 75,025 0.00% 7,794,798,739 181
2019 299,882 2.46% 7,202 120 20.8 3.96 25 24.40% 73,139 0.00% 7,713,468,100 181
2018 292,680 2.51% 7,170 120 20.8 3.96 24 24.40% 71,301 0.00% 7,631,091,040 181
2017 285,510 2.58% 7,180 120 20.8 3.96 23 24.30% 69,511 0.00% 7,547,858,925 182
2016 278,330 2.66% 7,200 120 20.8 3.96 23 24.30% 67,768 0.00% 7,464,022,049 182
2015 271,130 2.80% 6,984 357 20.8 4 22 24.40% 66,048 0.00% 7,379,797,139 183
2010 236,211 2.45% 5,386 -655 21.2 4.2 19 24.50% 57,802 0.00% 6,956,823,603 184
2005 209,282 2.50% 4,862 -515 19.8 4.4 17 23.10% 48,362 0.00% 6,541,907,027 184
2000 184,972 1.92% 3,363 -1,477 18.8 4.59 15 21.70% 40,109 0.00% 6,143,493,823 184
1995 168,158 2.79% 4,317 -190 18.5 4.83 14 20.20% 33,923 0.00% 5,744,212,979 185
1990 146,573 2.43% 3,318 -723 18.1 5.04 12 18.70% 27,443 0.00% 5,327,231,061 186
1985 129,984 2.37% 2,877 -801 17.7 5.4 11 16.70% 21,743 0.00% 4,870,921,740 187
1980 115,597 2.97% 3,148 -87 17.5 5.75 9 14.70% 17,045 0.00% 4,458,003,514 188
1975 99,859 3.18% 2,896 155 17.3 6.11 8 13.40% 13,378 0.00% 4,079,480,606 187
1970 85,377 2.83% 2,221 -243 17.3 6.46 7 12.30% 10,524 0.00% 3,700,437,046 189
1965 74,270 3.12% 2,116 -130 16.8 7 6 11.30% 8,416 0.00% 3,339,583,597 191
1960 63,689 3.01% 1,754 -176 16.8 7.35 5 10.40% 6,627 0.00% 3,034,949,748 190
1955 54,921 2.86% 1,445 -179 16.8 7.6 5 9.50% 5,243 0.00% 2,773,019,936 191

Vanuatu population forecast

The population of Vanuatu is estimated to increase to 556,756 in the year 2050. The annual population growth rate is estimated to be above 2% till 2035 before dropping to less than 2% from 2040 onwards. The global ranking of Vanuatu is likely to change from the current 181 to 175 in 2050.

Year Population Yearly % Change Yearly Change Migrants (net) Median Age Fertility Rate Density (P/Km²) Urban Pop % Urban Population Country’s Share of World Pop World Population Global Rank
2020 307,145 2.53% 7,203 120 21.1 3.8 25 24.40% 75,025 0.00% 7,794,798,739 181
2025 344,305 2.31% 7,432 0 21.7 3.8 28 24.80% 85,244 0.00% 8,184,437,460 181
2030 383,373 2.17% 7,814 0 22.7 3.8 31 25.30% 96,979 0.00% 8,548,487,400 179
2035 424,537 2.06% 8,233 0 23.8 3.8 35 26.00% 110,539 0.00% 8,887,524,213 178
2040 467,519 1.95% 8,596 0 24.7 3.8 38 27.00% 126,158 0.01% 9,198,847,240 176
2045 511,739 1.82% 8,844 0 25.7 3.8 42 28.10% 143,921 0.01% 9,481,803,274 175
2050 556,756 1.70% 9,003 26.5 3.8 46 29.30% 163,020 0.01% 9,735,033,990 175

Vanuatu demographics

Life expectancy at birth for both genders is 70.99 years. The total fertility rate as of 2020 is 3.8. About 76% of the population lives in rural areas of the island country. The major urban centers are Port-Vila and Luganville. The population density is 25 people per square kilometers.

Vanuatu religion and politics

Protestant Christians form the dominant religious group with Presbyterians constituting the largest denomination at 32%. Both Roman Catholics and Anglicans make up 13% of the population. 11% of the population are Seventh-Day Adventists. Other religious groups include Christ of Church, United Pentecostal Church, Assemblies of God, Buddhists, Muslims, and Bahais.

Vanuatu is a constitutional democracy. The head of the government is the Prime Minister who is elected by the members of the Parliament. The 52 members of Parliament are elected by the public for a term of 4 years. The President is the head of the state who is elected by the members of the Parliament and presidents of regional councils.

Vanuatu economy

Vanuatu’s economy is mainly based on agriculture, especially subsistence farming. Agricultural produce makes up a major part of the exports. Tourism and offshore financial services also contribute to the GDP of the country.

Largest Countries in the World by Population

S.No Country Population (2020) World Population Share (%)
1 China 1,439,323,776 18.47%
2 India 1,380,004,385 17.70%
3 United States 331,002,651 4.25%
4 Indonesia 273,523,615 3.51%
5 Pakistan 220,892,340 2.83%
6 Brazil 212,559,417 2.73%
7 Nigeria 206,139,589 2.64%
8 Bangladesh 164,689,383 2.11%
9 Russia 145,934,462 1.87%
10 Mexico 128,932,753 1.65%