Vanuatu Population
East Asia & Pacific · 177th most populous · Lower middle income
Population right now (estimate)
344,863
The population of Vanuatu is about 344,863 as of 22 October 2026 (estimate), and 343 thousand for 2026 as a whole — 0.00% of the world's people.
Vanuatu is ranked 177th of 217 by population. Its population is growing fast — about 2.2% a year, roughly 21 more people every day. By 2050 it is projected to reach about 534 thousand. That is 5.3 times its 1960 population of 64 thousand. Population density is 28 people per square kilometre. 22% of people live in cities (2025).
Population 2026
343 thousand
Yearly change
+2.21%
World rank
177th
Share of world
0.00%
Density
28/km²
Land area
12,189 km²
Life expectancy
71.7 yrs
Births per woman
3.57
GDP per capita
$4,039
GDP
$1.4B
Population of Vanuatu, 1960–2050
Vanuatu population by year
| Year | Population | Yearly change | Density (per km²) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 64,431 | — | 5 |
| 1970 | 86,266 | +3.00% | 7 |
| 1980 | 115,660 | +2.32% | 9 |
| 1990 | 148,063 | +2.54% | 12 |
| 2000 | 186,281 | +2.33% | 15 |
| 2010 | 238,248 | +2.37% | 20 |
| 2020 | 298,858 | +2.35% | 25 |
| 2024 | 327,777 | +2.30% | 27 |
| 2026proj. | 342,564 | +2.21% | 28 |
| 2030proj. | 372,428 | +2.07% | 31 |
| 2040proj. | 451,512 | +1.85% | 37 |
| 2050proj. | 534,388 | +1.57% | 44 |
Vanuatu vs Bangladesh
Bangladesh (178 million) has 519 times as many people as Vanuatu. Bangladesh is 48.6 times more densely populated.
Vanuatu population: questions and answers
What is the population of Vanuatu in 2026?
About 342,564 (343 thousand), based on World Bank projections.
Is Vanuatu's population growing?
Yes, by about 2.21% a year (2026).
What is the population density of Vanuatu?
About 28 people per km², with a land area of 12,189 km².
What will the population of Vanuatu be in 2050?
About 534 thousand on World Bank projections.
What is the capital of Vanuatu?
Port Vila.
What is the life expectancy in Vanuatu?
71.7 years at birth (2024).
Sources: World Bank Open Data — World Development Indicators and Population Estimates and Projections (CC BY 4.0); Wikidata (CC0). Data retrieved 2026-10-22. Live figures are mathematical estimates interpolated between the World Bank's mid-year values, not real-time counts.