Urban population in Vanuatu
Vanuatu: Urban population was 74,816 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Urban population in Vanuatu, 1960–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
Analysis
The most recent figure for urban population in Vanuatu is 74,816, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 66 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.4% on the previous year and up 13.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, urban population in Vanuatu peaked at 74,816 in 2025 and was at its lowest, 5,139, in 1960.
Vanuatu ranks 187th of 218 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Urban population in Vanuatu, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 5,139 | — |
| 1961 | 5,466 | +6.4% |
| 1962 | 5,814 | +6.4% |
| 1963 | 6,182 | +6.3% |
| 1964 | 6,572 | +6.3% |
| 1965 | 6,985 | +6.3% |
| 1966 | 7,421 | +6.2% |
| 1967 | 7,888 | +6.3% |
| 1968 | 8,406 | +6.6% |
| 1969 | 8,949 | +6.5% |
| 1970 | 9,520 | +6.4% |
| 1971 | 10,122 | +6.3% |
| 1972 | 10,758 | +6.3% |
| 1973 | 11,429 | +6.2% |
| 1974 | 12,136 | +6.2% |
| 1975 | 12,883 | +6.2% |
| 1976 | 13,670 | +6.1% |
| 1977 | 14,500 | +6.1% |
| 1978 | 15,373 | +6.0% |
| 1979 | 16,241 | +5.6% |
| 1980 | 17,081 | +5.2% |
| 1981 | 17,956 | +5.1% |
| 1982 | 18,895 | +5.2% |
| 1983 | 19,891 | +5.3% |
| 1984 | 20,936 | +5.3% |
| 1985 | 22,024 | +5.2% |
| 1986 | 23,145 | +5.1% |
| 1987 | 24,291 | +5.0% |
| 1988 | 25,454 | +4.8% |
| 1989 | 26,621 | +4.6% |
| 1990 | 27,786 | +4.4% |
| 1991 | 28,965 | +4.2% |
| 1992 | 30,163 | +4.1% |
| 1993 | 31,376 | +4.0% |
| 1994 | 32,599 | +3.9% |
| 1995 | 33,830 | +3.8% |
| 1996 | 35,069 | +3.7% |
| 1997 | 36,317 | +3.6% |
| 1998 | 37,586 | +3.5% |
| 1999 | 38,900 | +3.5% |
| 2000 | 40,343 | +3.7% |
| 2001 | 41,901 | +3.9% |
| 2002 | 43,484 | +3.8% |
| 2003 | 45,096 | +3.7% |
| 2004 | 46,756 | +3.7% |
| 2005 | 48,479 | +3.7% |
| 2006 | 50,286 | +3.7% |
| 2007 | 52,211 | +3.8% |
| 2008 | 54,292 | +4.0% |
| 2009 | 56,521 | +4.1% |
| 2010 | 58,949 | +4.3% |
| 2011 | 60,348 | +2.4% |
| 2012 | 61,769 | +2.4% |
| 2013 | 63,215 | +2.3% |
| 2014 | 64,683 | +2.3% |
| 2015 | 66,160 | +2.3% |
| 2016 | 67,656 | +2.3% |
| 2017 | 68,971 | +1.9% |
| 2018 | 69,241 | +0.4% |
| 2019 | 68,624 | -0.9% |
| 2020 | 67,000 | -2.4% |
| 2021 | 68,056 | +1.6% |
| 2022 | 69,666 | +2.4% |
| 2023 | 71,340 | +2.4% |
| 2024 | 73,051 | +2.4% |
| 2025 | 74,816 | +2.4% |
Vanuatu compared with similar countries
- Vanuatu's 74,816 is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 6.62 million, 1% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Vanuatu's 74,816 is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 685,900, 11% of the median. (37 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 6,882 | 5,139 | 8,949 | 10 |
| 1970s | 12,663 | 9,520 | 16,241 | 10 |
| 1980s | 21,629 | 17,081 | 26,621 | 10 |
| 1990s | 33,259 | 27,786 | 38,900 | 10 |
| 2000s | 47,937 | 40,343 | 56,521 | 10 |
| 2010s | 64,962 | 58,949 | 69,241 | 10 |
| 2020s | 70,655 | 67,000 | 74,816 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Vanuatu
More climate change data for Vanuatu
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 0 kg (2023)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 645.34 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 155.08 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 490.27 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 0.5852 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 17.51 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 0.2124 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 0.106 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 0.1064 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 0.0004 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is urban population in Vanuatu?
- Urban population in Vanuatu was 74,816 in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest urban population recorded in Vanuatu?
- The highest recorded value was 74,816 in 2025.
- What is the lowest urban population recorded in Vanuatu?
- The lowest recorded value was 5,139 in 1960.
- How does Vanuatu rank for urban population?
- Vanuatu ranks 187th out of 218 countries with data for 2025.
- Is urban population 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 World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN), published as part of Urban population. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 66 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Urban population refers to people living in urban areas as defined by national statistical offices. It is calculated using World Bank population estimates and urban ratios from the United Nations World Urbanization Prospects. Aggregation of urban and rural population may not add up to total population because of different country coverages.