Vanuatu Flag

Vanuatu

Capital:
Port Vila
Continent:
Oceania
Region(s):
Melanesia
Abbreviation:
VUT

Vanuatu is a country in Oceania, known for active volcanoes and tropical beaches. It has a population of over 335 thousand, making it the 183rd largest country in the world. Its official language is Portuguese, and the capital is Port Vila. Vanuatu has a tourism-based economy with offshore financial services.

335.2K
Total Population
183
Population Rank
27.50
Density (km²)
7.4K 2.32%
Annual Population Growth

Population of Vanuatu

Vanuatu's population structure shows a nearly equal male to female ratio of 1.02 to 1, with a median male age of 20.61 years old and a median female age of 21.80 years old. The highest concentration of adults under 75 years old is in the 18 and 19 year-old age groups, while the lowest concentration is in the 74 and 73 year-old age groups.

Vanuatu Population

Data after 2022 is projected based on recent change

Vanuatu Population Clock

Vanuatu Population*
332,250
Births per Day
25
Deaths per Day
5
Emigrations per Day
0
Net Change per Day
20
2025 Population Change*
740

* As of 2/6/2025

1 birth

Every 57.6 minutes

1 death

Every 4.8 hours

1 emigrant

Every several days

1 person

Every 1.2 hours

Vanuatu Overview

Most of the population of Vanuatu is rural, although Port Vila and Luganville have sizable populations. Port Vila is the largest city and capital with a population of 45,000, accounting for 19% of the country’s total population.

Vanuatu Demographics

The first inhabitants of Vanuatu were the Melanesian people. Europeans first visited the island through a Spanish expedition in 1605, claiming the archipelago for Spain. France and the United Kingdom claimed parts of the country in the 1880s and it was jointly managed in 1906. Vanuatu gained independence from France and the United Kingdom in 1980.

The inhabitants of Vanuatu are known as Ni-Vanuatu. 98.5% of the population are of Melanesian descent, with the rest comprised of a mix of Europeans, Asians and other Pacific Islanders. Three of the islands of Vanuatu were historically Polynesian.

There are also about 2,000 Ni-Vanuatu working and living in New Caledonia, about 300 miles away. Nearly 90% of the population fishes and eats fish, which has caused a great deal of pressure near villages as shore species are depleted.