Rural population in Vanuatu
Vanuatu: Rural population was 260,353 in 2025. ▲ Rising
Rural population in Vanuatu, 1960–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
Analysis
Vanuatu recorded 260,353 for rural population in 2025. That is the highest value across all 66 years on record.
That represents a change of up 2.2% on the previous year and up 30.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, rural population in Vanuatu peaked at 260,353 in 2025 and was at its lowest, 59,292, in 1960.
Vanuatu ranks 160th of 218 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 66 years of available data.
Rural population in Vanuatu, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 59,292 | — |
| 1961 | 60,798 | +2.5% |
| 1962 | 62,360 | +2.6% |
| 1963 | 63,977 | +2.6% |
| 1964 | 65,647 | +2.6% |
| 1965 | 67,373 | +2.6% |
| 1966 | 69,169 | +2.7% |
| 1967 | 71,033 | +2.7% |
| 1968 | 72,908 | +2.6% |
| 1969 | 74,806 | +2.6% |
| 1970 | 76,746 | +2.6% |
| 1971 | 78,740 | +2.6% |
| 1972 | 80,804 | +2.6% |
| 1973 | 82,933 | +2.6% |
| 1974 | 85,124 | +2.6% |
| 1975 | 87,386 | +2.7% |
| 1976 | 89,718 | +2.7% |
| 1977 | 92,118 | +2.7% |
| 1978 | 94,590 | +2.7% |
| 1979 | 96,799 | +2.3% |
| 1980 | 98,579 | +1.8% |
| 1981 | 100,293 | +1.7% |
| 1982 | 102,140 | +1.8% |
| 1983 | 104,107 | +1.9% |
| 1984 | 106,173 | +2.0% |
| 1985 | 108,332 | +2.0% |
| 1986 | 110,575 | +2.1% |
| 1987 | 112,896 | +2.1% |
| 1988 | 115,302 | +2.1% |
| 1989 | 117,772 | +2.1% |
| 1990 | 120,277 | +2.1% |
| 1991 | 122,828 | +2.1% |
| 1992 | 125,445 | +2.1% |
| 1993 | 128,087 | +2.1% |
| 1994 | 130,715 | +2.1% |
| 1995 | 133,307 | +2.0% |
| 1996 | 135,842 | +1.9% |
| 1997 | 138,309 | +1.8% |
| 1998 | 140,727 | +1.7% |
| 1999 | 143,148 | +1.7% |
| 2000 | 145,938 | +1.9% |
| 2001 | 149,130 | +2.2% |
| 2002 | 152,379 | +2.2% |
| 2003 | 155,650 | +2.1% |
| 2004 | 158,955 | +2.1% |
| 2005 | 162,281 | +2.1% |
| 2006 | 165,637 | +2.1% |
| 2007 | 169,065 | +2.1% |
| 2008 | 172,604 | +2.1% |
| 2009 | 176,210 | +2.1% |
| 2010 | 179,299 | +1.8% |
| 2011 | 183,126 | +2.1% |
| 2012 | 187,114 | +2.2% |
| 2013 | 191,267 | +2.2% |
| 2014 | 195,557 | +2.2% |
| 2015 | 199,941 | +2.2% |
| 2016 | 204,431 | +2.2% |
| 2017 | 209,536 | +2.5% |
| 2018 | 216,018 | +3.1% |
| 2019 | 223,361 | +3.4% |
| 2020 | 231,858 | +3.8% |
| 2021 | 237,812 | +2.6% |
| 2022 | 243,380 | +2.3% |
| 2023 | 249,069 | +2.3% |
| 2024 | 254,726 | +2.3% |
| 2025 | 260,353 | +2.2% |
Vanuatu compared with similar countries
- Vanuatu's 260,353 is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 5.28 million, 5% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Vanuatu's 260,353 is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 377,513, 69% of the median. (37 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 66,736 | 59,292 | 74,806 | 10 |
| 1970s | 86,496 | 76,746 | 96,799 | 10 |
| 1980s | 107,617 | 98,579 | 117,772 | 10 |
| 1990s | 131,868 | 120,277 | 143,148 | 10 |
| 2000s | 160,785 | 145,938 | 176,210 | 10 |
| 2010s | 198,965 | 179,299 | 223,361 | 10 |
| 2020s | 246,200 | 231,858 | 260,353 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Vanuatu
More agriculture & rural data for Vanuatu
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 13.88 % change on previous year (2024)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.2663 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 1,054 current US$ per person (2024)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 2.21 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0.0002 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.7768 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 26.6% (2024)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 26.6% (2024)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 2.8% (2011)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 1.3% (2011)
Frequently asked questions
- What is rural population in Vanuatu?
- Rural population in Vanuatu was 260,353 in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest rural population recorded in Vanuatu?
- The highest recorded value was 260,353 in 2025.
- What is the lowest rural population recorded in Vanuatu?
- The lowest recorded value was 59,292 in 1960.
- How does Vanuatu rank for rural population?
- Vanuatu ranks 160th out of 218 countries with data for 2025.
- Is rural population rising or falling in Vanuatu?
- Over the last ten years it is up 30.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Vanuatu data come from?
- The figures come from World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN), published as part of Rural population. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Rural population refers to people living in rural areas as defined by national statistical offices. It is calculated as the difference between total population and urban population. Aggregation of urban and rural population may not add up to total population because of different country coverages.