Population and Demographics of Vanuatu
Population changed +2.3% in 2024 · median age 20 years
Older adults account for 4.30% of the population in Vanuatu, while the 2050 medium projection reaches 534.4 thousand. The longer record adds perspective: the population changed by +76.0% between 2000 and 2024.
Population Over Time in Vanuatu
Between 2000 and 2024, Vanuatu's population increased by about 0.14 million, moving from 0.186M to 0.328M. Looking ahead, the medium projection points to 0.534M in 2050, 63.0% higher than the 2024 level. The chart connects dated reference points only and should not be read as an annual interpolated series.
Age Structure and Sex Balance
Vanuatu has a very young demographic profile in the 2024 broad age data. The youngest broad age group represents 38.31% of residents, against 4.30% in the 65+ group; the working-age band is 57.39%. The age balance is weighted toward younger residents.
Population by broad age group
In the World Bank 2024 series, females account for 49.5% of Vanuatu's population and males 50.5%. Males exceed females by 1.0 percentage points.
Female and male population share
Males made up 50.5% of the population in the World Bank's 2024 series, compared with 49.5% females.
What Is Shaping Population Change
Annual change of +2.30% is one part of Vanuatu's 2024 profile; fertility of 3.6 is another, in a structure where 57.39% are working age and 4.30% are 65 or above.
Vanuatu is 76.0% larger than its 2000 population in the 2024 reference year, whereas the medium projection changes the population +63.0% by 2050; that contrast is reported without assigning unsupported causes.
2024 estimate for Vanuatu. The world comparison value is 2.25 children per woman.
Vanuatu vs. World
A same-year comparison shows Vanuatu at +2.30% annual growth, 3.6 children per woman and a median age of 20, against world values of +0.87%, 2.25 and 30.6.
| Indicator | Vanuatu | World | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual population change | +2.3% | +0.87% | 2024 |
| Total fertility rate | 3.6 | 2.25 | 2024 |
| Median age | 20 | 30.6 | 2024 |
This comparison avoids mixed-year arithmetic by keeping Vanuatu and the world on the same 2024 harmonized demographic table.
Key Takeaways
At 0.328M, the 2024 population is paired with an annual change rate of +2.30%.
Age structure is a key feature of the profile: 38.31% are under 15 and 4.30% are 65 or older.
The 2024 female and male shares are 49.5% and 50.5% respectively.
On the medium path, 2050 reaches 0.534M, a +63.0% shift from the 2024 level.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Vanuatu?
The 2024 harmonized population estimate for Vanuatu is 327,777 people.
Is the population of Vanuatu growing or declining?
In the 2024 estimate, Vanuatu's population is growing, with annual change of +2.30%.
What percentage of the population of Vanuatu is aged 65 or older?
People aged 65 or older account for 4.30% of Vanuatu's 2024 population in the UN WPP-based broad age data.
What is the projected population of Vanuatu in 2050?
The UN World Population Prospects 2024 medium projection puts Vanuatu's 2050 population at 534,388.
What is the fertility rate in Vanuatu?
The 2024 harmonized fertility estimate for Vanuatu is 3.6 children per woman.
Sources & methodology
This profile uses United Nations World Population Prospects 2024 as the primary framework for globally comparable population, age, fertility and projection data. The World Bank is the primary source for the female population share. Some country values were accessed through secondary retrieval interfaces that republish or organize UN data; those interfaces are identified below as secondary and are not treated as the original statistical publishers.
View sources used for this page
Primary global framework for the population estimates and projections.
Harmonized 2024 country table based on UN World Population Prospects 2024.
Harmonized broad age shares based on UN World Population Prospects 2024.
Harmonized reference for the 2000 population point.
Harmonized 2050 country projection based on UN World Population Prospects 2024.
Used for the 2024 female share; the male share is calculated as the remainder to 100%.