Population of Vanuatu

As of August 2026, the population of Vanuatu is 343.2 thousand. The number of inhabitants has increased by 7 thousand in the last year, representing a growth of 2.21%. The median age of the population has increased in recent years, rising from 20.2 years in 2016 to 20.3 years in 2026. Currently, life expectancy at birth is 72 years and population density is 28.1 inhabitants per square kilometer.

Population Growth

The population growth rate of Vanuatu peaked in 1978, reaching around 3.1% annually, but has since declined to approximately 2.16% in 2026. The annual increase in the number of people has also decreased from a peak of around 7.4 thousand in 2025 to nearly 7.39 thousand in 2026.

Life Expectancy

In Vanuatu, life expectancy at birth has been increasing, with the indicator rising from 69.1 years in 2006 to 72 years in 2026, representing an increase of almost 3 years over the past 2 decades.

Most populous cities in Vanuatu

The cities of Vanuatu are small, with the 5 most populated adding up to around 56.2 thousand inhabitants. The most populous city is Port-Vila, Shefa, con una diferencia significativa sobre las demás, alcanzando approximately 35.9 thousand inhabitants. It is followed by Luganville, Sanma with 13.4 thousand and Norsup, Malampa with 3 thousand.

These are the 10 most populous cities in Vanuatu: