CountriesIndicatorsThis week
Country page · Updated 13 Nov 2026

Vanuatu

Vanuatu has 335,169 people (World Bank, 2025) and an economy of $1.4 bn a year (World Bank, 2025). It imports all of the oil it uses (EIA, 2024).

Written automatically from the figures on this page.

Population
335,169 (2025)

Boundaries: Natural Earth 1:50m, which shows who controls an area in practice. Borders shown do not imply endorsement.

1

Dependencies at a glance

Vanuatu imports all of the oil it uses.

Imports mostImports someLow net tradeExporter
Dependence is net imports: imports minus exports, as a share of what the country uses; for potash and phosphate, of its supply (production plus net imports). Arms and chips show supplier concentration only: the main supplier’s share of imports (arms: five-year totals of deliveries in SIPRI’s trend-indicator value, SIPRI’s measure of military capability delivered, not price or number of weapons).
ResourceDependencePositionMain partners
OilImports mostImports all of the oil it usesEIA, use 2024 · UN Comtrade, imports 2025No partner data from the source
Natural gasUses no gas, by this source PreliminaryEIA, 2024No partner data from the source
WheatNot reported by this source–
MaizeLow net tradeImported 0.8% of the maize it used in 2013 EstimateNo recent data: the latest balance is from 2013FAOSTAT, use 2013 · FAOSTAT, imports 2023No partner data from the source
RiceNot reported by this source–
SoybeansNot reported by this source–
PotashImports mostImports all of its potash supply EstimateFAOSTAT, supply 2024 · UN Comtrade, imports 2025No partner data from the source
PhosphateImports mostImports all of its phosphate supply EstimateFAOSTAT, supply 2024 · UN Comtrade, imports 2025No partner data from the source
ArmsSupplier concentration onlyMain supplier: Australia, 100% of importsSIPRI, 2021–2025Australia
ChipsSupplier concentration onlyNot reported by this sourceUN Comtrade, 2025–

Dependence is net imports: imports minus exports, as a share of what the country uses; for potash and phosphate, of its supply (production plus net imports). Arms and chips show supplier concentration only: the main supplier’s share of imports (arms: five-year totals of deliveries in SIPRI’s trend-indicator value, SIPRI’s measure of military capability delivered, not price or number of weapons).

  • OilImports most

    Imports all of the oil it uses

    Main partners: No partner data from the source

    EIA, use 2024 · UN Comtrade, imports 2025

  • Natural gas

    Uses no gas, by this source Preliminary

    Main partners: No partner data from the source

    EIA, 2024

  • Wheat

    Not reported by this source

  • MaizeLow net trade

    Imported 0.8% of the maize it used in 2013 Estimate

    No recent data: the latest balance is from 2013

    Main partners: No partner data from the source

    FAOSTAT, use 2013 · FAOSTAT, imports 2023

  • Rice

    Not reported by this source

  • Soybeans

    Not reported by this source

  • PotashImports most

    Imports all of its potash supply Estimate

    Main partners: No partner data from the source

    FAOSTAT, supply 2024 · UN Comtrade, imports 2025

  • PhosphateImports most

    Imports all of its phosphate supply Estimate

    Main partners: No partner data from the source

    FAOSTAT, supply 2024 · UN Comtrade, imports 2025

  • ArmsSupplier concentration only

    Main supplier: Australia, 100% of imports

    Main partners: Australia

    SIPRI, 2021–2025

  • ChipsSupplier concentration only

    Not reported by this source

    UN Comtrade, 2025

Source: EIA; FAOSTAT; SIPRIyear in each rowUpdated 13 Nov 2026

Dependencies tool
2

Money and reserves

Vanuatu’s economy produced $1.4 bn in 2025.

GDP, 2000–2025

$0$500 m$1.0 bn$1.5 bn200020052010201520202025

Source: World Bank Indicators2000–2025Updated 13 Nov 2026

Economic growth3.1%2025 · 102nd of 186 · World Bank
Inflation0.7%2025 · 145th of 169 · World Bank
Unemployment5.1%2025 · 92nd of 181 · World Bank
ReservesUS$615million2024 · 145th of 164 · World Bank
Trade73% of GDP2024 · 101st of 172 · World Bank
Foreign investment inUS$33million2025 · 168th of 200 · World Bank
3

People

Vanuatu had 335,169 people in 2025.

Population, 1950–2100

0250,000500,000750,0001.0 m1.3 m195019701990200020102030205020702100Projection
Projection: UN projection, medium variant, after 2023Range between the UN low- and high-fertility scenarios

Source: UN World Population ProspectsUpdated 13 Nov 2026Projection

Vanuatu’s population by age

1950200020502100
MenWomen01020304050607080901000m00m
Millions of people in each five-year age group, men left and women right. Years after 2023 are UN projections (medium variant).

Source: UN World Population Prospects1950–2100Updated 13 Nov 2026Projection

Births per woman3.602023 · 44th of 237 · UN WPP 2024
Median age20.12023 · 196th of 237 · UN WPP 2024
Aged 65 and over4.4%2025, Projection, medium variant · UN WPP 2024
4

Climate and hazards

Vanuatu emitted 197,000 t of CO2 from fossil fuels and cement in 2024.

Vanuatu’s CO2 emissions, million tonnes, 1990–2024

0 Mt0.050 Mt0.10 Mt0.15 Mt0.20 Mt0.25 Mt1990199520002005201020152024

Source: Our World in Data CO21990–2024Updated 13 Nov 2026

CO2 emissions0.20Mt2024 · 195th of 214 · Global Carbon Budget
CO2 per person0.6t2024 · 174th of 213 · Global Carbon Budget
CO2 since 17506Mt2024 · 198th of 214 · Global Carbon Budget
5

More figures

Shown only where a source covers Vanuatu.

Refugees

7refugees and others in need of protection hosted, 2025
974from it, abroad, 2025

Source: UNHCR Refugee Data Finder2025

Sanctions

No entry on the US, EU or UK lists gives it as an address or nationality.

Counts entries (people, companies, ships and aircraft), not how strict the measures are.

Source: US CSL; EU sanctions list; UK Sanctions ListUpdated 13 Nov 2026

Chinese loans and grants

US$594millioncommitted by Chinese state lenders, 2000–2021

Source: AidData Chinese development finance2000–2021

Cyber incidents

No publicly known incidents affecting Vanuatu in EuRepoC’s dataset, 2000–2024.

Counts compare documented incidents, not how often a country is targeted.

Source: EuRepoC Global Dataset of Cyber Incidents 1.3.2 (4 Mar 2025), CC BY-NC 4.02000–2024

6

All figures

42 measures on this site have a recent figure for Vanuatu.

GDP$1.4 bn2025174th of 186World Bank
GDP per person$4,0392025128th of 186World Bank
Economic growth3.1%2025102nd of 186World Bank
Inflation0.7%2025145th of 169World Bank
Government debt36%2025139th of 191IMF World Economic Outlook, October 2026
Government budget balance6.2%20255th of 195IMF World Economic Outlook, October 2026
Current account balanceEstimate2025152nd of 194IMF World Economic Outlook, October 2026
Unemployment5.1%202592nd of 181World Bank
Reserves, including gold$615 m2024145th of 164World Bank
Trade73%2024101st of 172World Bank
Foreign investment in$33 m2025168th of 200World Bank
Remittances received17.2%202221st of 175World Bank
Population335,1692025177th of 216World Bank
Population with UN projections320,4092023182nd of 237UN WPP 2024
Births per woman3.60202344th of 237UN WPP 2024
Median age20.12023196th of 237UN WPP 2024
Life expectancy71.52023160th of 237UN WPP 2024
Refugees from the country9742025127th of 206UNHCR
Refugees and others needing protection, by host72025167th of 176UNHCR
Refugees hosted per 1,000 people0.02025164th of 176UNHCR
Crude oil production0 kb/d2025100th of 214EIA
Oil consumption2 kb/d2024195th of 212EIA
Natural gas productionPreliminary202497th of 213EIA
Natural gas consumption0.0 bcm2024126th of 213EIA
Electricity generated0 TWh2023199th of 206Ember
Low-carbon electricity25%2023118th of 206Ember
Electricity from coal0%202385th of 206Ember
Electricity from wind and solar13%202357th of 206Ember
Wheat imports0.0 Mt2024178th of 180FAOSTAT
Maize production0.0 Mt2024148th of 169FAOSTAT
Maize imports0.0 Mt2024184th of 196FAOSTAT
Rice imports0.0 Mt2024135th of 197FAOSTAT
Soybean imports0.0 Mt2024176th of 179FAOSTAT
Potash fertiliser use0.00 Mt2024187th of 199FAOSTAT
Phosphate fertiliser use0.00 Mt2024188th of 199FAOSTAT
CO2 emissions0.20 Mt2024195th of 214Global Carbon Budget
CO2 per person0.6 t2024174th of 213Global Carbon Budget
CO2 emitted since 17506 Mt2024198th of 214Global Carbon Budget
Water from abroad0%2023125th of 193FAO AQUASTAT
ICT service exports$6 m2022151st of 174World Bank
ICT service exports, share of service exports8.2%202274th of 174World Bank
Chinese loans and grants committed$68 m202149th of 122AidData, Global Chinese Development Finance Dataset 3.0

Sources for this page

  • World Bank IndicatorsGDP, GDP per person, Economic growth, Inflation, Unemployment, Reserves, …
  • IMF World Economic Outlook, October 2026Debt, Budget balance, Current account
  • UN World Population ProspectsPopulation (UN), Births per woman, Median age, Life expectancy
  • UNHCR Refugee Data FinderRefugees from, Refugees hosted, Refugees per 1,000
  • U.S. Energy Information AdministrationOil output, Oil use, Gas output, Gas use, Dependencies at a glance
  • Ember electricity dataElectricity, Low-carbon electricity, Electricity from coal, Electricity from wind and solar
  • FAOSTATWheat imports, Maize production, Maize imports, Rice imports, Soybean imports, Potash use, …
  • Our World in Data CO2CO2 emissions, CO2 per person, CO2 since 1750
  • FAO AQUASTATWater from abroad
  • AidData Chinese development financeChinese loans and grants
  • SIPRI Arms Transfers DatabaseDependencies at a glance
  • US Consolidated Screening ListSanctions
  • EU financial sanctions listSanctions
  • UK Sanctions ListSanctions
  • EuRepoC cyber incidentsCyber incidents

Page last updated 13 Nov 2026How we measure

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