Labor force, total in Vanuatu
Vanuatu: Labor force, total was 120,833 in 2025. ▲ Rising
Labor force, total in Vanuatu, 1990–2025
Source: International Labour Organization (ILO), type: estimates based on external database.
Analysis
In 2025, labor force, total in Vanuatu stood at 120,833. That is the highest value across all 36 years on record.
The figure is up 2.4% on the previous year and up 20.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force, total in Vanuatu peaked at 120,833 in 2025 and was at its lowest, 63,953, in 1990.
Vanuatu ranks 178th of 187 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 36 years of available data.
Labor force, total in Vanuatu, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 63,953 | — |
| 1991 | 65,600 | +2.6% |
| 1992 | 66,927 | +2.0% |
| 1993 | 67,729 | +1.2% |
| 1994 | 68,767 | +1.5% |
| 1995 | 70,640 | +2.7% |
| 1996 | 72,599 | +2.8% |
| 1997 | 74,616 | +2.8% |
| 1998 | 76,813 | +2.9% |
| 1999 | 79,129 | +3.0% |
| 2000 | 81,643 | +3.2% |
| 2001 | 84,696 | +3.7% |
| 2002 | 87,881 | +3.8% |
| 2003 | 90,905 | +3.4% |
| 2004 | 94,000 | +3.4% |
| 2005 | 97,119 | +3.3% |
| 2006 | 100,201 | +3.2% |
| 2007 | 99,698 | -0.5% |
| 2008 | 98,679 | -1.0% |
| 2009 | 97,111 | -1.6% |
| 2010 | 94,738 | -2.4% |
| 2011 | 96,016 | +1.3% |
| 2012 | 97,169 | +1.2% |
| 2013 | 98,219 | +1.1% |
| 2014 | 99,196 | +1.0% |
| 2015 | 100,128 | +0.9% |
| 2016 | 101,055 | +0.9% |
| 2017 | 102,073 | +1.0% |
| 2018 | 103,194 | +1.1% |
| 2019 | 104,361 | +1.1% |
| 2020 | 105,798 | +1.4% |
| 2021 | 108,816 | +2.9% |
| 2022 | 111,868 | +2.8% |
| 2023 | 114,864 | +2.7% |
| 2024 | 117,969 | +2.7% |
| 2025 | 120,833 | +2.4% |
Vanuatu compared with similar countries
- Vanuatu's 120,833 is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 5.00 million, 2% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Vanuatu's 120,833 is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 3.75 million, 3% of the median. (29 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 70,677 | 63,953 | 79,129 | 10 |
| 2000s | 93,193 | 81,643 | 100,201 | 10 |
| 2010s | 99,615 | 94,738 | 104,361 | 10 |
| 2020s | 113,358 | 105,798 | 120,833 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Vanuatu
- 175 Belize 184,286 compare
- 176 Barbados 151,620 compare
- 177 New Caledonia 131,488 compare
- 179 French Polynesia 120,628 compare
- 180 Saint Lucia 101,771 compare
- 181 Channel Islands 81,617 compare
More education data for Vanuatu
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 1,186 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 1,492 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 8,030 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 7,738 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 61,360 (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 56,048 (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 1.48 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.171 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force, total in Vanuatu?
- Labor force, total in Vanuatu was 120,833 in 2025, according to International Labour Organization (ILO), type: estimates based on external database.
- What is the highest labor force, total recorded in Vanuatu?
- The highest recorded value was 120,833 in 2025.
- What is the lowest labor force, total recorded in Vanuatu?
- The lowest recorded value was 63,953 in 1990.
- How does Vanuatu rank for labor force, total?
- Vanuatu ranks 178th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force, total rising or falling in Vanuatu?
- Over the last ten years it is up 20.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Vanuatu data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization (ILO), type: estimates based on external database, published as part of Labor force, total. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Labor force comprises people ages 15 and older who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period. It includes people who are currently employed and people who are unemployed but seeking work as well as first-time job-seekers. Not everyone who works is included, however. Unpaid workers, family workers, and students are often omitted, and some countries do not count members of the armed forces. Labor force size tends to vary during the year as seasonal workers enter and leave.