Labor force in Vanuatu: 120,833 (Labor force, 2025 · 175th of 184). Labor force (people) in Vanuatu: 120,833 in 2025, ranking 175th of 184 countries. In 2010 it was 94,738.
Data last updated · Period: 2010–2025
Understanding the chart
The line chart above tracks labor force (people) in Vanuatu for each year from 2010 to 2025, 16 data points in all. Each dot is one year; the first and last years and the highest point are labelled with their values, and the vertical scale is in people. All values in this period were above zero. The data table below the chart lists every value, and you can download the data, embed the chart or share it from the buttons above. The figures cover 2010–2025 and come from World Bank, World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0).
Key insights
- Between 2010 and 2025, Vanuatu's labor force rose from 94,738 to 120,833, a change of 27.5% (about 1.6% a year on average).
- The highest value in this period was 120,833 in 2025; the lowest was 94,738 in 2010.
- Recently, the figure has risen in each of the last two years (2024: 117,969; 2025: 120,833).
- That is 100% lower than the world figure of 3.7 billion.
- Vanuatu has the 175th-highest value of 184 countries with recent data.
- In Melanesia, Vanuatu has the 5th-highest value of 5 countries with recent data; the highest is Papua New Guinea (3.7 million), and the typical (median) value is 390,290.
Analysis
Averaged over periods, the figure was 97,068 in 2010 to 2014, 102,162 in 2015 to 2019 and 113,358 in 2020 onwards. The value went up in 15 of the 15 year-to-year steps and down in 0. The biggest one-year rise came in 2024 (+3,105, or 2.7%). Across the period the values varied by about 8% around their average (104,769), a fairly steady path.
Vanuatu and its neighbours
Labor force (people) among 5 countries in Melanesia with recent data, ranked from highest to lowest.
| Rank in region | Country | Value | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Papua New Guinea | 3.7 million | 2025 |
| 2 | Solomon Islands | 448,502 | 2025 |
| 3 | Fiji | 390,290 | 2025 |
| 4 | New Caledonia | 131,488 | 2025 |
| 5 | Vanuatu | 120,833 | 2025 |
Vanuatu on related measures
- Unemployment (% of labor force): 5.1% (2025, 95th-highest of 184 countries)
- Employment to population ratio (% of people 15+): 55.2% (2025, 113th-highest of 184 countries)
- Women in the labor force (% of women 15+): 53.3% (2025, 93rd-highest of 184 countries)
- GDP per person (current US$): $4,039 (2025, 145th-highest of 204 countries)
- GDP growth (annual %): 3.1% (2025, 111th-highest of 204 countries)
Global position: Vanuatu's figure is higher than 5% of the 184 countries with data for this measure.
What it means
For businesses and investors, the figure is most useful alongside related measures for the same country, such as growth, inflation, population and incomes, and compared with similar countries. Compared with its neighbours in Melanesia, where the typical value is 390,290, Vanuatu is 69% lower than the regional median.
About this statistic
The number of people aged 15 and over who are working or looking for work. Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators.
For the full definition, caveats and every country ranked, see Labor force (people) by country, 2025.
Questions and answers
What is the labor force (people) in Vanuatu?
120,833 (Labor force, 2025 · 175th of 184). Labor force (people) in Vanuatu: 120,833 in 2025, ranking 175th of 184 countries. In 2010 it was 94,738.
How has labor force in Vanuatu changed since 2010?
Between 2010 and 2025, Vanuatu's labor force rose from 94,738 to 120,833, a change of 27.5% (about 1.6% a year on average). The highest value in this period was 120,833 in 2025; the lowest was 94,738 in 2010.
How this page was made
Generated by Advanton from World Bank, World Development Indicators (2010–2025), data updated 8 November 2026: chart, ranks, comparisons and text are computed from the published figures; no figures are changed. About the data.
Data
| Year | Labor force (people) |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 94,738 |
| 2011 | 96,016 |
| 2012 | 97,169 |
| 2013 | 98,219 |
| 2014 | 99,196 |
| 2015 | 100,128 |
| 2016 | 101,055 |
| 2017 | 102,073 |
| 2018 | 103,194 |
| 2019 | 104,361 |
| 2020 | 105,798 |
| 2021 | 108,816 |
| 2022 | 111,868 |
| 2023 | 114,864 |
| 2024 | 117,969 |
| 2025 | 120,833 |
Source and notes
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0). Period: 2010–2025. Coverage: Vanuatu.
The number of people aged 15 and over who are working or looking for work. The pool of potential workers and, broadly, of earning customers.
Cite this statistic
Please also credit the original source: World Bank, World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0).Related statistics
- Labor force (people) by country, 2025
- Labor force (people) in Fiji, 2010–2025
- Labor force (people) in New Caledonia, 2010–2025
- Labor force (people) in Papua New Guinea, 2010–2025
- Labor force (people) in Solomon Islands, 2010–2025
- GDP of Vanuatu, 2010–2025
- Economic growth (GDP growth) in Vanuatu, 2010–2025
- GDP per person in Vanuatu, 2010–2025
- GDP per person, adjusted for prices (PPP, international $) in Vanuatu, 2010–2024
All Vanuatu data: economy, people, jobs and digital in one place
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