Vanuatu birth & fertility rate decline on charts

Vanuatu has a birth rate of 28.1 (annual births per 1,000 people) and a fertility rate of 3.6 (the average number of children a woman is expected to have over her lifetime based on current age-specific birth rates).

In 1960, the fertility rate in Vanuatu was 6.78 children per woman — 1.89 times higher than in 2023.

Vanuatu birth rate statistics:

Vanuatu is ranked 40/196 by birth rate now and was ranked 91/194 in 1960.
The mean age at childbearing (for all the births, not just the first) is 28, a change from 29.1 in 1990.
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 (adolescent birth rate or teenage mother rate) changed from 95.7 in 1960 to 66.2 in 2023.
24.3% of the population in 2024 is composed of women of reproductive age (15-49), a change from 20.7% in 1960.

Fertility rate in Vanuatu by year

1x

Year	Fertility rate	Rank
2023	3.6	43
2022	3.65	43
2021	3.7	43
2020	3.74	44
2019	3.79	43
2018	3.83	43
2017	3.88	44
2016	3.92	43
2015	3.95	46
2014	4	47
2013	4.04	48
2012	4.06	50
2011	4.09	50
2010	4.13	48
2009	4.16	47
2008	4.16	47
2007	4.12	48
2006	4.1	51
2005	4.13	51
2004	4.21	50
2003	4.29	51
2002	4.38	50
2001	4.5	49
2000	4.54	49
1999	4.56	52
1998	4.6	52
1997	4.66	54
1996	4.75	54
1995	4.85	56
1994	4.94	56
1993	5.02	59
1992	5.09	62
1991	5.13	65
1990	5.17	66
1989	5.21	65
1988	5.27	68
1987	5.33	68
1986	5.38	70
1985	5.43	72
1984	5.49	72
1983	5.55	73
1982	5.6	73
1981	5.65	74
1980	5.69	75
1979	5.73	74
1978	5.77	74
1977	5.81	73
1976	5.89	74
1975	5.98	72
1974	6.06	72
1973	6.15	72
1972	6.23	72
1971	6.29	69
1970	6.35	69
1969	6.41	68
1968	6.46	67
1967	6.51	67
1966	6.51	70
1965	6.52	70
1964	6.57	67
1963	6.62	64
1962	6.67	62
1961	6.73	56
1960	6.78	49

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/vanuatu | CC BY

According to the latest birth rate data available, the fertility rate in Vanuatu is 3.6, which is above the replacement level of 2.1 children per woman. In 1993, the fertility rate was 5.02 — a 28.4% decline in 30 years.

Check population clock for a dynamic visualization of the changing population.

The chart above shows the historical changes in fertility rate and ranking compared to other countries, where a lower rank number indicates a higher relative fertility rate.

Births, deaths, and natural population change by year

1x

Year	People
Year	Natural change	Births	Deaths
2023	7,359	8,987	1,628
2022	7,358	8,975	1,617
2021	7,199	8,972	1,773
2020	7,233	8,948	1,715
2019	7,364	8,968	1,604
2018	7,379	8,965	1,586
2017	7,371	8,935	1,564
2016	7,315	8,844	1,529
2015	7,220	8,724	1,504
2014	7,143	8,610	1,467
2013	7,036	8,457	1,421
2012	6,877	8,255	1,378
2011	6,715	8,057	1,342
2010	6,548	7,850	1,302
2009	6,362	7,628	1,266
2008	6,138	7,372	1,234
2007	5,842	7,047	1,205
2006	5,606	6,774	1,168
2005	5,454	6,583	1,129
2004	5,353	6,460	1,107
2003	5,258	6,334	1,076
2002	5,181	6,230	1,049
2001	5,144	6,166	1,022
2000	5,026	6,019	993
1999	4,871	5,897	1,026
1998	4,866	5,843	977
1997	4,854	5,822	968
1996	4,897	5,864	967
1995	4,945	5,908	963
1994	4,973	5,935	962
1993	4,973	5,944	971
1992	4,941	5,921	980
1991	4,859	5,849	990
1990	4,762	5,770	1,008
1989	4,656	5,690	1,034
1988	4,577	5,619	1,042
1987	4,427	5,540	1,113
1986	4,360	5,449	1,089
1985	4,219	5,345	1,126
1984	4,088	5,233	1,145
1983	3,944	5,114	1,170
1982	3,778	4,979	1,201
1981	3,592	4,828	1,236
1980	3,383	4,660	1,277
1979	3,590	4,551	961
1978	3,428	4,418	990
1977	3,285	4,290	1,005
1976	3,174	4,193	1,019
1975	3,074	4,106	1,032
1974	2,968	4,011	1,043
1973	2,876	3,928	1,052
1972	2,775	3,836	1,061
1971	2,685	3,741	1,056
1970	2,597	3,646	1,049
1969	2,529	3,565	1,036
1968	2,470	3,486	1,016
1967	2,384	3,405	1,021
1966	2,278	3,305	1,027
1965	2,180	3,213	1,033
1964	2,098	3,137	1,039
1963	2,025	3,068	1,043
1962	1,947	2,996	1,049
1961	1,872	2,926	1,054
1960	1,796	2,856	1,060

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/vanuatu | CC BY

Over the past 10 years, the natural population change in Vanuatu (from births and deaths only, excluding migration) has been +2.53% annually. On average, 7,294 more people were born each year than died.

Excluding migration, the natural population change due to births and deaths from 2022 to 2023 was 2.3% — 7,359 more people were born than died.

In 2023, Vanuatu ranks 121/196 for absolute natural population change and 30/196 for natural change rate, where a lower rank number indicates faster natural growth and a higher number indicates greater decline.

Birth rates in Vanuatu compared to other countries

	Vanuatu	Rank
Fertility rate	3.6	43/196
Birth rate	28.1	40/196
Population change due to births and deaths	+7,359	121/196
Natural population change rate	+2.3%	30/196
Population growth	+2.3%	38/197
Average age at childbearing	28 years	161/197
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19	66.5	43/197
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 20-29	188.8	24/197
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 30+	49.3	42/197
Female of reproductive age (15-49), share of population	24.3%	103/196
Any modern method of contraceptive prevalence among married women ages 15-49	37.1%	110/179
Share of births attended by skilled health staff	89.4%	135/191
Maternal mortality per live birth	0.1%	65/193
Neonatal mortality rate (before reaching 28 days of age)	0.87%	97/193
Infant mortality rate (before reaching 1 year of age)	1.42%	92/196
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age	1.68%	90/192
Life expectancy	72 years	125/197

Birth rates by women's age

Annual births per 1,000 women

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 women
Year	Total	15-19	20-29	30+
2026	53.9	66.5	188.8	49.3
2025	54.7	66.7	189.7	50.8
2024	55.6	67.3	190.9	52.1
2023	56.4	67.6	191.5	53.1
2022	57.7	68.4	193.9	54.2
2021	59.1	69.1	196.4	55
2020	60.4	70	198.8	55.7
2019	62	71	201.4	56.7
2018	63.6	71.8	204.3	57.3
2017	65	72.6	206.8	57.7
2016	66	73.3	209.2	57.8
2015	66.6	74.1	211.4	57.7
2014	67.3	74.9	214.1	57.8
2013	67.7	75.2	216.3	57.6
2012	67.6	75.4	217.5	57.2
2011	67.6	75	218.6	57.4
2010	67.4	74.4	219.3	57.8
2009	67.1	73.8	219.7	58.5
2008	66.7	74.2	224.1	59.8
2007	65.5	74.1	220.4	62.3
2006	64.6	74.6	216.4	64.4
2005	64.4	75.3	216.5	66.2
2004	64.9	76.6	218.2	69.1
2003	65.4	77.6	220	71.9
2002	66	79	222.3	75.1
2001	67.2	80.9	225.7	79.1
2000	67.4	79.5	227.8	81.9
1999	67.7	78	230.4	84
1998	68.6	78	225.2	87.2
1997	69.9	71.7	228.5	90.5
1996	72	73.4	233.8	95.1
1995	74.5	82	238	99.1
1994	76.8	90.5	241.9	102.5
1993	78.9	86.2	245.5	105.6
1992	80.8	85	248.3	108.4
1991	82	86.1	249.9	109.6
1990	83.2	86.6	251.5	110.9
1989	84.4	87.2	253.4	112.2
1988	86	88.5	256	113.7
1987	87.4	89.6	258.2	114.7
1986	88.6	90.6	261	114.9
1985	89.8	91.1	264	115.1
1984	90.8	91.7	267	115.1
1983	91.5	91.7	270.3	114.3
1982	91.9	91.3	273.4	113.2
1981	91.9	91	276.3	111.7
1980	91.3	90.4	278.9	109.7
1979	88.3	89.5	279.8	108.1
1978	85.2	88.9	281.6	109.2
1977	85.5	88.5	284.1	110
1976	86.3	88.6	287.8	111.6
1975	87.4	89.5	292.1	113.7
1974	88.2	90.3	295.9	115
1973	89.2	91.2	300	116.5
1972	89.8	91.9	304	117.8
1971	90.3	92.2	307	118.5
1970	90.5	92.6	310	119
1969	90.8	93	313	119.9
1968	91.1	93.9	316	120.7
1967	91.5	94.5	317	121.5
1966	91.7	93.9	318	121.2
1965	92.1	93.8	318	121.3
1964	92.8	94.2	320	121.9
1963	93.7	95.3	323	122.2
1962	94.4	95.6	325	122.6
1961	95.3	96.1	328	123.4
1960	95.9	96.5	331	123.2

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/vanuatu | CC BY

Above is a chart displaying birth rates in Vanuatu by maternal age. In 2026, of all live births, 11.9% will be to women under age 20, 53.9% to women ages 20-29, and 34.1% to women ages 30 and above. The respective shares in 1990 were 10.7%, 53.7%, and 35.7%.

Children 0-14 years as share of population by year

1x

Year	Children 0-14 as share of population
Year	Vanuatu	World
2100	20.6%	16.5%
2099	20.7%	16.6%
2098	20.9%	16.6%
2097	21%	16.7%
2096	21.2%	16.8%
2095	21.3%	16.8%
2094	21.5%	16.9%
2093	21.7%	17%
2092	21.8%	17%
2091	22%	17.1%
2090	22.2%	17.2%
2089	22.3%	17.2%
2088	22.5%	17.3%
2087	22.7%	17.4%
2086	22.9%	17.4%
2085	23.1%	17.5%
2084	23.3%	17.5%
2083	23.5%	17.6%
2082	23.7%	17.7%
2081	23.8%	17.7%
2080	24%	17.8%
2079	24.2%	17.8%
2078	24.4%	17.9%
2077	24.6%	17.9%
2076	24.8%	18%
2075	25%	18%
2074	25.1%	18.1%
2073	25.3%	18.2%
2072	25.5%	18.2%
2071	25.7%	18.3%
2070	25.9%	18.3%
2069	26.1%	18.4%
2068	26.2%	18.5%
2067	26.5%	18.6%
2066	26.7%	18.6%
2065	26.9%	18.7%
2064	27.1%	18.8%
2063	27.4%	18.9%
2062	27.6%	19.1%
2061	27.9%	19.2%
2060	28.1%	19.3%
2059	28.4%	19.4%
2058	28.7%	19.5%
2057	28.9%	19.6%
2056	29.2%	19.8%
2055	29.5%	19.9%
2054	29.8%	20%
2053	30%	20.1%
2052	30.3%	20.2%
2051	30.5%	20.3%
2050	30.8%	20.4%
2049	31%	20.5%
2048	31.2%	20.6%
2047	31.4%	20.7%
2046	31.6%	20.8%
2045	31.7%	20.9%
2044	31.9%	20.9%
2043	32.1%	21%
2042	32.2%	21.1%
2041	32.4%	21.2%
2040	32.6%	21.2%
2039	32.8%	21.3%
2038	33%	21.4%
2037	33.3%	21.5%
2036	33.6%	21.6%
2035	33.9%	21.8%
2034	34.3%	22%
2033	34.7%	22.2%
2032	35.1%	22.4%
2031	35.5%	22.7%
2030	36%	23%
2029	36.5%	23.3%
2028	36.9%	23.6%
2027	37.4%	23.9%
2026	37.8%	24.2%
2025	38.2%	24.6%
2024	38.3%	24.7%
2023	38.6%	25%
2022	38.8%	25.3%
2021	39%	25.6%
2020	39%	25.8%
2019	39%	26%
2018	38.9%	26.2%
2017	38.8%	26.4%
2016	38.7%	26.5%
2015	38.5%	26.6%
2014	38.4%	26.8%
2013	38.2%	26.9%
2012	38.2%	27%
2011	38.1%	27.1%
2010	38.2%	27.3%
2009	38.5%	27.5%
2008	38.8%	27.6%
2007	39.2%	27.9%
2006	39.6%	28.1%
2005	40.2%	28.5%
2004	40.7%	28.8%
2003	41.3%	29.2%
2002	41.8%	29.6%
2001	42.4%	30%
2000	42.9%	30.4%
1999	43.5%	30.8%
1998	44%	31.1%
1997	44.4%	31.5%
1996	44.8%	31.8%
1995	45%	32.1%
1994	45.2%	32.3%
1993	44.8%	32.5%
1992	44.1%	32.7%
1991	43.9%	32.9%
1990	43.9%	33%
1989	44%	33.2%
1988	44.1%	33.4%
1987	44.1%	33.6%
1986	44.2%	33.8%
1985	44.2%	34%
1984	44.1%	34.3%
1983	44%	34.6%
1982	44%	34.9%
1981	43.9%	35.2%
1980	44%	35.5%
1979	44.5%	35.9%
1978	45%	36.3%
1977	45.1%	36.7%
1976	45.2%	36.9%
1975	45.4%	37.1%
1974	45.5%	37.2%
1973	45.5%	37.3%
1972	45.6%	37.5%
1971	45.7%	37.6%
1970	45.7%	37.7%
1969	45.8%	37.8%
1968	45.8%	37.9%
1967	45.8%	38%
1966	45.7%	38%
1965	45.5%	38%
1964	45.4%	38%
1963	45.2%	37.8%
1962	45.1%	37.6%
1961	44.8%	37.5%
1960	44.6%	37.4%

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/vanuatu | CC BY

The share of children aged 0-14 in Vanuatu was 44.6% in 1960, 44.1% in 1992, and 38.3% as of the latest data in 2024.

More about the demographics of Vanuatu.

Fertility rates around the globe

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/vanuatu | CC BY

Maternal mortality by year

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
Year	Vanuatu	World
2023	100	197
2022	105	203
2021	124	242
2020	107	211
2019	105	207
2018	108	211
2017	107	215
2016	107	220
2015	109	228
2014	110	231
2013	110	235
2012	109	239
2011	112	247
2010	114	253
2009	114	258
2008	117	264
2007	120	269
2006	123	276
2005	127	283
2004	131	291
2003	131	301
2002	128	311
2001	132	321
2000	133	328
1999	146	340
1998	134	360
1997	131	358
1996	129	366
1995	131	371
1994	131	382
1993	133	389
1992	140	395
1991	140	395
1990	151	391
1989	162	401
1988	172	414
1987	200	429
1986	194	438
1985	211	460

Data sources: World Bank | Gender (1985–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/vanuatu | CC BY

The maternal mortality rate in Vanuatu was 100 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2023 — a 0.1% chance of dying during childbirth or within 42 days of pregnancy termination. This is a 24.8% decrease compared to the year 2000.

Under-five mortality by year

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
Year	Vanuatu	World
2023	1.68%	2.49%
2022	1.71%	2.59%
2021	1.74%	2.66%
2020	1.77%	2.75%
2019	1.78%	2.86%
2018	1.8%	2.97%
2017	1.82%	3.11%
2016	1.84%	3.22%
2015	1.87%	3.35%
2014	1.9%	3.48%
2013	1.94%	3.61%
2012	1.99%	3.77%
2011	2.05%	3.97%
2010	2.12%	4.11%
2009	2.2%	4.31%
2008	2.27%	4.5%
2007	2.34%	4.7%
2006	2.4%	4.92%
2005	2.45%	5.16%
2004	2.5%	5.43%
2003	2.54%	5.65%
2002	2.58%	5.94%
2001	2.63%	6.21%
2000	2.68%	6.48%
1999	2.74%	6.75%
1998	2.79%	7.05%
1997	2.86%	7.28%
1996	2.92%	7.52%
1995	3%	7.76%
1994	3.08%	7.98%
1993	3.18%	8.19%
1992	3.29%	8.46%
1991	3.43%	8.66%
1990	3.58%	8.81%
1989	3.76%	9.02%
1988	3.96%	9.31%
1987	4.2%	9.47%
1986	4.47%	9.81%
1985	4.78%	10.1%
1984	5.12%	10.4%
1983	5.48%	10.6%
1982	5.87%	10.8%
1981	6.27%	11%
1980	6.67%	11.4%
1979	7.07%	11.7%
1978	7.45%	12.2%
1977	7.84%	12.6%
1976	8.21%	13%
1975	8.58%	13.4%
1974	8.95%	13.8%
1973	9.34%	14.1%
1972	9.73%	14.5%
1971	10.2%	15.1%
1970	10.6%	15.2%
1969	11%	15.4%
1968	11.5%	15.6%
1967	12%	15.9%
1966	12.4%	16.1%
1965	12.9%	16.4%
1964	13.4%	16.6%
1963	13.8%	16.5%
1962	14.3%	16.7%
1961	14.7%	17%
1960	15.2%	17.2%

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/vanuatu | CC BY

The under-5 mortality rate in Vanuatu was 16.8 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2023 — a 1.68% chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five. This is down from 26.8 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2000.