Labor force participation rate by age in Vanuatu
Vanuatu: Labor force participation rate by age was 37.3% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Labor force participation rate by age in Vanuatu, 1990–2024
Source: International Labour Organization (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Vanuatu recorded 37.3% for labor force participation rate by age in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.1% on the previous year and down 9.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate by age in Vanuatu peaked at 64.8% in 2002 and was at its lowest, 36.9%, in 2020.
That places Vanuatu 104th out of 188 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Labor force participation rate by age in Vanuatu, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 63.8% | — |
| 1991 | 63.7% | -0.1% |
| 1992 | 63.7% | -0.0% |
| 1993 | 64.0% | +0.4% |
| 1994 | 63.0% | -1.5% |
| 1995 | 63.2% | +0.3% |
| 1996 | 63.2% | -0.0% |
| 1997 | 62.8% | -0.6% |
| 1998 | 63.0% | +0.2% |
| 1999 | 63.2% | +0.4% |
| 2000 | 62.7% | -0.8% |
| 2001 | 63.6% | +1.5% |
| 2002 | 64.8% | +1.9% |
| 2003 | 64.5% | -0.4% |
| 2004 | 64.3% | -0.4% |
| 2005 | 63.9% | -0.7% |
| 2006 | 63.0% | -1.4% |
| 2007 | 58.5% | -7.1% |
| 2008 | 53.9% | -7.9% |
| 2009 | 49.2% | -8.7% |
| 2010 | 44.5% | -9.5% |
| 2011 | 43.7% | -1.9% |
| 2012 | 42.9% | -1.9% |
| 2013 | 42.0% | -1.9% |
| 2014 | 41.2% | -1.9% |
| 2015 | 40.4% | -2.0% |
| 2016 | 39.6% | -2.0% |
| 2017 | 38.8% | -2.0% |
| 2018 | 38.0% | -2.1% |
| 2019 | 37.2% | -2.1% |
| 2020 | 36.9% | -1.0% |
| 2021 | 37.3% | +1.3% |
| 2022 | 37.4% | +0.1% |
| 2023 | 37.3% | -0.1% |
| 2024 | 37.3% | -0.1% |
Vanuatu compared with similar countries
- Vanuatu's 37.3% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 34.6%, 1.1× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Vanuatu's 37.3% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 39.8%, 94% of the median. (29 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 63.4% | 62.8% | 64.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 60.9% | 49.2% | 64.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 40.8% | 37.2% | 44.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 37.2% | 36.9% | 37.4% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Vanuatu
- 101 Jamaica 37.4% compare
- 102 Uzbekistan 37.4% compare
- 103 Luxembourg 37.3% compare
- 105 Cote d'Ivoire 37.0% compare
- 106 Zambia 36.9% compare
- 107 Lithuania 36.8% compare
More work & labour data for Vanuatu
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual 0.5174 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth 0.5226 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth 0.5115 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate 0.6054 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 2.46 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 163.02 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 311.57 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 431.36 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 444.12 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 875.48 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force participation rate by age in Vanuatu?
- Labor force participation rate by age in Vanuatu was 37.3% in 2024, according to International Labour Organization (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest labor force participation rate by age recorded in Vanuatu?
- The highest recorded value was 64.8% in 2002.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate by age recorded in Vanuatu?
- The lowest recorded value was 36.9% in 2020.
- How does Vanuatu rank for labor force participation rate by age?
- Vanuatu ranks 104th out of 188 countries with data for 2024.
- Is labor force participation rate by age rising or falling in Vanuatu?
- Over the last ten years it is down 9.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Vanuatu data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Labor force participation rate by age. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the working-age population aged 15-24 who are economically active (employed or unemployed).