Share of workers in vulnerable employment in Vanuatu
Vanuatu: Share of workers in vulnerable employment was 58.0% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Share of workers in vulnerable employment in Vanuatu, 1991–2025
Source: International Labour Organization (ILOEST/ILOSTAT) and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Vanuatu recorded 58.0% for share of workers in vulnerable employment in 2025.
The figure is down 8.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of workers in vulnerable employment in Vanuatu peaked at 75.7% in 1991 and was at its lowest, 57.9%, in 2022.
That places Vanuatu 44th out of 186 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Share of workers in vulnerable employment in Vanuatu, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 75.7% | — |
| 1992 | 75.6% | -0.2% |
| 1993 | 75.5% | -0.2% |
| 1994 | 75.3% | -0.3% |
| 1995 | 75.1% | -0.2% |
| 1996 | 74.9% | -0.2% |
| 1997 | 74.8% | -0.2% |
| 1998 | 74.6% | -0.2% |
| 1999 | 74.5% | -0.2% |
| 2000 | 74.2% | -0.4% |
| 2001 | 74.3% | +0.1% |
| 2002 | 74.3% | +0.1% |
| 2003 | 74.3% | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 74.3% | -0.1% |
| 2005 | 74.1% | -0.2% |
| 2006 | 73.6% | -0.7% |
| 2007 | 73.0% | -0.9% |
| 2008 | 72.2% | -1.0% |
| 2009 | 71.5% | -1.0% |
| 2010 | 69.5% | -2.8% |
| 2011 | 68.3% | -1.7% |
| 2012 | 67.2% | -1.7% |
| 2013 | 66.0% | -1.8% |
| 2014 | 64.8% | -1.8% |
| 2015 | 63.6% | -1.9% |
| 2016 | 62.4% | -1.8% |
| 2017 | 61.1% | -2.0% |
| 2018 | 59.9% | -2.1% |
| 2019 | 58.6% | -2.2% |
| 2020 | 58.5% | -0.0% |
| 2021 | 58.0% | -1.0% |
| 2022 | 57.9% | -0.0% |
| 2023 | 58.0% | +0.1% |
| 2024 | 58.0% | +0.0% |
| 2025 | 58.0% | -0.0% |
Vanuatu compared with similar countries
- Vanuatu's 58.0% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 59.3%, 98% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Vanuatu's 58.0% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 33.6%, 1.7× the median. (29 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 75.1% | 74.5% | 75.7% | 9 |
| 2000s | 73.6% | 71.5% | 74.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 64.1% | 58.6% | 69.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 58.1% | 57.9% | 58.5% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Vanuatu
- 41 Malawi 59.9% compare
- 42 East Timor 58.6% compare
- 43 Moldova 58.6% compare
- 45 Bangladesh 57.3% compare
- 46 Comoros 56.8% compare
- 47 North Korea 56.8% 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 share of workers in vulnerable employment in Vanuatu?
- Share of workers in vulnerable employment in Vanuatu was 58.0% in 2025, according to International Labour Organization (ILOEST/ILOSTAT) and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of workers in vulnerable employment recorded in Vanuatu?
- The highest recorded value was 75.7% in 1991.
- What is the lowest share of workers in vulnerable employment recorded in Vanuatu?
- The lowest recorded value was 57.9% in 2022.
- How does Vanuatu rank for share of workers in vulnerable employment?
- Vanuatu ranks 44th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of workers in vulnerable employment rising or falling in Vanuatu?
- Over the last ten years it is down 8.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Vanuatu data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization (ILOEST/ILOSTAT) and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of workers in vulnerable employment. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of employed population who are working as independent own-account workers (self-employed without staff), or contributing family workers (self-employed in a household business or farm).