Photo: Phillip Capper derivative work: Jjtkk · CC BY 2.0 · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale
Topic 03 of 18 · Country Index 2026
Vanuatu: Work & Labour
Can people find work, and on what terms?
Vanuatu is placed 88th of 182 countries on work & labour in the Country Index 2026, from 4 of its 4 key statistics. Readings behind it: Employment-to-Population Ratio 55.16 (2025); Labour Income Share 60.84 (2025).
Share
Work & Labour
88th
of 182 countries placed
Placed from 4 of 4 key statistics
01The evidence
The 4 key statistics that decide it
Only these place Vanuatu on work & labour — one vote each. Every value is the publisher’s own, read at the edition the Country Index 2026 used; the grey ticks are every other country it was compared with, lowest on the left.
Key 1 of 4
Employment-to-Population Ratio
International Labour Organization (ILO)
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY 4.0
55.16
Employed share of the population aged 15+ (%)
Higher is better
Vanuatu: 55.16. Across the 182 countries in this edition, values run from 21.21 (São Tomé and Príncipe) to 86.9 (Qatar); the world median is 57.72.
- World median
- 57.72
- Best in Melanesia
- 83.09 Solomon Islands
Key 3 of 4
Unemployment Rate
International Labour Organization (ILO)
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY 4.0
5.073
Unemployment (% of labour force)
Lower is better
Vanuatu: 5.073. Across the 182 countries in this edition, values run from 0.13 (Qatar) to 34.2 (Eswatini); the world median is 5.084.
- World median
- 5.084
- Best in Melanesia
- 1.431 Solomon Islands
Key 4 of 4
Vulnerable Employment
International Labour Organization (ILO)
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY 4.0
57.99
Vulnerable employment (% of total employment)
Lower is better
Vanuatu: 57.99. Across the 182 countries in this edition, values run from 0.456 (Qatar) to 90.22 (Chad); the world median is 28.67.
- World median
- 28.67
- Best in Melanesia
- 14.16 New Caledonia
02Over time
Which way Vanuatu is moving
Each key’s published value, edition by edition, beside the world median. The Country Index 2026 is the first edition of the standing, so the standing itself has no history to chart yet.
Employment-to-Population Ratio
Employed share of the population aged 15+ (%) · higher is better
VanuatuWorld median
Vanuatu fell from 70.47 in 2000 to 55.16 in 2025; the world median went from 55.86 to 57.72.
Every year’s figures
Year Vanuatu World median 2025 55.16 57.720 2024 55.43 57.694 2023 55.47 58.158 2022 55.46 57.688 2021 55.50 56.066 2020 55.69 55.691 2019 55.41 57.871 2018 56.08 56.911 2017 56.77 56.738 2016 57.41 56.845 2015 58.05 56.788 2014 58.68 56.774 2013 59.34 56.229 2012 60.01 56.289 2011 60.69 56.297 2010 61.37 56.212 2009 64.70 56.255 2008 67.00 57.308 2007 68.98 56.933 2006 70.72 56.685 2005 70.75 56.129 2004 70.56 55.465 2003 70.42 55.630 2002 70.50 55.843 2001 70.48 56.018 2000 70.47 55.861 Labour Income Share
Labour income share of GDP (%) · higher is better
VanuatuWorld median
Vanuatu fell from 69.31 in 2004 to 60.84 in 2025; the world median went from 46.01 to 46.23.
Every year’s figures
Year Vanuatu World median 2025 60.84 46.230 2024 61.08 46.060 2023 60.71 45.900 2022 59.73 45.615 2021 59.38 45.433 2020 62.05 47.267 2019 60.48 46.277 2018 60.65 46.187 2017 60.31 46.467 2016 60.64 46.798 2015 60.57 46.876 2014 61.02 47.281 2013 62.60 46.887 2012 64.51 46.231 2011 65.48 45.679 2010 66.42 46.024 2009 67.24 47.071 2008 68.91 45.312 2007 69.51 45.246 2006 67.87 45.670 2005 68.89 46.265 2004 69.31 46.012 Unemployment Rate
Unemployment (% of labour force) · lower is better
VanuatuWorld median
Vanuatu fell from 8.266 in 2000 to 5.073 in 2025; the world median went from 6.918 to 5.084.
Every year’s figures
Year Vanuatu World median 2025 5.07 5.08 2024 4.99 5.15 2023 5.01 5.21 2022 5.08 5.34 2021 4.78 6.04 2020 4.05 6.38 2019 5.44 5.36 2018 5.35 5.35 2017 5.25 5.59 2016 5.20 5.90 2015 5.17 6.41 2014 5.14 6.58 2013 5.04 6.71 2012 4.94 6.79 2011 4.81 6.90 2010 4.68 7.04 2009 4.57 6.67 2008 5.66 5.79 2007 6.86 6.00 2006 8.01 6.50 2005 8.12 7.09 2004 8.43 6.80 2003 8.66 6.95 2002 8.60 6.91 2001 8.42 6.96 2000 8.27 6.92 Vulnerable Employment
Vulnerable employment (% of total employment) · lower is better
VanuatuWorld median
Vanuatu fell from 74.22 in 2000 to 57.99 in 2025; the world median went from 35.67 to 28.67.
Every year’s figures
Year Vanuatu World median 2025 57.991 28.67 2024 57.992 29.04 2023 57.976 29.33 2022 57.937 29.67 2021 57.956 30.01 2020 58.531 30.54 2019 58.560 29.98 2018 59.876 30.15 2017 61.132 29.93 2016 62.408 29.91 2015 63.584 30.26 2014 64.817 30.47 2013 65.981 31.14 2012 67.178 31.00 2011 68.334 31.41 2010 69.508 32.37 2009 71.484 32.59 2008 72.214 31.76 2007 72.966 33.47 2006 73.641 34.27 2005 74.148 34.66 2004 74.264 35.51 2003 74.319 35.90 2002 74.298 35.96 2001 74.256 35.27 2000 74.217 35.67
03In context
Vanuatu beside its neighbours
A position reads best beside the countries around it. Every position below is a place among all 182 countries on work & labour, never a place within the region.
Vanuatu and Melanesia
Vanuatu has no land border, so the table compares it with its sub-region. Standing among all 182; the key columns are the publishers’ own values.
| Country | Standing | Employment-to-Population RatioEmployed share of the population aged 15+ (%) | Labour Income ShareLabour income share of GDP (%) | Unemployment RateUnemployment (% of labour force) | Vulnerable EmploymentVulnerable employment (% of total employment) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Solomon Islands | =39th | 83.09 | 46.94 | 1.431 | 68.65 |
| Vanuatu | 88th | 55.16 | 60.84 | 5.073 | 57.99 |
 New Caledonia | 115th | 50.12 | 52.94 | 11.17 | 14.16 |
 Fiji | 130th | 54.1 | 42.64 | 5.347 | 32.79 |
 Papua New Guinea | 150th | 50.73 | 32.57 | 2.571 | 71.16 |
“—”: no published reading in that edition. What a standing is
Across Melanesia
Every country in the sub-region, by its place among all 182.
Placed either side on work & labour
The countries immediately above and below Vanuatu in the topic’s list.
04Context, no vote
Where Vanuatu is ahead of the world, and behind
20 more statistics filed under work & labour, published in full and deliberately given no vote in the standing. Select a row for the publisher, the rank and the links.
Ahead of the world median4
Statistics on which Vanuatu does better than the middle country measured.
Firms with a Female Top ManagerWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 19.1639.6919.16No earlier reading
Vanuatu: 39.69 · world median 19.16 · Firms with a female top manager (%). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 1.429 to 62.9; higher is better.
Position 9th of 179 · derived.
Firms Offering Formal TrainingWorld Bank Group · 2026 · world median 32.0742.9132.07No earlier reading
Vanuatu: 42.91 · world median 32.07 · Firms offering formal training to permanent full-time workers (%). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 1.42 to 79.12; higher is better.
Firms Competing Against Informal FirmsWorld Bank Group · 2026 · world median 41.8126.5141.81No earlier reading
Vanuatu: 26.51 · world median 41.81 · Firms competing against unregistered or informal firms (%). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 1.926 to 90.5; lower is better.
Position 133rd of 181 · derived, 1st = worst.
Youth Unemployment RateILO · 2025 · world median 12.8311.3412.83▼ Worsened since 2015
Vanuatu: 11.34 · world median 12.83 · Unemployment, ages 15-24 (% of youth labour force). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.457 to 76.77; lower is better.
Position 100th of 182 · derived, 1st = worst.
Behind the world median9
Statistics on which Vanuatu does worse than the middle country measured.
Female Labour Force Participation RateILO · 2025 · world median 53.3653.3153.36▼ Worsened since 2015
Vanuatu: 53.31 · world median 53.36 · Women aged 15+ in the labour force (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 4.663 to 82.91; higher is better.
Position 92nd of 182 · derived.
Informal Employment RateILO · 2025 · world median 36.7657.7436.76No earlier reading
Vanuatu: 57.74 · world median 36.76 · Informal employment (% of total employment). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.857 to 94.44; lower is better.
Position 36th of 97 · derived, 1st = worst.
Labour Force Participation RateILO · 2025 · world median 61.6658.1161.66▼ Worsened since 2015
Vanuatu: 58.11 · world median 61.66 · Population aged 15+ in the labour force (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 23.34 to 87.01; higher is better.
Position 117th of 182 · derived.
Employment Injury Protection CoverageILO · 2024 · world median 45.928.145.9No earlier reading
Vanuatu: 28.1 · world median 45.9 · Labour force covered in the event of a work injury (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100; higher is better.
Compliance with Labour RightsILO · 2024 · world median 1.612.831.61▲ Improved since 2015
Vanuatu: 2.83 · world median 1.61 · Compliance with freedom of association and collective bargaining rights (0 = best, 10 = worst). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 10; lower is better.
Length of Paid Maternity LeaveWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 988498▼ Worsened since 2015
Vanuatu: 84 · world median 98 · Paid maternity leave set in law (calendar days). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 410; higher is better.
Labour Productivity per Hour WorkedILO · 2025 · world median 22.166.2622.16▼ Worsened since 2015
Vanuatu: 6.26 · world median 22.16 · Output per hour worked (constant 2021 international $ at PPP). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.92 to 164.65; higher is better.
Position 147th of 182 · derived.
Length of Paid Paternity LeaveWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 303▼ Worsened since 2015
Vanuatu: 0 · world median 3 · Paid paternity leave set in law (calendar days). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 196; higher is better.
GDP per Person EmployedWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 47,38411,30047,384No real change since 2015
Vanuatu: 11,300 · world median 47,384 · GDP per person employed (constant 2021 international $). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 2,456 to 262,554; higher is better.
Position 142nd of 168 · derived.
Level with the median, or no median to compare1
Unemployment Benefit CoverageILO · 2024 · world median 000No earlier reading
Vanuatu: 0 · world median 0 · Unemployed people receiving unemployment benefits (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100; higher is better.
No better end6
These describe the shape of a country — more is not better or worse, only different — so they are never ahead or behind.
Employment in AgricultureILO · 2025 · world median 14.3844.5314.38No real change since 2015
Vanuatu: 44.53 · world median 14.38 · Employment in agriculture (% of total employment). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.095 to 85.34.
Position 30th of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Self-Employment RateILO · 2025 · world median 31.8460.6231.84Moved since 2015
Vanuatu: 60.62 · world median 31.84 · Self-employed (% of total employment). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.832 to 91.56.
Position 45th of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Statutory Minimum WageILO · 2024 · world median 657.95458.36657.95No real change since 2014
Vanuatu: 458.36 · world median 657.95 · Statutory minimum wage per month (2021 PPP $). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 4.038 to 3,804.
Employment in ServicesILO · 2025 · world median 59.5145.4359.51No real change since 2015
Vanuatu: 45.43 · world median 59.51 · Employment in services (% of total employment). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 11.56 to 92.17.
Position 141st of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Employment in IndustryILO · 2025 · world median 18.8810.0518.88No real change since 2015
Vanuatu: 10.05 · world median 18.88 · Employment in industry (% of total employment). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 3.103 to 39.44.
Position 160th of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Average Weekly Hours WorkedILO · 2025 · world median 38.8928.3238.89No real change since 2015
Vanuatu: 28.32 · world median 38.89 · Average weekly hours actually worked per employed person. International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 23.64 to 54.7.
Position 179th of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
No current reading for Vanuatu
Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing Value Added per Worker (last 2024), Average Monthly Earnings of Employees (last 2010), Composite Rate of Labour Underutilisation (LU4) (last 2019), Fatal Occupational Injuries, Female Share of Senior and Middle Management (last 2020), Gini Index of Monthly Earnings (last 2010), Human Capital Wealth per Capita, Labour Inspectors per 10,000 Employed Persons, Low Pay Rate (last 2010), Public Sector Employment, Share of Temporary Employees, Trade Union Density, Working Poverty Rate and Youth Not in Education, Employment or Training (last 2020). Listed rather than hidden, so the page can be checked against it.
“Position · derived” is this site’s ordering of the published values, 1st = best unless the row says otherwise; the publisher ranks no country on it. Rank, position and standing
05Country Index 2026
Work & Labour among Vanuatu’s 15 topics
Work & Labour is Vanuatu’s 4th best-placed topic of 15. Strongest first, each marker at its share of that topic’s field.
- Peace & Security17th of 1772/4 keys
- Environment & Sustainabilityjoint 18th of 1862/4 keys
- Democracy & Civil Libertiesjoint 57th of 1984/4 keys
- Work & Labour88th of 1824/4 keys
- Governance & Institutions98th of 1944/4 keys
- Education & Knowledge106th of 1984/4 keys
- Poverty & Inequality87th of 1592/3 keys
- Gender & Equality105th of 1833/4 keys
- Development & Human Capital123rd of 1963/3 keys
- Health & Wellbeing129th of 2002/4 keys
- Digital & Technologyjoint 133rd of 1984/4 keys
- Economy & Innovationjoint 132nd of 1762/4 keys
- Food & Agriculture153rd of 1844/4 keys
- Risk & Resilience163rd of 1933/4 keys
- Mobility & Trade154th of 1772/4 keys
No standing on Energy: too few of those topics’ key statistics are published for this country.
06The top of the list
Who leads on work & labour
The three countries placed highest of 182, and the leaders Vanuatu can most readily be measured against.
1
IcelandNorthern Europe
1st of 182 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: Hansueli Krapf · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
2
JapanEastern Asia
2nd of 182 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: JurriaanH · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
3
South KoreaEastern Asia
3rd of 182 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: Unknown author · CC BY-SA 2.0, greyscale
Placed highest nearby
Highest in Oceania
Australia=4th4/4 keysHighest in Melanesia
Solomon Islands=39th4/4 keysThis page
Vanuatu88th4/4 keys
Positions out of 182 placed on the topic. A country needs readings on enough keys to be placed, and the top of the list is often held on fewer of them.
07Analysis
Charts and analysis about Vanuatu and work & labour
On work & labour
Countries in Asia with the highest average salaries 2024
Thirteen Asian countries by gross average monthly wage, each carrying its WORLD rank rather than an Asian one — so the numbers skip, from 11th place to 45th.
On work & labour
Countries With The Highest Average Salaries in 2024
The ten highest-paying countries of 2024, their bars coloured by continent, and six more added for comparison — from Australia in 13th place to India in 85th.
On work & labour
Countries With The Lowest Average Salaries in 2024
The bottom ten of 196 countries, and six more added for comparison. Niger, Madagascar and Liberia are all published at US$47 a month and still carry three different ranks.
08Questions
Vanuatu on work & labour: questions answered
Every answer is built from the numbers on this page, so none can say something the page does not.
How does Vanuatu rank on work & labour?
Vanuatu is placed 88th of 182 countries on Work & Labour in the Country Index 2026, from 4 of its 4 key statistics (Employment-to-Population Ratio, Labour Income Share, Unemployment Rate and Vulnerable Employment). The position is this site’s ordering of published statistics, not a rank any publisher printed.
What is the latest Employment-to-Population Ratio figure for Vanuatu?
55.16 in 2025 (employed share of the population aged 15+ (%)), according to International Labour Organization (ILO). The world median in the same edition was 57.72.
What is the latest Labour Income Share figure for Vanuatu?
60.84 in 2025 (labour income share of GDP (%)), according to International Labour Organization (ILO). The world median in the same edition was 46.23.
How have Vanuatu’s work & labour figures changed?
Employment-to-Population Ratio fell from 70.47 in 2000 to 55.16 in 2025; Labour Income Share fell from 69.31 in 2004 to 60.84 in 2025; Unemployment Rate fell from 8.266 in 2000 to 5.073 in 2025; Vulnerable Employment fell from 74.22 in 2000 to 57.99 in 2025.
Which work & labour statistics are missing for Vanuatu?
No current reading is published for Vanuatu on Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing Value Added per Worker, Average Monthly Earnings of Employees, Composite Rate of Labour Underutilisation (LU4), Fatal Occupational Injuries, Female Share of Senior and Middle Management, Gini Index of Monthly Earnings, Human Capital Wealth per Capita, Labour Inspectors per 10,000 Employed Persons, Low Pay Rate, Public Sector Employment, Share of Temporary Employees, Trade Union Density, Working Poverty Rate and Youth Not in Education, Employment or Training. They are listed rather than hidden, so the evidence on the page can be checked against it.
09Method
Method, sources and how to cite
What this topic does not measure
Wages in money terms are not a key here, because pay figures are hard to compare fairly across countries with very different prices. Labour productivity, working hours, youth unemployment and the balance between farming, industry and services are published on this page as context. The size and growth of the wider economy belong to Economy & Innovation.
How the Work & Labour standing is decided
A standing is this site’s ordering, named with its edition — never a publisher’s rank. 4 key statistics vote, one vote each; every country’s published value becomes a place within that key’s own field, the places are averaged, and the average is never published. A country needs 2 of the 4 keys to be placed.
The work & labour method, step by stepHow every standing on this site is built
The key statistics and their licences
- Employment-to-Population Ratio — International Labour Organization (ILO), CC BY 4.0
- Labour Income Share — International Labour Organization (ILO), CC BY 4.0
- Unemployment Rate — International Labour Organization (ILO), CC BY 4.0
- Vulnerable Employment — International Labour Organization (ILO), CC BY 4.0
The other 20 statistics on this page come from 2 publishers, each named beside its numbers, with every edition and licence on the datasets pages.
The standing itself is part of the Country Index 2026, published under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Photographs
Vanuatu’s banner and the countries placed highest, from their profiles: Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale, each used under the licence named.
- Vanuatu (banner) — Phillip Capper derivative work: Jjtkk, CC BY 2.0
- Iceland — Hansueli Krapf, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Japan — JurriaanH, CC BY-SA 3.0
- South Korea — Unknown author, CC BY-SA 2.0
Cite this page
Nations Inquiry (2026). Vanuatu: Work & Labour — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/vanuatu/work