Vanuatu Labor Force Participation
Labor force participation rate SL.TLF.CACT.ZS
Vanuatu's labor force participation was 58.11% in 2025, ranked 116th globally. This represents a 0.4% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1990–2025.
Overview
Vanuatu's labor force participation stood at 58.11% in 2025, a decline of +0.23pp from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 58.19% by 2026. Vanuatu ranked 116th globally.
Vanuatu’s labor force participation has fallen dramatically over the past three decades, slipping from a 1990 level of 76.99 % to 58.11 % in 2025, which places the country 116th in the world. The all‑time peak of 77.13 % was recorded in 2002, while the deepest decline occurred in 2020 when participation reached a trough of 58.04 %. This long‑term downward trajectory contrasts sharply with the modestly higher rates of peer nations such as Portugal (58.16 %) and Poland (58.31 %) in the same year, suggesting that Vanuatu’s labor market has been more severely affected by structural constraints, demographic shifts and possibly the lingering impacts of natural disasters. The 36‑year coverage of the series underscores the persistence of the trend, which is likely to continue unless policy interventions improve job creation, expand vocational training and address barriers to female labor market entry, thereby nudging participation upward.
Data & projection
| Year | Labor Force Participation | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2028* trend | 58.10% | - | - |
| 2027* trend | 58.14% | - | - |
| 2026* trend | 58.19% | - | - |
| 2025 | 58.11% | −0.23pp | #116 |
| 2024 | 58.35% | −0.05pp | #115 |
| 2023 | 58.40% | −0.03pp | #117 |
| 2022 | 58.43% | +0.14pp | #117 |
| 2021 | 58.28% | +0.24pp | #114 |
| 2020 | 58.04% | −0.56pp | #109 |
| 2019 | 58.60% | −0.66pp | #119 |
| 2018 | 59.25% | −0.66pp | #113 |
| 2017 | 59.91% | −0.65pp | #103 |
| 2016 | 60.56% | −0.65pp | #97 |
| 2015 | 61.21% | −0.64pp | #94 |
| 2014 | 61.85% | −0.64pp | #89 |
| 2013 | 62.49% | −0.64pp | #81 |
| 2012 | 63.13% | −0.63pp | #75 |
| 2011 | 63.76% | −0.63pp | #66 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Vanuatu matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2019. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw labor force participation improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Vanuatu's labor force participation was 58.11% in 2025. Ranked 116th globally. This represents a 0.4% decrease from the previous year.
Vanuatu's labor force participation peaked at 77.13% in 2002.
The lowest labor force participation in Vanuatu was 58.04% in 2020.
Vanuatu ranks 116th globally in labor force participation as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SL.TLF.CACT.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Vanuatu's labor force participation is projected to reach 58.19% by 2026 based on trend extrapolation.
The labor force participation of Vanuatu in 2025 was 58.11%. This ranks 116th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_vanuatu_labor-force-participation,
title = {Vanuatu Labor Force Participation},
url = {https://historysaid.com/vanuatu/labor-force-participation/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}