Vanuatu Unemployment Rate
Unemployment as % of total labor force SL.UEM.TOTL.ZS
Vanuatu's unemployment rate was 5.07% in 2025, ranked 89th globally. This represents a 1.7% increase from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1991–2025.
Overview
Vanuatu's unemployment rate stood at 5.07% in 2025, a rise of +0.09pp from 2024. Vanuatu ranked 89th globally.
Vanuatu’s unemployment rate has fallen to 5.07 % in 2025, placing the nation at 89th in the world and matching Malawi’s 2025 level while slightly below New Zealand’s 5.08 % and Nicaragua’s 5.04 % (World Bank). After a prolonged upward swing that peaked at 8.66 % in 2003, the labor market entered a sustained decline, reaching an all‑time trough of 4.05 % in 2020 as tourism and remittance inflows rebounded following the global pandemic. Over the 35‑year span from 1991, when unemployment stood at 7.98 %, the indicator has trended downward, reflecting structural reforms in agriculture, modest diversification of services, and targeted youth‑employment programmes. The recent modest rise from the 2020 trough suggests that the post‑COVID recovery is stabilising rather than accelerating, and further reductions will likely depend on expanding export markets and improving vocational training to absorb a growing young workforce.
Data & projection
| Year | Unemployment Rate | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 5.07% | +0.09pp | #89 |
| 2024 | 4.99% | −0.02pp | #92 |
| 2023 | 5.01% | −0.07pp | #92 |
| 2022 | 5.08% | +0.30pp | #92 |
| 2021 | 4.78% | +0.73pp | #64 |
| 2020 | 4.05% | −1.40pp | #44 |
| 2019 | 5.44% | +0.09pp | #99 |
| 2018 | 5.35% | +0.11pp | #96 |
| 2017 | 5.25% | +0.05pp | #88 |
| 2016 | 5.20% | +0.03pp | #83 |
| 2015 | 5.17% | +0.03pp | #78 |
| 2014 | 5.14% | +0.10pp | #78 |
| 2013 | 5.04% | +0.10pp | #75 |
| 2012 | 4.94% | +0.13pp | #73 |
| 2011 | 4.81% | +0.13pp | #70 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Vanuatu matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2019. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw unemployment rate improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Vanuatu's unemployment rate was 5.07% in 2025. Ranked 89th globally. This represents a 1.7% increase from the previous year.
Vanuatu's unemployment rate peaked at 8.66% in 2003.
The lowest unemployment rate in Vanuatu was 4.05% in 2020.
Vanuatu ranks 89th globally in unemployment rate as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SL.UEM.TOTL.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
The unemployment rate of Vanuatu in 2025 was 5.07%. This ranks 89th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_vanuatu_unemployment-rate,
title = {Vanuatu Unemployment Rate},
url = {https://historysaid.com/vanuatu/unemployment-rate/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}