Vanuatu · Oceania
How many people die in Vanuatu every day?
In Vanuatu, about 5 people die every day, roughly one death every 4 hours. That is about 2,000 deaths a year, less than 0.1% of everyone who dies worldwide and the 172nd highest total of 194 countries. Life expectancy is 65.6 years and the leading cause of death is cardiovascular disease. See every death on earth as it happens on the live death counter.
Deaths per day
5
Deaths per year
2,000
Life expectancy
65.6 years
Population
326,740
Death rate
6.1 per 1,000
Top cause of death
Cardiovascular disease
Compared to the World Average
Life expectancy
Vanuatu
65.6
World avg
72.8
-7.2 yrs
Death rate (per 1,000)
Vanuatu
6.1
World avg
7.7
Deaths in Vanuatu by time period
| Per hour | 0.2 |
| Per day | 5.5 |
| Per week | 38 |
| Per month | 167 |
| Per year | 2,000 |
What people die of in Vanuatu
According to the World Health Organization’s Global Health Estimates, the single biggest cause of death in Vanuatu in 2023 was heart disease (ischaemic), which accounted for 22.3% of all deaths, about 1.3 a day. It was followed by stroke and diabetes.
Deaths from heart disease (ischaemic) have increased about 3-fold since 2000, from about 158 to 490 a year.
WHO counts single causes, so heart disease and stroke appear as separate rows. Grouped together as cardiovascular disease, the category in the summary above, they are the largest killer.
| # | Cause | Deaths (2023) | Per day | Share | Since 2000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Heart disease (ischaemic) | 490 | 1.3 | 22.3% | +210% |
| 2 | Stroke | 317 | under 1 | 14.4% | +166% |
| 3 | Diabetes | 156 | under 1 | 7.1% | n/a |
| 4 | COPD | 151 | under 1 | 6.9% | +96% |
| 5 | Pneumonia and other lower respiratory infections | 131 | under 1 | 5.9% | +96% |
| 6 | Cirrhosis of the liver | 61 | under 1 | 2.8% | n/a |
| 7 | Kidney diseases | 59 | under 1 | 2.7% | n/a |
| 8 | Diarrhoeal diseases | 49 | under 1 | 2.2% | n/a |
| 9 | Suicide | 46 | under 1 | 2.1% | n/a |
| 10 | Congenital anomalies | 46 | under 1 | 2.1% | n/a |
Deaths in Vanuatu since 2000
WHO estimates that about 2,195 people died in Vanuatu in 2023, 78% more than in 2000. Totals rise as populations grow and age, even when health improves. WHO’s modelled estimates can differ from the headline figures above, which come from a different source.
| 2000 | 1,235 deaths |
| 2010 | 1,603 deaths |
| 2019 | 1,994 deaths |
| 2023 | 2,195 deaths |
Life expectancy in Vanuatu since 1950
A baby born in Vanuatu in 1950 could expect to live about 43.9 years. By 2023 that had risen to 71.5, a gain of 27.6 years. See how this compares worldwide on our life expectancy by country page.
| 1950 | 43.9 years |
| 1980 | 61.3 years |
| 2000 | 68.6 years |
| 2010 | 69.6 years |
| 2019 | 70.8 years |
| 2023 | 71.5 years |
Vanuatu compared with similar countries in Oceania
Among the 3 countries in Oceania on this site, Vanuatu ranks 0th for life expectancy. Here is how it compares with the countries closest to it in population.
| Country | Deaths per day | Life expectancy | Top cause |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vanuatu | 5 | 65.6 | Cardiovascular disease |
| New Zealand | 99 | 82.1 | Cardiovascular disease |
| Papua New Guinea | 197 | 65 | Lower respiratory infections |
| Australia | 466 | 83.3 | Cardiovascular disease |
Sources: WHO Global Health Estimates 2023 (deaths by cause and totals); UN World Population Prospects via Our World in Data (life expectancy). Figures are modelled estimates and are rounded.
Frequently asked questions
How many people die in Vanuatu every day?
In Vanuatu, about 5 people die every day, or roughly one death every 4 hours. That adds up to about 2,000 deaths a year, less than 0.1% of all deaths worldwide.
What is the leading cause of death in Vanuatu?
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in Vanuatu. Heart disease and stroke are the biggest killers in most countries, driven largely by high blood pressure, smoking, diet and inactivity. Counting single causes, WHO's estimates put heart disease (ischaemic) first in 2023, with 22.3% of deaths.
What is the life expectancy in Vanuatu?
Life expectancy at birth in Vanuatu is 65.6 years, 7.2 years below the world average of 72.8. That ranks 144th of 194 countries.
Is the death rate in Vanuatu high?
Vanuatu records about 6.1 deaths per 1,000 people each year, below the world average of 7.7. Crude death rates are higher in countries with older populations, so a high rate does not always mean poor health care.