Air passengers in Vanuatu

Vanuatu: Air passengers was 359,290 in 2023. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2023)
359,290
Change on year
up 54.5%
World rank
124th
of 183 countries
All-time high
466,865
in 2019
All-time low
14,400
in 1985
Years of data
42
1982–2023

Air passengers in Vanuatu, 1982–2023

0100.0k200.0k300.0k400.0k500.0k1982200220231982: 16.8k1983: 24.6k1984: 16.7k1985: 14.4k1986: 15.3k1987: 16.6k1988: 18.5k1989: 18.5k1990: 18.5k1991: 53.0k1992: 59.2k1993: 66.7k1994: 70.4k1995: 65.6k1996: 72.8k1997: 75.0k1998: 88.7k1999: 86.0k2000: 101.5k2001: 97.5k2002: 104.3k2003: 83.2k2004: 103.9k2005: 112.3k2006: 116.7k2007: 122.6k2008: 120.7k2009: 112.2k2010: 247.9k2011: 240.4k2012: 318.7k2013: 327.1k2014: 320.2k2015: 272.3k2016: 299.3k2017: 341.1k2018: 374.6k2019: 466.9k2020: 136.4k2021: 128.2k2022: 232.5k2023: 359.3k

Source: International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.

Analysis

In 2023, air passengers in Vanuatu stood at 359,290.

That represents a change of up 54.5% on the previous year and up 9.9% over ten years.

Over the whole period, air passengers in Vanuatu peaked at 466,865 in 2019 and was at its lowest, 14,400, in 1985.

Vanuatu ranks 124th of 183 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Air passengers in Vanuatu, year by year

Annual values for Air passengers in Vanuatu, 1982 to 2023.
Year Value Change
1982 16,800
1983 24,600 +46.4%
1984 16,700 -32.1%
1985 14,400 -13.8%
1986 15,300 +6.2%
1987 16,600 +8.5%
1988 18,500 +11.4%
1989 18,500 +0.0%
1990 18,500 +0.0%
1991 53,000 +186.5%
1992 59,200 +11.7%
1993 66,700 +12.7%
1994 70,400 +5.5%
1995 65,600 -6.8%
1996 72,800 +11.0%
1997 75,000 +3.0%
1998 88,700 +18.3%
1999 86,000 -3.0%
2000 101,503 +18.0%
2001 97,471 -4.0%
2002 104,294 +7.0%
2003 83,151 -20.3%
2004 103,939 +25.0%
2005 112,254 +8.0%
2006 116,744 +4.0%
2007 122,581 +5.0%
2008 120,742 -1.5%
2009 112,169 -7.1%
2010 247,944 +121.0%
2011 240,396 -3.0%
2012 318,747 +32.6%
2013 327,060 +2.6%
2014 320,232 -2.1%
2015 272,332 -15.0%
2016 299,315 +9.9%
2017 341,110 +14.0%
2018 374,603 +9.8%
2019 466,865 +24.6%
2020 136,360 -70.8%
2021 128,164 -6.0%
2022 232,525 +81.4%
2023 359,290 +54.5%

Vanuatu compared with similar countries

  • Vanuatu's 359,290 is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 690,677, 52% of the median. (45 countries reporting)
  • Vanuatu's 359,290 is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 2.05 million, 17% of the median. (29 countries reporting)

Biggest year-on-year movements

Years where Air passengers in Vanuatu changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.

YearChange FromTo
1991 +186.5% 18,500 53,000
2010 +121.0% 112,169 247,944

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 17,675 14,400 24,600 8
1990s 65,590 18,500 88,700 10
2000s 107,485 83,151 122,581 10
2010s 320,860 240,396 466,865 10
2020s 214,085 128,164 359,290 4

Countries ranked near Vanuatu

  1. 121 Paraguay 407,865 compare
  2. 122 Montenegro 379,068 compare
  3. 123 Albania 374,800 compare
  4. 125 Cameroon 331,025 compare
  5. 126 Mauritania 328,992 compare
  6. 127 Zambia 321,739 compare

See the full ranking of 183 places →

More reference data data for Vanuatu

All data for Vanuatu →

Frequently asked questions

What is air passengers in Vanuatu?
Air passengers in Vanuatu was 359,290 in 2023, according to International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest air passengers recorded in Vanuatu?
The highest recorded value was 466,865 in 2019.
What is the lowest air passengers recorded in Vanuatu?
The lowest recorded value was 14,400 in 1985.
How does Vanuatu rank for air passengers?
Vanuatu ranks 124th out of 183 countries with data for 2023.
Is air passengers rising or falling in Vanuatu?
Over the last ten years it is up 9.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Vanuatu data come from?
The figures come from International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Air passengers. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Air passengers in Vanuatu. Statizoid, drawing on International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Retrieved 22 September 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/air-passengers-carried/vanuatu/

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About this data

Indicator
Air passengers
Source
International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
183 places, 7,925 data points, 1970–2023
Last refreshed

Domestic and international passengers of airlines registered in the country. Passengers counted each time they travel.