The 2009 National Census of Population and Housing reported the population of Vanuatu to be 234 023, with a growth rate of 2.3% per annum. Life expectancy at birth is 69 for males and 72 for females, and 3.5% of the population is over 65 years of age.
The 2011 estimated crude birth rate was 31.1 per 1000 population and the estimated crude death rate was 5.3. The infant mortality rate was 27 per 1000 live births in 2008.
According to the last national census, the urban population accounted for 25.6% of the total population in 2010. Urban migration is increasing at an alarming rate, particularly from rural islands to Port Vila and Luganville, as people seek employment or education. Most of the population are employed in subsistence agriculture, the rest being in government departments, private companies and other employment sectors.