Mobile phone subscriptions in Vanuatu
Vanuatu: Mobile phone subscriptions was 286,107 in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Mobile phone subscriptions in Vanuatu, 1980–2023
Source: International Telecommunication Union (ITU), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
Vanuatu recorded 286,107 for mobile phone subscriptions in 2023. That is the highest value across all 44 years on record.
That represents a change of up 12.0% on the previous year and up 124.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, mobile phone subscriptions in Vanuatu peaked at 286,107 in 2023 and was at its lowest, 0, in 1980.
Vanuatu ranks 177th of 212 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Mobile phone subscriptions in Vanuatu, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 0 | — |
| 1981 | 0 | — |
| 1982 | 0 | — |
| 1983 | 0 | — |
| 1984 | 0 | — |
| 1985 | 0 | — |
| 1986 | 0 | — |
| 1987 | 0 | — |
| 1988 | 0 | — |
| 1989 | 0 | — |
| 1990 | 0 | — |
| 1991 | 0 | — |
| 1992 | 0 | — |
| 1993 | 0 | — |
| 1994 | 64 | — |
| 1995 | 121 | +89.1% |
| 1996 | 154 | +27.3% |
| 1997 | 207 | +34.4% |
| 1998 | 220 | +6.3% |
| 1999 | 300 | +36.4% |
| 2000 | 365 | +21.7% |
| 2001 | 350 | -4.1% |
| 2002 | 4,900 | +1300.0% |
| 2003 | 7,800 | +59.2% |
| 2004 | 10,504 | +34.7% |
| 2005 | 12,692 | +20.8% |
| 2006 | 15,000 | +18.2% |
| 2007 | 26,000 | +73.3% |
| 2008 | 36,000 | +38.5% |
| 2009 | 131,682 | +265.8% |
| 2010 | 169,935 | +29.0% |
| 2011 | 136,956 | -19.4% |
| 2012 | 146,084 | +6.7% |
| 2013 | 127,244 | -12.9% |
| 2014 | 156,051 | +22.6% |
| 2015 | 174,818 | +12.0% |
| 2016 | 218,603 | +25.0% |
| 2017 | 228,016 | +4.3% |
| 2018 | 251,428 | +10.3% |
| 2019 | 265,219 | +5.5% |
| 2020 | 246,232 | -7.2% |
| 2021 | 249,868 | +1.5% |
| 2022 | 255,509 | +2.3% |
| 2023 | 286,107 | +12.0% |
Vanuatu compared with similar countries
- Vanuatu's 286,107 is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 12.17 million, 2% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Vanuatu's 286,107 is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 4.10 million, 7% of the median. (37 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Mobile phone subscriptions 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.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | +1300.0% | 350 | 4,900 |
| 2009 | +265.8% | 36,000 | 131,682 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 1990s | 106.6 | 0 | 300 | 10 |
| 2000s | 24,529 | 350 | 131,682 | 10 |
| 2010s | 187,435 | 127,244 | 265,219 | 10 |
| 2020s | 259,429 | 246,232 | 286,107 | 4 |
Countries ranked near Vanuatu
- 174 Bahamas 387,960 compare
- 175 French Polynesia 333,905 compare
- 176 Barbados 323,482 compare
- 178 Belize 270,536 compare
- 179 New Caledonia 263,224 compare
- 180 Antigua and Barbuda 186,182 compare
More science & technology data for Vanuatu
- Mobile landline subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, gaps filled 89.29 (2023)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per capita 0.8929 units per person (2023)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per unit of GDP 0.0002 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, gaps filled 286,107 (2023)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per square kilometre 23.47 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, annual growth rate 9.4 % change on previous year (2023)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, annual growth rate 11.98 % change on previous year (2023)
- Scientific and technical journal articles 11.87 (2023)
- Scientific and technical journal articles, per capita 0 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is mobile phone subscriptions in Vanuatu?
- Mobile phone subscriptions in Vanuatu was 286,107 in 2023, according to International Telecommunication Union (ITU), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest mobile phone subscriptions recorded in Vanuatu?
- The highest recorded value was 286,107 in 2023.
- What is the lowest mobile phone subscriptions recorded in Vanuatu?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 in 1980.
- How does Vanuatu rank for mobile phone subscriptions?
- Vanuatu ranks 177th out of 212 countries with data for 2023.
- Is mobile phone subscriptions rising or falling in Vanuatu?
- Over the last ten years it is up 124.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Vanuatu data come from?
- The figures come from International Telecommunication Union (ITU), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Mobile phone subscriptions. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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