Vanuatu Mini census

Vanuatu's National Statistics Office says the current population stands at 272, 459 with 138,265 males and 134, 194 females.

The report shows a large population is distributed in the rural with a number of 204,710 people and 67, 749 in the urban.

The urban population has also increased by over 10,000 since the last census in 2009.

Photo: Facebook (DARD)

This is down to both poor weather and the refusal by some to take part.

Mr Johnson is appealing to people to respect the interviewers because the information collected is very important for any development in the country.

He is also asking the expatriate community to cooperate with the interviewers when they are asked questions.

Mr Johnson said there was some hindrance in parts of Tanna and Port Vila where people have refused to answer questions from the interviewers.

The census has been called a technological milestone for the Pacific.

According to RNZI, the government says the exercise, which it expects to finish by December, can help establish a new listing of households following Cyclone PAM last year.

The Vanuatu National Statistics Office, Simil Johnson, says they wish to engage all civil society as early as possible to help them inform the public about the process.