The below COVID-19 vaccination statistics are derived from various sources, including national health departments, the World Health Organisation (WHO), and databases such as Our World in Data. These sources compile data from official government reports, vaccination registries, and international health organisations. The reliability of these statistics can be questionable, given political agendas, the lack of stringent data collection and reporting protocols in place. However, the figures are all we have, so it’s an interesting exercise to display them despite the potential for bias and distortion.
Here is a list of the 10 countries that were among the most vaccinated per capita during the COVID-19 event.
- United Arab Emirates (UAE)
- Portugal
- Malta
- Chile
- Cuba
- Singapore
- Spain
- South Korea
- Denmark
- Qatar
Here is a list of 10 of the least vaccinated countries per capita during the COVID-19 event.
- Burundi
- Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Haiti
- Chad
- South Sudan
- Yemen
- Madagascar
- Tanzania
- Central African Republic
- Papua New Guinea
The US and the UK
The United Kingdom (UK) was generally above the United States (US) in per capita COVID-19 vaccination rates. The UK (England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland) was one of the early leaders in the global vaccination campaign and maintained high vaccination coverage throughout the event. While the US also had a significant vaccination campaign, its per capita rate was typically lower than that of the UK due to various factors, including vaccine hesitancy and differences in healthcare infrastructure.
Australia and New Zealand
Australia was generally above New Zealand in the per capita COVID-19 vaccination statistics during the pandemic. Both countries had robust vaccination campaigns, but Australia’s larger population and extensive efforts to vaccinate a high percentage of its citizens resulted in it achieving higher per capita vaccination rates compared to New Zealand.
New Zealand is typically ranked within the top 20-30 globally for per capita vaccination rates, reflecting its effective public health efforts and vaccine distribution strategies while Australia is slightly higher.
The US and Russia
The United States was generally above Russia in per capita COVID-19 vaccination rates.
Russia had a relatively low per capita COVID-19 vaccination rate compared to many other countries, particularly in Western Europe and North America. Despite being one of the first countries to develop and authorize a COVID-19 vaccine, Russia faced significant challenges in its vaccination campaign. These included vaccine hesitancy, logistical issues, and public distrust in the vaccine’s safety and efficacy. As a result, Russia’s vaccination rate lagged behind many other countries that had more effective vaccination rollouts.
China and the US
Per capita, China’s COVID-19 vaccination rate was higher than that of the United States. China managed to vaccinate a large portion of its population rapidly, administering over 3 billion doses by mid-2022. This feat resulted in a higher per capita vaccination rate compared to the US, where the vaccination campaign faced more significant challenges related to vaccine hesitancy and political divisions.
Note: Despite China’s aggressive vaccination efforts, it did not make the top ten in per capita vaccination rates, primarily due to its large population size. While China administered a significant number of vaccine doses, the per capita rate (doses per 100 people) was somewhat lower compared to smaller countries with highly efficient vaccination campaigns.
China administered approximately 232 doses per 100 people throughout the COVID-19 event.
All countries complied
There were no countries on the planet that entirely abstained from vaccinating their populations against COVID-19. However, as we have seen, some countries had very low vaccination rates due to various challenges such as political instability, lack of access to vaccines, logistical issues, or vaccine hesitancy.