Search for string and get count in vi editor

THE way is

:%s/pattern//gn

You need the n flag. To count words use:

:%s/\i\+/&/gn   

and a particular word:

:%s/the/&/gn        

See count-items documentation section.

If you simply type in:

%s/pattern/pattern/g

then the status line will give you the number of matches in vi as well.

:%s/string/string/g will give the answer.