An efficient acousto-optic Q-switched Nd:YVO₄ self-Raman laser in-band pumped at 880 nm was demonstrated. Using two 10-mm-long Nd:YVO₄ crystals as gain medium, 6.11 W of average output power at 1 176 nm Stokes wavelength was obtained under the incident pump power of 26.8 W and a high pulse repetition rate of 190 kHz, corresponding optical efficiency was 22.8%. The influence of Raman-gain-length on conversion efficiency was investigated in the experiment and the dips on Stokes output power was also discussed. Control experiment of the self-Raman laser under 808 nm traditional pumping shows that in-band pumping help improve the conversion efficiency and maximum output power greatly.