National Identity
- Official name
- Republic of Vanuatu
- Official name (in Bislama)
- Ripablik blong Vanuatu
- Official name (in French)
- République de Vanuatu
- Name etymology
the name means "Our land forever" in several of the Austronesian languages spoken on the islands; the former name, New Hebrides, was given by Captain James COOK in 1774 because he thought they looked similar to the Hebrides islands off the coast of Scotland
Sources:- Constitution of the Republic of Vanuatu ↗ - Government of Vanuatu
- The World Factbook: Vanuatu - CIA
- Coat of arms
- National flag
- National anthem
- Yumi, Yumi, Yumi0:59
- Title (in Bislama)
- Yumi, Yumi, Yumi
- Title (in English, translated)
- We, We, We
- Lyrics
ChorusYumi, Yumi, yumi i glat long talem se Yumi, yumi, yumi i man blong Vanuatu
1God i givim ples ia long yumi, Yumi glat tumas long hem, Yumi strong mo yumi fri long hem, Yumi brata evriwan!
Yumi, Yumi, yumi i glat long talem se2Plante fasin blong bifo i stap, Plante fasin blong tedei, Be yumi i olsem wan nomo, Hemia fasin blong yumi!
Yumi, Yumi, yumi i glat long talem se3Yumi save plante wok i stap, Long ol aelan blong yumi, God i helpem yumi evriwan, Hem i papa blong yumi!
Yumi, Yumi, yumi i glat long talem seSource: - Citizens
- Ni-Vanuatu
- Official name:Constitution of the Republic of Vanuatu ↗ - Government of Vanuatu
- Official name, Citizens:The World Factbook: Vanuatu - CIA
- Coat of arms:Image credit
- National anthem:nationalanthems.info ↗
Geography
- Location
- Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to Australia
- Total area
- 12,189 km²
- Land area
- 12,189 km²
- Water area
- 0.00 km²
- Land borders
- None
- Coastline
- 2,528 km
- Terrain
Mostly mountainous islands of volcanic origin; narrow coastal plains - Highest point
- 1,877 mTabwemasana
- Lowest point
- 0 mPacific Ocean
- Climate
Tropical moderated by southeast trade winds from May to October; moderate rainfall from November to April; may be affected by cyclones from December to April - Avg. temperature
- 25 °C
- Avg. daily range
- 24 to 26.3 °C
- Annual precipitation
- 2,227 mm
Temperature °CMeanDaily rangePrecipitation mmMonthly climate normals Month Avg. high, °C Mean, °C Avg. low, °C Precipitation, mm January 27.6 26.2 25.1 274 February 27.8 26.4 25.3 277 March 27.7 26.3 25.3 300 April 27.2 25.8 24.8 244 May 26.3 25.1 24.2 169 June 25.5 24.4 23.5 135 July 24.8 23.7 22.9 101 August 24.7 23.5 22.6 95 September 25.2 23.9 22.9 123 October 25.7 24.4 23.3 142 November 26.5 25.1 24.1 175 December 27.2 25.8 24.7 194 Country-wide averages over 1991–2020.
Sources:- The World Factbook: Vanuatu - CIA
- Climate Change Knowledge Portal (ERA5 reanalysis) ↗ - World Bank
- Weather
- Loading
- Land use2023
- Arable1.6%Perm. crops10.3%Pasture3.4%Forest74.8%Other9.8%
- Arable land
- 20,000 hectares (1.6%)
- Permanent crops
- 125,000 hectares (10.3%)
- Permanent meadows & pastures
- 42,000 hectares (3.4%)
- Forest
- 912,208 hectares (74.8%)
- Other land
- 119,792 hectares (9.8%)
Source: - Natural hazards2026
- Tsunamis7.0Very high#26/191Tropical cyclones6.4High#24/191Earthquakes6.2High#51/191Drought5.0High#46/191Coastal floods4.9High#65/191Epidemics4.3Medium#116/191River floods0.0Very low
Scores out of 10, ranks out of 191 countries.
Source:- INFORM Risk Index ↗ - European Commission Joint Research Centre
- Location, Land borders, Coastline, Terrain, Highest point, Lowest point, Climate:The World Factbook: Vanuatu - CIA
- Climate:Climate Change Knowledge Portal (ERA5 reanalysis) ↗ - World Bank
- Land use:FAOSTAT Land Use domain ↗ - FAO
- Natural hazards:INFORM Risk Index ↗ - European Commission Joint Research Centre
Demographics
- Population change2026
- +2.21% per year+7,395 people/yearWorld Rank32ndof 237
- Birth rate
- 26.8 per 1,000 population
- Death rate
- 4.9 per 1,000 population
- Net migration rate
- −0.3 per 1,000 population
- 2026
- 20.3 yearsWorld Rank195thof 237
- Age structure2026
- 0-14 years37.6%15-64 years58.0%65 years +4.5%
- Share aged 65 and over
- 4.5%
- Share aged under 18
- 43.9%
- Total dependency ratio
- 73
- Youth dependency ratio
- 65
- Elderly dependency ratio
- 8
- Sex ratio
- 1.02 male / female
MaleAgeFemalePopulation by age group, % of total population Age Male Female 80+ 0.3% 0.2% 70-79 1.0% 1.1% 60-69 2.1% 2.3% 50-59 3.7% 3.2% 40-49 4.6% 4.7% 30-39 6.7% 7.3% 20-29 7.6% 7.7% 10-19 11.3% 10.7% 0-9 13.3% 12.4% - 2026
- 1.40 above the replacement level for Vanuatu ()3.50 births per womanreplacement 2.101234World Rank40thof 237
- 1.64 daughters per woman0.64 above replacement, long-run each generation larger than the lastreplacement 1.000.511.52
- 2026
- +21.9 per 1,000 populationfor every 1,000 people, 21.9 more births than deaths a year
- 2026
- −0.3 per 1,000 population
- Urbanization2026
- 22.4% live in 76,647 urban residents
- Largest urban centers2020
- Port Vila, LuganvilleRankUrban Center or SettlementPopulation (2020 census)1Port Vila49,5282Luganville18,062Source:
- Vanuatu National Statistics Office (2020 census), via City Population by Thomas Brinkhoff ↗
- Population distribution
- Three quarters of the population lives in rural areas; the urban populace lives primarily in two cities, Port-Vila and Lugenville; the three largest islands (Espiritu Santo, Malakula, and Efate) accommodate over half of the populace.
- Ethnic groups2020
- Ni-Vanuatu99.0%Other1.0%
Other includes European, Asian, other Melanesian, Polynesian, Micronesian, and other.
Source:- The World Factbook: Vanuatu - CIA
- Religions2020
- Protestant39.9%Roman Catholic12.1%Apostolic2.3%Church of Jesus Christ1.8%Customary beliefs3.1%Other12.0%None1.4%Unspecified0.1%
Protestant includes Presbyterian, Seventh Day Adventist, Anglican, Churches of Christ, Assemblies of God, and Neil Thomas Ministry/Inner Life Ministry.Customary beliefs include the Jon Frum cargo cult.
Source:- The World Factbook: Vanuatu - CIA
- Languages
- Bislama, French (Français), English
- Population, Population change, Median age, Age structure, Total fertility rate, Net reproduction rate, Natural change, Net migration rate:UN World Population Prospects ↗
- Urbanization:UN World Urbanization Prospects ↗
- Largest cities:Vanuatu National Statistics Office (2020 census), via City Population by Thomas Brinkhoff ↗
- Population distribution, Ethnic groups, Religions:The World Factbook: Vanuatu - CIA
Government & Administration
- Form of state
- RepublicThe President, who symbolises the unity of the nation, is elected by secret ballot by an electoral college of Parliament and the presidents of the Provincial Government Councils (Art. 34).
- System of government
- ParliamentaryParliament elects the Prime Minister from its members by secret ballot; the Council of Ministers is collectively responsible to Parliament, which can remove the whole government by absolute-majority no-confidence vote, and the President dissolves Parliament only on Council advice (Arts. 28, 41, 43).Source:
- Constitution of the Republic of Vanuatu, Consolidated Edition 2020 ↗, Arts. 28, 41, 43
- Territorial organisation
- Unitary
- Official websites
- Capital
- Port Vila49,528 people(2020)
- National holidays
- 15 days in 2026
- ThuJan 1New Year's Day
- SatFeb 21Father Lini Day
- ThuMar 5Custom Chief's Day
- FriApr 3Good Friday
- MonApr 6Easter Monday
- FriMay 1Labour Day
- ThuMay 14Ascension Day
- FriJul 24Children's Day
- ThuJul 30Independence Day
- SatAug 15Assumption Day
- MonOct 5Constitution Day
- SunNov 29Unity Day
- MonNov 30Unity Day (observed)
- FriDec 25Christmas Day
- SatDec 26Family Day
Nationwide public holidays only, excluding regional, bank and government-only days.
- Time
- VUTVanuatu Standard TimeUTC+11
- Currency
- Vanuatu Vatu (VUV)
- Entry requirements
- Official visa and entry information
- Calling code
- +678
- Internet TLD
- .vu
- ISO 3166-1 codes
- VU, VUT
- Infrastructure
- Passengers carried
- 359,290 by the country's airlines(2023)
- Aircraft departures
- 8,307 by the country's airlines(2023)
- Air freight
- 30.3 million tonne-km(2023)
- Aircraft registration prefix
- YJ
Sources:- The World Factbook: Vanuatu - CIA
- World Development Indicators ↗ - World Bank
- Flag carrier
- Air VanuatuState-owned
- 2025
- 47 / 100World Rank63rdof 182Confidence interval
Corruption index score by year Year Score Lower bound Upper bound 2017 43 37 49 2018 46 36 56 2019 46 35.5 56.5 2020 43 37.1 48.9 2021 45 37.5 52.5 2022 48 43.5 52.5 2023 48 42.8 53.2 2024 50 47 53 2025 47 40 54 Source:- Corruption Perceptions Index 2025 ↗ - Transparency International, CC BY 4.0
- Form of state, System of government, Territorial organisation:Constitution of the Republic of Vanuatu, Consolidated Edition 2020 ↗ - Parliament of Vanuatu
- National holidays:Open World Holidays Framework (vacanza/holidays) ↗
- Infrastructure:The World Factbook: Vanuatu - CIA
- Infrastructure:World Development Indicators ↗ - World Bank
- Corruption Perceptions Index:Corruption Perceptions Index 2025 ↗ - Transparency International, CC BY 4.0
Economy
- Lower middle income
- GDP growth (real)2026
- +3.5% per yearWorld Rank79thof 195
- GDP per capita (PPP)2026
- GDP per capita (nominal)
- $4,052 (137th in the world)
Source:- 2024
- Services56.8% of GDPIndustry10.1% of GDPAgriculture26.6% of GDPManufacturing4%part of industry
- Households
- +75.2%
- Government
- +21.4%
- Investment
- +26.1%
- Exports
- +25.3%
- Imports
- −48%
The shape of the economyGDP by end useSource:- World Development Indicators ↗ - World Bank
- Inflation2026
- 2.8%up 2.1 percentage points2.1pp from 2025
- Labor force2024
- 117,969 (36% of population)World Rank180thof 187
- Labor force participation2024
- 58.3% of people aged 15+
- Unemployment2024
- 5.0%
- Youth unemployment2024
- 11.4% ages 15 to 24
- Labor productivity2024
- $6.3 per hour worked at PPP
- Budget balance2026
- 0.2% of GDP surplus
- Current account
- 6.3% of GDP, $87 million deficit
Source: - Debt2024
- Central government debt44.6% of GDPHousehold debt30.6% of GDPCompany debt22.2% of GDPInterest on debt0.9% of GDP
- Trade2022
- Goods$73.6 million48.4%
- Services$78.5 million51.6%
- Total exports
- $152.1 million
- Change from 2021
- up 85.3 percent on the previous year85.3%
Sources:- World Development Indicators ↗ - World Bank
- The World Factbook: Vanuatu - CIA
- Agricultural products2024
- Coconuts (in shell), Watermelons, Taro, and 6 more
- 1Coconuts (in shell)85.7×
- 2Watermelons30×
- 3Taro16.3×
- 4Yams7×
- 5Cabbages5.3×
- 6Sweet potatoes2×
- 7Bananas2×
- 8Mangoes and guavas and mangosteens1.9×
- 9Cassava (fresh)0.5×
ProductSource:- FAOSTAT ↗ - Food and Agriculture Organization
- Industries
- food and fish freezing, wood processing, meat canning
- Income level, GDP by sector, Trade:World Development Indicators ↗ - World Bank
- GDP (nominal), GDP growth (real), GDP per capita (PPP), Inflation, Budget balance:IMF World Economic Outlook ↗
- Labor force, Labor force participation, Unemployment, Youth unemployment, Labor productivity:ILOSTAT ↗ - International Labour Organization
- Debt:IMF Global Debt Database ↗
- Debt:IMF Public Finances in Modern History ↗
- Trade, Industries:The World Factbook: Vanuatu - CIA
- Agricultural products:FAOSTAT ↗ - Food and Agriculture Organization
Cost of Living
- 2024
- VUV 57,165 per month, gross$480 (USD), $458 (PPP)
- Minimum wage:ILOSTAT ↗ - International Labour Organization
Society
- 2023
- 0.621MediumWorld Rank146thof 193VanuatuWorld
Human Development Index by year Year Vanuatu World 2005 0.561 0.681 2006 0.567 0.688 2007 0.570 0.694 2008 0.578 0.698 2009 0.579 0.701 2010 0.582 0.707 2011 0.587 0.713 2012 0.587 0.717 2013 0.592 0.721 2014 0.597 0.726 2015 0.599 0.731 2016 0.603 0.735 2017 0.607 0.739 2018 0.612 0.741 2019 0.622 0.745 2020 0.617 0.742 2021 0.615 0.742 2022 0.621 0.752 2023 0.621 0.756 Source:- Human Development Report ↗ - United Nations Development Programme
- 2019
- 32.3
- Mean years of schooling2023
- 7.2 years
- Expected for a child today
- 11.8 years
Source:- Human Development Report ↗ - United Nations Development Programme
- Literacy2023
- 88% of adults
- Education expenditure2024
- 7.6% of GDP
- Share of government spending
- 19.3%
Source:- World Development Indicators ↗ - World Bank
- Mobile subscriptions2023
- 286,107
- Fixed telephone lines
- 3,163
- Fixed broadband
- 1.2 subscriptions per 100 people
Counts subscriptions, not people.
Source:- ITU DataHub ↗ - International Telecommunication Union
- Inbound tourists2022
- Official tourism site30,000 arrivalsdown 75% against 201975% below 2019World Rank135thof 139
- Per resident
- 9.6 arrivals per 100 residents
- Same-day visitors
- 35,000 arrivals
- $45.9 million
- Spending per arrival
- $1,531
- Residents' trips abroad
- 18,200 overnight trips
- $116.5 million
Overnight arrivals by year2010 to 2022A tourist stays at least one night. Arrivals count trips, not people.
Source:- UN Tourism Data Dashboard ↗ - UN Tourism
- UNESCO World Heritage Sites
- 1 site1 cultural
Site Chief Roi Mata’s Domain Source:- The World Factbook: Vanuatu - CIA
- Human Development Index, Mean years of schooling:Human Development Report ↗ - United Nations Development Programme
- Income inequality (Gini), Education expenditure:World Development Indicators ↗ - World Bank
- Literacy:UIS Data Browser ↗ - UNESCO Institute for Statistics
- Mobile subscriptions:ITU DataHub ↗ - International Telecommunication Union
- Inbound tourists:UN Tourism Data Dashboard ↗ - UN Tourism
- UNESCO World Heritage Sites:The World Factbook: Vanuatu - CIA
Crime & Safety
- Travel advisory (US)
- Loading
- Active humanitarian crisisAug 2026
- None - no active crisis
- Homicide rate2020
- 0.3 per 100,000 peopleVery low by global standards
- Crime rates
- 1 offence category
Offence Per 100,000 Count Year Homicide (victims) 0.3 1 2020 A low figure can also mean weak recording.
Source:- UNODC Data Portal ↗ - UN Office on Drugs and Crime
- Prison population2021
- 63.8 per 100,000 people
- Persons held
- 195
Source:- UNODC Data Portal ↗ - UN Office on Drugs and Crime
- Active humanitarian crisis:INFORM Severity Index ↗ - European Commission Joint Research Centre
- Homicide rate, Crime rates, Prison population:UNODC Data Portal ↗ - UN Office on Drugs and Crime
Health
- Life expectancy2026
- 72.0 years
- Health expenditure2023
- 4.1% of GDP$143 per person
- Physicians2019
- 0.16 per 1,000 population
- Hospital beds2008latest available
- 1.7 per 1,000 population
- Infant mortality2026
- 13.2 per 1,000 live births
- Maternal mortality2023
- 100 per 100,000 live births
- Alcohol consumption2022
- 1.9 litres of pure alcohol per adult per year
- Tobacco use2023
- 24.8% of adults
- Men
- 40.9%
- Women
- 8.7%
Source:- Global Health Observatory ↗ - World Health Organization
- Road traffic deaths2019
- 14.9 per 100,000 population
- Life expectancy, Infant mortality:UN World Population Prospects ↗
- Health expenditure, Physicians, Hospital beds, Road traffic deaths:World Development Indicators ↗ - World Bank
- Maternal mortality:Maternal mortality estimates ↗ - UN Maternal Mortality Estimation Inter-agency Group
- Alcohol consumption, Tobacco use:Global Health Observatory ↗ - World Health Organization
Environment
- CO₂ emissions2024
- 0.29 Mt per yearup 4.9 percent on the previous year4.9% from 2023
- CO₂ per capita
- 0.9 t per personWorld Rank156thof 207
- Share of global CO₂
- < 0.01%
- Methane (CH₄)
- 0.28 Mt CO₂-eq
- Nitrous oxide (N₂O)
- 0.07 Mt CO₂-eq
- All greenhouse gases
- 0.63 Mt CO₂-eq
Source:- Emissions Database for Global Atmospheric Research (EDGAR) ↗ - European Commission, Joint Research Centre
- 2024
- 4 µg/m³ of PM2.5Most polluted189thof 236
- WHO guideline
- 5 µg/m³
Source:- Air Quality Life Index ↗ - Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago
- Environmental issues
- water pollution
- limited potable water
- inadequate sanitation
- deforestation
Source:- The World Factbook: Vanuatu - CIA
- International agreements
- 18 of 20 landmark treaties in forceParty to 72 multilateral environmental agreements
Treaty Standing Joined Climate Paris Agreement in force 2016 UN Framework Convention on Climate Change in force 1994 Kyoto Protocol in force 2005 Ozone layer Montreal Protocol in force 1995 Vienna Convention (Ozone Layer) in force 1995 Biodiversity Convention on Biological Diversity in force 1993 CITES in force 1989 Convention on Migratory Species (Bonn) not a party Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety not a party Nagoya Protocol in force 2014 Land and heritage Ramsar Convention on Wetlands in force 2019 World Heritage Convention in force 2002 UN Convention to Combat Desertification in force 1999 Chemicals and waste Basel Convention in force 2019 Rotterdam Convention (PIC) in force 2019 Stockholm Convention (POPs) in force 2005 Minamata Convention on Mercury in force 2019 Oceans UN Convention on the Law of the Sea in force 1999 High Seas Treaty (BBNJ) in force 2026 MARPOL 73/78 in force 1989 Source:- International Environmental Agreements Database ↗ - Université Laval
- CO₂ emissions:Emissions Database for Global Atmospheric Research (EDGAR) ↗ - European Commission, Joint Research Centre
- Air pollution:Air Quality Life Index ↗ - Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago
- Environmental issues:The World Factbook: Vanuatu - CIA
- International agreements:International Environmental Agreements Database ↗ - Université Laval
Food & Water
- No access to safe drinking water2022
- 5.5% of the population
- Renewable water2022
- 10 billion m³ per year
- Per person
- 31,944 m³ per year
- Dependency ratio
- 0% originates outside the country
Source:- AQUASTAT ↗ - Food and Agriculture Organization
- Undernourishment2022
- 8.1% of the population
- Obesity2024
- 22.6% of adults
- Men
- 17.4%
- Women
- 27.7%
Source:- Global Health Observatory ↗ - World Health Organization
- Underweight children2013
- 11.7% of children under five
- No access to safe drinking water, Renewable water:AQUASTAT ↗ - Food and Agriculture Organization
- Undernourishment:Food security indicators (FAOSTAT) ↗ - Food and Agriculture Organization
- Obesity:Global Health Observatory ↗ - World Health Organization
- Underweight children:World Development Indicators ↗ - World Bank
Energy
- Energy consumption2024
- Per capita
- 14.8 GJ per person
- Share of world total
- < 0.01%
- Supply
- No meaningful productionproduces under 2% of what it consumes, 2024
Source:- International Energy Statistics ↗ - U.S. Energy Information Administration
- Electricity2024
- No electricity trade0.1 TWh generated per year
- Generation
- 0.1 TWh per year
- Consumption
- 0.1 TWh per year
Source:- International Energy Statistics ↗ - U.S. Energy Information Administration
- Oil, gas & coal
- No domestic productionconsumes 2,194 b/d in 2024Consumption20242,194 b/d
Oil imports and exports count crude oil only.
- Energy consumption, Electricity, Oil, gas & coal:International Energy Statistics ↗ - U.S. Energy Information Administration
Defense
- Nuclear weapons2026
- None - no nuclear arsenal
- Nuclear weapons:Status of World Nuclear Forces ↗ - Federation of American Scientists
