Vanuatu is an archipelagic nation located in the South Pacific Ocean, comprising approximately 80 islands stretching across roughly 1,300 kilometers. Situated east of Australia and northwest of New Zealand, this island country is part of the Melanesi...
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With a safety index of 58/100, Vanuatu offers moderate safety conditions for expats and their families.
Vanuatu offers visa-free entry or visa on arrival for citizens of over 100 nationalities, including the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and most EU countries, for tourism and leisure stays of up to 30 days. Travelers must present a passport valid for at least six months beyond departure, proof of accommodation, a return or onward ticket, and evidence of sufficient funds. Extensions up to 120 days are available at the Immigration Office before the initial period expires[1][5][10]. For longer...
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62% above EU avg
10% below EU avg
55% below EU avg
85% below EU avg
Baselines based on EU averages. Source: Numbeo indices.
Capital
Port Vila
Timezone
UTC+11:00
Area
12,189 km²
Population
307,150
Vanuatu shows a purchasing power index of 11/100, indicating below average economic conditions for expats.
GDP
$983,582,865
HDI
0.6
Quality of Life
30/100
-13 vs NYC
Purchasing Power
4/100
-38 vs NYC
Understanding the economic landscape is essential for evaluating living costs and opportunities in Vanuatu. This comprehensive overview covers key financial indicators including cost of living, housing markets, income levels, and fiscal policies that shape daily life and long-term financial planning.
Cost of Living Index
Moderate costs with Groceries Index at 83.4 and Restaurant Price Index at 58.5. Inflation averaged 9.3% in 2023 due to cyclone disruptions, though recent data shows -0.7% CPI in Q1 2024.
Housing Market
Property prices average 48.5 years of household income, indicating severe affordability challenges. Rental market (index: 41.7) is more accessible but overall housing remains extremely expensive relative to local incomes.
Average Income Levels
GDP per capita estimated at USD 3,290 (2022). Poverty rate forecasted at 43% through 2026. Limited purchasing power with unemployment at 5.2% in 2023, constraining household incomes significantly.
Tax System
Value Added Tax (VAT) is primary revenue source with robust collection despite economic challenges. Limited publicly available data on income tax rates and progressiveness, but fiscal deficit of 4% in 2023 suggests moderate tax burden.
Business Environment
Limited formal business ranking data available. Economy heavily dependent on tourism (65% of pre-COVID levels as of 2023) and agriculture. Infrastructure investment ongoing but regulatory environment remains underdeveloped for business formation.
Social Security
Government advancing Universal Cash Transfer (UCT) initiative for household recovery from cyclone damage. Limited comprehensive social safety net data, but poverty rate of 43% indicates weak social security coverage and protection.
Vanuatu, a South Pacific archipelago spanning 12,189 km², features a predominantly tropical climate ideal for expats seeking warm, year-round temperatures. Dominated by Tropical Rainforest (Af) classification with minor Tropical Savanna (Aw) and Tropical Monsoon (Am) influences, it offers stable warmth averaging 25°C, high humidity, and abundant rainfall exceeding 1600 mm annually in most areas.
3 distinct climate regions — see full guide for details
Read full guideLife Expectancy
72.1
Population
307,150
Religions
Ethnic Composition
Research in Progress
We're currently analyzing expat perspectives for Vanuatu. Check back soon for insights from real experiences!
We're gradually rolling out this feature and continuously improving the insights. The data is based on real expat discussions and will become more comprehensive over time.
Vanuatu is a parliamentary republic that has experienced severe political instability since the 1990s, with three government changes occurring in 2023 alone due to votes of no confidence[5][7]. Following snap elections in January 2025, a five-party coalition government was formed under Prime Minister Jotham Napat, with constitutional reforms implemented to prevent party-switching among MPs[4][6]. The country operates under a Westminster-style parliamentary system with a ceremonial president and a unicameral 52-seat parliament[3].
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Population
307,150
Currency
VUV
Timezone
UTC+11:00
Calling Code
+678
Week starts on
Monday
Gini Coefficient
37.6 (2010)
Traffic side
right side
Data Source: Safety, crime, and quality metrics are sourced from Numbeo, a crowd-sourced global database of reported data.
All scores are relative comparisons on a 0-100 scale, where 50 = global average. Higher scores mean better than average, lower scores mean worse than average.