GeoRealityMatch
A breathtaking aerial view of the lush green coastline of Vanuatu, surrounded by crystal clear waters.A tranquil tropical island scene featuring a dock, boats, and vibrant turquoise waters under a partly cloudy sky.

Vanuatu

Oceania · Melanesia

Medium development

The air is clean. Access to essential health services is patchy.

Safety
Homicides
0.3per 100,000 people a yearVery lowUNODC / World Bank · 2020
Money

Incomes below the median country

GNI per person
$4,410national income per person, US dollarsLow
World Bank · 2025

Income and inflation over time

Income per person rose 98% in current dollars from 2006 to 2025, and rose 4% after inflation.

GDP per person, current US$At purchasing power parityInflation

$0$2.5K$5.0K$4,525 PPP$4,039Inflation, % a year12%0200620102015202020252006, $2,035 a person, $2,842 at PPP, inflation 2%2007, $2,334 a person, $2,930 at PPP, inflation 3.9%2008, $2,604 a person, $3,075 at PPP, inflation 4.8%2009, $2,546 a person, $3,108 at PPP, inflation 4.3%2010, $2,815 a person, $3,112 at PPP, inflation 2.8%2011, $3,163 a person, $3,206 at PPP, inflation 0.9%2012, $3,005 a person, $3,227 at PPP, inflation 1.3%2013, $3,393 a person, $3,224 at PPP, inflation 1.5%2014, $3,378 a person, $3,307 at PPP, inflation 0.8%2015, $3,214 a person, $3,379 at PPP, inflation 2.5%2016, $3,340 a person, $3,457 at PPP, inflation 0.8%2017, $3,585 a person, $3,583 at PPP, inflation 3.1%2018, $3,626 a person, $3,668 at PPP, inflation 2.3%2019, $3,636 a person, $3,762 at PPP, inflation 2.8%2020, $3,404 a person, $3,512 at PPP, inflation 5.3%2021, $3,576 a person, $3,546 at PPP, inflation 2.3%2022, $3,680 a person, $3,919 at PPP, inflation 6.7%2023, $3,708 a person, $4,202 at PPP, inflation 11.2%2024, $3,960 a person, $4,368 at PPP, inflation 1.1%2025, $4,039 a person, $4,525 at PPP, inflation 0.7%$0$2.5K$5.0KInflation, % a year12%0200620102015202020252006, $2,035 a person, $2,842 at PPP, inflation 2%2007, $2,334 a person, $2,930 at PPP, inflation 3.9%2008, $2,604 a person, $3,075 at PPP, inflation 4.8%2009, $2,546 a person, $3,108 at PPP, inflation 4.3%2010, $2,815 a person, $3,112 at PPP, inflation 2.8%2011, $3,163 a person, $3,206 at PPP, inflation 0.9%2012, $3,005 a person, $3,227 at PPP, inflation 1.3%2013, $3,393 a person, $3,224 at PPP, inflation 1.5%2014, $3,378 a person, $3,307 at PPP, inflation 0.8%2015, $3,214 a person, $3,379 at PPP, inflation 2.5%2016, $3,340 a person, $3,457 at PPP, inflation 0.8%2017, $3,585 a person, $3,583 at PPP, inflation 3.1%2018, $3,626 a person, $3,668 at PPP, inflation 2.3%2019, $3,636 a person, $3,762 at PPP, inflation 2.8%2020, $3,404 a person, $3,512 at PPP, inflation 5.3%2021, $3,576 a person, $3,546 at PPP, inflation 2.3%2022, $3,680 a person, $3,919 at PPP, inflation 6.7%2023, $3,708 a person, $4,202 at PPP, inflation 11.2%2024, $3,960 a person, $4,368 at PPP, inflation 1.1%2025, $4,039 a person, $4,525 at PPP, inflation 0.7%

World Bank: GDP per person in current US dollars and at PPP, real GDP per person, consumer price inflation. Observed years only.

Health

Below-average life expectancy

Life expectancy
71.7years, at birthModerate
#121 of 195
World Bank · 2024
Health coverage
52WHO universal health coverage index, 0 to 100Very lowWHO · 2023
Air pollution
6.2PM2.5, micrograms per cubic metre, national averageVery lowWHO · 2023
Work and internet
Unemployment rate
5.1%share of the labour force without a jobWorld Bank · 2025
A tranquil tropical island scene featuring a dock, boats, and vibrant turquoise waters under a partly cloudy sky.
How it changed

Vanuatu's Human Development Index

0.621Medium human development

146th of 193 in UNDP's 2023 ranking, 12th of 15 in Oceania.

UNDP builds the index from three dimensions: a long and healthy life, being knowledgeable, and a decent standard of living. They are measured by life expectancy at birth, mean and expected years of schooling, and gross national income per capita. UNDP Human Development Report 2025.

Nearest countries by HDI

  1. #143Kenya0.628
  2. #145Nepal0.622
  3. #146Vanuatu0.621
  4. #147Laos0.617
  5. #148Angola0.616
Full HDI ranking, all 193 countries

HDI since 2005

Year by year

Human development rose from 0.561 in 2005 to 0.621 in 2023.

0.500.570.650.6212005201020232005: 0.5612006: 0.5672007: 0.5702008: 0.5782009: 0.5792010: 0.5822011: 0.5872012: 0.5872013: 0.5922014: 0.5972015: 0.5992016: 0.6032017: 0.6072018: 0.6122019: 0.6222020: 0.6172021: 0.6152022: 0.6212023: 0.6210.500.570.652005201020232005: 0.5612006: 0.5672007: 0.5702008: 0.5782009: 0.5792010: 0.5822011: 0.5872012: 0.5872013: 0.5922014: 0.5972015: 0.5992016: 0.6032017: 0.6072018: 0.6122019: 0.6222020: 0.6172021: 0.6152022: 0.6212023: 0.621

UNDP Human Development Report, 2025 edition. 19 annual values, none interpolated.

Twenty years here

Year by yearThe world report
Life expectancy at birth
71.7 years2024at birthUp 2.5 years from 69.2 years in 2005
Urban population
22%2025of people in towns and citiesDown 1 point from 23% in 2006
Births per woman
3.572024births per womanDown 0.56 from 4.13 in 2005
Renewable share of energy
25%2022of energy usedDown 30 points from 55% in 2004
Access to electricity
66%2024of people with electricityUp 35 points from 31% in 2005
Infant mortality
142024deaths before age one, per 1,000 birthsDown 5 from 20 in 2005
CO2 emissions per person
0.9 t2024of CO2 per person a yearUp 0.5 t from 0.4 t in 2005
Forest area
36%2023of land under forestLevel with 2004

World Bank, from the first to the last observed year of each indicator; each has its own window.

Our take

80 islands and 100+ languages: active volcanoes, kava culture, a CBI passport available. The case for living here is clean air. The case against is patchy access to essential health services and low incomes.

About Vanuatu

Vanuatu is a Melanesian archipelago in the South Pacific with one of the world's most active and accessible volcanoes on Tanna Island, outstanding diving in the Coral Sea, and a tradition-based culture, kastom, that varies from island to island and remains central to daily life. The ni-Vanuatu people are warm and proud of their cultural diversity, with over 100 languages across the archipelago. It suits adventurous travellers who want natural drama and genuine cultural difference.

Practical facts

  • CapitalPort Vila
  • LanguagesBislama, English, French
  • CurrencyVanuatu vatu (VUV)
  • Area12,190 km²
  • Plug typeType I
  • Drives on theright
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Quick answers

What is Vanuatu's Human Development Index?

Vanuatu's Human Development Index is 0.621 for 2023 (UNDP Human Development Report 2025), ranked #146 of 193 by UNDP.

What is life expectancy in Vanuatu?

Life expectancy at birth in Vanuatu is 71.7 yrs (World Bank), ranked #121 of 195 countries.