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Eratap beach, Efate, Vanuatu

Photo: Phillip Capper derivative work: Jjtkk · CC BY 2.0 · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale

01The evidence

The 4 key statistics that decide it

Only these place Vanuatu on economy & innovation — one vote each. Every value is the publisher’s own, read at the edition the Country Index 2026 used — or, for a survey-based key, each country’s latest reading; the grey ticks are every other country it was compared with, lowest on the left.

Why these keys
  1. Key 1 of 4

    GDP per Capita (PPP)

    World Bank Group

    Why it is a key

    2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY 4.0

    3,867

    GDP per capita (constant 2021 international $, PPP)

    Higher is better

    Vanuatu: 3,867. Across the 185 countries in this edition, values run from 1,067 (Burundi) to 139,593 (Singapore); the world median is 17,265.

    World median
    17,265
    Best in Melanesia
    13,961 Fiji
  2. Key 2 of 4

    Firms with a Bank Loan or Line of Credit

    World Bank Group

    Why it is a key

    Latest reading per country, 2016–2025 · Vanuatu’s is from 2023 · CC BY 4.0

    27.15

    Firms with a bank loan or line of credit (%)

    Higher is better

    Vanuatu: 27.15. Across the 179 countries at their latest reading, values run from 2.113 (Pakistan) to 88.52 (Israel); the world median is 35.95.

    World median
    35.95
    Best in Melanesia
    53.8 Fiji
  3. Key 3 of 4

    Economic Complexity Index

    Growth Lab at Harvard University

    Why it is a key

    2024 edition · data for 2024 · CC0 1.0

    No reading

    ECI score (standardised, roughly −3 to +3)

    Higher is better

    Growth Lab at Harvard University publishes no 2024 figure for Vanuatu, so the standing rests on the other keys.

    Across the 145 countries in this edition, values run from -3.53 (Chad) to 1.729 (Japan); the world median is 0.131.

    World median
    0.131
    Best in Melanesia
    -2.137 Papua New Guinea
  4. Key 4 of 4

    Account Ownership at a Financial Institution

    World Bank Group

    Why it is a key

    2024 edition · data for 2024 · CC BY 4.0

    No reading

    Adults with an account (% of population aged 15+)

    Higher is better

    World Bank Group publishes no 2024 figure for Vanuatu, so the standing rests on the other keys.

    Across the 139 countries in this edition, values run from 14.83 (Niger) to 99.85 (Iceland); the world median is 72.83.

    World median
    72.83

03In context

Vanuatu beside its neighbours

A position reads best beside the countries around it. Every position below is a place among all 176 countries on economy & innovation, never a place within the region.

Melanesia
1st176thNot placed · 48 countries with too few key statisticsNo data

The whole world on economy & innovation

Vanuatu and Melanesia

Vanuatu has no land border, so the table compares it with its sub-region. Standing among all 176; the key columns are the publishers’ own values.

CountryStandingGDP per Capita (PPP)GDP per capita (constant 2021 international $, PPP)Firms with a Bank Loan or Line of CreditFirms with a bank loan or line of credit (%)Economic Complexity IndexECI score (standardised, roughly −3 to +3)Account Ownership at a Financial InstitutionAdults with an account (% of population aged 15+)
Fiji56th13,96153.8——
Solomon Islands=125th2,38238.74——
Vanuatu=132nd3,86727.15——
Papua New Guinea147th4,45628.21-2.137—
New Caledonianot placed————

“—”: no published reading in that edition. What a standing is

Across Melanesia

Every country in the sub-region, by its place among all 176.

Placed either side on economy & innovation

The countries immediately above and below Vanuatu in the topic’s list.

04Context, no vote

Where Vanuatu is ahead of the world, and behind

31 more statistics filed under economy & innovation, published in full and deliberately given no vote in the standing. Select a row for the publisher, the rank and the links.

Every country

Ahead of the world median5

Statistics on which Vanuatu does better than the middle country measured.

  • Debt Service on External DebtWorld Bank Group · 2024 · world median 12.936.514▼ Worsened since 2014

    Vanuatu: 6.514 · world median 12.93 · Total debt service (% of exports of goods, services and primary income). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.

    Published values in that edition run from 0.285 to 96.2; lower is better.

    Position 93rd of 109 · derived, 1st = worst.

    Chart and every countryThe 2024 dataset

  • Firms Competing Against Informal FirmsWorld Bank Group · 2026 · world median 41.8126.51No earlier reading

    Vanuatu: 26.51 · world median 41.81 · Firms competing against unregistered or informal firms (%). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2026.

    Published values in that edition run from 1.926 to 90.5; lower is better.

    Position 133rd of 181 · derived, 1st = worst.

    Chart and every countryThe 2026 dataset

  • Interest Payments on External DebtWorld Bank Group · 2024 · world median 1.4510.977▼ Worsened since 2014

    Vanuatu: 0.977 · world median 1.451 · Interest payments on external debt (% of GNI). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.

    Published values in that edition run from 0.069 to 17.92; lower is better.

    Position 77th of 112 · derived, 1st = worst.

    Chart and every countryThe 2024 dataset

  • External Debt Stocks (% of GNI)World Bank Group · 2024 · world median 43.9439.16▼ Worsened since 2014

    Vanuatu: 39.16 · world median 43.94 · External debt stocks (% of GNI). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.

    Published values in that edition run from 2.213 to 350.57; lower is better.

    Position 66th of 110 · derived, 1st = worst.

    Chart and every countryThe 2024 dataset

  • Management Practices IndexWorld Bank Group · 2026 · world median 52.3953.1No earlier reading

    Vanuatu: 53.1 · world median 52.39 · Management practices index, medium and large firms (0–100). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2026.

    Published values in that edition run from 28.07 to 69.29; higher is better.

    Position 81st of 169 · derived.

    Chart and every countryThe 2026 dataset

Behind the world median14

Statistics on which Vanuatu does worse than the middle country measured.

  • GDP GrowthWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 3.3963.054▼ Worsened since 2015

    Vanuatu: 3.054 · world median 3.396 · GDP growth (annual %). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.

    Published values in that edition run from -5.847 to 19.34; higher is better.

    Position 102nd of 186 · derived.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • Regulatory QualityWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median -0.093-0.34▼ Worsened since 2015

    Vanuatu: -0.34 · world median -0.093 · Regulatory Quality (−2.5 to 2.5). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.

    Published values in that edition run from -2.106 to 2.113; higher is better.

    Position 125th of 209 · derived.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • Productive Capacities IndexUNCTAD · 2022 · world median 46.6742.68No real change since 2012

    Vanuatu: 42.68 · world median 46.67 · Productive Capacities Index (1–100). UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), 2022 edition, data for 2022.

    Published values in that edition run from 17.8 to 71.02; higher is better.

    Position 124th of 195 · derived.

    Chart and every countryThe 2022 dataset

  • Government AI Readiness IndexOxford Insights · 2025 · world median 40.1928.55▲ Improved since 2020

    Vanuatu: 28.55 · world median 40.19 · AI readiness score (0–100). Oxford Insights, 2025 edition, data for 2025.

    Published values in that edition run from 12.12 to 88.36; higher is better.

    Ranked 132nd of 195 by Oxford Insights.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • Digitally-Deliverable Services ExportsUNCTAD · 2024 · world median 25.4212.77▲ Improved since 2014

    Vanuatu: 12.77 · world median 25.42 · Digitally-deliverable services exports (% of services exports). UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), 2024 edition, data for 2024.

    Published values in that edition run from 0.377 to 87.15; higher is better.

    Position 122nd of 170 · derived.

    Chart and every countryThe 2024 dataset

  • Liner Shipping Connectivity IndexUNCTAD · 2026 · world median 56.2124.49▼ Worsened since 2016

    Vanuatu: 24.49 · world median 56.21 · LSCI (index, average Q1 2023 = 100). UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), 2026 edition, data for 2026.

    Published values in that edition run from 4.13 to 1,319; higher is better.

    Ranked 132nd of 175 by UNCTAD.

    Chart and every countryThe 2026 dataset

  • Frontier Technology Readiness IndexUNCTAD · 2023 · world median 0.4850.271No real change since 2013

    Vanuatu: 0.271 · world median 0.485 · Frontier Technology Readiness Index (0–1). UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), 2023 edition, data for 2023.

    Published values in that edition run from 0 to 1; higher is better.

    Position 134th of 170 · derived.

    Chart and every countryThe 2023 dataset

  • Business Ready: Public ServicesWorld Bank Group · 2024 · world median 50.1332.06No earlier reading

    Vanuatu: 32.06 · world median 50.13 · Public services score (0–100). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.

    Published values in that edition run from 18.35 to 73.31; higher is better.

    Position 42nd of 50 · derived.

    Chart and every countryThe 2024 dataset

  • Firms with an International Quality CertificationWorld Bank Group · 2026 · world median 10.42.677No earlier reading

    Vanuatu: 2.677 · world median 10.4 · Firms with an internationally recognised quality certification (%). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2026.

    Published values in that edition run from 0 to 45.77; higher is better.

    Chart and every countryThe 2026 dataset

  • Crop Production IndexFAO · 2022 · world median 106.2384.55▼ Worsened since 2012

    Vanuatu: 84.55 · world median 106.23 · Crop production index (2014–2016 = 100). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2022 edition, data for 2022.

    Published values in that edition run from 53.79 to 189.93; higher is better.

    Position 177th of 195 · derived.

    Chart and every countryThe 2022 dataset

  • Business Ready: Regulatory FrameworkWorld Bank Group · 2024 · world median 66.850.48No earlier reading

    Vanuatu: 50.48 · world median 66.8 · Regulatory framework score (0–100). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.

    Published values in that edition run from 46.21 to 78.34; higher is better.

    Position 47th of 50 · derived.

    Chart and every countryThe 2024 dataset

  • Food Production IndexFAO · 2022 · world median 106.0882.96▼ Worsened since 2012

    Vanuatu: 82.96 · world median 106.08 · Food production index (2014–2016 = 100). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2022 edition, data for 2022.

    Published values in that edition run from 71.08 to 177.49; higher is better.

    Position 186th of 195 · derived.

    Chart and every countryThe 2022 dataset

  • Business Ready: Operational EfficiencyWorld Bank Group · 2024 · world median 65.8243.94No earlier reading

    Vanuatu: 43.94 · world median 65.82 · Operational efficiency score (0–100). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.

    Published values in that edition run from 40.36 to 87.33; higher is better.

    Position 49th of 50 · derived.

    Chart and every countryThe 2024 dataset

  • Livestock Production IndexFAO · 2022 · world median 107.0675.5▼ Worsened since 2012

    Vanuatu: 75.5 · world median 107.06 · Livestock production index (2014–2016 = 100). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2022 edition, data for 2022.

    Published values in that edition run from 35.52 to 190.08; higher is better.

    Position 191st of 194 · derived.

    Chart and every countryThe 2022 dataset

No better end12

These describe the shape of a country — more is not better or worse, only different — so they are never ahead or behind.

  • Tariff Rate, Applied, Weighted Mean, All ProductsWorld Bank Group · 2022 · world median 3.6611.48Moved since 2012

    Vanuatu: 11.48 · world median 3.66 · Applied tariff rate, trade-weighted mean (%). World Bank Group, 2022 edition, data for 2022.

    Published values in that edition run from 0 to 29.52.

    Chart and every countryThe 2022 dataset

  • Commodity Export DependenceUNCTAD · 2024 · world median 67.1787.86Moved since 2014

    Vanuatu: 87.86 · world median 67.17 · Commodity exports (% of merchandise exports, three-year average). UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), 2024 edition, data for 2024.

    Published values in that edition run from 4.605 to 99.77.

    Chart and every countryThe 2024 dataset

  • Terms of Trade IndexUNCTAD · 2025 · world median 103.23114.99Moved since 2015

    Vanuatu: 114.99 · world median 103.23 · Terms of trade index (2015 = 100). UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), 2025 edition, data for 2025.

    Published values in that edition run from 38.2 to 1,448.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • Services ExportsUNCTAD · 2025 · world median 9.60218.81Moved since 2015

    Vanuatu: 18.81 · world median 9.602 · Services exports (% of GDP). UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), 2025 edition, data for 2025.

    Published values in that edition run from 0.085 to 166.21.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • Foreign Direct Investment InflowsUNCTAD · 2025 · world median 1.9682.999No real change since 2015

    Vanuatu: 2.999 · world median 1.968 · FDI inflows (% of GDP). UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), 2025 edition, data for 2025.

    Published values in that edition run from -32.97 to 2,221.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • Export Concentration IndexUNCTAD · 2025 · world median 0.3060.335Moved since 2015

    Vanuatu: 0.335 · world median 0.306 · Export concentration index (0–1, normalised Herfindahl–Hirschman). UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), 2025 edition, data for 2025.

    Published values in that edition run from 0.059 to 0.933.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • Total Natural Resources Rents (% of GDP)World Bank Group · 2021 · world median 1.7080.568Moved since 2011

    Vanuatu: 0.568 · world median 1.708 · Natural resources rents (% of GDP). World Bank Group, 2021 edition, data for 2021.

    Published values in that edition run from 0 to 61.03.

    Position 124th of 180 · derived, counted from the highest value.

    Chart and every countryThe 2021 dataset

  • Statutory Minimum WageILO · 2024 · world median 657.95458.36No real change since 2014

    Vanuatu: 458.36 · world median 657.95 · Statutory minimum wage per month (2021 PPP $). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.

    Published values in that edition run from 4.038 to 3,804.

    Chart and every countryThe 2024 dataset

  • Inflation, GDP DeflatorWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 3.3062.186Moved since 2015

    Vanuatu: 2.186 · world median 3.306 · Annual change in the GDP implicit deflator (%). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.

    Published values in that edition run from -7.93 to 227.09.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • Tax Revenue (% of GDP)OECD · 2024 · world median 21.8515.53Moved since 2014

    Vanuatu: 15.53 · world median 21.85 · Total tax revenue, all levels of government (% of GDP). OECD, 2024 edition, data for 2024.

    Published values in that edition run from 3.11 to 45.18.

    Chart and every countryThe 2024 dataset

  • Merchant Fleet by Country of OwnershipUNCTAD · 2026 · world median 275.733.16Moved since 2016

    Vanuatu: 3.16 · world median 275.73 · Merchant fleet owned (thousand dead-weight tons). UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), 2026 edition, data for 2026.

    Published values in that edition run from 0 to 397,071.

    Chart and every countryThe 2026 dataset

  • Scholarly ArticlesOurResearch · 2025 · world median 2,2405Moved since 2022

    Vanuatu: 5 · world median 2,240 · Articles with at least one author at an institution in the country (full counting). OpenAlex (OurResearch), 2025 edition, data for 2025.

    Published values in that edition run from 1 to 1,094,890.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

No current reading for Vanuatu

Account Ownership at a Financial Institution, Actual Individual Consumption per Capita (PPP), Adjusted Net Savings (last 2020), Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing Value Added (% of GDP) (last 2024), Average Monthly Earnings of Employees (last 2010), Complexity Outlook Index, Comprehensive Wealth per Capita, Container Port Traffic (last 2019), Creative Goods Exports (last 2011), Creative Services Exports (last 2022), Economic Complexity Index, Exports of Goods and Services (% of GDP) (last 2024), Foreign Value Added Share of Gross Exports, General Government Consumption (last 2024), Gini Index (last 2019), Gini Index of Disposable Income (SWIID) (last 2019), Global Innovation Index, GNI per Capita (PPP) (last 2024), Gross Capital Formation (% of GDP) (last 2024), Gross Savings (% of GDP) (last 2022), Historical GDP per Capita (Maddison), Household Consumption (last 2024), ICT Goods Exports (last 2011), ICT Services Exports (last 2022), Imports of Goods and Services (% of GDP) (last 2024), Income Share Held by Lowest 20% (last 2019), Income Share Held by Richest 10% (last 2019), Industry Value Added including Construction (% of GDP) (last 2024), Informal Output (DGE Model Estimate), Logistics Performance Index, Manufacturing Value Added (% of GDP) (last 2024), New Business Density, Palma Ratio (last 2019), Price Level of Household Consumption, Research and Development Spending, Researchers per Million Inhabitants, Statutory Corporate Income Tax Rate, Total Factor Productivity Level, Trade (% of GDP) (last 2024), Water-Use Efficiency and World Energy Trilemma Index. Listed rather than hidden, so the page can be checked against it.

“Position · derived” is this site’s ordering of the published values, 1st = best unless the row says otherwise; the publisher ranks no country on it. Rank, position and standing

06The top of the list

Who leads on economy & innovation

The three countries placed highest of 176, and the leaders Vanuatu can most readily be measured against.

All 176 countries
  1. 1

    Austria

    Western Europe

    1st of 176 · 4 of 4 keys

    Photo: chensiyuan · CC BY-SA 4.0, greyscale

  2. 2

    Japan

    Eastern Asia

    2nd of 176 · 4 of 4 keys

    Photo: JurriaanH · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale

  3. 3

    Germany

    Western Europe

    3rd of 176 · 4 of 4 keys

    Photo: dronepicr · CC BY 2.0, greyscale

Placed highest nearby

  1. Highest in Oceania

    Australia27th4/4 keys
  2. Highest in Melanesia

    Fiji56th2/4 keys
  3. This page

    Vanuatu=132nd2/4 keys

Positions out of 176 placed on the topic. A country needs readings on enough keys to be placed, and the top of the list is often held on fewer of them.

08Questions

Vanuatu on economy & innovation: questions answered

Every answer is built from the numbers on this page, so none can say something the page does not.

How does Vanuatu rank on economy & innovation?

Vanuatu is placed joint 132nd of 176 countries on Economy & Innovation in the Country Index 2026, from 2 of its 4 key statistics (GDP per Capita (PPP) and Firms with a Bank Loan or Line of Credit). The position is this site’s ordering of published statistics, not a rank any publisher printed.

What is the latest GDP per Capita (PPP) figure for Vanuatu?

3,867 in 2025 (gDP per capita (constant 2021 international $, PPP)), according to World Bank Group. The world median in the same edition was 17,265.

What is the latest Firms with a Bank Loan or Line of Credit figure for Vanuatu?

27.15 in 2025 (firms with a bank loan or line of credit (%)), according to World Bank Group. The world median in the same edition was 35.95.

How have Vanuatu’s economy & innovation figures changed?

GDP per Capita (PPP) rose from 3,806 in 2000 to 3,867 in 2025.

Which economy & innovation statistics are missing for Vanuatu?

No current reading is published for Vanuatu on Account Ownership at a Financial Institution, Actual Individual Consumption per Capita (PPP), Adjusted Net Savings, Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing Value Added (% of GDP), Average Monthly Earnings of Employees, Complexity Outlook Index, Comprehensive Wealth per Capita, Container Port Traffic, Creative Goods Exports, Creative Services Exports, Economic Complexity Index, Exports of Goods and Services (% of GDP), Foreign Value Added Share of Gross Exports, General Government Consumption, Gini Index, Gini Index of Disposable Income (SWIID), Global Innovation Index, GNI per Capita (PPP), Gross Capital Formation (% of GDP), Gross Savings (% of GDP), Historical GDP per Capita (Maddison), Household Consumption, ICT Goods Exports, ICT Services Exports, Imports of Goods and Services (% of GDP), Income Share Held by Lowest 20%, Income Share Held by Richest 10%, Industry Value Added including Construction (% of GDP), Informal Output (DGE Model Estimate), Logistics Performance Index, Manufacturing Value Added (% of GDP), New Business Density, Palma Ratio, Price Level of Household Consumption, Research and Development Spending, Researchers per Million Inhabitants, Statutory Corporate Income Tax Rate, Total Factor Productivity Level, Trade (% of GDP), Water-Use Efficiency and World Energy Trilemma Index. They are listed rather than hidden, so the evidence on the page can be checked against it.

09Method

Method, sources and how to cite

What this topic does not measure

The total size of an economy is deliberately left out: a very large economy spread over a very large population is not doing more for each person. Growth rates, trade shares and the structure of output (how much is farming, industry or services) are published here as context, because they describe an economy's shape rather than how well it serves people. Jobs and wages have their own topic, Work & Labour.

About economy & innovation, in full

How the Economy & Innovation standing is decided

A standing is this site’s ordering, named with its edition — never a publisher’s rank. 4 key statistics vote, one vote each; every country’s published value becomes a place within that key’s own field, the places are averaged, and the average is never published. A country needs 2 of the 4 keys to be placed.

The economy & innovation method, step by stepHow every standing on this site is built

The key statistics and their licences

The other 31 statistics on this page come from 7 publishers, each named beside its numbers, with every edition and licence on the datasets pages.

The standing itself is part of the Country Index 2026, published under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Photographs

Vanuatu’s banner and the countries placed highest, from their profiles: Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale, each used under the licence named.

Cite this page

Nations Inquiry (2026). Vanuatu: Economy & Innovation — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/vanuatu/economy

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