Photo: Phillip Capper derivative work: Jjtkk · CC BY 2.0 · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale
Topic 12 of 18 · Country Index 2026
Vanuatu: Mobility & Trade
Which countries move goods across their borders most smoothly?
Vanuatu is placed 154th of 177 countries on mobility & trade in the Country Index 2026, from 2 of its 4 key statistics. Readings behind it: Liner Shipping Connectivity Index 25.39 (2025); Container Import Dwell Time 7 (2024).
Share
Mobility & Trade
154th
of 177 countries placed
Placed from 2 of 4 key statistics
01The evidence
The 4 key statistics that decide it
Only these place Vanuatu on mobility & trade — one vote each. Every value is the publisher’s own, read at the edition the Country Index 2026 used; the grey ticks are every other country it was compared with, lowest on the left.
Key 1 of 4
Liner Shipping Connectivity Index
UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD)
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY 3.0 IGO
25.39
LSCI (index, average Q1 2023 = 100)
Higher is better
Ranked 129th of 177 by UNCTAD
Vanuatu: 25.39. Across the 168 countries in this edition, values run from 4.13 (Turks and Caicos Islands) to 1,313 (China); the world median is 60.84.
- World median
- 60.84
- Best in Melanesia
- 50.38 Papua New Guinea
7
Median days a full import container waits in port
Lower is better
Vanuatu: 7. Across the 156 countries in this edition, values run from 1 (Gibraltar) to 21.6 (Haiti); the world median is 4.4.
- World median
- 4.4
- Best in Melanesia
- 2.9 Papua New Guinea
No reading
LPI score (1–5)
Higher is better
World Bank Group publishes no 2023 figure for Vanuatu, so the standing rests on the other keys.
Across the 139 countries in this edition, values run from 1.9 (Afghanistan) to 4.3 (Singapore); the world median is 2.9.
- World median
- 2.9
- Best in Melanesia
- 2.8 Solomon Islands
Key 4 of 4
ICT Goods Exports
UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD)
2024 edition · data for 2024 · CC BY 3.0 IGO
No reading
ICT goods exports (% of total goods exports)
Higher is better
UNCTAD publishes no 2024 figure for Vanuatu, so the standing rests on the other keys.
Across the 120 countries in this edition, values run from 0 (Gambia) to 61.45 (Hong Kong); the world median is 0.975.
- World median
- 0.975
- Best in Melanesia
- 0.81 Fiji
02Over time
Which way Vanuatu is moving
Each key’s published value, edition by edition, beside the world median. The Country Index 2026 is the first edition of the standing, so the standing itself has no history to chart yet.
Liner Shipping Connectivity Index
LSCI (index, average Q1 2023 = 100) · higher is better
VanuatuWorld median
Vanuatu fell from 25.75 in 2006 to 24.49 in 2026; the world median went from 52.25 to 56.21.
Every year’s figures
Year Vanuatu World median 2026 24.49 56.21 2025 25.39 60.84 2024 25.85 55.22 2023 25.09 54.78 2022 23.29 51.49 2021 24.19 52.64 2020 23.48 47.86 2019 23.49 51.05 2018 22.14 52.03 2017 22.89 49.87 2016 25.57 48.09 2015 23.44 49.13 2014 25.21 48.08 2013 28.76 51.32 2012 27.08 47.44 2011 24.28 50.26 2010 13.78 50.51 2009 16.92 53.04 2008 29.02 51.68 2007 25.08 55.78 2006 25.75 52.25 ICT Goods Exports
ICT goods exports (% of total goods exports) · higher is better
VanuatuWorld median
Vanuatu fell from 0.44 in 2006 to 0.04 in 2011; the world median went from 0.445 to 0.535.
Every year’s figures
Year Vanuatu World median 2024 — 0.975000 2023 — 0.690000 2022 — 0.565000 2021 — 0.550000 2020 — 0.680000 2019 — 0.625000 2018 — 0.480000 2017 — 0.630000 2016 — 0.865000 2015 — 0.790000 2014 — 0.760000 2013 — 0.645000 2012 — 0.630000 2011 0.04 0.535000 2010 0.38 0.560000 2009 1.24 0.780000 2008 — 0.595000 2007 0.15 0.660000 2006 0.44 0.445000 2005 — 0.570000 2004 — 0.535000 2003 — 0.530000 2002 — 0.510000 2001 — 0.490000 2000 — 0.430000
03In context
Vanuatu beside its neighbours
A position reads best beside the countries around it. Every position below is a place among all 177 countries on mobility & trade, never a place within the region.
Vanuatu and Melanesia
Vanuatu has no land border, so the table compares it with its sub-region. Standing among all 177; the key columns are the publishers’ own values.
| Country | Standing | Liner Shipping Connectivity IndexLSCI (index, average Q1 2023 = 100) | Container Import Dwell TimeMedian days a full import container waits in port | Logistics Performance IndexLPI score (1–5) | ICT Goods ExportsICT goods exports (% of total goods exports) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Papua New Guinea | 67th | 50.38 | 2.9 | 2.7 | — |
 Solomon Islands | 77th | 30.25 | 3 | 2.8 | — |
 Fiji | 105th | 41.95 | 3.2 | 2.3 | 0.81 |
 New Caledonia | =108th | 44.51 | 5.3 | — | — |
| Vanuatu | 154th | 25.39 | 7 | — | — |
“—”: no published reading in that edition. What a standing is
Across Melanesia
Every country in the sub-region, by its place among all 177.
Placed either side on mobility & trade
The countries immediately above and below Vanuatu in the topic’s list.
04Context, no vote
Where Vanuatu is ahead of the world, and behind
17 more statistics filed under mobility & trade, published in full and deliberately given no vote in the standing. Select a row for the publisher, the rank and the links.
Ahead of the world median2
Statistics on which Vanuatu does better than the middle country measured.
Digital Services Trade Restrictiveness IndexOECD · 2025 · world median 0.2060.0650.206▲ Improved since 2015
Vanuatu: 0.065 · world median 0.206 · Digital STRI (0 = open, 1 = closed). OECD, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.021 to 0.649; lower is better.
Position 106th of 125 · derived, 1st = worst.
Freedom of Foreign MovementV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2025 · world median 1.22.0331.2▲ Improved since 2015
Vanuatu: 2.033 · world median 1.2 · Original latent estimate (≈ −3.6 to +2.9); higher = freer movement. V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from -3.642 to 2.727; higher is better.
Position 42nd of 176 · derived.
Behind the world median2
Statistics on which Vanuatu does worse than the middle country measured.
Digitally-Deliverable Services ExportsUNCTAD · 2024 · world median 25.4212.7725.42▲ 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.
Cost of Sending RemittancesWorld Bank Group · 2023 · world median 3.2259.4923.225▼ Worsened since 2016
Vanuatu: 9.492 · world median 3.225 · Average cost of sending $200 home (% of the amount). World Bank Group, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from -49.69 to 19.63; lower is better.
Position 5th of 93 · derived, 1st = worst.
No better end13
These describe the shape of a country — more is not better or worse, only different — so they are never ahead or behind.
Cereal Import Dependency RatioFAO · 2022 · world median 42.898.242.8Moved since 2012
Vanuatu: 98.2 · world median 42.8 · Share of the cereal supply that is imported (%). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from -1,894 to 100.
Tariff Rate, Applied, Weighted Mean, All ProductsWorld Bank Group · 2022 · world median 3.6611.483.66Moved 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.
Commodity Export DependenceUNCTAD · 2024 · world median 67.1787.8667.17Moved 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.
Terms of Trade IndexUNCTAD · 2025 · world median 103.23114.99103.23Moved 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.
Services ExportsUNCTAD · 2025 · world median 9.60218.819.602Moved 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.
Net Migration RateUN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median -0.1330-0.133Moved since 2013
Vanuatu: 0 · world median -0.133 · Net migrants per 1,000 population. UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from -61.68 to 39.62.
Export Concentration IndexUNCTAD · 2025 · world median 0.3060.3350.306Moved 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.
International Migrants as a Share of PopulationUN DESA Population Division · 2024 · world median 6.0891.0116.089Moved since 2015
Vanuatu: 1.011 · world median 6.089 · International migrants (% of population). UN DESA Population Division, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.02 to 100.
EmigrantsUN DESA Population Division · 2024 · world median 444,45115,202444,451Moved since 2015
Vanuatu: 15,202 · world median 444,451 · Migrants from the country living abroad, mid-year (people). UN DESA Population Division, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 313 to 18,533,845.
Merchant Fleet by Country of OwnershipUNCTAD · 2026 · world median 275.733.16275.73Moved 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.
Asylum-Seekers by Country of AsylumUNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency · 2025 · world median 1,83671,836No real change since 2021
Vanuatu: 7 · world median 1,836 · Asylum-seekers awaiting a decision, end of year (people). UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 3,718,945.
International MigrantsUN DESA Population Division · 2024 · world median 223,3233,315223,323No real change since 2015
Vanuatu: 3,315 · world median 223,323 · International migrants living in the country, mid-year (people). UN DESA Population Division, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 246 to 52,375,047.
Refugee Population by Country of AsylumUNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency · 2025 · world median 12,269012,269No real change since 2021
Vanuatu: 0 · world median 12,269 · Refugees under UNHCR's mandate hosted, end of year (people). UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 2,655,191.
No current reading for Vanuatu
Average Time to Clear Exports Through Customs, Container Port Traffic (last 2019), Creative Goods Exports (last 2011), Creative Services Exports (last 2022), Exports of Goods and Services (% of GDP) (last 2024), FDI Regulatory Restrictiveness Index, Foreign Value Added Share of Gross Exports, ICT Goods Exports (last 2011), ICT Services Exports (last 2022), Imports of Goods and Services (% of GDP) (last 2024), Inbound Mobility Rate, Tertiary, Logistics Performance Index, Outbound Mobility Ratio, Tertiary (last 2004) and Trade (% of GDP) (last 2024). 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
05Country Index 2026
Mobility & Trade among Vanuatu’s 15 topics
Mobility & Trade is Vanuatu’s 15th best-placed topic of 15. Strongest first, each marker at its share of that topic’s field.
- Peace & Security17th of 1772/4 keys
- Environment & Sustainabilityjoint 18th of 1862/4 keys
- Democracy & Civil Libertiesjoint 57th of 1984/4 keys
- Work & Labour88th of 1824/4 keys
- Governance & Institutions98th of 1944/4 keys
- Education & Knowledge106th of 1984/4 keys
- Poverty & Inequality87th of 1592/3 keys
- Gender & Equality105th of 1833/4 keys
- Development & Human Capital123rd of 1963/3 keys
- Health & Wellbeing129th of 2002/4 keys
- Digital & Technologyjoint 133rd of 1984/4 keys
- Economy & Innovationjoint 132nd of 1762/4 keys
- Food & Agriculture153rd of 1844/4 keys
- Risk & Resilience163rd of 1933/4 keys
- Mobility & Trade154th of 1772/4 keys
No standing on Energy: too few of those topics’ key statistics are published for this country.
06The top of the list
Who leads on mobility & trade
The three countries placed highest of 177, and the leaders Vanuatu can most readily be measured against.
1
SingaporeSouth-eastern Asia
1st of 177 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: Khairul Nizam . · CC BY 2.0, greyscale
2
MacauEastern Asia
2nd of 177 · 2 of 4 keys
Photo: Diego Delso · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
3
Hong KongEastern Asia
3rd of 177 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: Base64 and Derivative work by Globe-trotter · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
Placed highest nearby
Highest in Oceania
Australia23rd4/4 keysHighest in Melanesia
Papua New Guinea67th3/4 keysThis page
Vanuatu154th2/4 keys
Positions out of 177 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.
07Analysis
Charts and analysis about Vanuatu and mobility & trade
On mobility & trade
China Leads Global High-Technology Exports
The world’s ten largest high-technology exporters as a treemap, with the rest of the world beside them. Each country’s figure is its own most recent year, between 2022 and 2024.
On mobility & trade
The World’s Safest Airlines for 2025
The eleven safest airlines of 2025, each beside the country it is based in, and the nine things the grading looks at. Three airlines share third place, and the publisher gives an order but no score.
On mobility & trade
The world’s most powerful passports for 2025
Sixteen passports, their mobility scores, and the visa-free, visa-on-arrival and visa-required split behind each. Fourteen share third place while differing in how they reach it.
08Method
Method, sources and how to cite
What this topic does not measure
Passport strength and visa-free travel are not measured with a key, because the data behind passport rankings is not licensed for reuse here. Trade as a share of the economy, the cost of sending money home, migrant numbers, refugees and student mobility are published as context: they describe how much crosses a border, not how well a country handles it. Services sold over the internet are measured under Digital & Technology.
How the Mobility & Trade 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 mobility & trade method, step by stepHow every standing on this site is built
The key statistics and their licences
- Liner Shipping Connectivity Index — UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), CC BY 3.0 IGO
- Container Import Dwell Time — World Bank Group, CC BY 4.0
- Logistics Performance Index — World Bank Group, CC BY 4.0
- ICT Goods Exports — UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), CC BY 3.0 IGO
The other 17 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.
- Vanuatu (banner) — Phillip Capper derivative work: Jjtkk, CC BY 2.0
- Singapore — Khairul Nizam ., CC BY 2.0
- Macau — Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Hong Kong — Base64 and Derivative work by Globe-trotter, CC BY-SA 3.0
Cite this page
Nations Inquiry (2026). Vanuatu: Mobility & Trade — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/vanuatu/mobility