Economy — Vanuatu
GDP, employment, industries, public finance, and currency.
Profile updated 2026-06-02
⚡ Economy at a glance
GDP, employment, industries, public finance, and currency. Key figure for Vanuatu: This South Pacific island economy is based primarily on small-scale agriculture, which provides a living for about two thirds of the population. Fishing, offshore financial services, and tourism, with more than 330,000 visitors in 2017, are other mainstays of the economy. Tourism has struggled after Efate, the most…
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Economic overview
- Economic Overview
This South Pacific island economy is based primarily on small-scale agriculture, which provides a living for about two thirds of the population.
Fishing, offshore financial services, and tourism, with more than 330,000 visitors in 2017, are other mainstays of the economy.
Tourism has struggled after Efate, the most populous and most popular island for tourists, was damaged by Tropical Cyclone Pam in 2015.
Ongoing infrastructure difficulties at Port Vila’s Bauerfield Airport have caused air travel disruptions, further hampering tourism numbers.
Australia and New Zealand are the main source of tourists and foreign aid.
A small light industry sector caters to the local market.
Tax revenues come mainly from import duties.
Mineral deposits are negligible; the country has no known petroleum deposits.
Economic development is hindered by dependence on relatively few commodity exports, vulnerability to natural disasters, and long distances from main markets and between constituent islands.
In response to foreign concerns, the government has promised to tighten regulation of its offshore financial center.
Since 2002, the government has stepped up efforts to boost tourism through improved air connections, resort development, and cruise ship facilities.
Agriculture, especially livestock farming, is a second target for growth.
- Industries
food and fish freezing, wood processing, meat canning
- GDP - per capita (PPP)
$2,600.00 (USD)
- GDP - real growth rate
-2%
GDP & growth
- GDP - Gross Domestic Product (PPP)
$850,000,000 (USD)
- GDP Per Capita
$2,600.00 (USD)
- GDP - real growth rate
-2%
- GDP - official exchange rate
$771,000,000 (USD)
- GDP - composition, by end use
- household consumption: 69.8%
- government consumption: 18.8%
- investment in fixed capital: 25.2%
- investment in inventories: 0.1%
- exports of goods and services: 45.8%
- imports of goods and services: -59.7%
- GDP by Sector- agriculture
30.2%
- GDP by Sector- Industry
8.7%
- GDP by Sector- services
61.1%
Prices & money
- Inflation Rate
3.9%
- Exchange Rate per US Dollar
vatu (VUV)
- Currency Name and Code
Vanuatu Vatu (VUV)
- Fiscal Year
calendar year
- Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate
6.7%
Employment & labor
- Labor Force
115,900
- Unemployment Rate
1.7%
- Major Industries
food and fish freezing, wood processing, meat canning
- Agriculture Products
copra, coconuts, cocoa, coffee, taro, yams, coconuts, fruits, vegetables; fish, beef
Public finance
- Annual Budget
$78,700,000 (USD)
- Budget Surplus or Deficit - percent of GDP
0.3%
- Taxes and other revenues - percent of GDP
24.6%
