The Human Truth Foundation

Vanuatu (Republic of Vanuatu)

http://www.humantruth.info/vanuatu.html

By Vexen Crabtree 2013

#vanuatu

Vanuatu
Republic of Vanuatu
StatusIndependent State
Social and Moral Index133rd best
CapitalPort-Vila
Land Area 12 190km21
LocationAustralasia, Melanesia
GroupingsSmall Islands
Population0.3m2
Life Expectancy70.45yrs (2017)3
GNI$3 085 (2017)4
ISO3166-1 CodesVU, VUT, 5485
Internet Domain.vu6
CurrencyVatu (VUV)7
Telephone+6788

1. Overview

Multiple waves of colonizers, each speaking a distinct language, migrated to the New Hebrides in the millennia preceding European exploration in the 18th century. This settlement pattern accounts for the complex linguistic diversity found on the archipelago to this day. The British and French, who settled the New Hebrides in the 19th century, agreed in 1906 to an Anglo-French Condominium, which administered the islands until independence in 1980, when the new name of Vanuatu was adopted.

CIA's The World Factbook (2013)9

Book CoverTropical weather brings light and life to sandy beaches and azure waters. Throughout the islands, strong communities show off their country´s attributes to a soundtrack of drumming and dance. Where else can you jump from a coral- and tropical fish-filled blue hole into a 4WD truck to watch an active volcano spit out lava high above you? Contrasts like these make Vanuatu a country well worth taking the time to explore. The ni-Van take life in smiling strides, and as you adjust to their early mornings and dark evenings, you´ll wonder why you´ve ever lived life in a rush.

It´s all thatched-roof accommodation in the outer islands but glitzy resorts abound on Efate and Santo. These islands also boast great roads, giving you round-island access on Efate and smooth access to stunning beaches and blue holes on Santo. Add to that scented balmy breezes and several best-in-the-world experiences that few people know about: a luxury liner shipwrecked in clear waters, gigantic banyan trees, pounding waterfalls, an ancient living culture with extraordinary ceremonies and picture-perfect beaches.

"The World" by Lonely Planet (2014)10

2. Vanuatu National and Social Development

#economics #human_development #wealth

UN HDI (2021)11
Pos.Higher is better
Value11
1Switzerland0.962
2Norway0.961
3Iceland0.959
...
137Honduras0.621
138Sao Tome & Principe0.618
139Namibia0.615
140=Vanuatu0.607
140=Laos0.607
140=Timor-Leste (E. Timor)0.607
143Nepal0.602
144Swaziland0.597
Australasia Avg0.70
World Avg0.72
q=191.
Gross National Income Per-Capita (2021)11
Pos.Higher is better
PPP $11
1Liechtenstein$146 830
2Singapore$90 919
3Qatar$87 134
...
161Senegal$3 344
162Zambia$3 218
163Comoros$3 142
164Vanuatu$3 085
165Congo, (Brazzaville)$2 889
166Haiti$2 848
167Lesotho$2 700
168Tanzania$2 664
Australasia Avg$12 519
World Avg$20 136
q=193.
Social & Moral
Development Index
12
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank12
1Norway28.6
2Denmark30.0
3Sweden30.7
...
130Bangladesh100.7
131Guyana101.3
132Zambia101.4
133Vanuatu102.2
134Tonga102.4
135Uganda103.0
136Burkina Faso103.3
137Timor-Leste (E. Timor)103.3
Australasia Avg102.5
World Avg86.8
q=195.

The United Nations produces an annual Human Development Report which includes the Human Development Index. The factors taken into account include life expectancy, education and schooling and Gross National Income (GNI) amongst many others..

The Social and Moral Development Index concentrates on moral issues and human rights, violence, public health, equality, tolerance, freedom and effectiveness in climate change mitigation and environmentalism, and on some technological issues. A country scores higher for achieving well in those areas, and for sustaining that achievement in the long term. Those countries towards the top of this index can truly said to be setting good examples and leading humankind onwards into a bright, humane, and free future. See: Which are the Best Countries in the World? The Social and Moral Development Index.

3. Vanuatu's Demographics and Migration

#birth_control #demographics #health #immigration #life_expectancy #longevity #migration #overpopulation #population

Population:

Vanuatu's population is predicted to rise to 371 400 by 2030. This country has a fertility rate of 3.77. The fertility rate is, in simple terms, the average amount of children that each woman has. The higher the figure, the quicker the population is growing, although, to calculate the rate you also need to take into account morbidity, i.e., the rate at which people die. If people live healthy and long lives and morbidity is low, then, 2.0 approximates to the replacement rate, which would keep the population stable. If all countries had such a fertility rate, population growth would end. The actual replacement rate in most developed countries is around 2.1.

Population2
Pos.2018
Population2
1China1.4b
2India1.4b
3USA327.1m
...
171Bahamas0.4m
172Belize0.4m
173Iceland0.3m
174Vanuatu0.3m
175Barbados0.3m
176Sao Tome & Principe0.2m
177Samoa0.2m
178St Lucia0.2m
World Avg39.0m
q=195.
Life Expectancy
Higher is better
11
Pos.2021
Years11
1Monaco85.9
2Hong Kong85.5
3Japan84.8
...
110Venezuela70.6
111Jamaica70.5
112Belize70.5
113Vanuatu70.4
114Iraq70.4
115Solomon Islands70.3
116Suriname70.3
117Paraguay70.3
World Avg71.28
q=195.
Fertility Rate
2.0 is best
13
Pos.201313
1N. Korea2.00
2Brunei1.99
3St Vincent & Grenadines2.01
...
132Micronesia3.33
133Sao Tome & Principe3.52
134Djibouti3.61
135Vanuatu3.77
136Samoa3.77
137Tonga3.81
138Papua New Guinea3.83
139Guatemala3.86
World Avg2.81
q=180.
Old-Age Dependency Ratio
Lower is better
14
Pos.2016
Per 10014
1Uganda04.3
2Mali04.5
3=Chad04.7
...
65Guatemala09.5
66=Saudi Arabia09.5
67Haiti09.6
68Vanuatu09.9
69Cape Verde10.0
70Philippines10.3
71Cambodia10.4
72=Egypt10.5
World Avg18.3
q=185.

Migration:

Immigrants15
Pos.2017
%15
1UAE88.4%
2Kuwait75.5%
3Qatar65.2%
...
147Malawi1.3%
148Sierra Leone1.3%
149Guinea-Bissau1.3%
150Vanuatu1.2%
151Ethiopia1.2%
152Sao Tome & Principe1.1%
153Congo, DR1.1%
154Bosnia & Herzegovina1.1%
World Avg9.4%
q=195.
Emigrants16
Pos.2010
%16
1Dominica104.8%
2Palestine68.4%
3Samoa67.3%
...
159Iran1.7%
160Libya1.7%
161Gabon1.7%
162Vanuatu1.6%
163Djibouti1.5%
164Timor-Leste (E. Timor)1.4%
165Zambia1.4%
166Cameroon1.4%
World Avg11.5%
q=192.

4. Vanuatu's Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance

#equality #freethought #gender_equality #homosexuality #human_rights #international_law #morals #politics #prejudice #religious_tolerance #tolerance #women

Compared to Australasia (2020)17
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank17
1New Zealand17.3
2Australia23.9
3Fiji102.1
...
7Palau130.6
8Tonga132.6
9Marshall Islands134.2
10Samoa135.9
11Vanuatu137.8
12=Kiribati138.0
13Cook Islands144.5
14Tuvalu158.4
15Solomon Islands166.2
Australasia Avg119.7
q=15.
Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance (2020)17
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank17
1Sweden9.0
2Norway14.5
3Denmark14.5
...
179Saudi Arabia134.5
180Samoa135.9
181Angola136.0
182Vanuatu137.8
183=Palestine138.0
183=Kiribati138.0
185Eritrea139.5
186Afghanistan140.6
World Avg87.9
q=199.

The best countries in the world at ensuring human rights, fostering equality and promoting tolerance, are Sweden, Norway and Denmark18. These countries are displaying the best traits that humanity has to offer. The worst countries are The Solomon Islands, Somalia and Tuvalu18.

The data sets used to calculate points for each country are statistics on commentary in Human Rights Watch reports, its nominal commitment to Human Rights, speed of uptake of HR treaties, supporting personal, civil & economic freedoms, supporting press freedom, eliminating modern slavery, opposing gender inequality, the rate of gender bias (from 7 indicators), the year from which women could participate in democracy, its success in fighting anti-semitic prejudice, LGBT equality and freethought. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Baltic States and Europe18, whereas the worst are Melanesia, Micronesia and Australasia18.

For more, see:

Human Rights & Tolerance:

Nominal Commitment to HR
Higher is better19
Pos.2009
Treaties19
1Argentina24
2=Chile23
2=Costa Rica23
...
160India10
161=Fiji10
161=Vietnam10
161=Vanuatu10
164Iraq9
165=Samoa9
165=Papua New Guinea9
165=Oman9
Australasia Avg8.7
World Avg15.1
q=194.
HR Treaties Lag
Lower is better20
Pos.2019
Avg Yrs/Treaty20
1Ecuador2.15
2Uruguay2.25
3Tunisia3.65
...
153Bhutan13.01
154Swaziland13.16
155Equatorial Guinea13.18
156Vanuatu13.21
157Guinea-Bissau13.23
158Liechtenstein13.28
159Ireland13.38
160Oman13.46
Australasia Avg14.35
World Avg10.02
q=195.

Gender Equality:

See:

Year Women Can Vote
Lower is better
Pos.0
Year
1New Zealand1893
2Australia1902
3Finland1906
...
174=Palau1979
174=Micronesia1979
176Iraq1980
177=Vanuatu1980
178Liechtenstein1984
179=Djibouti1986
179=Central African Rep.1986
181Namibia1989
Australasia Avg1962
World Avg1930
q=189.

Prejudice:

LGBT Equality
Higher is better
21
Pos.2017
Score21
1Netherlands103
2Belgium90
3Sweden86
...
96=Equatorial Guinea15
96=Burkina Faso15
96=Cambodia15
96=Vanuatu15
96=Congo, DR15
96=Lesotho15
96=Belize15
96=Belarus15
Australasia Avg07.1
World Avg12.6
q=196.
Freedom of Thought
Lower is better
22
Pos.202122
1=Belgium1.0
1=Netherlands1.0
1=Taiwan1.0
...
107El Salvador3.0
108=Cambodia3.0
109Zambia3.3
110=Vanuatu3.3
110=Malawi3.3
110=Ethiopia3.3
110=Paraguay3.3
110=Madagascar3.3
Australasia Avg2.6
World Avg3.0
q=196.

5. Vanuatu's Health

#alcohol #birth_control #demographics #health #life_expectancy #longevity #obesity #overpopulation #parenting #population #smoking #vaccines #Vanuatu

Compared to Australasia (2020)23
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank23
1Solomon Islands82.0
2Australia84.6
3Kiribati87.0
4New Zealand88.8
5=Fiji90.6
6Vanuatu97.1
7Niue98.7
8=Tonga104.1
9Samoa107.8
10Tuvalu112.5
11Micronesia114.2
12Papua New Guinea120.8
13Cook Islands123.7
Australasia Avg109.4
q=16.
Health (2020)23
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank23
1Monaco13.0
2Hong Kong18.3
3Maldives41.0
...
106Indonesia95.8
107Peru96.5
108St Vincent & Grenadines96.8
109Vanuatu97.1
110Cape Verde97.3
111Seychelles97.3
112Andorra97.8
113Dominica98.0
World Avg93.5
q=196.

The countries with the best overall approach to public health, in terms of both public policy and individual lifestyle choices, are Monaco, Hong Kong and The Maldives24. These countries are worth emulating. And, although often through no fault of the average citizen, the worst countries are The Marshall Islands, S. Sudan and Palau24.

The data sets used to calculate points for each country are its average life expectancy, its alcohol consumption rate, its fertility rate, its smoking rate, its suicide rate, its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance, the prevalence of overweight adults, its adolescent birth rate and its immunizations take-up. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Asia and The Mediterranean24, whereas the worst are Micronesia, Australasia and Africa24.

For more, see:

Health:

Vanuatu has some poor policies and cultural issues which cause some public health problems. Vanuatu comes in the best 20 in its smoking rate25. It does better than average for its alcohol consumption rate26 (amongst the lowest in Australasia). But that's it. Vanuatu has problems. It does worse than average for its adolescent birth rate27 (amongst the worst in Australasia), its average life expectancy11 and in its fertility rate13. And finally, it sits amongst the bottom 20 in its immunizations take-up28 (the lowest in Australasia). The number of overweight adults has increased by 14% between 1976 and 2016. Life expectancy in Vanuatu improved by +3.2yrs in the 30 years from 1990, less than the global average of +7.9yrs.

Life Expectancy
Higher is better
11
Pos.2021
Years11
1Monaco85.9
2Hong Kong85.5
3Japan84.8
...
110Venezuela70.6
111Jamaica70.5
112Belize70.5
113Vanuatu70.4
114Iraq70.4
115Solomon Islands70.3
116Suriname70.3
117Paraguay70.3
Australasia Avg70.11
World Avg71.28
q=195.
Alcohol Consumption
Lower is better
26
Pos.2016
Per Capita26
1Bangladesh0.0
2Kuwait0.0
3Libya0.0
...
26=Malaysia0.9
26=Comoros0.9
28Iran1.0
29=Vanuatu1.0
30Papua New Guinea1.2
31=Eritrea1.3
31=Guinea1.3
31=Mali1.3
Australasia Avg4.3
World Avg6.2
q=189.
Fertility Rate
2.0 is best
13
Pos.201313
1N. Korea2.00
2Brunei1.99
3St Vincent & Grenadines2.01
...
132Micronesia3.33
133Sao Tome & Principe3.52
134Djibouti3.61
135Vanuatu3.77
136Samoa3.77
137Tonga3.81
138Papua New Guinea3.83
139Guatemala3.86
Australasia Avg3.26
World Avg2.81
q=180.
Smoking Rates
Lower is better
25
Pos.201425
1Guinea 15
2Solomon Islands 26
3Kiribati 28
4Uganda 41
5Rwanda 53
6Samoa 54
7Congo, DR 74
8Ethiopia 76
9Vanuatu 76
10Guyana 77
11Suriname 79
12Malawi 80
Australasia Avg 372
World Avg 819
q=182.
Overweight Adults
Lower is better29
Pos.2016
%29
1Vietnam18.3
2India19.7
3Bangladesh20.0
...
108Sweden56.4
109Brazil56.5
110Germany56.8
111=Vanuatu57.1
111=Serbia57.1
111=Russia57.1
114Portugal57.5
115=Peru57.5
Australasia Avg73.3
World Avg49.0
q=191.

Children's Health:

Adolescent Birth Rate
Lower is better
27
Pos.2015
Per 100027
1N. Korea0.5
2S. Korea1.6
3Switzerland2.9
...
95Kyrgyzstan39.6
96Georgia39.7
97Barbados40.7
98Vanuatu43.1
99Thailand44.6
100Antigua & Barbuda44.8
101Fiji44.8
102S. Africa45.5
Australasia Avg30.1
World Avg47.9
q=185.
Infant Immunizations 2011-2015
Higher is better
28
Pos.2015
Avg %28
1=Hungary99.0
1=China99.0
3Uzbekistan98.9
...
182Yemen67.4
183Papua New Guinea66.3
184Haiti65.7
185Vanuatu65.5
186Guinea63.3
187Syria62.4
188Ukraine55.2
189Chad52.5
Australasia Avg86.4
World Avg88.3
q=194.

6. Vanuatu's Responsibility Towards The Environment

#biodiversity #climate_change #deforestation #food #meat #over-exploitation #the_environment #veganism #vegetarianism

Compared to Australasia (2023)30
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank30
1Fiji63.3
2New Zealand63.8
3Australia66.4
4Vanuatu75.0
5=Kiribati87.0
6Papua New Guinea89.0
7=Solomon Islands103.0
7=Micronesia103.0
9Samoa108.0
10=Nauru108.0
11Tonga115.0
Australasia Avg89.2
q=11.
Responsibility Towards The Environment (2023)30
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank30
1Japan33.2
2Philippines45.0
3Uruguay48.0
...
62Trinidad & Tobago73.5
63Mali74.3
64Malaysia74.4
65Vanuatu75.0
66Nicaragua75.5
67=Guatemala76.2
67=Ghana76.2
69Yemen76.7
World Avg85.7
q=188.
Vanuatu comes 65th in the world in terms of its responsibility towards the environment. This rank is derived from 4 data sets. Vanuatu performs the best for how quickly it ratified the 1993 Convention on Biological Diversity. It does better than average in terms of annual meat consumption per person31 (amongst the best in Australasia) and in its forested percent change 1990-201532. But, things could still be better. Vanuatu does worse than average in its environmental performance33 (amongst the worst in Australasia).

Forest Area Change 1990-2015
Higher is better
32
Pos.2015
%32
1Iceland+205.6
2Bahrain+144.4
3Uruguay+131.3
...
84=Libya00.0
84=Tonga00.0
84=Maldives00.0
84=Vanuatu00.0
84=Turkmenistan00.0
84=Djibouti00.0
84=S. Africa00.0
84=Kiribati00.0
Australasia Avg+03.4
World Avg+02.8
q=184.
Environmental Performance
Higher is better
33
Pos.201833
1Switzerland87.4
2France84.0
3Denmark81.6
...
141Ethiopia44.8
142S. Africa44.7
143Guinea-Bissau44.7
144Vanuatu44.6
145Uganda44.3
146Comoros44.2
147Mali43.7
148Rwanda43.7
Australasia Avg55.2
World Avg56.4
q=180.
Convention on Biological Diversity
Earlier is better
Pos.0
Signed
1=China1993 Dec 29
1=Guinea1993 Dec 29
1=Cook Islands1993 Dec 29
1=Vanuatu1993 Dec 29
1=Papua New Guinea1993 Dec 29
1=Mexico1993 Dec 29
1=Armenia1993 Dec 29
1=Ecuador1993 Dec 29
1=Fiji1993 Dec 29
1=Canada1993 Dec 29
1=Monaco1993 Dec 29
1=Maldives1993 Dec 29
Australasia Avg1899 Dec 30
World Avg1899 Dec 30
q=197.
Meat Consumption
Lower is better
31
Pos.2021
kg31
1Congo, DR03.0
2Burundi03.5
3Bangladesh04.3
...
77Guatemala42.1
78Uzbekistan42.3
79Turkey43.0
80Vanuatu43.4
81El Salvador43.9
82Fiji44.4
83Congo, (Brazzaville)46.0
84Bosnia & Herzegovina46.8
Australasia Avg74.2
World Avg52.5
q=185.

7. Vanuatu's Modernity and Learning

#education #modernity #technology #the_internet

Compared to Australasia (2020)34
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank34
1New Zealand17.6
2Australia19.2
3Palau59.3
...
8Nauru99.0
9Marshall Islands102.8
10Samoa103.4
11Vanuatu117.0
12Micronesia131.3
13Kiribati143.0
14Tuvalu148.0
15Papua New Guinea150.4
16Solomon Islands152.7
Australasia Avg98.1
q=16.
Modernity & Learning (2020)34
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank34
1Finland8.4
2Taiwan10.0
3Switzerland15.1
...
152Suriname114.4
153Laos115.2
154Cape Verde116.3
155Vanuatu117.0
156Nicaragua117.7
157Swaziland118.0
158Gabon118.3
159=Senegal119.0
World Avg83.2
q=205.

Modernity and Education:

Length of Schooling
Higher is better
35
Pos.2021
Years35
1Australia21.1
2New Zealand20.3
3Greece20.0
...
143Nauru11.7
144Tajikistan11.7
145Micronesia11.5
146Vanuatu11.5
147Cambodia11.5
148Lebanon11.3
149Rwanda11.2
150Zambia10.9
Australasia Avg13.4
World Avg13.5
q=193.

Technology and Information:

Internet Users
Higher is better
36
Pos.201636
1Iceland100%
2Faroe Islands99%
3Norway98%
...
129Egypt33%
130Cuba32%
131Micronesia31%
132Vanuatu31%
133Syria30%
134Sri Lanka29%
135Samoa29%
136Ghana28%
Australasia Avg44.3%
World Avg48.1%
q=201.
IPv6 Uptake
Higher is better
37
Pos.2017
Ratio37
1Belgium55.4
2Germany41.8
3Switzerland35.1
...
70=Sudan0.1
70=Ukraine0.1
72Lithuania0.1
73Vanuatu0.1
74=Iran0.1
74=Zambia0.1
76Panama0.1
77=Croatia0.1
Australasia Avg1.55
World Avg3.82
q=176.

8. National Culture

#corruption #politics

Corruption
Higher is better
38
Pos.2022
Points38
1Denmark90.0
2=Finland87.0
2=New Zealand87.0
...
57Croatia50.0
58=Mauritius50.0
59Namibia49.0
60Vanuatu48.0
61=Jordan47.0
61=Malaysia47.0
63Armenia46.0
64=Romania46.0
Australasia Avg55.83
World Avg42.98
q=180.

9. Economic Inequality and Poverty

#capitalism #economics #health #inequality #life_expectancy #poverty #social_development

Inequality in Life Expectancy
Lower is better39
Pos.201939
1Iceland2.40
2=Singapore2.50
2=Hong Kong2.50
...
109Indonesia13.90
110=Azerbaijan13.90
111Algeria14.10
112Vanuatu14.40
113Guatemala14.60
114=Fiji14.90
114=Trinidad & Tobago14.90
116Philippines15.30
Australasia Avg13.47
World Avg14.59
q=184.
Income Inequality (Gini Coefficient)
Lower is better40
Pos.2017
%40
1Ukraine25.0
2=Belarus25.4
2=Slovenia25.4
...
76Lithuania37.4
77=Bulgaria37.4
77=Bhutan37.4
79Vanuatu37.6
80=Tonga37.6
81Russia37.7
82Tanzania37.8
83Georgia37.9
Australasia Avg38.3
World Avg38.1
q=152.
Multidimensional Poverty
Lower is better41
Pos.2018
Severity41
1Armenia.001
2Ukraine.001
3Serbia.001
...
58Nepal.148
59Cambodia.170
60Namibia.171
61Vanuatu.174
62Bhutan.175
63Myanmar (Burma).176
64Kenya.178
65Comoros.181
Australasia Avg.174
World Avg.154
q=101.

10. Religion and Beliefs

#buddhism #christianity #hinduism #islam #judaism

Data from the Pew Forum, a professional polling outfit, states that in 2010 the religious makeup of this country was as follows in the table below42:

Christian93.3%
Muslim0.1%
Hindu0.1%
Buddhist0.1%
Folk Religion4.1%
Jewish0.1%
Unaffiliated1.2%

The CIA World Factbook has slightly different data, and states: Protestant 55.6% (Presbyterian 31.4%, Anglican 13.4%, Seventh-Day Adventist 10.8%), Roman Catholic 13.1%, other Christian 13.8%, indigenous beliefs 5.6% (including Jon Frum cargo cult), other 9.6%, none 1%, unspecified 1.3% (1999 Census)43.

Links: