https://www.humantruth.info/vanuatu.html
By Vexen Crabtree 2025
| Vanuatu Republic of Vanuatu | ![]() |
|---|---|
| Status | Independent State |
| Social and Moral Index | 126th best |
| Capital | Port-Vila |
| Land Area | 12 190km21 |
| Location | Australasia, Melanesia |
| Groupings | Small Islands |
| Population | 0.3m2 |
| Life Expectancy | 70.45yrs (2017)3 |
| GNI | $3 085 (2017)4 |
| ISO3166-1 Codes | VU, VUT, 5485 |
| Internet Domain | .vu6 |
| Currency | Vatu (VUV)7 |
| Telephone | +6788 |
“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
“Tropical 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.”
#economics #human_development #wealth
| UN HDI (2021)11 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Pos. | Higher is better Value11 | |
| 1 | Switzerland | 0.962 |
| 2 | Norway | 0.961 |
| 3 | Iceland | 0.959 |
| ... | ||
| 139 | Namibia | 0.615 |
| 140= | Timor-Leste (E. Timor) | 0.607 |
| 140= | Laos | 0.607 |
| 140= | Vanuatu | 0.607 |
| 143 | Nepal | 0.602 |
| 144 | Swaziland | 0.597 |
| 145 | Equatorial Guinea | 0.596 |
| 146= | Cambodia | 0.593 |
| Australasia Avg | 0.70 | |
| World Avg | 0.72 | |
| q=191. | ||
| Gross National Income Per-Capita (2021)11 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Pos. | Higher is better PPP $11 | |
| 1 | Liechtenstein | $146 830 |
| 2 | Singapore | $90 919 |
| 3 | Qatar | $87 134 |
| ... | ||
| 161 | Senegal | $3 344 |
| 162 | Zambia | $3 218 |
| 163 | Comoros | $3 142 |
| 164 | Vanuatu | $3 085 |
| 165 | Congo, (Brazzaville) | $2 889 |
| 166 | Haiti | $2 848 |
| 167 | Lesotho | $2 700 |
| 168 | Tanzania | $2 664 |
| Australasia Avg | $12 519 | |
| World Avg | $20 136 | |
| q=193. | ||
| Social & Moral Development Index12 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Pos. | Lower is better Avg Rank12 | |
| 1 | Denmark | 25.2 |
| 2 | Norway | 28.2 |
| 3 | Netherlands | 30.1 |
| ... | ||
| 123 | Palau | 98.4 |
| 124 | Belize | 99.2 |
| 125 | Tonga | 99.7 |
| 126 | Vanuatu | 99.8 |
| 127 | Oman | 100.3 |
| 128 | Senegal | 101.1 |
| 129 | Egypt | 102.2 |
| 130 | Kenya | 102.8 |
| Australasia Avg | 95.6 | |
| World Avg | 88.4 | |
| q=199. | ||
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.
#birth_control #demographics #fertility #health #immigration #life_expectancy #longevity #migration #overpopulation #population #yemen
Population Datasets:
Vanuatu's population is predicted to rise to 371 400 by 2030. This country has a fertility rate of 3.70. The fertility rate is, in simple terms, the average amount of children that each woman has. The higher the figure, the quicker the population will grow, although, to calculate the rate you also need to take into account morbidity - 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 (two new children for each set of parents who die), 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. The highest fertility rate ever detected in a single year was in Yemen in 1985, at 8.86.13| Population2 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Pos. | 2018 Population2 | |
| 1 | China | 1.4b |
| 2 | India | 1.4b |
| 3 | USA | 327.1m |
| ... | ||
| 171 | Bahamas | 0.4m |
| 172 | Belize | 0.4m |
| 173 | Iceland | 0.3m |
| 174 | Vanuatu | 0.3m |
| 175 | Barbados | 0.3m |
| 176 | Sao Tome & Principe | 0.2m |
| 177 | Samoa | 0.2m |
| 178 | St Lucia | 0.2m |
| World Avg | 39.0m | |
| q=195. | ||
| Life Expectancy Higher is better11 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Pos. | 2021 Years11 | |
| 1 | Monaco | 85.9 |
| 2 | Hong Kong | 85.5 |
| 3 | Japan | 84.8 |
| ... | ||
| 110 | Venezuela | 70.6 |
| 111 | Jamaica | 70.5 |
| 112 | Belize | 70.5 |
| 113 | Vanuatu | 70.4 |
| 114 | Iraq | 70.4 |
| 115 | Solomon Islands | 70.3 |
| 116 | Suriname | 70.3 |
| 117 | Paraguay | 70.3 |
| World Avg | 71.28 | |
| q=195. | ||
| Fertility Rate 2.0 is best14 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Pos. | 202214 | |
| 1 | US Virgin Islands | 2.00 |
| 2 | Ecuador | 2.00 |
| 3 | Nepal | 2.01 |
| ... | ||
| 165 | Gabon | 3.46 |
| 166 | Nauru | 3.46 |
| 167 | Ghana | 3.51 |
| 168 | Vanuatu | 3.70 |
| 169 | Yemen | 3.72 |
| 170 | Rwanda | 3.75 |
| 171 | Sao Tome & Principe | 3.75 |
| 172 | Eritrea | 3.79 |
| World Avg | 2.47 | |
| q=208. | ||
| Old-Age Dependency Ratio Lower is better15 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Pos. | 2016 Per 10015 | |
| 1 | Uganda | 04.3 |
| 2 | Mali | 04.5 |
| 3= | Chad | 04.7 |
| ... | ||
| 65= | Guatemala | 09.5 |
| 65= | Saudi Arabia | 09.5 |
| 67 | Haiti | 09.6 |
| 68 | Vanuatu | 09.9 |
| 69 | Cape Verde | 10.0 |
| 70 | Philippines | 10.3 |
| 71 | Cambodia | 10.4 |
| 72= | Egypt | 10.5 |
| World Avg | 18.3 | |
| q=185. | ||
Migration Datasets:
| Immigrants16 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Pos. | 2017 %16 | |
| 1 | UAE | 88.4% |
| 2 | Kuwait | 75.5% |
| 3 | Qatar | 65.2% |
| ... | ||
| 147 | Malawi | 1.3% |
| 148 | Sierra Leone | 1.3% |
| 149 | Guinea-Bissau | 1.3% |
| 150 | Vanuatu | 1.2% |
| 151 | Ethiopia | 1.2% |
| 152 | Sao Tome & Principe | 1.1% |
| 153 | Congo, DR | 1.1% |
| 154 | Bosnia & Herzegovina | 1.1% |
| World Avg | 9.4% | |
| q=195. | ||
| Emigrants17 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Pos. | 2010 %17 | |
| 1 | Dominica | 104.8% |
| 2 | Palestine | 68.4% |
| 3 | Samoa | 67.3% |
| ... | ||
| 159 | Iran | 1.7% |
| 160 | Libya | 1.7% |
| 161 | Gabon | 1.7% |
| 162 | Vanuatu | 1.6% |
| 163 | Djibouti | 1.5% |
| 164 | Timor-Leste (E. Timor) | 1.4% |
| 165 | Zambia | 1.4% |
| 166 | Cameroon | 1.4% |
| World Avg | 11.5% | |
| q=192. | ||
#equality #freedom #freethought #gender_equality #homosexuality #human_rights #international_law #morals #politics #prejudice #religious_tolerance #tolerance #women
| Compared to Australasia (2025)18 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Pos. | Lower is better Avg Rank18 | |
| 1 | New Zealand | 18.9 |
| 2 | Australia | 22.1 |
| 3 | Micronesia | 59.3 |
| 4 | Vanuatu | 78.5 |
| 5 | Kiribati | 81.6 |
| 6 | Tuvalu | 83.8 |
| 7 | Nauru | 89.3 |
| 8 | Fiji | 89.5 |
| 9 | Palau | 91.4 |
| 10 | Samoa | 98.2 |
| 11 | Tonga | 101.0 |
| 12 | Marshall Islands | 102.9 |
| 13 | Papua New Guinea | 108.8 |
| Australasia Avg | 79.23 | |
| q=14. | ||
| Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance (2025)18 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Pos. | Lower is better Avg Rank18 | |
| 1 | Sweden | 7.8 |
| 2 | Netherlands | 8.7 |
| 3 | Denmark | 8.8 |
| ... | ||
| 65 | Suriname | 75.5 |
| 66 | Guatemala | 77.1 |
| 67 | Macedonia | 77.4 |
| 68 | Vanuatu | 78.5 |
| 69 | Jamaica | 78.8 |
| 70 | Northern Cyprus | 79.1 |
| 71 | Honduras | 79.4 |
| 72 | Hong Kong | 79.6 |
| World Avg | 89.80 | |
| q=199. | ||
The best countries in the world at ensuring human rights, fostering equality and promoting tolerance, are Sweden, The Netherlands and Denmark19. These countries are displaying the best traits that humanity has to offer. The worst countries are Somalia, Eritrea and Saudi Arabia19.
31 datasets are used to calculate points for each country, including multiple decades of data on supporting press freedom, combatting modern slavery, supporting personal, civil & economic freedoms, its average Freedom in the World rating, commentary in Human Rights Watch reports, its nominal commitment to Human Rights, speed of uptake of HR treaties, 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 Europe19, whereas the worst are The Middle East, Africa and Asia19.
For more, see:
Human Rights & Tolerance Datasets:
| Freedom in the World Lower is better | ||
|---|---|---|
| Pos. | 2024 Score | |
| 1= | Norway | 1.0 |
| 1= | Canada | 1.0 |
| 1= | Cape Verde | 1.0 |
| ... | ||
| 57= | Antigua & Barbuda | 2.0 |
| 57= | Sao Tome & Principe | 2.0 |
| 57= | Suriname | 2.0 |
| 57= | Vanuatu | 2.0 |
| 57= | Seychelles | 2.0 |
| 57= | Bulgaria | 2.0 |
| 57= | S. Africa | 2.0 |
| 57= | S. Korea | 2.0 |
| Australasia Avg | 1.8 | |
| World Avg | 3.7 | |
| q=205. | ||
| Nominal Commitment to HR Higher is better20 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Pos. | 2009 Treaties20 | |
| 1 | Argentina | 24 |
| 2= | Chile | 23 |
| 2= | Costa Rica | 23 |
| ... | ||
| 160= | India | 10 |
| 160= | Fiji | 10 |
| 160= | Vietnam | 10 |
| 160= | Vanuatu | 10 |
| 164= | Iraq | 9 |
| 164= | Samoa | 9 |
| 164= | Papua New Guinea | 9 |
| 164= | Oman | 9 |
| Australasia Avg | 8.7 | |
| World Avg | 15.1 | |
| q=194. | ||
| HR Treaties Lag Lower is better21 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Pos. | 2019 Avg Yrs/Treaty21 | |
| 1 | Ecuador | 2.15 |
| 2 | Uruguay | 2.25 |
| 3 | Tunisia | 3.65 |
| ... | ||
| 153 | Bhutan | 13.01 |
| 154 | Swaziland | 13.16 |
| 155 | Equatorial Guinea | 13.18 |
| 156 | Vanuatu | 13.21 |
| 157 | Guinea-Bissau | 13.23 |
| 158 | Liechtenstein | 13.28 |
| 159 | Ireland | 13.38 |
| 160 | Oman | 13.46 |
| Australasia Avg | 14.35 | |
| World Avg | 10.02 | |
| q=195. | ||
Gender Equality Datasets:
See:
| Year Women Can Vote Lower is better | ||
|---|---|---|
| Pos. | Total Year | |
| 1 | New Zealand | 1893 |
| 2 | Australia | 1902 |
| 3 | Finland | 1906 |
| ... | ||
| 174= | Palau | 1979 |
| 174= | Micronesia | 1979 |
| 176= | Iraq | 1980 |
| 176= | Vanuatu | 1980 |
| 178 | Liechtenstein | 1984 |
| 179= | Djibouti | 1986 |
| 179= | Central African Rep. | 1986 |
| 181 | Namibia | 1989 |
| Australasia Avg | 1962 | |
| World Avg | 1930 | |
| q=189. | ||
Prejudice Datasets:
| LGBT Equality in the 2020s Higher is better22 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Pos. | Total Score22 | |
| 1= | Germany | 4.88 |
| 1= | Spain | 4.88 |
| 3 | Portugal | 4.81 |
| ... | ||
| 109 | Hungary | -0.50 |
| 110 | Honduras | -0.51 |
| 111 | Mozambique | -0.55 |
| 112 | Vanuatu | -0.61 |
| 113 | Dominican Rep. | -0.63 |
| 114 | Palau | -0.65 |
| 115 | Congo, (Brazzaville) | -0.68 |
| 116 | Guinea-Bissau | -0.73 |
| Australasia Avg | 7.07 | |
| World Avg | -1.21 | |
| q=215. | ||
Actions taken at the United Nations:
| Freedom of Thought Lower is better23 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Pos. | 202123 | |
| 1= | Belgium | 1.0 |
| 1= | Taiwan | 1.0 |
| 1= | Netherlands | 1.0 |
| ... | ||
| 109= | Philippines | 3.3 |
| 109= | Paraguay | 3.3 |
| 109= | Singapore | 3.3 |
| 109= | Vanuatu | 3.3 |
| 109= | Tajikistan | 3.3 |
| 109= | Zambia | 3.3 |
| 109= | Trinidad & Tobago | 3.3 |
| 109= | St Lucia | 3.3 |
| Australasia Avg | 2.6 | |
| World Avg | 3.0 | |
| q=196. | ||
#alcohol #birth_control #demographics #health #life_expectancy #longevity #obesity #overpopulation #parenting #population #vaccines #vanuatu
| Compared to Australasia (2025)24 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Pos. | Lower is better Avg Rank24 | |
| 1 | Australia | 53.1 |
| 2 | New Zealand | 58.4 |
| 3 | Fiji | 100.6 |
| 4 | Palau | 105.6 |
| 5 | Tonga | 113.6 |
| 6 | French Polynesia | 114.5 |
| 7 | Vanuatu | 115.5 |
| 8 | Solomon Islands | 120.6 |
| 9 | Tuvalu | 124.3 |
| 10 | Samoa | 125.4 |
| 11= | Micronesia | 126.0 |
| 12 | Papua New Guinea | 129.9 |
| 13 | Kiribati | 136.8 |
| Australasia Avg | 112.00 | |
| q=16. | ||
| Health (2025)24 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Pos. | Lower is better Avg Rank24 | |
| 1 | Monaco | 12.4 |
| 2 | Liechtenstein | 30.1 |
| 3 | San Marino | 30.6 |
| ... | ||
| 134 | Guatemala | 113.2 |
| 135 | Tonga | 113.6 |
| 136 | French Polynesia | 114.5 |
| 137 | Vanuatu | 115.5 |
| 138 | Tajikistan | 116.8 |
| 139 | Botswana | 116.8 |
| 140 | Nicaragua | 117.1 |
| 141 | Haiti | 117.2 |
| World Avg | 96.86 | |
| q=204. | ||
The countries with the best overall approach to public health, in terms of both public policy and individual lifestyle choices, are Monaco, Liechtenstein and San Marino25. These countries are worth emulating. And, although often through no fault of the average citizen, the worst countries are Angola, Somalia and S. Sudan25.
36 datasets are used to calculate points for each country, including multiple decades of data on 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, obesity rate, its adolescent birth rate, its immunizations take-up and childhood mortality (so far). The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Europe and The Mediterranean25, whereas the worst are Micronesia, Africa and Melanesia25.
For more, see:
Health Datasets:
Vanuatu is a pretty unhealthy country. Vanuatu does better than average for its alcohol consumption rate26 (one of the lowest in Australasia) and in the prevalence of overweight adults27 (one of the best in Australasia). When it comes to most other metrics, Vanuatu does not do well. It does worse than average in childhood mortality in the 2020s (so far)28, its average life expectancy11, its adolescent birth rate29 (amongst the worst in Australasia) and in its fertility rate14 (amongst the worst in Australasia). And finally, it falls into the worst 20 when it comes to its immunizations take-up30 (the lowest in Australasia). The prevalence of overweight adults has increased by 14% during the last 40 years. Life expectancy in Vanuatu improved by +3.2yrs in the 30 years from 1990, less than the global average of +7.9yrs. Vanuatu's peak fertility rate was 6.86 in 1960.| Life Expectancy Higher is better11 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Pos. | 2021 Years11 | |
| 1 | Monaco | 85.9 |
| 2 | Hong Kong | 85.5 |
| 3 | Japan | 84.8 |
| ... | ||
| 110 | Venezuela | 70.6 |
| 111 | Jamaica | 70.5 |
| 112 | Belize | 70.5 |
| 113 | Vanuatu | 70.4 |
| 114 | Iraq | 70.4 |
| 115 | Solomon Islands | 70.3 |
| 116 | Suriname | 70.3 |
| 117 | Paraguay | 70.3 |
| Australasia Avg | 70.11 | |
| World Avg | 71.28 | |
| q=195. | ||
| Alcohol Consumption Lower is better26 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Pos. | 2016 Per Capita26 | |
| 1 | Bangladesh | 0.0 |
| 2 | Kuwait | 0.0 |
| 3 | Libya | 0.0 |
| ... | ||
| 26= | Malaysia | 0.9 |
| 26= | Comoros | 0.9 |
| 28= | Iran | 1.0 |
| 28= | Vanuatu | 1.0 |
| 30 | Papua New Guinea | 1.2 |
| 31= | Eritrea | 1.3 |
| 31= | Guinea | 1.3 |
| 31= | Mali | 1.3 |
| Australasia Avg | 4.3 | |
| World Avg | 6.2 | |
| q=189. | ||
| Fertility Rate 2.0 is best14 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Pos. | 202214 | |
| 1 | US Virgin Islands | 2.00 |
| 2 | Ecuador | 2.00 |
| 3 | Nepal | 2.01 |
| ... | ||
| 165 | Gabon | 3.46 |
| 166 | Nauru | 3.46 |
| 167 | Ghana | 3.51 |
| 168 | Vanuatu | 3.70 |
| 169 | Yemen | 3.72 |
| 170 | Rwanda | 3.75 |
| 171 | Sao Tome & Principe | 3.75 |
| 172 | Eritrea | 3.79 |
| Australasia Avg | 2.82 | |
| World Avg | 2.47 | |
| q=208. | ||
| Overweight Adults Lower is better27 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Pos. | 1976 %27 | |
| 1 | Bangladesh | 4.7 |
| 2 | Vietnam | 5.1 |
| 3 | Nepal | 5.4 |
| ... | ||
| 86= | Dominican Rep. | 27.3 |
| 86= | Oman | 27.3 |
| 86= | Kyrgyzstan | 27.3 |
| 89 | Vanuatu | 27.5 |
| 90= | Jamaica | 28.0 |
| 90= | Dominica | 28.0 |
| 92 | Bolivia | 28.1 |
| 93= | S. Africa | 28.2 |
| Australasia Avg | 48.8 | |
| World Avg | 27.1 | |
| q=191. | ||
| Adult Obesity Lower is better31 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Pos. | 2022 %31 | |
| 1 | Vietnam | 2.1% |
| 2 | Timor-Leste (E. Timor) | 2.2% |
| 3 | Ethiopia | 2.4% |
| ... | ||
| 73 | Kazakhstan | 19.3% |
| 74 | Mauritius | 19.5% |
| 75 | Norway | 19.8% |
| 76 | Vanuatu | 19.9% |
| 77 | Gabon | 20.0% |
| 78 | Papua New Guinea | 20.1% |
| 79 | Turkmenistan | 20.2% |
| 80 | Luxembourg | 20.2% |
| Australasia Avg | 49.3% | |
| World Avg | 24.7% | |
| q=199. | ||
Children's Health Datasets:
| Adolescent Birth Rate Lower is better29 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Pos. | 2022 Per 100029 | |
| 1 | Hong Kong | 1.6 |
| 2 | Denmark | 1.8 |
| 3 | S. Korea | 2.1 |
| ... | ||
| 143 | Bolivia | 63.1 |
| 144 | Namibia | 63.1 |
| 145 | Guatemala | 63.2 |
| 146 | Vanuatu | 63.2 |
| 147 | Dominican Rep. | 63.2 |
| 148 | Nepal | 63.4 |
| 149 | Ghana | 63.4 |
| 150 | Eritrea | 63.6 |
| Australasia Avg | 40.2 | |
| World Avg | 43.8 | |
| q=195. | ||
| Infant Immunizations 2011-2015 Higher is better30 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Pos. | 2015 Avg %30 | |
| 1= | Hungary | 99.0 |
| 1= | China | 99.0 |
| 3 | Uzbekistan | 98.9 |
| ... | ||
| 182 | Yemen | 67.4 |
| 183 | Papua New Guinea | 66.3 |
| 184 | Haiti | 65.7 |
| 185 | Vanuatu | 65.5 |
| 186 | Guinea | 63.3 |
| 187 | Syria | 62.4 |
| 188 | Ukraine | 55.2 |
| 189 | Chad | 52.5 |
| Australasia Avg | 86.4 | |
| World Avg | 88.3 | |
| q=194. | ||
| Infant Mortality (2020s) Lower is better28 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Pos. | Total Per 100028 | |
| 1 | San Marino | 2.11 |
| 2 | Finland | 2.59 |
| 3 | Luxembourg | 2.60 |
| ... | ||
| 99 | Samoa | 18.81 |
| 100 | Nauru | 18.87 |
| 101 | St Kitts & Nevis | 19.01 |
| 102 | Vanuatu | 19.11 |
| 103 | Nicaragua | 19.21 |
| 104 | Cape Verde | 20.21 |
| 105 | Mongolia | 20.26 |
| 106 | Venezuela | 20.47 |
| Australasia Avg | 25.09 | |
| World Avg | 32.19 | |
| q=195. | ||
#biodiversity #climate_change #deforestation #environmentalism #food #internationalism #meat #over-exploitation #the_environment #veganism #vegetarianism
| Compared to Australasia (2025)32 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Pos. | Lower is better Avg Rank32 | |
| 1 | New Zealand | 75.8 |
| 2 | Australia | 76.6 |
| 3 | Fiji | 89.1 |
| 4 | Vanuatu | 93.0 |
| 5 | Tonga | 96.1 |
| 6 | Papua New Guinea | 104.5 |
| 7 | Samoa | 107.0 |
| 8 | Kiribati | 111.4 |
| 9 | Micronesia | 114.6 |
| 10 | Cook Islands | 119.6 |
| 11 | Solomon Islands | 121.6 |
| 12 | Marshall Islands | 123.1 |
| 13 | Palau | 124.5 |
| Australasia Avg | 93.28 | |
| q=16. | ||
| Responsibility Towards The Environment (2025)32 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Pos. | Lower is better Avg Rank32 | |
| 1 | Sri Lanka | 34.9 |
| 2 | Uruguay | 43.2 |
| 3 | Switzerland | 45.0 |
| ... | ||
| 130 | Malta | 92.2 |
| 131 | Sao Tome & Principe | 92.7 |
| 132 | Palestine | 92.7 |
| 133 | Vanuatu | 93.0 |
| 134 | Mozambique | 93.9 |
| 135 | Qatar | 94.1 |
| 136 | Liberia | 94.2 |
| 137 | Trinidad & Tobago | 94.5 |
| World Avg | 84.93 | |
| q=199. | ||
We have known for a long term that we must protect the environment from habitation destruction, over-exploitation, pollution, and the emissions that cause climate change. In 1998, Greenpeace wrote that "Environment can no longer be meaningfully separated from health, quality of life, democracy, education, economy or trade"33. What countries have been doing the right thing, via legislation and national culture? All countries' current and historical approach towards the environment is gauged via 21 datasets, including multiple decades of data on its forested percent change 2000-2020, its environmental performance, energy to GDP efficiency, its sign-up rate to major international accords on protecting the environment, the rate of rational beliefs on the environment in the population, reducing annual meat consumption per person and its score on the Green Future Index.
The countries that do the best (Sri Lanka, Uruguay and Switzerland) tend to have avoided the excesses of early industrial countries, and have not yet repeated the same mistakes of environmental destruction - at least, not on the same scale. The regions with the best average results per country are Central America, South America and Scandinavia. The worst are Eritrea, The Vatican City and Timor-Leste (E. Timor), and the worst regions Micronesia, Australasia and Melanesia.
For more, see:
Still low for Australasia with respect to its responsibility towards the environment, Vanuatu is 133rd in the world. This is calculated from 21 data sets. Vanuatu does better than average in reducing annual meat consumption per person34 (amongst the lowest in Australasia) and in its forested percent change 2000-202035. And finally, it does worse than average in its environmental performance36 (amongst the worst in Australasia) and in its sign-up rate to major international accords on protecting the environment.| Forest Area Change 2000-2020 Higher is better35 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Pos. | Total35 | |
| 1 | Guernsey | 82.6% |
| 2 | Bahrain | 75.2% |
| 3 | Iceland | 64.7% |
| ... | ||
| 97= | San Marino | 0.0% |
| 97= | Afghanistan | 0.0% |
| 97= | Vatican City | 0.0% |
| 97= | Vanuatu | 0.0% |
| 97= | Tuvalu | 0.0% |
| 97= | Nauru | 0.0% |
| 97= | Seychelles | 0.0% |
| 97= | St Martin | 0.0% |
| Australasia Avg | 0.1% | |
| World Avg | -0.1% | |
| q=234. | ||
| Environmental Performance Higher is better36 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Pos. | 201836 | |
| 1 | Switzerland | 87.4 |
| 2 | France | 84.0 |
| 3 | Denmark | 81.6 |
| ... | ||
| 141 | Ethiopia | 44.8 |
| 142 | S. Africa | 44.7 |
| 143 | Guinea-Bissau | 44.7 |
| 144 | Vanuatu | 44.6 |
| 145 | Uganda | 44.3 |
| 146 | Comoros | 44.2 |
| 147 | Mali | 43.7 |
| 148 | Rwanda | 43.7 |
| Australasia Avg | 55.2 | |
| World Avg | 56.4 | |
| q=180. | ||
| International Accords on the Environment Higher is better | ||
|---|---|---|
| Pos. | Total Avg Rate | |
| 1 | Sweden | 83% |
| 2 | Canada | 82% |
| 3 | Norway | 81% |
| ... | ||
| 145 | Gabon | 51% |
| 146 | Fiji | 51% |
| 147 | Qatar | 51% |
| 148 | Vanuatu | 50% |
| 149 | Equatorial Guinea | 50% |
| 150 | Moldova | 50% |
| 151 | Bahrain | 50% |
| 152 | Swaziland | 50% |
| Australasia Avg | 48.2% | |
| World Avg | 57.5% | |
| q=197. | ||
| Meat Consumption Lower is better34 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Pos. | 2021 kg34 | |
| 1 | Congo, DR | 03.0 |
| 2 | Burundi | 03.5 |
| 3 | Bangladesh | 04.3 |
| ... | ||
| 77 | Guatemala | 42.1 |
| 78 | Uzbekistan | 42.3 |
| 79 | Turkey | 43.0 |
| 80 | Vanuatu | 43.4 |
| 81 | El Salvador | 43.9 |
| 82 | Fiji | 44.4 |
| 83 | Congo, (Brazzaville) | 46.0 |
| 84 | Bosnia & Herzegovina | 46.8 |
| Australasia Avg | 74.2 | |
| World Avg | 52.5 | |
| q=185. | ||
#education #modernity #technology #the_internet
Education Datasets:
| Length of Schooling Higher is better37 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Pos. | 2021 Years37 | |
| 1 | Australia | 21.1 |
| 2 | New Zealand | 20.3 |
| 3 | Greece | 20.0 |
| ... | ||
| 143 | Nauru | 11.7 |
| 144 | Tajikistan | 11.7 |
| 145 | Micronesia | 11.5 |
| 146 | Vanuatu | 11.5 |
| 147 | Cambodia | 11.5 |
| 148 | Lebanon | 11.3 |
| 149 | Rwanda | 11.2 |
| 150 | Zambia | 10.9 |
| Australasia Avg | 13.4 | |
| World Avg | 13.5 | |
| q=193. | ||
Technology and Information Datasets:
| Internet Users Higher is better38 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Pos. | 201638 | |
| 1 | Iceland | 100% |
| 2 | Faroe Islands | 99% |
| 3 | Norway | 98% |
| ... | ||
| 129 | Egypt | 33% |
| 130 | Cuba | 32% |
| 131 | Micronesia | 31% |
| 132 | Vanuatu | 31% |
| 133 | Syria | 30% |
| 134 | Sri Lanka | 29% |
| 135 | Samoa | 29% |
| 136 | Ghana | 28% |
| Australasia Avg | 44.3% | |
| World Avg | 48.1% | |
| q=201. | ||
| IPv6 Uptake Higher is better39 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Pos. | 2017 Ratio39 | |
| 1 | Belgium | 55.4 |
| 2 | Germany | 41.8 |
| 3 | Switzerland | 35.1 |
| ... | ||
| 70= | Sudan | 0.1 |
| 70= | Ukraine | 0.1 |
| 72 | Lithuania | 0.1 |
| 73 | Vanuatu | 0.1 |
| 74= | Iran | 0.1 |
| 74= | Zambia | 0.1 |
| 76= | Panama | 0.1 |
| 76= | Croatia | 0.1 |
| Australasia Avg | 1.55 | |
| World Avg | 3.82 | |
| q=176. | ||
#capitalism #charitability #corruption #culture #economics #equality #health #human_development #inequality #internationalism #life_expectancy #peace #politics #poverty #social_development
National Culture Datasets:
| Corruption Higher is better40 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Pos. | 2022 Points40 | |
| 1 | Denmark | 90.0 |
| 2= | Finland | 87.0 |
| 2= | New Zealand | 87.0 |
| ... | ||
| 57= | Croatia | 50.0 |
| 57= | Mauritius | 50.0 |
| 59 | Namibia | 49.0 |
| 60 | Vanuatu | 48.0 |
| 61= | Jordan | 47.0 |
| 61= | Malaysia | 47.0 |
| 63= | Armenia | 46.0 |
| 63= | Romania | 46.0 |
| Australasia Avg | 55.83 | |
| World Avg | 42.98 | |
| q=180. | ||
| Passport Reach (2020s) Higher is better41 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Pos. | Total Q41 | |
| 1 | Singapore | 192.2 |
| 2 | Japan | 192.0 |
| 3 | S. Korea | 190.7 |
| ... | ||
| 89 | Russia | 117.7 |
| 90 | Georgia | 117.5 |
| 91 | Albania | 117.0 |
| 92 | Vanuatu | 113.7 |
| 93 | Turkey | 112.2 |
| 94 | S. Africa | 104.3 |
| 95 | Belize | 102.0 |
| 96 | Qatar | 101.3 |
| Australasia Avg | 123.4 | |
| World Avg | 108.8 | |
| q=195. | ||
Economic Inequality and Poverty Datasets:
| Inequality in Life Expectancy Lower is better42 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Pos. | 201942 | |
| 1 | Iceland | 2.40 |
| 2= | Singapore | 2.50 |
| 2= | Hong Kong | 2.50 |
| ... | ||
| 109= | Indonesia | 13.90 |
| 109= | Azerbaijan | 13.90 |
| 111 | Algeria | 14.10 |
| 112 | Vanuatu | 14.40 |
| 113 | Guatemala | 14.60 |
| 114= | Fiji | 14.90 |
| 114= | Trinidad & Tobago | 14.90 |
| 116 | Philippines | 15.30 |
| Australasia Avg | 13.47 | |
| World Avg | 14.59 | |
| q=184. | ||
| Income Inequality (Gini Coefficient) Lower is better43 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Pos. | 2023 %43 | |
| 1 | Slovakia | 24.1%44 |
| 2 | Slovenia | 24.3%44 |
| 3 | Belarus | 24.4%45 |
| ... | ||
| 48 | Egypt | 31.9%46 |
| 49 | Mauritania | 32.0%46 |
| 50 | Seychelles | 32.1%47 |
| 51 | Vanuatu | 32.3%46 |
| 52= | Germany | 32.4%45 |
| 52= | UK | 32.4%44 |
| 52= | Nauru | 32.4%48 |
| 55 | Luxembourg | 32.7%44 |
| Australasia Avg | 34.8% | |
| World Avg | 36.5% | |
| q=167. | ||
Income inequality data is rarely available for Vanuatu - only for 2 years between 1980 and 2019.
| Multidimensional Poverty Lower is better49 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Pos. | 2018 Severity49 | |
| 1 | Armenia | .001 |
| 2 | Ukraine | .001 |
| 3 | Serbia | .001 |
| ... | ||
| 58 | Nepal | .148 |
| 59 | Cambodia | .170 |
| 60 | Namibia | .171 |
| 61 | Vanuatu | .174 |
| 62 | Bhutan | .175 |
| 63 | Myanmar | .176 |
| 64 | Kenya | .178 |
| 65 | Comoros | .181 |
| Australasia Avg | .174 | |
| World Avg | .154 | |
| q=101. | ||
#buddhism #christianity #hinduism #islam #judaism
Pew Forum polling over the decades has found the following adherency rates:50:
| 2010 | 2020 | |
|---|---|---|
| Christian | 82.6% | 83.5% |
| Other | 16.2% | 15.1% |
| Unaffiliated | 1.08% | 1.37% |
| Hindu | <0.1% | <0.1% |
| Muslim | <0.1% | <0.1% |
| Buddhist | <0.1% | <0.1% |
| Jewish | <0.1% | <0.1% |
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)51.
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