Economy - 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 nearly 350,000 visitors in 2016, are other mainstays of the economy. Tourism has struggled after Efate, the most populous and 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.
GDP (purchasing power parity): GDP (official exchange rate): GDP - real growth rate: GDP - per capita (PPP): GDP - composition, by end use: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: Agriculture - products: Industries: Industrial production growth rate: Labor force: Labor force - by occupation: Unemployment rate: Population below poverty line: Household income or consumption by percentage share: Budget: Taxes and other revenues: Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): Public debt: Fiscal year: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Central bank discount rate: Commercial bank prime lending rate: Stock of narrow money: Stock of broad money: Stock of domestic credit: Market value of publicly traded shares: Current account balance: Exports: Exports - commodities: Exports - partners: Imports: Imports - commodities: Imports - partners: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Debt - external: Stock of direct foreign investment - at home: Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad: Exchange rates:
$787 million (2017 est.)
$753.1 million (2016 est.)
$724.1 million (2015 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
country comparison to the world: 207
$837 million (2016 est.)
[see also: GDP (official exchange rate) country ranks ]
4.5% (2017 est.)
4% (2016 est.)
1.6% (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 52
[see also: GDP - real growth rate country ranks ]
$2,800 (2017 est.)
$2,700 (2016 est.)
$2,700 (2015 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
country comparison to the world: 195
household consumption: 59.4%
[see also: GDP - composition, by end use - household consumption country ranks ]
government consumption: 17.9%
[see also: GDP - composition, by end use - government consumption country ranks ]
investment in fixed capital: 29.1%
[see also: GDP - composition, by end use - investment in fixed capital country ranks ]
investment in inventories: 0%
[see also: GDP - composition, by end use - investment in inventories country ranks ]
exports of goods and services: 41.8%
[see also: GDP - composition, by end use - exports of goods and services country ranks ]
imports of goods and services: -48.2% (2017 est.)
[see also: GDP - composition, by end use - imports of goods and services country ranks ]
agriculture: 27%
[see also: GDP - composition, by sector of origin - agriculture country ranks ]
industry: 9.1%
[see also: GDP - composition, by sector of origin - industry country ranks ]
services: 63.9% (2017 est.)
[see also: GDP - composition, by sector of origin - services country ranks ]
copra, coconuts, cocoa, coffee, taro, yams, fruits, vegetables; beef; fish
food and fish freezing, wood processing, meat canning
4.5% (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 60
[see also: Industrial production growth rate country ranks ]
115,900 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 183
[see also: Labor force country ranks ]
agriculture: 65%
[see also: Labor force - by occupation - agriculture country ranks ]
industry: 5%
[see also: Labor force - by occupation - industry country ranks ]
services: 30% (2000 est.)
[see also: Labor force - by occupation - services country ranks ]
1.7% (1999 est.)
country comparison to the world: 11
[see also: Unemployment rate country ranks ]
NA%
[see also: Population below poverty line country ranks ]
lowest 10%: NA%
[see also: Household income or consumption by percentage share - lowest 10% country ranks ]
highest 10%: NA%
revenues: $202.4 million
[see also: Budget - revenues country ranks ]
expenditures: $206.9 million (2017 est.)
[see also: Budget - expenditures country ranks ]
24.2% of GDP (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 119
[see also: Taxes and other revenues country ranks ]
-0.5% of GDP (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 46
[see also: Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) country ranks ]
31.3% of GDP (2016 est.)
25.6% of GDP (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 160
[see also: Public debt country ranks ]
calendar year
2.6% (2017 est.)
0.9% (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 122
[see also: Inflation rate (consumer prices) country ranks ]
20% (31 December 2010)
6% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 6
[see also: Central bank discount rate country ranks ]
3.7% (31 December 2017 est.)
2.95% (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 163
[see also: Commercial bank prime lending rate country ranks ]
$457.4 million (31 December 2017 est.)
$379.9 million (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 170
[see also: Stock of narrow money country ranks ]
$716.4 million (31 December 2017 est.)
$641 million (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 177
[see also: Stock of broad money country ranks ]
$509.1 million (31 December 2017 est.)
$463.4 million (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 177
[see also: Stock of domestic credit country ranks ]
$NA
[see also: Market value of publicly traded shares country ranks ]
-$120 million (2017 est.)
-$30 million (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 84
[see also: Current account balance country ranks ]
$43.9 million (2017 est.)
$53.5 million (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 205
[see also: Exports country ranks ]
copra, beef, cocoa, timber, kava, coffee
Ecuador 18.4%, Australia 13.8%, Venezuela 10.1%, US 9.8%, Japan 8.2%, UK 6.7%, France 5.7%, Hong Kong 5.2% (2016)
$249.9 million (2017 est.)
$308.5 million (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 201
[see also: Imports country ranks ]
machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, fuels
Australia 27.8%, NZ 17.6%, China 10.5%, France 10%, Singapore 6.1%, Thailand 4.8% (2016)
$288.9 million (31 December 2017 est.)
$267.4 million (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 155
[see also: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold country ranks ]
$185.4 million (31 December 2017 est.)
$182.5 million (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 190
[see also: Debt - external country ranks ]
$590.9 million (31 December 2017 est.)
$535.9 million (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 122
[see also: Stock of direct foreign investment - at home country ranks ]
$22.3 million (31 December 2017 est.)
$22.4 million (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 109
[see also: Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad country ranks ]
vatu (VUV) per US dollar -
109.7 (2017 est.)
108.48 (2016 est.)
108.48 (2015 est.)
108.99 (2014 est.)
97.07 (2013 est.)