Photo: Phillip Capper derivative work: Jjtkk · CC BY 2.0 · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale
Topic 01 of 18 · Country Index 2026
Vanuatu: Governance & Institutions
How well is the state actually run?
Vanuatu is placed 98th of 194 countries on governance & institutions in the Country Index 2026, from 4 of its 4 key statistics. Readings behind it: Government Effectiveness -0.749 (2025); Statistical Performance Indicators 53.45 (2024).
Governance & Institutions
98th
of 194 countries placed
Placed from 4 of 4 key statistics
- -0.749Government Effectiveness, 2025Governance estimate (−2.5 weak to 2.5 strong)
- 53.45Statistical Performance Indicators, 2024SPI overall score (0–100)
- 47Corruption Perceptions Index, 2025CPI score (0–100, where 100 is very clean)
- 0.911Judicial Constraints on the Executive Index, 2025Judicial constraints on the executive index (0–1)
01The evidence
The 4 key statistics that decide it
Only these place Vanuatu on governance & institutions — 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
Government Effectiveness
World Bank Group
Why it is a key: The quality of public services and the civil service that delivers them, and the credibility of a government's commitment to its own policies. Where the Corruption Perceptions Index asks whether a state is honest, this asks whether it is competent.
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY 4.0
-0.749
Governance estimate (−2.5 weak to 2.5 strong)
Higher is better
Vanuatu: -0.749. Across the 209 countries in this edition, values run from -2.251 (South Sudan) to 2.092 (Singapore); the world median is 0.101.
- World median
- 0.101
- Best in Melanesia
- 0.529 Fiji
Each grey tick is one of 209 countries in the 2025 edition.
Key 2 of 4
Statistical Performance Indicators
World Bank Group
Why it is a key: Whether a state can measure its own country. Nothing else here tests the capacity of the statistical system itself.
2024 edition · data for 2024 · CC BY 4.0
53.45
SPI overall score (0–100)
Higher is better
Vanuatu: 53.45. Across the 188 countries in this edition, values run from 27.12 (South Sudan) to 94.14 (Norway); the world median is 69.3.
- World median
- 69.3
- Best in Melanesia
- 67.68 Fiji
Each grey tick is one of 188 countries in the 2024 edition.
Key 3 of 4
Corruption Perceptions Index
Transparency International
Why it is a key: How much corruption the people who actually deal with a government perceive — an outcome, where the other keys measure the state’s capacity and the limits the law puts on it.
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY 4.0 (the data), CC BY-ND 4.0 (the website and report)
47
CPI score (0–100, where 100 is very clean)
Higher is better
Ranked 63rd of 181 by Transparency International
Vanuatu: 47. Across the 182 countries in this edition, values run from 9 (Somalia) to 89 (Denmark); the world median is 39.
- World median
- 39
- Best in Melanesia
- 55 Fiji
Each grey tick is one of 182 countries in the 2025 edition.
Key 4 of 4
Judicial Constraints on the Executive Index
V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg
Why it is a key: Whether the executive respects the constitution and obeys the courts, and whether the courts can rule against it freely — the law binding those who write it.
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY-SA 4.0
0.911
Judicial constraints on the executive index (0–1)
Higher is better
Vanuatu: 0.911. Across the 176 countries in this edition, values run from 0.003 (Nicaragua) to 0.988 (Australia); the world median is 0.676.
- World median
- 0.676
- Best in Melanesia
- 0.911 Vanuatu
Each grey tick is one of 176 countries in the 2025 edition.
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.
Government Effectiveness
Governance estimate (−2.5 weak to 2.5 strong) · higher is better
VanuatuWorld median
Vanuatu fell from -0.351 in 2004 to -0.749 in 2025; the world median went from -0.314 to 0.101.
Every year’s figures
Year Vanuatu World median 2025 -0.74854 0.1006 2024 -0.85907 0.0098 2023 -0.85915 -0.0408 2022 -0.81133 -0.0305 2021 -0.81124 -0.0158 2020 -0.76183 -0.0171 2019 -0.69628 0.0150 2018 -0.44432 0.0159 2017 -0.71753 0.0158 2016 -0.71717 0.0225 2015 -0.71802 0.0038 2014 -0.48798 0.0194 2013 0.07623 -0.0758 2012 0.07657 -0.0839 2011 0.09810 -0.1221 2010 0.09880 -0.1145 2009 -0.01871 -0.1609 2008 0.02296 -0.2134 2007 -0.08891 -0.3260 2006 0.24775 -0.3310 2005 0.24849 -0.3706 2004 -0.35051 -0.3140 2003 — -0.4369 2002 — -0.3366 2000 — -0.3969 Statistical Performance Indicators
SPI overall score (0–100) · higher is better
VanuatuWorld median
Vanuatu rose from 38.14 in 2016 to 53.45 in 2024; the world median went from 56.25 to 69.3.
Every year’s figures
Year Vanuatu World median 2024 53.4 69.30 2023 52.9 68.86 2022 52.0 67.99 2021 50.6 69.96 2020 42.0 62.91 2019 42.7 61.19 2018 39.5 61.17 2017 40.5 59.55 2016 38.1 56.25 Corruption Perceptions Index
CPI score (0–100, where 100 is very clean) · higher is better
VanuatuWorld median
Vanuatu rose from 43 in 2017 to 47 in 2025; the world median went from 38.5 to 39.
Every year’s figures
Year Vanuatu World median 2025 47 39.0 2024 50 40.0 2023 48 40.0 2022 48 39.5 2021 45 39.0 2020 43 40.0 2019 46 39.5 2018 46 38.0 2017 43 38.5 2016 — 38.0 2015 — 37.0 2014 — 38.0 2013 — 38.0 2012 — 37.0 Judicial Constraints on the Executive Index
Judicial constraints on the executive index (0–1) · higher is better
VanuatuWorld median
Vanuatu rose from 0.878 in 2000 to 0.911 in 2025; the world median went from 0.647 to 0.676.
Every year’s figures
Year Vanuatu World median 2025 0.911 0.6760 2024 0.911 0.6645 2023 0.911 0.6590 2022 0.911 0.6600 2021 0.911 0.6580 2020 0.932 0.6645 2019 0.930 0.6560 2018 0.903 0.6485 2017 0.903 0.6550 2016 0.903 0.6520 2015 0.903 0.6700 2014 0.888 0.6515 2013 0.888 0.6550 2012 0.888 0.6750 2011 0.888 0.6680 2010 0.888 0.6640 2009 0.878 0.6580 2008 0.878 0.6590 2007 0.878 0.6630 2006 0.878 0.6590 2005 0.878 0.6580 2004 0.878 0.6480 2003 0.878 0.6480 2002 0.878 0.6470 2001 0.878 0.6530 2000 0.878 0.6465
03In context
Vanuatu beside its neighbours
A position reads best beside the countries around it. Every position below is a place among all 194 countries on governance & institutions, never a place within the region.
Vanuatu and Melanesia
Vanuatu has no land border, so the table compares it with its sub-region. The standing is each country’s place among all 194 placed on the topic; the other columns are the publishers’ own values, read at the edition the standing used.
| Country | Standing | Government EffectivenessGovernance estimate (−2.5 weak to 2.5 strong) | Statistical Performance IndicatorsSPI overall score (0–100) | Corruption Perceptions IndexCPI score (0–100, where 100 is very clean) | Judicial Constraints on the Executive IndexJudicial constraints on the executive index (0–1) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Fiji | 50th | 0.529 | 67.68 | 55 | 0.795 |
| Vanuatu | 98th | -0.749 | 53.45 | 47 | 0.911 |
 Solomon Islands | =121st | -0.845 | 51.03 | 44 | 0.82 |
 Papua New Guinea | 142nd | -0.71 | 43.63 | 26 | 0.863 |
 New Caledonia | not placed | — | — | — | — |
“—” means the publisher gives no reading for that country in that edition. A country needs readings on enough keys to be placed.
Across Melanesia
Every country in the sub-region, by its place among all 194.
Placed either side on governance & institutions
The countries immediately above and below Vanuatu in the topic’s list.
04Context, no vote
Where Vanuatu is ahead of the world, and behind
26 more statistics filed under governance & institutions, 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 median12
Statistics on which Vanuatu does better than the middle country measured.
Government Spending on EducationUIS · 2023 · world median 3.7097.5813.709▲ Improved since 2014
Vanuatu: 7.581 · world median 3.709 · Government expenditure on education (% of GDP). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 16.39; higher is better.
Position 5th of 123 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = best. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Debt Service on External DebtWorld Bank Group · 2024 · world median 12.936.51412.93▼ Worsened since 2014
Vanuatu: 6.514 · world median 12.93 · Total debt service (% of exports of goods, services and primary income). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.285 to 96.2; lower is better.
Position 93rd of 109 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = worst. The publisher ranks no country on this.
State Authority over TerritoryV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2025 · world median 95.399.1495.3▲ Improved since 2015
Vanuatu: 99.14 · world median 95.3 · Territory under effective state control (% of official territory). V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 47.56 to 100; higher is better.
Liberal Democracy IndexV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2025 · world median 0.3530.6230.353No real change since 2015
Vanuatu: 0.623 · world median 0.353 · Liberal democracy index (0–1). V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.009 to 0.884; higher is better.
Position 42nd of 176 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = best. The publisher ranks no country on this.
V-Dem Electoral Democracy IndexV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2025 · world median 0.4970.7290.497No real change since 2015
Vanuatu: 0.729 · world median 0.497 · Electoral democracy index (0–1). V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.016 to 0.913; higher is better.
Position 49th of 176 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = best. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Voice and AccountabilityWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median -0.0220.547-0.022▲ Improved since 2015
Vanuatu: 0.547 · world median -0.022 · Voice and Accountability estimate (−2.5 to 2.5). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from -2.348 to 1.825; higher is better.
Position 67th of 206 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = best. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Civic Space RatingsCIVICUS · 2025 · world median 50.4668.5450.46No earlier reading
Vanuatu: 68.54 · world median 50.46 · Civic space score (0–100). CIVICUS, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 2.17 to 100; higher is better.
Position 68th of 198 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = best. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Rule of LawWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median -0.1020.529-0.102▼ Worsened since 2015
Vanuatu: 0.529 · world median -0.102 · Rule of Law estimate (−2.5 to 2.5). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from -2.199 to 2.012; higher is better.
Position 74th of 211 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = best. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Political Corruption IndexV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2025 · world median 0.5180.3320.518No real change since 2015
Vanuatu: 0.332 · world median 0.518 · Political corruption index (0–1; higher = more corrupt). V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.004 to 0.968; lower is better.
Position 111th of 176 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = worst. The publisher ranks no country on this.
External Debt Stocks (% of GNI)World Bank Group · 2024 · world median 43.9439.1643.94▼ Worsened since 2014
Vanuatu: 39.16 · world median 43.94 · External debt stocks (% of GNI). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 2.213 to 350.57; lower is better.
Position 66th of 110 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = worst. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Social Protection CoverageILO · 2025 · world median 52.157.452.1No earlier reading
Vanuatu: 57.4 · world median 52.1 · Population covered by at least one social protection benefit (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100; higher is better.
Control of CorruptionWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median -0.197-0.182-0.197▼ Worsened since 2015
Vanuatu: -0.182 · world median -0.197 · Control of Corruption (−2.5 to 2.5). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from -2.096 to 2.259; higher is better.
Position 105th of 211 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = best. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Behind the world median12
Statistics on which Vanuatu does worse than the middle country measured.
Country Policy and Institutional AssessmentWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 3.2463.2423.246▼ Worsened since 2015
Vanuatu: 3.242 · world median 3.246 · IDA Resource Allocation Index (1 = low to 6 = high). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 1.617 to 4.225; higher is better.
Position 40th of 78 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = best. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Regulatory QualityWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median -0.093-0.34-0.093▼ Worsened since 2015
Vanuatu: -0.34 · world median -0.093 · Regulatory Quality (−2.5 to 2.5). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from -2.106 to 2.113; higher is better.
Position 125th of 209 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = best. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Agriculture Orientation IndexFAO · 2024 · world median 0.3050.230.305▲ Improved since 2014
Vanuatu: 0.23 · world median 0.305 · Agriculture orientation index (1.0 = spending matches sector size). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.03 to 5.38; higher is better.
Position 85th of 132 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = best. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Government AI Readiness IndexOxford Insights · 2025 · world median 40.1928.5540.19▲ Improved since 2020
Vanuatu: 28.55 · world median 40.19 · AI readiness score (0–100). Oxford Insights, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 12.12 to 88.36; higher is better.
Ranked 132nd of 195 by Oxford Insights.
GovTech Maturity IndexWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 0.630.4140.63▲ Improved since 2022
Vanuatu: 0.414 · world median 0.63 · GTMI score (0–1). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.01 to 0.997; higher is better.
Position 133rd of 196 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = best. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Climate Readiness (ND-GAIN)Notre Dame Global Adaptation Initiative (ND-GAIN), University of Notre Dame · 2024 · world median 0.3870.3010.387▼ Worsened since 2014
Vanuatu: 0.301 · world median 0.387 · ND-GAIN Readiness (0–1, where 1 is the most ready). Notre Dame Global Adaptation Initiative (ND-GAIN), University of Notre Dame, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.137 to 0.749; higher is better.
Ranked 146th of 192 by Notre Dame Global Adaptation Initiative (ND-GAIN), University of Notre Dame.
Completeness of Birth RegistrationUNICEF · 2025 · world median 98.476.798.4No earlier reading
Vanuatu: 76.7 · world median 98.4 · Children under 5 whose birth is registered (%). UNICEF, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 2.7 to 100; higher is better.
Business Ready: Public ServicesWorld Bank Group · 2024 · world median 50.1332.0650.13No earlier reading
Vanuatu: 32.06 · world median 50.13 · Public services score (0–100). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 18.35 to 73.31; higher is better.
Position 42nd of 50 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = best. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Open Data InventoryOpen Data Watch · 2024 · world median 593959No real change since 2015
Vanuatu: 39 · world median 59 · ODIN overall score (0–100). Open Data Watch, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 19 to 90; higher is better.
Ranked 143rd of 168 by Open Data Watch.
Women, Business and the LawWorld Bank Group · 2024 · world median 81.2555.6381.25▼ Worsened since 2014
Vanuatu: 55.63 · world median 81.25 · WBL Index (0–100, where 100 is full legal parity). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 26.25 to 100; higher is better.
Position 171st of 190 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = best. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Business Ready: Regulatory FrameworkWorld Bank Group · 2024 · world median 66.850.4866.8No earlier reading
Vanuatu: 50.48 · world median 66.8 · Regulatory framework score (0–100). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 46.21 to 78.34; higher is better.
Position 47th of 50 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = best. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Business Ready: Operational EfficiencyWorld Bank Group · 2024 · world median 65.8243.9465.82No earlier reading
Vanuatu: 43.94 · world median 65.82 · Operational efficiency score (0–100). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 40.36 to 87.33; higher is better.
Position 49th of 50 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = best. The publisher ranks no country on this.
No better end2
These describe the shape of a country — more is not better or worse, only different — so they are never ahead or behind.
Public Sector Wage BillWorld Bank Group · 2022 · world median 7.97516.67.975Moved since 2012
Vanuatu: 16.6 · world median 7.975 · Public sector wage bill (% of GDP). World Bank Group, 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from 0.977 to 42.65.
Position 7th of 168 — derived here by ordering the published values, counted from the highest value. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Central Bank Independence IndexAna Carolina Garriga, University of Essex · 2023 · world median 0.6080.4730.608Moved since 2013
Vanuatu: 0.473 · world median 0.608 · CBI index (0–1, where 1 is the most statutory independence). Ana Carolina Garriga, University of Essex, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.006 to 0.974.
No current reading for Vanuatu
General Government Consumption (last 2024), Government Funding per Primary Student (last 2020), Public Sector Employment and Trade Union Density. Listed rather than hidden, so the page can be checked against it.
05Country Index 2026
Governance & Institutions among Vanuatu’s 13 topics
Governance & Institutions is Vanuatu’s 4th best-placed topic of 13. Strongest first; each marker sits at the position divided by that topic’s field, so fields of different sizes compare fairly.
- Peace & Security17th of 1772/4 keys
- Democracy & Civil Libertiesjoint 60th of 1983/3 keys
- Work & Labour88th of 1824/4 keys
- Governance & Institutions98th of 1944/4 keys
- Education & Knowledge89th of 1714/4 keys
- Poverty & Inequality85th of 1592/2 keys
- Gender & Equality102nd of 1833/4 keys
- Food & Agriculture109th of 1754/4 keys
- Development & Human Capital123rd of 1963/3 keys
- Health & Wellbeing130th of 2002/4 keys
- Digital & Technology138th of 1983/3 keys
- Economy & Innovationjoint 132nd of 1762/4 keys
- Risk & Resilience165th of 1923/3 keys
No standing on Environment & Sustainability, Mobility & Trade, Energy: too few of those topics’ key statistics are published for this country.
06The top of the list
Who leads on governance & institutions
The three countries placed highest of 194, and the leaders Vanuatu can most readily be measured against.
1
DenmarkNorthern Europe
1st of 194 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: User:Aconcagua · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
2
New ZealandAustralia and New Zealand
2nd of 194 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: Karora derivative work: Inkey · Public domain, greyscale
3
SwedenNorthern Europe
3rd of 194 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: User:Pieter Kuiper · Public domain, greyscale
Placed highest nearby
Highest in Oceania
New Zealand2nd4/4 keysHighest in Melanesia
Fiji50th4/4 keysThis page
Vanuatu98th4/4 keys
Positions out of 194 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 governance & institutions
08Questions
Vanuatu on governance & institutions: questions answered
Every answer is built from the numbers on this page, so none can say something the page does not.
How does Vanuatu rank on governance & institutions?
Vanuatu is placed 98th of 194 countries on Governance & Institutions in the Country Index 2026, from 4 of its 4 key statistics (Government Effectiveness, Statistical Performance Indicators, Corruption Perceptions Index and Judicial Constraints on the Executive Index). The position is this site’s ordering of published statistics, not a rank any publisher printed.
What is the latest Government Effectiveness figure for Vanuatu?
-0.749 in 2025 (governance estimate (−2.5 weak to 2.5 strong)), according to World Bank Group. The world median in the same edition was 0.101.
What is the latest Statistical Performance Indicators figure for Vanuatu?
53.45 in 2024 (sPI overall score (0–100)), according to World Bank Group. The world median in the same edition was 69.3.
How have Vanuatu’s governance & institutions figures changed?
Government Effectiveness fell from -0.351 in 2004 to -0.749 in 2025; Statistical Performance Indicators rose from 38.14 in 2016 to 53.45 in 2024; Corruption Perceptions Index rose from 43 in 2017 to 47 in 2025; Judicial Constraints on the Executive Index rose from 0.878 in 2000 to 0.911 in 2025.
Which governance & institutions statistics are missing for Vanuatu?
No current reading is published for Vanuatu on General Government Consumption, Government Funding per Primary Student, Public Sector Employment and Trade Union Density. They are listed rather than hidden, so the evidence on the page can be checked against it.
09Keep reading
Explore further
Vanuatu, topic by topic
- Economy & Innovation=132nd of 176
- Work & Labour88th of 182
- Education & Knowledge89th of 171
- Health & Wellbeing130th of 200
- Development & Human Capital123rd of 196
- Gender & Equality102nd of 183
- Democracy & Civil Liberties=60th of 198
- Peace & Security17th of 177
- Risk & Resilience165th of 192
- Food & Agriculture109th of 175
- Poverty & Inequality85th of 159
- Digital & Technology138th of 198
- The full Vanuatu profile
Nearby, on governance & institutions
The key statistics, for every country
10Method
Method, sources and how to cite
What this topic does not measure
Governance is not democracy. Free elections, civil liberties and press freedom belong to the Democracy & Civil Liberties topic, and a country can place well on one and poorly on the other. How openly official data is published sits here as context, beside the statistical capacity that is a key. Nor does this topic measure the size of government or how much it spends — the share of the economy run by the state is published on this page as context, with no better end.
How the Governance & Institutions standing is decided, step by step
A standing is a place in a list, not a mark out of anything. This one is part of the Country Index 2026, and it is worked out like this.
- A few key indicators decide it; the rest are context. 4 indicators on this topic are keys and 30 are charted alongside them without a vote. That split is the point: if every statistic voted, importing five more of one kind would quietly change what the topic is about.
- Each key is read at one edition. ⚠ The keys behind this standing do not all describe the same year — they run from 2024 to 2025, because publishers release on their own schedules. Read the standing as “how this country places now”, not as a snapshot of one year.
- Every country’s published value is turned into a place within that one key’s own field, and then expressed as a share of that field — how far down this key’s list the country sits, rather than how many countries are above it. Keys where a higher published number is worse (terrorism, hunger, disaster risk) are turned round first, so the good end is always the same end.
- Dividing by the field first is the whole reason this works. A place carries the size of its list inside it: 22nd of 44 and 108th of 215 are the same showing, and averaging the numbers 22 and 108 says loudly that they are not. Fields on this site run from about 44 countries to about 215, so averaging raw places would reward a country for happening to be measured in small ones. Dividing each place by its own field removes the size and leaves only the showing.
- The shares are averaged, plainly. One key, one vote — no key is weighted above another, because any weighting would be this site’s opinion presented as a measurement. Countries are then put in order by that average, and the average itself is never published. It is our arithmetic with nothing anchoring it, so printing it would invite it to be read as a measurement somebody made. The position it produces, the band, and the keys it was built from are all published instead — every one of them checkable against the tables on this page.
- A country needs 2 of this topic’s 4 keys — half, rounded up, and never fewer than 2. A standing built from one reading, printed beside one built from four, is two different things sharing a column heading. 194 countries clear the bar here.
- A key has to earn its vote every edition. It must measure at least 120 countries (below that it starts measuring who was surveyed rather than the world), it must not have more than 10% of its field tied at either end, and it must not repeat another key in the same topic — Spearman correlation above 0.92 counts as repeating. A topic needs at least 2 surviving keys to place anyone at all; this one has 4.
- A standing is relative, and the grouping is ours. It says where a country places against the others measured alongside it, so it moves when they move. The publishers listed on this page did not agree to be read together, and each measures its subject its own way: the underlying numbers are theirs, the ordering on top is this site’s — the same method as the rest of the Country Index, applied to one subject instead of all of them.
The key statistics and their licences
- Government Effectiveness — World Bank Group, CC BY 4.0
- Statistical Performance Indicators — World Bank Group, CC BY 4.0
- Corruption Perceptions Index — Transparency International, CC BY 4.0 (the data), CC BY-ND 4.0 (the website and report)
- Judicial Constraints on the Executive Index — V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, CC BY-SA 4.0
The other 26 statistics on this page come from 11 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
- Denmark — User:Aconcagua, CC BY-SA 3.0
- New Zealand — Karora derivative work: Inkey, Public domain
- Sweden — User:Pieter Kuiper, Public domain
Cite this page
Nations Inquiry (2026). Vanuatu: Governance & Institutions — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/vanuatu/governance