🇻🇺 Vanuatu: Politics & Democracy
Broadly yes — Vanuatu scores 62.3 on the V-Dem liberal democracy index (0–100 scale), placing it among functioning democracies, though with weaker liberal safeguards than the top-ranked states.
Current leaders
Nikenike Vurobaravu
Head of State · Vanua'aku Pati
Bob Loughman
Head of Government · Vanua'aku Pati
Democracy trend
Upcoming elections
2026 Vanuatuan general election
2026-10-31T00:00:00Z2027 Vanuatuan presidential election
2027-01-01T00:00:00ZVoting alignment
Vanuatu's closest UN General Assembly voting partners since 1946:
Frequently asked questions
Is Vanuatu a democracy?
Broadly yes — Vanuatu scores 62.3 on the V-Dem liberal democracy index (0–100 scale), placing it among functioning democracies, though with weaker liberal safeguards than the top-ranked states. It ranks #42 of 179 countries in 2025.
Is democracy in Vanuatu improving or declining?
Vanuatu's V-Dem liberal democracy score has declined by 1.6 points over the past decade, standing at 62.3 in 2025 (1-year change: −6.3).
Who leads Vanuatu?
Nikenike Vurobaravu is Vanuatu's head of state (Vanua'aku Pati); Bob Loughman serves as head of government (Vanua'aku Pati).
When is the next election in Vanuatu?
2026 Vanuatuan general election is scheduled for 2026-10-31T00:00:00Z.