Oceania

Is Vanuatu safe?

Capital: Port VilaBislama, English, FrenchUpdated October 2026

L1Exercise normal precautions

Is Vanuatu safe?

Crime against visitors is rare, though theft and night-time assaults happen, mostly in Port Vila. Earthquakes, cyclones, volcanoes and unreliable domestic flights are bigger concerns.

Key facts

US travel advisory: Level 1: Exercise normal precautions, updated 2025-05-21.
Homicide rate: 0.3 per 100,000 people (2020, UNODC via World Bank).
Road deaths: 14.9 per 100,000 people a year (2019, WHO).
Emergency numbers: Police 111 · Ambulance 115 · Fire 113.
Solo women: Safe with usual care; don't walk alone after dark. Some nakamals (kava bars), especially outside Port Vila, don't welcome women.

Risks, scams and laws

Main risks

Earthquake damage in Port Vila; some buildings still closed
Active volcanoes; check alert levels before visiting Yasur
Malaria in the north; dengue outbreak on Efate in 2026
Cyclones November–April

Laws visitors break by accident

Supermarkets can't sell alcohol from Saturday midday to Monday 7am
Most land is customary: pay landowners' fees for beaches and sites
Obscenity laws are strict; wear beachwear only at beaches and hotels

Safety by place in Vanuatu

Place	Safety
Port Vila	3/5 · Take real precautions

Quick answers

Is Vanuatu safe for tourists?

Crime against visitors is rare, though theft and night-time assaults happen, mostly in Port Vila. Earthquakes, cyclones, volcanoes and unreliable domestic flights are bigger concerns.

Is Vanuatu safe for solo female travelers?

Safe with usual care; don't walk alone after dark. Some nakamals (kava bars), especially outside Port Vila, don't welcome women.

What is the emergency number in Vanuatu?

Police 111 · Ambulance 115 · Fire 113.

Safety by place

Port VilaSafety

Sources

Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.