World Map › Oceania › Vanuatu
Country
Map of Vanuatu
Oceania · Port Vila
Vanuatu lies on the New Hebrides Plate. It has 12 volcanoes active over the last 10,000 years, 9 of which have erupted since 1900. Since 1900, 57 major earthquakes have been recorded, causing at least 25 deaths. Its exposure to natural hazards is 5.1 out of 10 (INFORM index), a high level. Its overall risk index, which accounts for its ability to cope, is 4.3 out of 10.
- Capital
- Port Vila
- Population
- 300,019
- Area
- 12,190 km²
- Continent
- Oceania
Tectonic Plates
Natural Hazards
Exposure to natural hazards according to the European Commission's INFORM index, from 0 (very low) to 10 (very high), overall and for each type of hazard.
Overall Risk Index
This overall score combines hazard exposure with the vulnerability of the population (4.4 out of 10) and the lack of coping capacity (6.1 out of 10). A highly exposed but well-prepared country therefore gets a low overall score.
People Exposed Each Year
- 542to strong shaking (intensity VI and above)
- 542to destructive shaking (intensity VIII and above)
- 12to tsunamis
- 25,902to hurricane-force winds (category 1 and above)
- 654to coastal floods
Overall Risk Index Over Time
Hazard Levels
Hazard level assessed by ThinkHazard! (World Bank, GFDRR), meaning the likelihood of a damaging event, from very low to high.
- Urban FloodHigh
- Coastal FloodHigh
- EarthquakeHigh
- LandslideHigh
- TsunamiHigh
- VolcanoHigh
- CycloneHigh
- Extreme HeatMedium
- River FloodVery Low
- Water ScarcityVery Low
- WildfireVery Low
Volcanoes (12)
Volcanoes active over the last 10,000 years; year of the last known eruption.
- Ambae (Manaro Voui) 2026
- Mount Yasur 2026
- Ambrym 2024
- East Epi 2023
- Gaua 2022
- Lopevi 2007
- Gemini-Oscostar 1996
- Kuwae 1974
- Suretamatai 1966
- Traitor's Head 1881
- Motlav ?
- Nguna-Emau ?
Major Earthquakes Since 1900
Earthquakes that caused deaths or significant damage, or of magnitude 7.5 and above (NOAA).
Deadliest
- 2024Efate, Port Vila · M 7.314 deaths
- 1999Pentecost · M 7.510 deaths
- 1971Espiritu Santo, Port Vila · M 7.11 deaths
Regions
Regions with volcanoes, major earthquakes, tsunamis, cyclones or famous faults.
Tsunamis
37 major tsunamis have reached Vanuatu since 1900, killing 5 people in the country. The deadliest and highest are listed below.
- 1999Tsunami (Vanuatu) · 6.6 m5 deaths
- 1995Tsunami (New Caledonia) · 8.0 m
- 2015Tsunami (Vanuatu) · 8.0 m
- 1965Tsunami (Vanuatu) · 7.0 m
- 2010Tsunami (Vanuatu) · 4.1 m
- 2018Tsunami (New Caledonia) · 4.0 m
- 1997Tsunami (Solomon Islands) · 3.0 m
- 2002Tsunami (Vanuatu) · 3.0 m
Tropical Cyclones
9 major tropical cyclones have made landfall in Vanuatu since 1950. The deadliest and most powerful are listed below.
- 2020Cyclone Harold · 222 km/h
- 1998Cyclone Zuman · 185 km/h
- 1999Cyclone Dani · 167 km/h
- 2023Cyclone Lola · 157 km/h
- 1996Cyclone Beti · 102 km/h
- 2018Cyclone Hola · 102 km/h
- 2008Cyclone Funa · 93 km/h
- 1985Cyclone Eric · 83 km/h
- 2014Cyclone Lusi · 83 km/h
Sources : Natural Earth · Wikidata · INFORM Risk Index (1 September 2026 v 0.7.3), Commission européenne, CC BY 4.0 · NOAA NCEI · ThinkHazard!, GFDRR, CC BY · Bird (2003), PB2002 · Global Volcanism Program, Smithsonian Institution