HIES 2026–2027 Fieldwork In Progress
NEWS
Update On HIES Fieldwork Progress
Enumeration for the 2026–2027 Household Income and Expenditure Survey (HIES) is nearing the halfway mark with data collection well underway across all six provinces and the urban centres of Port Vila and Luganville. As of the end of August, all field teams have completed 15 of the survey's 32 rounds.
To date, over 2,400 household interviews have been completed, representing 46% of the survey target of 5,280 households — closely in line with the survey timeline that has now lapsed. Of these, over 2,200 interviews have been reviewed and approved by VBoS headquarters following quality checks, representing 43% of the target.
Field teams continue to work through the remaining rounds, with headquarters review and data quality processes running alongside ongoing enumeration. The data collected through HIES will remain central to updating key economic statistics, including the rebasing of National Accounts and the Consumer Price Index (CPI), as well as supporting analysis of wellbeing, poverty and inequality by development partners including the World Bank. The last HIES was conducted in 2019–2020.
LATEST RELEASES
International Visitors & Resident Arrivals (IVA)
August 2026
Vanuatu recorded 11,106 international visitor arrivals by air in August 2026, up 20% compared with August 2025, but down 9% from the previous month. Holiday visitors accounted for 80% of all air visitors, while Australia remained the leading source market at 54%. Four cruise ships brought 11,820 day visitors. Visitors stayed an average of 11 days, with an average age of 44 years.
Market Survey
March 2026
The Port Vila Central Market Survey for the March quarter 2026 recorded an overall 37% decrease in commodity supply, while prices increased by 27% compared with the previous quarter. The value of commodities also decreased by 37%, with an average of 183 sellers recorded during the quarter.
Making Death Count
VANUATU: CAUSES OF DEATH ANALYSIS 2023
The Making Death Count report presents an analysis of mortality data recorded through Vanuatu National Hospital for January–December 2023. A total of 484 deaths were included in the analysis. Diseases of the circulatory system were the leading cause of death, accounting for 125 deaths (25.8%), followed by endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases with 83 deaths (17.1%), and neoplasms with 62 deaths (12.8%). The report also highlights the need to strengthen death registration, medical certification and cause-of-death coding in Vanuatu.
International Merchandise Trade Statistics (IMTS)
May 2026
Vanuatu's International Merchandise Trade Statistics for May 2026 recorded a trade deficit of VT 1,829 million with major partner countries. Major exports were led by kava at VT 467 million and copra at VT 197 million, while the top five principal imports totalled VT 260 million. Trade under the Melanesian Spearhead Group agreement totalled VT 340 million, comprising VT 241 million in exports and VT 99 million in imports.