Moving to Vanuatu from Malawi

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What to Expect

Everything you need to know before relocating from Malawi to Vanuatu — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.

If you moved from Malawi to Vanuatu. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right.

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Key Indicator Comparison

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Malawi to Vanuatu.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2020

per 100,000 people per year

MW
1.8
VU
0.3
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

MW
20.2
VU
12.5

Vanuatu performs significantly better than Malawi across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

MW
$125
VU
$141
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

MW
0.5
VU
1.6

Malawi generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Vanuatu leads in doctors per 10,000 people.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

MW
43.0
VU
57.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

MW
0.2t
VU
0.9t

Malawi performs better than Vanuatu across all environment metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

MW
0.1
VU
1.1
Internet access The World Factbook, 2021

share of households with internet

MW
24.0%
VU
66.0%

Vanuatu performs significantly better than Malawi across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

MW
5.0%
VU
5.1%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

MW
$1,700
VU
$3,000

Vanuatu generally does better on employment & economy, though Malawi leads in unemployment rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

MW
72.4 yrs
VU
75.1 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

MW
33.4
VU
14.3

Vanuatu generally does better on family life, though Malawi leads in education spending.

Data: The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Lilongwe Rain: 50.7 in/yr (1289 mm)
75° / 54°F

Avg. annual high / low

Port Vila Rain: 87.5 in/yr (2222 mm)
83° / 71°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Lilongwe Port Vila
Jan–Mar 78°/61°F (25°/16°C) 86°/74°F (30°/23°C)
Apr–Jun 72°/53°F (22°/11°C) 82°/70°F (28°/21°C)
Jul–Sep 72°/45°F (22°/7°C) 79°/67°F (26°/19°C)
Oct–Dec 80°/57°F (27°/14°C) 84°/71°F (29°/22°C)
View all months
Month Lilongwe Port Vila
Jan 78°/61°F (25.5°/16.1°C) 87°/74°F (30.3°/23.4°C)
Feb 78°/62°F (25.6°/16.5°C) 86°/74°F (30.2°/23.6°C)
Mar 77°/61°F (24.8°/16.0°C) 86°/74°F (29.9°/23.4°C)
Apr 74°/59°F (23.5°/14.9°C) 84°/72°F (28.9°/22.5°C)
May 72°/53°F (22.1°/11.6°C) 82°/70°F (27.7°/21.3°C)
Jun 69°/46°F (20.4°/7.9°C) 80°/69°F (26.7°/20.5°C)
Jul 69°/44°F (20.3°/6.5°C) 79°/67°F (25.9°/19.5°C)
Aug 71°/44°F (21.9°/6.6°C) 79°/67°F (26.1°/19.3°C)
Sep 77°/48°F (25.1°/8.7°C) 80°/67°F (26.7°/19.6°C)
Oct 81°/53°F (27.2°/11.7°C) 82°/69°F (27.8°/20.6°C)
Nov 81°/58°F (27.2°/14.2°C) 84°/71°F (28.9°/21.7°C)
Dec 79°/61°F (26.1°/15.9°C) 85°/72°F (29.7°/22.4°C)

Data: Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services, Vanuatu Meteorology and Geo-hazards Department Vanuatu Meteorology and Geo-hazards Department

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Malawi and Vanuatu. To live, work, or study long-term in Vanuatu, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Vanuatu's immigration authority.

Malawi passport

Malawi passport holder visiting Vanuatu

Visa Free
Malawi passport holders can enter Vanuatu without a visa.
Vanuatu passport

Vanuatu passport holder visiting Malawi

Visa Free
Vanuatu passport holders can enter Malawi without a visa.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work remotely from Vanuatu?

Internet is rarely the blocker — Vanuatu has 1.1 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people. The real questions are legal: digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.

Is Vanuatu safe for expats?

Vanuatu performs significantly better than Malawi across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Vanuatu is 0.3 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.8 in Malawi.

How is healthcare in Vanuatu compared to Malawi?

Malawi generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Vanuatu leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 1.6 doctors per 10,000 people in Vanuatu, compared to 0.5 in Malawi. Vanuatu scores 47 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Malawi: 48).

What's the weather like in Vanuatu compared to Malawi?

The average high temperature in Port Vila is 83°F, compared to 75°F in Lilongwe. Port Vila receives around 87.5 in of rainfall per year, while Lilongwe gets 50.7 in.

What language do they speak in Vanuatu?

The official languages in Vanuatu are Bislama, English and French. In Malawi, the official languages are Chewa and English.

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At a Glance

MW VU
Population 20,794,353 308,043
Currency Malawian Kwacha (MWK) Vanuatu Vatu (VUV)
Languages Chewa, English Bislama, English, French
Driving side Left Right
Calling code +265 +678
Time zones 1 1