Travel safety comparison · Oceania

New Zealand vs Vanuatu: safety comparison

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New Zealand vs Vanuatu: side-by-side safety comparison. Risk scores, FCDO + US State advisories, drug law, women's safety, LGBTQ+ status.

· How Warnely scores risk →
New Zealand sits a little lower on the Warnely composite score than Vanuatu (8 against 20), but the gap is small enough that the practical difference comes down to category-by-category detail rather than the headline. The biggest single category gap is in crime, where New Zealand scores 1/5 against Vanuatu's 2/5. Women's-safety rating differs: New Zealand is Very Safe and Vanuatu is Generally Safe. Drug law diverges sharply: Vanuatu carries a tier-severe regime against New Zealand's more permissive framework.
🇳🇿New Zealand 🇻🇺Vanuatu
Warnely composite (0–100, lower is safer) 8 / 100 20 / 100
Risk tier Very Safe Very Safe
UK FCDO advisory No active advisory No active advisory
US State Department advisory Level 1 (Exercise Normal Precautions) Level 1 (Exercise Normal Precautions)
Global Peace Index rank #3 n/a
Drug law Strict Severe (long sentences)
Women's safety rating Very Safe Generally Safe
LGBTQ+ legal status marriage legal
Tap water n/a n/a
Currency NZD VUV
Full guide

Is New Zealand safe to visit in 2026?
Full guide

Is Vanuatu safe to visit in 2026?

New Zealand vs Vanuatu: common questions

Is New Zealand or Vanuatu safer to visit?

New Zealand has the lower Warnely composite risk score: 8/100 vs 20/100 (lower is safer). Both scores factor in crime, terrorism, natural disasters, health, civil unrest, and infrastructure.

Is New Zealand or Vanuatu safer for solo female travellers?

New Zealand is rated Very Safe for women's safety; Vanuatu is rated Generally Safe. Read the full guides for city-level detail.

What do FCDO and US State Department say about New Zealand and Vanuatu?

New Zealand: No active advisory (FCDO), Level 1 (Exercise Normal Precautions) (US State). Vanuatu: No active advisory (FCDO), Level 1 (Exercise Normal Precautions) (US State).

More comparisons

Australia vs Vanuatu · Australia vs New Zealand · New Zealand vs Tonga · Fiji vs New Zealand · New Zealand vs Samoa · Fiji vs Vanuatu · Papua New Guinea vs Vanuatu · Vanuatu vs Samoa

Planning the trip? Check New Zealand visa requirements and Vanuatu visa requirements.

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