The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Vanuatu

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Vanuatu refers to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) and its members in Vanuatu. As of year-end 2025, there were 14,042 members in 43 congregations, making it the third largest body of LDS Church members in Melanesia behind Papua New Guinea and Fiji. Vanuatu has the most LDS Church members per capita in Melanesia.The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints membership statistics

History

Tongan members moved to New Hebrides (now Vanuatu) in the early 1970s. A branch was formed in Port Vila on July 15, 1973. Additional congregations emerged and the Port Vila District was created October 19, 1996. The Luganville District was organized September 27, 1998. The Port Vila Vanuatu Stake was created on Sunday June 21, 2015 with 2,000 in attendance.

Stake & Districts As of May 2025, the following stake and districts exist in Vanuatu: Stake/DistrictOrganizedLuganville Vanuatu District27 Sep 1998Malekula Vanuatu District29 May 2011Port Vila Vanuatu Stake22 Oct 1996Tanna Vanuatu Stake27 Apr 2014

Mission Missionaries from the Fiji Suva mission first arrived in Vanuatu in 1974. It continued to be part of the Fiji Suva Mission until 2012. In July 2012, the Fiji Suva and Papua New Guinea Port Moresby Missions were divided to create the Vanuatu Port Vila Mission which encompassed the islands of New Caledonia, Vanuatu, and The Solomon Islands. On July 1, 2026 the mission was realigned and consists of Vanuatu and New Calidonia after creation of the Solomon Islands Honiara Mission. New Caledonia

Solomon Islands The first branch of the LDS Church in the Solomon Islands was organized February 4, 1996. Additional branches formed and the Honiara Solomon Islands District was organized on November 27, 2011. In 2025, the district included 3,232 members in ten branches. Congregations in the Solomon Islands as of June 2026 include: Auki Branch Burns Creek Branch Fauabu Malaita Branch Honiara Branch Kola'a Ridge Branch (Honiara) Naha Branch (Honiara) Namoruka Branch (Honiara) Papaho Branch (Honiara) Point Cruz Branch (Honiara) Ulawa Branch White River Branch (Honiara).

On July 1, 2026, the Solomon Islands Honiara Mission was created.

Temples On October 4, 2020 the Port Vila Vanuatu Temple was announced by church president Russell M. Nelson. Groundbreaking took place on April 8, 2023.

See also Religion in Vanuatu

References

External links The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Pacific) - Official Site The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints - Pacific Newsroom ComeUntoChrist.org Latter-day Saints Visitor site