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This page was last updated on 18 December 2008
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| Introduction | Vanuatu | Top of Page

Background: | Multiple waves of colonizers, each speaking a distinct language, migrated to the New Hebrides in the millennia preceding European exploration in the 18th century. This settlement pattern accounts for the complex linguistic diversity found on the archipelago to this day. The British and French, who settled the New Hebrides in the 19th century, agreed in 1906 to an Anglo-French Condominium, which administered the islands until independence in 1980, when the new name of Vanuatu was adopted.

| Geography | Vanuatu | Top of Page

Location: | Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to Australia
Geographic coordinates: | 16 00 S, 167 00 E
Map references: | Oceania
Area: | total: 12,200 sq km land: 12,200 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes more than 80 islands, about 65 of which are inhabited
Area - comparative: | slightly larger than Connecticut
Land boundaries: | 0 km
Coastline: | 2,528 km
Maritime claims: | measured from claimed archipelagic baselines territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Climate: | tropical; moderated by southeast trade winds from May to October; moderate rainfall from November to April; may be affected by cyclones from December to April
Terrain: | mostly mountainous islands of volcanic origin; narrow coastal plains
Elevation extremes: | lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Tabwemasana 1,877 m
Natural resources: | manganese, hardwood forests, fish
Land use: | arable land: 1.64% permanent crops: 6.97% other: 91.39% (2005)
Irrigated land: | NA
Natural hazards: | tropical cyclones or typhoons (January to April); volcanic eruption on Aoba (Ambae) island began 27 November 2005, volcanism also causes minor earthquakes; tsunamis
Environment - current issues: | most of the population does not have access to a reliable supply of potable water; deforestation
Environment - international agreements: | party to: Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 94 signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note: | a Y-shaped chain of four main islands and 80 smaller islands; several of the islands have active volcanoes

| People | Vanuatu | Top of Page

Population: | 215,446 (July 2008 est.)
Age structure: | 0-14 years: 31.3% (male 34,441/female 33,000) 15-64 years: 64.8% (male 71,159/female 68,435) 65 years and over: 3.9% (male 4,352/female 4,059) (2008 est.)
Median age: | total: 23.8 years male: 23.8 years female: 23.8 years (2008 est.)
Population growth rate: | 1.434% (2008 est.)
Birth rate: | 21.95 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Death rate: | 7.61 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Net migration rate: | NA (2008 est.)
Sex ratio: | at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.07 male(s)/female total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2008 est.)
Infant mortality rate: | total: 50.77 deaths/1,000 live births male: 53.32 deaths/1,000 live births female: 48.09 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: | total population: 63.61 years male: 62.04 years female: 65.27 years (2008 est.)
Total fertility rate: | 2.57 children born/woman (2008 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: | NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: | NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths: | NA
Nationality: | noun: Ni-Vanuatu (singular and plural) adjective: Ni-Vanuatu
Ethnic groups: | Ni-Vanuatu 98.5%, other 1.5% (1999 Census)
Religions: | Presbyterian 31.4%, Anglican 13.4%, Roman Catholic 13.1%, Seventh-Day Adventist 10.8%, other Christian 13.8%, indigenous beliefs 5.6% (including Jon Frum cargo cult), other 9.6%, none 1%, unspecified 1.3% (1999 Census)
Languages: | local languages (more than 100) 72.6%, pidgin (known as Bislama or Bichelama) 23.1%, English 1.9%, French 1.4%, other 0.3%, unspecified 0.7% (1999 Census)
Literacy: | definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 74% male: NA female: NA (1999 census)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): | total: 10 years male: 11 years female: 10 years (2004)
Education expenditures: | 9.5% of GDP (2003)

| Government | Vanuatu | Top of Page

Country name: | conventional long form: Republic of Vanuatu conventional short form: Vanuatu local long form: Ripablik blong Vanuatu local short form: Vanuatu former: New Hebrides
Government type: | parliamentary republic
Capital: | name: Port-Vila (on Efate) geographic coordinates: 17 44 S, 168 19 E time difference: UTC+11 (16 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions: | 6 provinces; Malampa, Penama, Sanma, Shefa, Tafea, Torba
Independence: | 30 July 1980 (from France and UK)
National holiday: | Independence Day, 30 July (1980)
Constitution: | 30 July 1980
Legal system: | unified system being created from former dual French and British systems; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: | 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: | chief of state: President Kalkot Matas KELEKELE (since 16 August 2004) head of government: Prime Minister Edward NATAPEI (since 22 September 2008); Deputy Prime Minister Ham LINI (since 22 September 2008) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister, responsible to Parliament elections: president elected for a five-year term by an electoral college consisting of Parliament and the presidents of the regional councils; election for president last held 16 August 2004 (next to be held in 2009); following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition is usually elected prime minister by Parliament from among its members; election for prime minister last held 22 September 2008 (next to be held following general elections in 2012) election results: Kalkot Matas KELEKELE elected president, with 49 votes out of 56, after several ballots on 16 August 2004
Legislative branch: | unicameral Parliament (52 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 2 September 2008 (next to be held 2012) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - VP 11, NUP 8, UMP 7, VRP 7, PPP 4, GC 2, MPP 1, NA 1, NAG 1, PAP 1, Shepherds Alliance 1, VFFP 1, VLP 1, VNP 1, VPRFP 1, and independent 4; note - political party associations are fluid note: the National Council of Chiefs advises on matters of culture and language
Judicial branch: | Supreme Court (chief justice is appointed by the president after consultation with the prime minister and the leader of the opposition, three other justices are appointed by the president on the advice of the Judicial Service Commission)
Political parties and leaders: | Greens Confederation or GC [Moana CARCASSES]; Jon Frum Movement or JF [Song KEASPAI]; Melanesian Progressive Party or MPP [Barak SOPE]; Nagriamel movement or NAG [Havo MOLI]; Namangi Aute or NA [Paul TELUKLUK]; National United Party or NUP [Ham LINI]; People's Action Party or PAP [Peter VUTA]; People's Progressive Party or PPP [Sato KILMAN]; Shepherds Alliance Party [leader NA]; Union of Moderate Parties or UMP [Serge VOHOR]; Vanuatu Family First Party or VFFP [Eta RORI]; Vanuatu Labor Party or VLP [Joshua KALSAKAU]; Vanuatu National Party or VNP [Issac HAMARILIU]; Vanua'aku Pati (Our Land Party) or VP [Edward NATAPEI]; Vanuatu Republican Party or VRP [Maxime Carlot KORMAN]; Vanuatu Republican Farmers Party or VPRFP [Jean RAVOU]
Political pressure groups and leaders: | NA
International organization participation: | ACCT, ACP, ADB, C, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IOC, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OAS (observer), OIF, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WMO, WTO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US: | Vanuatu does not have an embassy in the US; it does, however, have a Permanent Mission to the UN
Diplomatic representation from the US: | the US does not have an embassy in Vanuatu; the ambassador to Papua New Guinea is accredited to Vanuatu
Flag description: | two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and green with a black isosceles triangle (based on the hoist side) all separated by a black-edged yellow stripe in the shape of a horizontal Y (the two points of the Y face the hoist side and enclose the triangle); centered in the triangle is a boar's tusk encircling two crossed namele leaves, all in yellow

| Economy | Vanuatu | Top of Page

Economy - overview: | This South Pacific island economy is based primarily on small-scale agriculture, which provides a living for 65% of the population. Fishing, offshore financial services, and tourism, with more than 60,000 visitors in 2005, are other mainstays of the economy. Mineral deposits are negligible; the country has no known petroleum deposits. A small light industry sector caters to the local market. Tax revenues come mainly from import duties. Economic development is hindered by dependence on relatively few commodity exports, vulnerability to natural disasters, and long distances from main markets and between constituent islands. In response to foreign concerns, the government has promised to tighten regulation of its offshore financial center. In mid-2002 the government stepped up efforts to boost tourism through improved air connections, resort development, and cruise ship facilities. Agriculture, especially livestock farming, is a second target for growth. Australia and New Zealand are the main suppliers of tourists and foreign aid.
GDP (purchasing power parity): | $897 million (2007 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): | $455 million (2007 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: | 5% (2007 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP): | $3,900 (2007 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: | agriculture: 26% industry: 12% services: 62% (2000 est.)
Labor force: | 76,410 (1999)
Labor force - by occupation: | agriculture: 65% industry: 5% services: 30% (2000 est.)
Unemployment rate: | 1.7% (1999)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: | lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Budget: | revenues: $78.7 million expenditures: $72.23 million (2005)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): | 3.9% (2007 est.)
Central bank discount rate: | 6% (31 December 2007)
Commercial bank prime lending rate: | 8.16% (31 December 2007)
Stock of money: | $107.1 million (31 December 2007)
Stock of quasi money: | $421.8 million (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit: | $229.5 million (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products: | copra, coconuts, cocoa, coffee, taro, yams, fruits, vegetables; beef; fish
Industries: | food and fish freezing, wood processing, meat canning
Industrial production growth rate: | 1% (1997 est.)
Electricity - production: | 46 million kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - consumption: | 39.99 million kWh (2006 est.)
Electricity - exports: | 0 kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - imports: | 0 kWh (2007 est.)
Oil - production: | 0 bbl/day (2007 est.)
Oil - consumption: | 660 bbl/day (2006 est.)
Oil - exports: | 0 bbl/day (2005)
Oil - imports: | 671.1 bbl/day (2005)
Oil - proved reserves: | 0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)
Natural gas - production: | 0 cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - consumption: | 0 cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - exports: | 0 cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - imports: | 0 cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves: | 0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)
Current account balance: | -$60 million (2007 est.)
Exports: | $40 million f.o.b. (2006)
Exports - commodities: | copra, beef, cocoa, timber, kava, coffee
Exports - partners: | Thailand 58.3%, India 18.5%, Japan 11.3% (2007)
Imports: | $156 million c.i.f. (2006)
Imports - commodities: | machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, fuels
Imports - partners: | Australia 20.7%, Singapore 11.8%, NZ 11.2%, Norway 8.5%, US 8.3%, Fiji 8.1%, China 7.2%, New Caledonia 4.5% (2007)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: | $40.54 million (2003)
Debt - external: | $81.2 million (2004)
Market value of publicly traded shares: | $NA
Currency (code): | vatu (VUV)
Exchange rates: | vatu (VUV) per US dollar - NA (2007), 111.93 (2006), NA (2005), 111.79 (2004), 122.19 (2003)

| Communications | Vanuatu | Top of Page

Telephones - main lines in use: | 8,800 (2007)
Telephones - mobile cellular: | 26,000 (2007)
Telephone system: | general assessment: NA domestic: NA international: country code - 678; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: | AM 2, FM 4, shortwave 1 (2001)
Television broadcast stations: | 1 (2004)
Internet country code: | .vu
Internet hosts: | 990 (2008)
Internet users: | 17,000 (2007)

| Transportation | Vanuatu | Top of Page

Airports: | 31 (2007)
Airports - with paved runways: | total: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2007)
Airports - with unpaved runways: | total: 28 914 to 1,523 m: 6 under 914 m: 22 (2007)
Roadways: | total: 1,070 km paved: 256 km unpaved: 814 km (1999)
Merchant marine: | total: 54 by type: bulk carrier 32, cargo 8, container 1, liquefied gas 2, passenger 1, petroleum tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 4, vehicle carrier 5 foreign-owned: 54 (Australia 2, Belgium 4, Canada 5, Estonia 1, Greece 1, Japan 29, Monaco 1, Poland 7, Russia 2, Switzerland 1, US 1) (2008)
Ports and terminals: | Forari, Port-Vila, Santo (Espiritu Santo)

| Military | Vanuatu | Top of Page

Military branches: | no regular military forces; Vanuatu Police Force (VPF), Vanuatu Mobile Force (VMF; includes Police Maritime Wing (PMW)) (2008)
Manpower available for military service: | males age 16-49: 58,900 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service: | males age 16-49: 40,577 (2008 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually: | male: 2,385 female: 2,290 (2008 est.)
Military expenditures: | NA

| Transnational Issues | Vanuatu | Top of Page

Disputes - international: | Matthew and Hunter Islands east of New Caledonia claimed by Vanuatu and France

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008