Map of Vanuatu | Geography | People | Government | Economy | Energy | Communication
Military | Transportation | Transnational Issues | Year: Guide198919901991199219931994199519961997199819992000200120022003200420052006200720082009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024 | More stats

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Background: 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.


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Location: Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to Australia

Geographic coordinates

Map reference: Oceania

Area
Total area total: 14,760 km²
Land: 14,760 km²
Comparative: slightly larger than Connecticut
Note: includes more than 80 islands

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 2,528 km

Maritime claims: measured from claimed archipelagic baselines
Contiguous zone: 24 nm
Continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: tropical; moderated by southeast trade winds

Terrain: mostly mountains of volcanic origin; narrow coastal plains

Elevation

Natural resources: manganese, hardwood forests, fish

Land use
Arable land: 1%
Permanent crops: 5%
Meadows and pastures: 2%
Forest and woodland: 1%
Other: 91%

Irrigated land: NA km²

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²

Total water withdrawal

Total renewable water resources

Natural hazards

Geography


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Population: 173,648 (July 1995 est.)
Growth rate: 2.22% (1995 est.)

Nationality
Noun: Ni-Vanuatu (singular and plural)
Adjective: Ni-Vanuatu

Ethnic groups: indigenous Melanesian 94%, French 4%, Vietnamese, Chinese, Pacific Islanders

Languages: English (official), French (official), pidgin (known as Bislama or Bichelama)

Religions: Presbyterian 36.7%, Anglican 15%, Catholic 15%, indigenous beliefs 7.6%, Seventh-Day Adventist 6.2%, Church of Christ 3.8%, other 15.7%

Demographic profile

Age structure
0-14 years: 41% (female 34,819; male 36,128)
15-64 years: 56% (female 47,320; male 50,456)
65 years and over: 3% (female 2,217; male 2,708) (July 1995 est.)

Dependency ratios

Median age

Population growth rate: 2.22% (1995 est.)

Birth rate: 31.26 births/1000 population (1995 est.)

Death rate: 9.06 deaths/1000 population (1995 est.)

Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1000 population (1995 est.)

Population distribution

Urbanization

Major urban areas

Environment
Current issues: a majority of the population does not have access to a potable and reliable supply of water
Current issues natural hazards: tropical cyclones or typhoons (January to April); volcanism causes minor earthquakes
Current issues international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution; signed, but not ratified - Law of the Sea

Air pollutants

Sex ratio

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio

Infant mortality rate: 66.3 deaths/1000 live births (1995 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 59.71 years
Male: 57.9 years
Female: 61.61 years (1995 est.)

Total fertility rate: 4.14 children born/woman (1995 est.)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

Drinking water source

Current health expenditure

Physicians density

Hospital bed density

Sanitation facility access

Hiv/Aids

Major infectious diseases

Obesity adult prevalence rate

Alcohol consumption

Tobacco use

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

Education expenditures

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1979)
Total population: 53%
Male: 57%
Female: 48%

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education

Youth unemployment


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Country name
Conventional long form: Republic of Vanuatu
Conventional short form: Vanuatu
Former: New Hebrides

Government type: republic

Capital: Port-Vila

Administrative divisions: 6 provinces; Malampa, Penama, Sanma, Shefa, Tafea, Torba

Dependent areas

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

International law organization participation

Citizenship

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch
Chief of state: President Jean Marie LEYE (since 2 March 1994)
Head of government: Prime Minister Maxime CARLOT Korman (since 16 December 1991); Deputy Prime Minister Sethy REGENVANU (since 17 December 1991)
Cabinet: Council of Ministers; appointed by the prime minister, responsible to parliament

Legislative branch: unicameral
Parliament: elections last held 2 December 1991 (next to be held NA November 1995); note - after election, a coalition was formed by the Union of Moderate Parties and the National United Party to form a new government on 16 December 1991, but political party associations are fluid; results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (46 total) UMP 19, NUP 10, VP 10, MPP 4, TUP 1, Nagriamel 1, Friend 1
Note: the National Council of Chiefs advises on matters of custom and land

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

Political parties and leaders

International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AsDB, C, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS (associate), IMF, IMO, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), IOC, ITU, NAM, SPARTECA, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WMO

Diplomatic representation
In the us: Vanuatu does not have a mission in the US
From the us: 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

National symbols

National anthem

National heritage


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Economy overview: The economy is based primarily on subsistence farming which provides a living for about 80% of the population. Fishing and tourism are the other mainstays of the economy, with 43,000 visitors in 1992. 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.

Real gdp purchasing power parity

Real gdp growth rate: NA%

Real gdp per capita: $1,200 (1993 est.)

Gross national saving

Gdp composition by end use

Gdp composition by sector of origin

Agriculture products: export crops - coconuts, cocoa, coffee, fish; subsistence crops - taro, yams, coconuts, fruits, vegetables

Industries: food and fish freezing, wood processing, meat canning

Industrial production growth rate: 8.1% (1990; accounts for about 10% of GDP

Labor force: NA
By occupation: NA

Unemployment rate: NA%

Youth unemployment

Population below poverty line

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share

Distribution of family income gini index

Budget
Revenues: $90 million
Expenditures: $103 million, including capital expenditures of $45 million (1989 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

Public debt

Revenue

Fiscal year: calendar year

Inflation rate consumer prices

Central bank discount rate

Commercial bank prime lending rate

Stock of narrow money

Stock of broad money

Stock of domestic credit

Market value of publicly traded shares

Current account balance

Exports: $14.9 million (f.o.b., 1991)
Commodoties: copra, beef, cocoa, timber, coffee
Partners: Netherlands, Japan, France, New Caledonia, Belgium

Imports: $74 million (f.o.b., 1991)
Commodoties: machines and vehicles, food and beverages, basic manufactures, raw materials and fuels, chemicals
Partners: Australia 36%, Japan 13%, NZ 10%, France 8%, Fiji 8%

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Debt external: $40 million (yearend 1992)

Stock of direct foreign investment at home

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad

Exchange rates: vatu (VT) per US$1 - 112.42 (December 1994), 116.41 (1994), 121.58 (1993), 113.39 (1992), 111.68 (1991), 116.57 (1990)


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Electricity
Capacity: 17,000 kW
Production: 30 million kWh
Production consumption per capita: 181 kWh (1993)

Coal

Petroleum

Crude oil

Refined petroleum

Natural gas

Carbon dioxide emissions

Energy consumption per capita


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Telephones

Telephone system: 3,000 telephones
Local: NA
Intercity: NA
International: 1 INTELSAT (Pacific Ocean) earth station

Broadcast media

Internet

Broadband fixed subscriptions


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Military expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP

Military and security forces

Military service age and obligation

Space program

Terrorist groups


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National air transport system

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Airports: 31
With paved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 1
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 1
With paved runways under 914 m: 17
With unpaved runways 15-24 to 2438 m: 1
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 11

Heliports

Pipelines

Railways

Roadways

Waterways

Merchant marine
Total: 116 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,874,698 GRT/2,758,783 DWT
Ships by type: bulk 52, cargo 18, chemical tanker 3, combination bulk 1, container 4, liquefied gas tanker 5, livestock carrier 1, oil tanker 5, refrigerated cargo 17, vehicle carrier 10
Note: a flag of convenience registry; includes 21 countries among which are ships of the US 117, Japan 39, Netherlands 12, China 11, UAE 6, Greece 6, Canada 6, Hong Kong 4, Russia 2, Australia 2

Ports and terminals


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Disputes international: none

Refugees and internally displaced persons

Illicit drugs