Statistical information Vanuatu 1998

Vanuatu in the World
top of pageBackground: 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.
top of pageLocation: 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 reference:
OceaniaAreaTotal: 14,760 km²
Land: 14,760 km²
Water: 0 km²
Note: includes more than 80 islands
Comparative: slightly larger than Connecticut
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
ElevationExtremes lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
Extremes highest point: Mount Tabwemasana 1,877 m
Natural resources: manganese, hardwood forests, fish
Land useArable land: 2%
Permanent crops: 10%
Permanent pastures: 2%
Forests and woodland: 75%
Other: 11% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA km²
Major riversMajor watersheds area km²Total water withdrawalTotal renewable water resourcesNatural hazards: tropical cyclones or typhoons (January to April; volcanism causes minor earthquakes
Geographytop of pagePopulation: 185,204 (July 1998 est.)
Growth rate: 2.07% (1998 est.)
NationalityNoun: 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 profileAge structure0-14 years: 39% (male 36,865; female 35,576)
15-64 years: 58% (male 55,066; female 52,142)
65 years and over: 3% (male 3,013; female 2,542) (July 1998 est.)
Dependency ratiosMedian agePopulation growth rate: 2.07% (1998 est.)
Birth rate: 29.18 births/1000 population (1998 est.)
Death rate: 8.44 deaths/1000 population (1998 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1000 population (1998 est.)
Population distributionUrbanizationMajor urban areasEnvironmentCurrent issues: a majority of the population does not have access to a potable and reliable supply of water; deforestation
International agreements party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
International agreements signed but not ratified: Desertification, Law of the Sea
Air pollutantsSex ratioAt birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
Under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.19 male(s)/female (1998 est.)
Mothers mean age at first birthMaternal mortality ratioInfant mortality rate: 61.27 deaths/1000 live births (1998 est.)
Life expectancy at birthTotal population: 61 years
Male: 59.02 years
Female: 63.07 years (1998 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.74 children born/woman (1998 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rateDrinking water sourceCurrent health expenditurePhysicians densityHospital bed densitySanitation facility accessHiv/AidsMajor infectious diseasesObesity adult prevalence rateAlcohol consumptionTobacco useChildren under the age of 5 years underweightEducation expendituresLiteracyDefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 53%
Male: 57%
Female: 48% (1979 est.)
School life expectancy primary to tertiary educationYouth unemploymenttop of pageCountry nameConventional 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 areasIndependence: 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 participationCitizenshipSuffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branchChief of state: President Jean Marie LEYE (since 2 March 1994): ead of
Government: Prime Minister Donald KALPOKAS (since 30 March 1998); Deputy Prime Minister Father Walter LINI (since 30 March 1998)
Cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister, responsible to Parliament
Elections: president elected by an electoral college consisting of Parliament and the presidents of the regional councils for a five-year term; election for president last held 2 March 1994 (next to be held NA 1999); 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 6 March 1998 (next to be held NA 2002)
Election results: Jean Marie LEYE elected president; percent of electoral college vote - NA; Donald KALPOKAS elected prime minister by Parliament with a total of 35 votes, other candidate, Rialuth Serge VOHOR, received 17 votes
Note: the general legislative elections in November 1995 did not give a majority to any of the political parties; since the election, there have been four changes of government_all of which have been coalitions formed by Parliamentary vote; Rialuth Serge VOHOR was prime minister from November 1995 until he resigned 7 February 1996 when faced with a no-confidence vote in Parliament; Maxime Carlot KORMAN was then elected prime minister and served until he was ousted in a no-confidence motion on 30 September 1996; VOHOR was then elected prime minister for a second time; as a result of legislative elections in March 1998, KALPOKAS was elected prime minister and formed a coalition government with Father LINI's National United Party (NUP)
Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament (52 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
Elections: last held 6 March 1998 (next to be held NA 2002)
Election results: percent of vote by party_NA; seats by party_VP 18, UMP 12, NUP 11, other and independent 11; note_political party associations are fluid; there have been four changes of government since the November 1995 elections
Note: the National Council of Chiefs advises on matters of custom and land
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 leadersInternational organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AsDB, C, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), IOC, ITU, NAM, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WTrO (applicant)
Diplomatic representationIn the us: Vanuatu does not have an embassy in the US
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
National symbolsNational anthemNational heritagetop of pageEconomy overview: The economy is based primarily on subsistence or small-scale agriculture which provides a living for 65% of the population. Fishing, offshore financial services, and tourism, with 46,000 visitors in 1996, 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.
Real gdp purchasing power parityReal gdp growth rate: 3% (1996 est.)
Real gdp per capita: purchasing power parity: $1,300 (1996 est.)
Gross national savingGdp composition by sector of origin
Gdp composition by end useGdp composition by sector of originAgriculture: 23%
Industry: 13%
Services: 64% (1996)
Agriculture products: copra, coconuts, cocoa, coffee, taro, yams, coconuts, fruits, vegetables; fish, beef
Industries: food and fish freezing, wood processing, meat canning
Industrial production growth rate: 6.4% (1996 est.)
Labor forceTotal: NA
By occupation agriculture: 65%
By occupation services: 32%
By occupation industry: 3% (1995 est.)
Unemployment rate: NA%
Youth unemploymentPopulation below poverty lineGini indexHousehold income or consumption by percentage shareDistribution of family income gini indexBudgetRevenues: $94.4 million
Expenditures: $99.8 million, including capital expenditures of $30.4 million (1996 est.)
Taxes and other revenuesPublic debtRevenueFiscal year: calendar year
Inflation rate consumer pricesCentral bank discount rateCommercial bank prime lending rateStock of narrow moneyStock of broad moneyStock of domestic creditMarket value of publicly traded sharesCurrent account balanceExports: total value:$30 million (f.o.b., 1996)
Commodoties: copra, beef, cocoa, timber, coffee
Partners: Japan 28%, Spain 21%, Germany 14%, UK 7%, Cote d'Ivoire 7%, Australia, New Caledonia (1996 est.)
Imports: total value:$97 million (f.o.b., 1996)
Commodoties: machines and vehicles, food and beverages, basic manufactures, raw materials and fuels, chemicals
Partners: Japan 47%, Australia 23%, Singapore 8%, New Zealand 6%, France 3%, Fiji (1996 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and goldDebt external: $63 million (1996 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment at homeStock of direct foreign investment abroadExchange rates: vatu (VT) per US$1_124.56 (January 1998), 115.87 (1997), 111.72 (1996), 112.11 (1995), 116.41 (1994), 121.58 (1993)
top of pageElectricityCapacity: 11,000 kW (1995)
Production: 30 million kWh (1995)
Consumption per capita: 173 kWh (1995)
CoalPetroleumCrude oilRefined petroleumNatural gasCarbon dioxide emissionsEnergy consumption per capitatop of pageTelephones: 4,000 (1994 est.)
Telephone systemDomestic: NA
International: satellite earth station_1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
Broadcast mediaInternetBroadband fixed subscriptionstop of pageMilitary expendituresDollar figure: $NA
Percent of gdp: NA%
Military and security forcesMilitary service age and obligationSpace programTerrorist groupstop of pageNational air transport systemCivil aircraft registration country code prefixAirports: 31 (1997 est.)
With paved runways total: 2
With paved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 1
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 1 (1997 est.)
With unpaved runways total: 29
With unpaved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 1
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 10
With unpaved runways under 914 m: 18 (1997 est.)
HeliportsPipelinesRailways: 0 km
RoadwaysWaterwaysMerchant marineTotal: 88 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,407,737 GRT/1,761,413 DWT
Ships by type: bulk 31, cargo 24, chemical tanker 2, combination bulk 1, liquefied gas tanker 4, oil tanker 5, refrigerated cargo 13, vehicle carrier 8
Note: a flag of convenience registry; includes ships from 15 countries among which are ships of Japan 30, India 10, US 8, Netherlands 6, Greece 4, Hong Kong 4, Australia 2, Canada 1, China 1, and Poland 1 (1997 est.)
Ports and terminalsVanuatu - Transnational issues 1998
top of pageDisputes international: claims Matthew and Hunter Islands east of New Caledonia
Refugees and internally displaced personsIllicit drugs