Map of Vanuatu | Geography | People | Government | Economy | Energy | Communication
Military | Transportation | Transnational Issues | Year: Guide1989199019911992199319941995199619971998199920002001200220032004200520062007200820092010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025 | More stats

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.


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 reference: Oceania

Area
Total: 12,189 km²
Rank: 163
Land: 12,189 km²
Water: 0 km²
Note: includes more than 80 islands about 65 of which are inhabited
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
Extremes highest point: Tabwemasana 1877 m

Natural resources: manganese hardwood forests fish

Land use
Arable land: 1.64%
Permanent crops: 6.97%
Other: 91.39% (2005)

Irrigated land: NA

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²

Total water withdrawal

Total renewable water resources

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

Geography
Note: a Y-shaped chain of four main islands and 80 smaller islands; several of the islands have active volcanoes


top of page


Population: 218,519 (July 2009 est.)
Rank: 185
Growth rate: 1.398% (2009 est.)
Growth rate rank: 95
Below poverty line: NA%

Nationality
Noun: Ni-Vanuatu
Adjective: Ni-Vanuatu

Ethnic groups: Ni-Vanuatu 98.5% other 1.5% (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)

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)

Demographic profile

Age structure
0-14 years: 30.7%
15-64 years: 65.3% (male 72,670/female 69,970)
65 years and over: 4% (male 4,516/female 4,267) (2009 est.)

Dependency ratios

Median age
Total: 24.2 years
Male: 24.2 years
Female: 24.2 years (2009 est.)

Population growth rate: 1.398% (2009 est.)
Rank: 95

Birth rate: 21.53 births/1000 population (2009 est.)
Rank: 89

Death rate: 7.55 deaths/1000 population (July 2009 est.)
Rank: 121

Net migration rate: NA (2009 est.)

Population distribution

Urbanization
Urban population: 25% of total population
Rate of urbanization: 4.1% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

Major urban areas

Environment
Current issues: most of the population does not have access to a reliable supply of potable water; deforestation
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
International agreements signed but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Air pollutants

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.05 male/female
Under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.06 male(s)/female
Total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2009 est.)

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio

Infant mortality rate
Total: 49.45 deaths/1000 live births
Rank: 51
Male: 51.97 deaths/1000 live births
Female: 46.81 deaths/1000 live births (2009 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 63.98 years
Rank: 169
Male: 62.37 years
Female: 65.66 years (2009 est.)

Total fertility rate: 2.5 children born/woman (2009 est.)
Rank: 96

Contraceptive prevalence rate

Drinking water source

Current health expenditure

Physicians density

Hospital bed density

Sanitation facility access

Hiv/Aids
Adult prevalence rate: NA
People living with hivaids: NA
Deaths: NA

Major infectious diseases

Obesity adult prevalence rate

Alcohol consumption

Tobacco use

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

Education expenditures: 9.5% of GDP (2003)
Rank: 6

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)

Youth unemployment


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
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

Dependent areas

Independence: 30 July 1980 (from France and the 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

International law organization participation

Citizenship

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch
Chief of state: President Iolu Johnson ABIL
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 2 September 2009 (next to be held in 2014); 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: Iolu Johnson ABIL elected president with 41 votes out of 58 on the third ballot on 2 September 2009

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 in 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]

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
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 symbols

National anthem

National heritage


top of page


Economy overview: This South Pacific island economy is based primarily on small-scale agriculture which provides a living for over 70% of the population. Fishing offshore financial services and tourism with more than 167,000 visitors in 2007 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.

Real gdp purchasing power parity:
Rank: 200
Note: data are in 2008 US dollars

Real gdp growth rate:
Rank: 44

Real gdp per capita:
Rank: 144
Note: data are in 2008 US dollars

Gross national saving

Gdp composition by end use

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 26%
Industry: 12%
Services: 62% (2000 est.)

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

Labor force: 115,900 (2007)
Rank: 175
By occupation agriculture: 65%
By occupation industry: 5%
By occupation services: 30% (2000 est.)

Unemployment rate: 1.7% (1999)
Rank: 15

Youth unemployment

Population below poverty line: NA%

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share
Lowest 10: NA%
Highest 10: NA%

Distribution of family income gini index

Budget
Revenues: $78.7 million
Expenditures: $72.23 million (2005 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

Public debt

Revenue

Fiscal year

Inflation rate consumer prices: 3.9% (2007 est.)
Rank: 62

Central bank discount rate: 6% (31 December 2007)
Rank: 75

Commercial bank prime lending rate: 8.16% (31 December 2007)
Rank: 104

Stock of narrow money

Stock of broad money

Stock of domestic credit: $229.5 million (31 December 2007)
Rank: 120

Market value of publicly traded shares: $NA

Current account balance: -$60 million (2007 est.)
Rank: 72

Exports: $40 million (2006)
Rank: 199
Commodities: copra beef cocoa timber kava coffee
Partners: Thailand 83% Japan 5.9% Belgium 1.8% (2008)

Imports: $156 million (2006)
Rank: 201
Commodities: machinery and equipment foodstuffs fuels
Partners: Australia 17.6% US 15.9% Japan 12% Singapore 10.8% China 8.5% NZ 7.5% Fiji 6.7% (2008)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $40.54 million (2003)
Rank: 154

Debt external: $81.2 million (2004)
Rank: 188

Stock of direct foreign investment at home

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad

Exchange rates: vatu (VUV) per US dollar - NA (2007) 111.93 (2006) NA (2005) 111.79 (2004) 122.19 (2003)


top of page


Electricity
Production: 42 million kWh (2007 est.)
Production rank: 200
Consumption: 39.06 million kWh (2007 est.)
Consumption rank: 200
Exports: 0 kWh (2008 est.)
Imports: 0 kWh (2008 est.)

Coal

Petroleum

Crude oil

Refined petroleum

Natural gas
Production: 0 m³ (2008 est.)
Production rank: 146
Consumption: 0 m³ (2008 est.)
Consumption rank: 146
Exports: 0 m³ (2008)
Exports rank: 143
Imports: 0 m³ (2008 est.)
Imports rank: 148
Proven reserves: 0 m³ (1 January 2009 est.)
Proven reserves rank: 153

Carbon dioxide emissions

Energy consumption per capita


top of page


Telephones
Main lines in use: 10,400 (2008)
Main lines in use rank: 203
Mobile cellular: 36,000 (2008)
Mobile cellular rank: 199

Telephone system
General assessment: NA
Domestic: NA
International: country code - 678; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

Broadcast media

Internet
Country code: .vu
Hosts: 1023 (2009)
Hosts rank: 160
Users: 17,000 (2008)
Users rank: 192

Broadband fixed subscriptions


top of page


Military expenditures: NA

Military and security forces

Military service age and obligation

Space program

Terrorist groups


top of page


National air transport system

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Airports: 31 (2009)
Rank: 115
With paved runways total: 3
With paved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 1
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 1
With paved runways 914 to 1523 m: 1 (2009)
With unpaved runways total: 28
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 5
With unpaved runways under 914 m: 23 (2009)

Heliports

Pipelines

Railways

Roadways
Total: 1070 km
Rank: 183
Paved: 256 km
Unpaved: 814 km (1999)

Waterways

Merchant marine
Total: 54
Rank: 68
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)


top of page


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

Refugees and internally displaced persons

Illicit drugs