Statistical information Vanuatu 2015

Vanuatu in the World

Vanuatu - Introduction 2015

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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.

Vanuatu - Geography 2015

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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: 16 00 S 167 00 E

Map reference: Oceania

Area
Total: 12,189 km²
Land: 12,189 km²
Water: 0 km²
Note: includes more than 80 islands about 65 of which are inhabited
Rank: 164
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

Land use
Agricultural land: 15.3%

arable land: 1.6%
permanent crops: 10.3%
permanent pasture: 3.4%

Forest: 36.1%
Other: 48.6%

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 on 27 November 2005 volcanism also causes minor earthquakes; tsunamis
Volcanism: significant volcanic activity with multiple eruptions in recent years; Yasur one of the world's most active volcanoes has experienced continuous activity in recent centuries; other historically active volcanoes include Aoba Ambrym Epi Gaua Kuwae Lopevi Suretamatai and Traitor's Head

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

Vanuatu - People 2015

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Population: 272,264 (July 2015 est.)
Rank: 183
Growth rate: 1.95% (2015 est.)
Growth rate rank: 52
Below poverty line: NA%

Nationality
Noun: Ni-Vanuatu
Adjective: Ni-Vanuatu

Ethnic groups: Ni-Vanuatu 97.6% part Ni-Vanuatu 1.1% other 1.3% (2009 est.)

Languages: local languages (more than 100) 63.2% Bislama (official; creole) 33.7% English (official) 2% French (official) 0.6% other 0.5% (2009 est.)

Religions: Protestant 70% (includes Presbyterian 27.9% Anglican 15.1% Seventh Day Adventist 12.5% Assemblies of God 4.7% Church of Christ 4.5% Neil Thomas Ministry 3.1% and Apostolic 2.2%) Roman Catholic 12.4% customary beliefs 3.7% (including Jon Frum cargo cult) other 12.6% none 1.1% unspecified 0.2% (2009 est.)

Demographic profile

Age structure

Age structure
0-14 years: 36.71%
15-24 years: 19.94%
25-54 years: 34.45%
55-64 years: 5.13%
65 years and over: 3.77% (2015 est.)

Dependency ratios
Total dependency ratio: 68.7%
Youth dependency ratio: 61.6%
Elderly dependency ratio: 7.1%
Potential support ratio: 14.1%

Median age
Total: 21.4 years
Male: 21 years
Female: 21.7 years

Population growth rate: 1.95% (2015 est.)
Rank: 52

Birth rate: 25.04 births/1000 population (2015 est.)
Rank: 51

Death rate: 4.09 deaths/1000 population (2015 est.)
Rank: 207

Net migration rate: -1.47 migrant(s)/1000 population (2015 est.)
Rank: 155

Population distribution

Urbanization
Urban population: 26.1% of total population
Rate of urbanization: 3.42% annual rate of change

Major urban areas
Population: PORT-VILA (capital) 53,000 (2014)

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
0-14 years: 1.04 male/female
15-24 years: 0.99 male/female
25-54 years: 0.96 male/female
55-64 years: 1.02 male/female
65 years and over: 1.04 male/female
Total population: 1 male/female

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio

Infant mortality rate
Total: 15.7 deaths/1000 live births
Male: 16.77 deaths/1000 live births
Female: 14.58 deaths/1000 live births
Rank: 101

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 73.06 years
Male: 71.47 years
Female: 74.72 years
Rank: 133

Total fertility rate: 3.25 children born/woman (2015 est.)
Rank: 49

Contraceptive prevalence rate: 38.4% (2007)

Drinking water source:

urban: 98.9% of population
rural: 92.9% of population
total: 94.5% of population
urban: 1.1% of population
rural: 7.1% of population
total: 5.5% of population (2015 est.)

Current health expenditure

Physicians density: 0.12 physicians/1000 population (2008)

Hospital bed density: 1.8 beds/1000 population (2008)

Sanitation facility access:

urban: 65.1% of population
rural: 55.4% of population
total: 57.9% of population
urban: 34.9% of population
rural: 44.6% of population
total: 42.1% of population (2015 est.)

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

Major infectious diseases

Obesity adult prevalence rate: 32.9% (2014)
Rank: 39

Alcohol consumption

Tobacco use

Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 11.7% (2007)
Rank: 62

Education expenditures: 5% of GDP (2009)
Rank: 79

Literacy
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 85.2%
Male: 86.6%
Female: 83.8%

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education

Youth unemployment

Vanuatu - Government 2015

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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

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: effective 30 July 1980; amended several times last in 2013 (2015)

Legal system: mixed legal system of English common law French law and customary law

International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Citizenship
Citizenship by birth: no
Citizenship by descent only: both parents must be citizens of Vanuatu; in the case of only one parent it must be the father who is a citizen
Dual citizenship recognized: no
Residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch
Chief of state: President Baldwin LONSDALE
Head of government: Prime Minister Sato KILMAN
Cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister responsible to parliament
Electionsappointments: president indirectly elected by an electoral college consisting of Parliament and presidents of the 6 provinces; Vanuatu president serves a 5-year term; election last held on 17 September 2014 ; following legislative elections the leader of the majority party or majority coalition usually elected prime minister by parliament from among its members; election for prime minister last held on 23 March 2013 (next to be held following general elections in 2016)
Election results: Baldwin LONSDALE elected president; Parliament vote - 46 out of 52 on the eighth ballot; Sato KILMAN (PPP) elected prime minister following a no confidence vote against the government of Joe NATUMAN on 11 June 2015

Legislative branch
Description: unicameral Parliament
Note: the National Council of Chiefs advises on matters of culture and language
Elections: last held on 30 October 2012
Election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - VP 8 PPP 6 UMP 5 GJP 4 NUP 4 IG 3 GC 3 NAG 3 RMC 3 MPP 2 NIPDP 2 PSP 1 VLDP 1 VNP 1 VPDP 1 VRP 1 and independent 4; note - political party associations are fluid

Judicial branch
.highest court: Supreme Court ; note - appeals from the Supreme Court are considered by the Court of Appeal constituted by 2 or more judges of the Supreme Court sitting together
Judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court chief justice appointed by the president after consultation with the prime minister and the leader of the opposition; other judges are appointed by the president on the advice of the Judicial Service Commission a 4-member advisory body; judges appointed until age of retirement
Subordinate courts: magistrates' courts; island courts

Political parties and leaders: Vanuatu Republican Party or VRP [Marcellino PIPITE]

International organization participation: ACP ADB AOSIS C FAO G-77 IBRD ICAO ICRM IDA IFC IFRCS ILO IMF IMO IMSO IOC IOM ITU ITUC (NGOs) MIGA NAM OAS (observer) OIF OPCW PIF Sparteca SPC UN UNCTAD UNESCO UNIDO UNWTO UPU WCO WFTU (NGOs) WHO WIPO WMO WTO

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 US 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 fern fronds all in yellow; red represents the blood of boars and men as well as unity green the richness of the islands and black the ni-Vanuatu people; the yellow Y-shape - which reflects the pattern of the islands in the Pacific Ocean - symbolizes the light of the Gospel spreading through the islands; the boar's tusk is a symbol of prosperity frequently worn as a pendant on the islands; the fern fronds represent peace
Note: one of several flags where a prominent component of the design reflects the shape of the country; other such flags are those of Bosnia and Herzegovina Brazil and Eritrea

National symbols: boar's tusk with crossed fern fronds; national colors: red black green yellow

National anthem
Name: 'Yumi Yumi Yumi'
Lyrics and music: Francois Vincent AYSSAV
Note: adopted 1980; the anthem is written in Bislama a Creole language that mixes Pidgin English and French

National heritage

Vanuatu - Economy 2015

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Economy overview: This South Pacific island economy is based primarily on small-scale agriculture which provides a living for about two-thirds of the population. Fishing offshore financial services and tourism with nearly 197,000 visitors in 2008 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:

$683 million (2014 est.)
$667.4 million (2013 est.)
$654.6 million (2012 est.)

Note: data are in 2014 US dollars
Rank: 208

Real gdp growth rate:

2.3% (2014 est.)
2% (2013 est.)
1.8% (2012 est.)

Rank: 138

Real gdp per capita:

$2,600 (2014 est.)
$2,500 (2013 est.)
$2,500 (2012 est.)

Note: data are in 2014 US dollars
Rank: 194

Gross national saving

Gdp composition by sector of origin

Gdp composition by end use
Household consumption: 62.1%
Government consumption: 16%
Investment in fixed capital: 26.3%
Investment in inventories: 0%
Exports of goods and services: 48%
Imports of goods and services: -52.4%: (2014 est.)

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 28%
Industry: 8.8%
Services: 63.2%

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: 3.1% (2014 est.)
Rank: 82

Labor force: 115,900 (2007 est.)
Rank: 181
By occupation agriculture: 65%
By occupation industry: 5%
By occupation services: 30%

Labor force

Unemployment rate: 1.7% (1999 est.)
Rank: 8

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: $173.1 million
Expenditures: $171 million
Surplus or deficit: 0.3% of GDP (2014 est.)
Surplus or deficit rank: 39

Taxes and other revenues: 21.1% of GDP (2014 est.)
Rank: 156

Public debt

Revenue

Fiscal year: calendar year

Inflation rate consumer prices:

1% (2014 est.)
1.3% (2013 est.)

Rank: 63

Central bank discount rate:

20% (31 December 2010)
6% (31 December 2009)

Rank: 4

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

4.8% (31 December 2014 est.)
5% (31 December 2013 est.)

Rank: 150

Stock of narrow money:

$270.3 million (31 December 2014 est.)
$272.1 million (31 December 2013 est.)

Rank: 177

Stock of broad money:

$544.9 million (31 December 2014 est.)
$552.6 million (31 December 2013 est.)

Rank: 179

Stock of domestic credit:

$501.4 million (31 December 2014 est.)
$535.3 million (31 December 2013 est.)

Rank: 168

Market value of publicly traded shares: $N/A

Current account balance:

$4 million (2014 est.)
-$11 million (2013 est.)

Rank: 66

Exports:

$49.1 million (2014 est.)
$44.7 million (2013 est.)

Rank: 201
Commodities: copra beef cocoa timber kava coffee
Partners: Thailand 36.8% Japan 25.2% South Korea 11.1% (2014)

Imports:

$275.5 million (2014 est.)
$267.5 million (2013 est.)

Rank: 202
Commodities: machinery and equipment foodstuffs fuels
Partners: China 32% Singapore 16.5% Australia 12% Fiji 6.8% Japan 6.8% NZ 5.1% (2014)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$213.4 million (31 December 2015 est.)
$184 million (31 December 2014 est.)

Rank: 160

Debt external:

$369.2 million (31 December 2012 est.)
$307.7 million (31 December 2011 est.)

Rank: 184

Stock of direct foreign investment at home:

$694.1 million (31 December 2014 est.)
$630.1 million (31 December 2013 est.)

Rank: 113

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad:

$26.3 million (31 December 2014 est.)
$25.3 million (31 December 2013 est.)

Rank: 99

Exchange rates:

vatu (VUV) per US dollar -
97.07 (2014 est.)
97.07 (2013 est.)
92.64 (2012 est.)
89.47 (2011 est.)
96.91 (2010 est.)

Vanuatu - Energy 2015