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

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Background:


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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
Comparative: slightly larger than Connecticut
Country comparison total: 0 km

Land boundaries
Total: 0 km

Coastline: 2,528 km

Maritime claims
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, measured from claimed archipelagic baselines

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
Highest point: Tabwemasana 1,877 m
Lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m

Natural resources: manganese, hardwood forests, fish

Land use
Agricultural land: 15.3% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land arable land: 1.6% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land permanent crops: 10.3% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land permanent pasture: 3.4% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land forest: 36.1% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land other: 48.6% (2018 est.)

Irrigated land: 0 km² (2022)

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²

Total water withdrawal

Total renewable water resources: 10 billion m³ (2020 est.)

Natural hazards: tropical cyclones (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 (361 m), 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


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Population
Distribution: three-quarters of the population lives in rural areas; the urban populace lives primarily in two cities, Port-Vila and Lugenville; three largest islands - Espiritu Santo, Malakula, and Efate - accomodate over half of the populace
Total: 318,007
Male: 157,932
Female: 160,075 (2024 est.)
Growth rate: 1.55% (2024 est.)
Below poverty line: 15.9% (2020 est.)
Below poverty line note: % of population with income below national poverty line

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

Ethnic groups: Ni-Vanuatu 99%, other 1% (European, Asian, other Melanesian, Polynesian, Micronesian, other) (2020 est.)

Languages: indigenous languages (more than 100) 82.6%, Bislama (official; creole) 14.5%, English (official) 2.1%, French (official) 0.8% (2020 est.)
Note: data represent first language spoken for population aged 3 years and above

Religions: Protestant 39.9% (Presbyterian 27.2%, Seventh Day Adventist 14.8%, Anglican 12%, Churches of Christ 5%, Assemblies of God 4.9%, Neil Thomas Ministry/Inner Life Ministry 3.2%), Roman Catholic 12.1%, Apostolic 2.3%, Church of Jesus Christ 1.8%, customary beliefs (including Jon Frum cargo cult) 3.1%, other 12%, none 1.4%, unspecified 0.1% (2020 est.)

Demographic profile

Age structure
0-14 years: 31.1% (male 50,584/female 48,475)
15-64 years: 63.8% (male 99,496/female 103,425)
65 years and over: 5% (2024 est.) (male 7,852/female 8,175)

Dependency ratios
Total dependency ratio: 76.5
Youth dependency ratio: 69.9
Elderly dependency ratio: 12.3
Potential support ratio: 15.2 (2021 est.)

Median age
Total: 24.6 years (2024 est.)
Male: 24.1 years
Female: 25 years

Population growth rate: 1.55% (2024 est.)

Birth rate: 20.8 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Death rate: 4 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Net migration rate: -1.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Population distribution: three-quarters of the population lives in rural areas; the urban populace lives primarily in two cities, Port-Vila and Lugenville; three largest islands - Espiritu Santo, Malakula, and Efate - accomodate over half of the populace

Urbanization
Urban population: 26% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization: 2.55% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Major urban areas
Population: 53,000 PORT-VILA (capital) (2018)

Environment
Current issues: population growth; water pollution, most of the population does not have access to a reliable supply of potable water; inadequate sanitation; deforestation
International agreements party to: Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
International agreements signed but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Air pollutants
Particulate matter emissions: 8.42 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions: 0.15 megatons (2016 est.)
Methane emissions: 0.5 megatons (2020 est.)

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.96 male(s)/female
Total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio: 94 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)

Infant mortality rate
Total: 13.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
Male: 15 deaths/1,000 live births
Female: 12.3 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 75.7 years (2024 est.)
Male: 74 years
Female: 77.4 years

Total fertility rate: 2.53 children born/woman (2024 est.)

Contraceptive prevalence rate: 49% (2013)

Drinking water source
Improved urban: 100% of population
Unimproved rural: 10.3% of population
Unimproved total: 7.7% of population (2020 est.)
Unimproved urban: 0% of population

Current health expenditure

Physicians density

Hospital bed density

Sanitation facility access
Improved urban: 91.1% of population
Improved rural: 60.4% of population
Improved total: 68.2% of population
Unimproved urban: 8.9% of population
Unimproved rural: 39.6% of population
Unimproved total: 31.8% of population (2020 est.)

Hiv/Aids

Major infectious diseases

Obesity adult prevalence rate: 25.2% (2016)

Alcohol consumption
Per capita total: 1.6 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Per capita beer: 0.34 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Per capita wine: 0.39 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Per capita spirits: 0.87 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Per capita other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Tobacco use
Total: 17.8% (2020 est.)
Male: 33% (2020 est.)
Female: 2.6% (2020 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 11.7% (2013)

Education expenditures: 2.2% of GDP (2020 est.)

Literacy
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 89.1%
Male: 89.8%
Female: 88.4% (2021)

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education

Youth unemployment
Rate ages 15 24 total: 10.7% (2023 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 male: 8.9% (2023 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 female: 13% (2023 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment


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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
Etymology: derived from the words 'vanua' (home or land) and 'tu' (stand) that occur in several of the Austonesian languages spoken on the islands and which provide a meaning of 'the land remains' but which also convey a sense of 'independence' or 'our land'

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)
Etymology: there are two possibilities for the origin of the name: early European settlers were Portuguese and 'vila' means 'village or town' in Portuguese, hence 'Port-Vila' would mean 'Port Town'; alternatively, the site of the capital is referred to as 'Efil' or 'Ifira' in native languages, 'Vila' is a likely corruption of these names

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
History: draft completed August 1979, finalized by constitution conference 19 September 1979, ratified by French and British Governments 23 October 1979, effective 30 July 1980 at independence
Amendments: proposed by the prime minister or by the Parliament membership; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote by Parliament in special session with at least three fourths of the membership; passage of amendments affecting the national and official languages, or the electoral and parliamentary system also requires approval in a referendum; amended several times, last in 2013

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 Nikenike VUROBARAVU (since 23 July 2022)
Head of government: Prime Minister Charlot SALWAI (since 6 October 2023)
Cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister, responsible to Parliament
Elections/appointments: 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 23 July 2022 (next to be held in 2,027); 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 20 April 2020 (next to be held following general elections in 2024)
Election results: 2022: Nikenike VUROBARAVU elected president in eighth round; electoral college vote - Nikenike VUROBARAVU (VP) 48 votes, Solas MOLISA (VP) 4 votes
Note: the National Council of Chiefs (Malvatu Mauri) is a formal advisory body of chiefs recognized by the country's constitution; it advises the government on matters of culture and language

Legislative branch
Description: unicameral Parliament (52 seats; members directly elected in 8 single-seat and 9 multi-seat constituencies by single non-transferable vote to serve 4-year terms (candidates in multi-seat constituencies can be elected with only 4% of the vote)
Elections: last held on 13 October 2022 (next to be held in 2,026)
Elections results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - UMP 7, VP 7, LPV 5, RMC 5, GJP 4, NUP 4, RDP 4, IG 3, PPP 2, NCM 2, VNDP 2, LM 1, NAG 1, PUDP 1, UCM 1, VLM 1, VPDP 1, independent 1; composition - men 50, women 1, percentage women 2%
Note: political party associations are fluid

Judicial branch
Highest courts: Court of Appeal (consists of 2 or more judges of the Supreme Court designated by the chief justice); Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and 6 puisne judges - 3 local and 3 expatriate)
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 appointed by the president on the advice of the Judicial Service Commission, a 4-member advisory body; judges serve until the age of retirement
Subordinate courts: Magistrates Courts; Island Courts

Political parties and leaders: Iauko Group (Eagle Party) or IG , Laverwo Movement or LM , Land and Justice Party (Graon mo Jastis Pati or GJP) , Leaders Party of Vanuatu or LVP , Nagriamel Movement or NAG , National United Party or NUP , Nagwasoanda Custom Movement or NCM , People's Progressive Party or PPP , People Unity Development Party or PUDP , Rural Development Party or RDP , Reunification of Movement for Change or RMC , Union of Moderate Parties or UMP, Unity for Change Movement or UCM , Vanua'aku Pati (Our Land Party) or VP , Vanuatu Liberal Movement or VLM , Vanuatu National Development Party or VNDP , Vanuatu Progressive Development Party or VPDP

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: chief of mission: Ambassador Odo TEVI (since 8 September 2017)
In the us note: the Vanuatu Permanent Mission to the UN serves as the embassy
In the us chancery: 800 Second Avenue, Suite 400B, New York, NY 10,017
In the us telephone: [1] (212) 661-4,303
In the us fax: [1] (212) 422-3,427
In the us email address and website: vanunmis@aol.com; [link]
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador Ann Marie YASTISHOCK (since 16 April 2024)
From the us note: also accredited to the Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands, based in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea
From the us embassy: Port Vila

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' (We, We, We)
Lyrics/music: Francois Vincent AYSSAV
Note: adopted 1980; the anthem is written in Bislama, a Creole language that mixes Pidgin English and French

National heritage
Total world heritage sites: 1 (cultural)
Selected world heritage site locales:


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Economy overview: lower-middle income Pacific island economy; extremely reliant on subsistence agriculture and tourism; environmentally fragile; struggling post-pandemic and Tropical Cyclone Harold rebound; sizeable inflation; road infrastructure aid from Australia

Real gdp purchasing power parity: $999.536 million (2023 est.); $977.896 million (2022 est.); $959.511 million (2021 est.)
Note: data in 2021 dollars

Real gdp growth rate: 2.21% (2023 est.); 1.92% (2022 est.); -1.55% (2021 est.)
Note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real gdp per capita: $3,000 (2023 est.); $3,000 (2022 est.); $3,000 (2021 est.)
Note: data in 2021 dollars

Gross national saving

Gdp composition by end use
Household consumption: 55.5% (2019 est.)
Government consumption: 20.6% (2019 est.)
Investment in fixed capital: 55.5% (2022 est.)
Investment in inventories: 0.6% (2022 est.)
Exports of goods and services: 15.3% (2022 est.)
Imports of goods and services: -55.5% (2022 est.)
Note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 21.2% (2018 est.)
Industry: 10% (2018 est.)
Services: 59.8% (2018 est.)
Note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

Agriculture products: coconuts, root vegetables, bananas, vegetables, fruits, pork, groundnuts, milk, beef, tropical fruits (2022)
Note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

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

Industrial production growth rate: 4.92% (2018 est.)
Note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Labor force: 142,000 (2023 est.)
Note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

Unemployment rate: 5.1% (2023 est.); 5.17% (2022 est.); 4.73% (2021 est.)
Note: % of labor force seeking employment

Youth unemployment
Rate ages 15 24 total: 10.7% (2023 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 male: 8.9% (2023 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 female: 13% (2023 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

Population below poverty line: 15.9% (2020 est.)
Note: % of population with income below national poverty line

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share

Distribution of family income gini index

Budget
Revenues: $415.063 million (2021 est.)
Expenditures: $325.587 million (2021 est.)
Note: central government revenues and expenses (excluding grants/extrabudgetary units/social security funds) converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

Taxes and other revenues: 15.88% (of GDP) (2021 est.)
Note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

Public debt: 87.07% of GDP (2021 est.)

Revenue
From forest resources: 0.54% of GDP (2018 est.)
From coal: 0% of GDP (2018 est.)

Fiscal year

Inflation rate consumer prices: 6.68% (2022 est.); 2.34% (2021 est.); 5.33% (2020 est.)
Note: annual % change based on 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: -$127.432 million (2022 est.); -$75.451 million (2021 est.); -$57.858 million (2020 est.)
Note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

Exports: $152.087 million (2022 est.); $82.08 million (2021 est.); $132.943 million (2020 est.)
Note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
Partners: Thailand 42%, Japan 27%, South Korea 7%, Philippines 6%, China 5% (2022)
Partners note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports
Commodities: fish, perfume plants, copra, shellfish, cocoa beans (2022)
Commodities note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Imports: $579.347 million (2022 est.); $520.391 million (2021 est.); $438.373 million (2020 est.)
Note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
Partners: China 24%, Australia 15%, Malaysia 12%, NZ 9%, Fiji 8% (2022)
Partners note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
Commodities: refined petroleum, ships, plastic products, poultry, broadcasting equipment (2022)
Commodities note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $643.768 million (2023 est.); $638.537 million (2022 est.); $664.751 million (2021 est.)
Note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

Debt external: $295.759 million (2022 est.)
Note: present value of external debt in current US dollars

Stock of direct foreign investment at home

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad

Exchange rates:


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Electricity
Access electrification total population: 70% (2022 est.)
Access electrification urban areas: 97%
Access electrification rural areas: 60.7%
Installed generating capacity: 38,000 kW (2022 est.)
Consumption: 68.092 million kWh (2022 est.)
Transmission/distribution losses: 5.198 million kWh (2022 est.)
Generation sources fossil fuels: 81.8% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)
Generation sources solar: 11.5% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)
Generation sources wind: 6.5% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)
Generation sources biomass and waste: 0.1% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

Coal

Petroleum
Refined petroleum consumption: 2,000 bbl/day (2022 est.)

Crude oil

Refined petroleum

Natural gas

Carbon dioxide emissions: 248,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)
From petroleum and other liquids: 248,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

Energy consumption per capita: 10.775 million Btu/person (2022 est.)


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Telephones
Fixed lines total subscriptions: 3,000 (2022 est.)
Fixed lines subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 1 (2022 est.)
Mobile cellular total subscriptions: 256,000 (2022 est.)
Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 78 (2022 est.)

Telephone system

Broadcast media

Internet

Broadband fixed subscriptions


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Military expenditures

Military and security forces: no regular military forces; Ministry of Internal Affairs: Vanuatu Police Force (VPF) (2024)
Note: the VPF includes the Vanuatu Mobile Force (VMF) and Police Maritime Wing (VPMW); the paramilitary VMF also has external security responsibilities

Military service age and obligation

Space program

Terrorist groups


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National air transport system
Number of registered air carriers: 1 (2020)
Inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 8
Annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 374,603 (2018)
Annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 1.66 million (2018) mt-km

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: YJ

Airports: 31 (2024)

Heliports

Pipelines

Railways

Roadways
Total: 2,958 km (2023)

Waterways

Merchant marine

Ports and terminals


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Disputes international

Refugees and internally displaced persons

Illicit drugs