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.

Geographic coordinates: 16 00 S 167 00 E

Area
Rank: 164
Land: 12,189 km²
Water: 0 km²
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 highest point: Tabwemasana 1877 m

Natural resources: manganese hardwood forests fish

Land use
Permanent crops: 10.25%
Other: 88.11% (2011)

Irrigated land: NA

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 (elev. 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

Population: 261,565 (July 2013 est.)
Rank: 184
Growth rate: 2.06% (2013 est.)
Growth rate rank: 48
Below poverty line: NA%

Nationality
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 - official) 23.1% English (official) 1.9% French (official) 1.4% other 0.3% unspecified 0.7% (1999 Census)

Religions: Protestant 55.6% (Presbyterian 31.4% Anglican 13.4% Seventh-Day Adventist 10.8%) Roman Catholic 13.1% other Christian 13.8% indigenous beliefs 5.6% (including Jon Frum cargo cult) other 9.6% none 1% unspecified 1.3% (1999 Census)

Age structure
15-24 years: 19.7% (male 25,685/female 25,900)
25-54 years: 34% (male 43,552/female 45,273)
55-64 years: 4.9% (male 6,493/female 6,289)
65 years and over: 3.6% (male 4,817/female 4,531) (2013 est.)

Dependency ratios
Youth dependency ratio: 62.8 %
Elderly dependency ratio: 6.7 %
Potential support ratio: 15 (2013)

Median age
Male: 20.4 years
Female: 21.1 years (2013 est.)

Population growth rate: 2.06% (2013 est.)
Rank: 48

Birth rate: 26.35 births/1000 population (2013 est.)
Rank: 50

Death rate: 4.2 deaths/1000 population (2013 est.)
Rank: 208

Net migration rate: -1.53 migrant(s)/1000 population (2013 est.)
Rank: 155

Urbanization
Rate of urbanization: 4.2% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

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

Sex ratio
0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.07 male(s)/female
Total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2013 est.)

Infant mortality rate
Rank: 101
Male: 18.34 deaths/1000 live births
Female: 15.91 deaths/1000 live births (2013 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Rank: 132
Male: 70.83 years
Female: 74 years (2013 est.)

Total fertility rate: 3.47 children born/woman (2013 est.)
Rank: 47

Contraceptive prevalence rate: 38.4% (2007)

Drinking water source:

Physicians density: 0.12 physicians/1000 population (2008)

Hospital bed density: 1.7 beds/1000 population (2008)

Sanitation facility access:

Hivaids
Adult prevalence rate: NA
People living with hivaids: NA
Deaths: NA

Obesity adult prevalence rate: 27.5% (2008)
Rank: 39

Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 11.7% (2007)
Rank: 61

Education expenditures: 5.2% of GDP (2009)
Rank: 66

Literacy
Total population: 83.2%
Male: NA 84.9%
Female: NA 81.6% (2011 est.)

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education
Male: 11 years
Female: 10 years (2004)

Country name
Conventional short form: Vanuatu
Local long form: Ripablik blong Vanuatu
Local short form: Vanuatu
Former: New Hebrides

Government type: parliamentary republic

Capital
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

Independence: 30 July 1980 (from France and the UK)

National holiday: Independence Day 30 July (1980)

Constitution: effective 30 July 1980; amended 1981 1983 1988 (2006)

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

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch
Head of government: Prime Minister Moana CARCASSES Kalosil (since 23 March 2013)
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 on 2 September 2009 (next to be held in 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: Iolu Johnson ABBIL elected president with 41 votes out of 58 on the third ballot on 2 September 2009; Moana CARCASSES Kalosil was elected prime minister following the resignation of Sato KILMAN on 21 March 2013

Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament (52 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
Elections: last held on 30 October 2012 (next to be held in 2016)
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
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 currently Ambassador Walter E. North 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 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

National symbols: boar's tusk

National anthem
Lyrics and music: Francois Vincent AYSSAV

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:
Rank: 202

Real gdp growth rate:
Rank: 127

Real gdp per capita:
Rank: 160

Gdp composition by end use
Government consumption: 18.2%
Investment in fixed capital: 26.7%
Investment in inventories: 0.9%
Exports of goods and services: 45.6%
Imports of goods and services: -50.3%: (2012 est.)

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Industry: 9.5%
Services: 67.9% (2012 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: 2.1% (2012 est.)
Rank: 100

Labor force: 115,900 (2007)
Rank: 182
By occupation industry: 5%
By occupation services: 30% (2000 est.)

Unemployment rate: 1.7% (1999)
Rank: 7

Population below poverty line: NA%

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

Budget
Expenditures: $182.8 million (2012 est.)
Surplus or deficit: -1.9% of GDP (2012 est.)
Surplus or deficit rank: 84

Taxes and other revenues: 21.6% of GDP (2012 est.)
Rank: 156

Fiscal year: calendar year

Inflation rate consumer prices: 0.9% (2011 est.)
Rank: 25

Central bank discount rate: 6% (31 December 2009 est.)
Rank: 60

Commercial bank prime lending rate: 5.5% (31 December 2011 est.)
Rank: 151

Stock of narrow money: $239.6 million (31 December 2011 est.)
Rank: 172

Stock of broad money: $612.3 million (31 December 2011 est.)
Rank: 174

Stock of domestic credit: $512.6 million (31 December 2011 est.)
Rank: 163

Market value of publicly traded shares: $N/A

Current account balance: $-126.9 million (2011 est.)
Rank: 75

Exports: $67.4 million (2011 est.)
Rank: 194
Commodities: copra beef cocoa timber kava coffee
Partners: Thailand 41.9% Cote dIvoire 30.5% Japan 14.7% (2012)

Imports: $310.2 million (2011 est.)
Rank: 196
Commodities: machinery and equipment foodstuffs fuels
Partners: China 20.2% Singapore 18.8% US 15% Japan 11.6% Australia 10.4% Fiji 5.2% NZ 4.8% (2012)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $173.8 million (31 December 2011 est.)
Rank: 159

Debt external: $258.9 million (31 December 2010 est.)
Rank: 186

Stock of direct foreign investment at home: $527.1 million (31 December 2011 est.)
Rank: 101

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad: $23.3 million (31 December 2011 est.)
Rank: 95

Exchange rates:

Electricity
Production: 55 million kWh (2010 est.)
Production rank: 204
Consumption: 51.15 million kWh (2010 est.)
Consumption rank: 204
Exports: 0 kWh (2012 est.)
Exports rank: 111
Imports: 0 kWh (2012 est.)
Imports rank: 112
Installed generating capacity: 28,000 kW (2010 est.)
Installed generating capacity rank: 197
Generation sources fossil fuels: 89.3% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
Generation sources fossil fuels rank: 75
Generation sources nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
Generation sources nuclear rank: 149
Generation sources hydroelectricity: 0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
Generation sources hydroelectricity rank: 188
Generation sources other renewable sources: 10.7% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
Generation sources other renewable sources rank: 24

Petroleum
Petroleum total petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
Petroleum total petroleum production rank: 199
Crude oil exports: 0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Crude oil exports rank: 163
Crude oil imports: 0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Crude oil imports rank: 103
Crude oil proven reserves: 0 bbl (1 January 2013 es)
Crude oil proven reserves rank: 170

Refined petroleum
Products production: 0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Products production rank: 116
Products consumption: 1170 bbl/day (2011 est.)
Products consumption rank: 197
Products exports: 0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Products exports rank: 202
Products imports: 837.7 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Products imports rank: 198

Natural gas
Production: 0 m³ (2011 est.)
Production rank: 174
Consumption: 0 m³ (2010 est.)
Consumption rank: 179
Exports: 0 m³ (2011 est.)
Exports rank: 155
Imports: 0 m³ (2011 est.)
Imports rank: 105
Proven reserves: 0 m³ (1 January 2013 es)
Proven reserves rank: 177

Carbon dioxide emissions
From consumption of energy: 149,000 Mt (2011 est.)
From consumption of energy rank: 200

Telephones
Main lines in use: 5,800 (2012)
Main lines in use rank: 208
Mobile cellular: 137,000 (2012)
Mobile cellular rank: 186

Broadcast media: 1 state-owned TV station; multi-channel pay TV is available; state-owned Radio Vanuatu operates 2 radio stations; 2 privately owned radio broadcasters; programming from multiple international broadcasters is available (2008)

Internet
Country code: .vu
Hosts: 5,655 (2012)
Hosts rank: 143
Users: 17,000 (2009)
Users rank: 198

Military expenditures: NA

Airports: 31 (2013)
Rank: 114
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 (2013)
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 7
With unpaved runways: 21 (2013)

Roadways
Rank: 184
Paved: 256 km
Unpaved: 814 km (2000)

Merchant marine
Rank: 57
By type: bulk carrier 38 cargo 8 chemical tanker 2 container 1 liquefied gas 2 passenger 1 refrigerated cargo 24 vehicle carrier 1
Foreign owned: 72 (Belgium 1 Canada 5 China 1 Greece 3 Japan 39 Norway 1 Poland 9 Russia 7 Singapore 2 Taiwan 1 UAE 1 US 2) (2010)

Ports and terminals: Forari Bay Luganville (Santo Espiritu Santo) Port-Vila

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