Statistics Vanuatu 
Vanuatu in the World
Vanuatu - Introduction 2016
top of pageBackground: 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.
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
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
Elevation
Mean elevation: NA
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m: highest point: Tabwemasana 1877 m
Land use
Agricultural land: 15.3%
arable land: 1.6%
permanent crops: 10.3%
permanent pasture: 3.4%
permanent crops: 10.3%
permanent pasture: 3.4%
Forest: 36.1%
Other: 48.6%
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 2016
top of pagePopulation: 277,554 (July 2016 est.)
Rank: 183
Growth rate: 1.9% (2016 est.)
Growth rate rank: 53
Below poverty line: NA%
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.)
Age structure
0-14 years: 36.11%
15-24 years: 20%
25-54 years: 34.74%
55-64 years: 5.27%
65 years and over: 3.88% (2016 est.)
Dependency ratios
Total dependency ratio: 68.7%
Youth dependency ratio: 61.6%
Elderly dependency ratio: 7.1%
Potential support ratio: 14.1%
Urbanization
Urban population: 26.1% of total population
Rate of urbanization: 3.42% annual rate of change
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
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 male/female
65 years and over: 1.04 male/female
Total population: 1 male/female
Infant mortality rate
Total: 15.1 deaths/1000 live births
Male: 16.1 deaths/1000 live births
Female: 14 deaths/1000 live births
Rank: 103
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.)
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.)
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.)
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.)
Literacy
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 85.2%
Male: 86.6%
Female: 83.8%
Vanuatu - Government 2016
top of pageCountry 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' and 'tu' (stand) that occur in several of the Austonesian languages spoken on the islands and which provide the meaning of 'independence' or the sense of 'our land'
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
Executive branch
Chief of state: President Baldwin LONSDALE
Head of government: Prime Minister Charlot SALWAI
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 11 February 2016 (next to be held following general elections in 2020)
Election results: Baldwin LONSDALE elected president; Parliament vote - 46 out of 52 on the eighth ballot; Charlot SALWAI elected prime minister on 11 February 2016 with 46 votes
Legislative branch
Description: unicameral Parliament
Note: the National Council of Chiefs advises on matters of culture and language
Elections: last held on 22 January 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
.highest court: Supreme Court ; note - appeals beyond 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
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 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
Vanuatu - Economy 2016
top of pageEconomy 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. Australia and New Zealand are the main source of tourists and foreign aid. A small light industry sector caters to the local market. Tax revenues come mainly from import duties. Mineral deposits are negligible; the country has no known petroleum deposits.
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.
Since 2002 the government has 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.
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.
Since 2002 the government has 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.
Real gdp purchasing power parity:
$685 million (2015 est.)
$690.5 million (2014 est.)
$674.8 million (2013 est.)
$690.5 million (2014 est.)
$674.8 million (2013 est.)
Note: data are in 2015 US dollars
Rank: 208
Real gdp per capita:
$2,500 (2015 est.)
$2,600 (2014 est.)
$2,600 (2013 est.)
$2,600 (2014 est.)
$2,600 (2013 est.)
Note: data are in 2015 US dollars
Rank: 195
Gdp composition by end use
Household consumption: 68.3%
Government consumption: 17%
Investment in fixed capital: 26.8%
Investment in inventories: -0.1%
Exports of goods and services: 41.4%
Imports of goods and services: -53.4%
Labor force: 115,900 (2007 est.)
Rank: 180
By occupation agriculture: 65%
By occupation industry: 5%
By occupation services: 30%
Budget
Revenues: $176.2 million
Expenditures: $171.6 million
Surplus or deficit: 0.6% of GDP (2015 est.)
Surplus or deficit rank: 27
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
3.63% (31 December 2015 est.)
4.69% (31 December 2014 est.)
4.69% (31 December 2014 est.)
Rank: 156
Stock of narrow money:
$320.9 million (31 December 2015 est.)
$274.6 million (31 December 2014 est.)
$274.6 million (31 December 2014 est.)
Rank: 174
Stock of broad money:
$544.9 million (31 December 2014 est.)
$552.6 million (31 December 2013 est.)
$552.6 million (31 December 2013 est.)
Rank: 179
Stock of domestic credit:
$477 million (31 December 2015 est.)
$555.3 million (31 December 2014 est.)
$555.3 million (31 December 2014 est.)
Rank: 174
Exports:
$45.6 million (2015 est.)
$63.4 million (2014 est.)
$63.4 million (2014 est.)
Rank: 203
Commodities: copra beef cocoa timber kava coffee
Partners: Japan 35.1% Turkey 10.5% Thailand 8.7% China 8.2% Venezuela 5.9% UK 5.6% (2015)
Imports:
$323.2 million (2015 est.)
$269.3 million (2014 est.)
$269.3 million (2014 est.)
Rank: 199
Commodities: machinery and equipment foodstuffs fuels
Partners: China 16.7% Australia 14.6% Japan 13.9% Singapore 10% Fiji 9.3% NZ 8.3% New Caledonia 5.2% (2015)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$269.2 million (31 December 2015 est.)
$184 million (31 December 2014 est.)
$184 million (31 December 2014 est.)
Rank: 156
Stock of direct foreign investment at home:
$563.1 million (31 December 2015 est.)
$508.1 million (31 December 2014 est.)
$508.1 million (31 December 2014 est.)
Rank: 112
Stock of direct foreign investment abroad:
$22.7 million (31 December 2015 est.)
$22.7 million (31 December 2014 est.)
$22.7 million (31 December 2014 est.)
Rank: 102
Exchange rates:
vatu (VUV) per US dollar -
108.99 (2015 est.)
97.07 (2014 est.)
97.07 (2013 est.)
92.64 (2012 est.)
89.47 (2011 est.)
108.99 (2015 est.)
97.07 (2014 est.)
97.07 (2013 est.)
92.64 (2012 est.)
89.47 (2011 est.)
Vanuatu - Energy 2016
top of pageElectricity
Access population without electricity: 202,614
Access electrification total population: 27%
Access electrification urban areas: 55%
Access electrification rural areas: 18%
Production: 60 million kWh (2014 est.)
Production rank: 206
Consumption: 55.8 million kWh (2014 est.)
Consumption rank: 205
Exports: 0 kWh (2013 est.)
Exports rank: 177
Imports: 0 kWh (2013 est.)
Imports rank: 182
Installed generating capacity: 30,000 kW (2014 est.)
Installed generating capacity rank: 199
Generation sources fossil fuels: 89.3% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
Generation sources fossil fuels rank: 80
Generation sources nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
Generation sources nuclear rank: 153
Generation sources hydroelectricity: 0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
Generation sources hydroelectricity rank: 192
Generation sources other renewable sources: 10.7% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
Generation sources other renewable sources rank: 33
Petroleum
Petroleum total petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Petroleum total petroleum production rank: 175
Crude oil exports: 0 bbl/day (2013 est.)
Crude oil exports rank: 169
Crude oil imports: 0 bbl/day (2013 est.)
Crude oil imports rank: 107
Crude oil proven reserves: 0 bbl (1 January 2016 es)
Crude oil proven reserves rank: 175
Refined petroleum
Products production: 0 bbl/day (2013 est.)
Products production rank: 118
Products consumption: 1000 bbl/day (2014 est.)
Products consumption rank: 201
Products exports: 0 bbl/day (2013 est.)
Products exports rank: 210
Products imports: 1008 bbl/day (2013 est.)
Products imports rank: 196
Natural gas
Production: 0 m³ (2013 est.)
Production rank: 111
Consumption: 0 m³ (2013 est.)
Consumption rank: 179
Exports: 0 m³ (2013 est.)
Exports rank: 155
Imports: 0 m³ (2013 est.)
Imports rank: 109
Proven reserves: 0 m³ (1 January 2014 es)
Proven reserves rank: 178
Carbon dioxide emissions
From consumption of energy: 200,000 Mt (2013 est.)
From consumption of energy rank: 199
Vanuatu - Communication 2016
top of pageTelephones
Fixed lines total subscriptions: 4,797
Fixed lines subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 2
Fixed lines rank: 207
Mobile cellular total: 175,000
Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 64
Mobile cellular rank: 183
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)
Vanuatu - Military 2016
top of pageVanuatu - Transportation 2016
top of pageNational air transport system
Number of registered air carriers: 1
Inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 6
Annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 287,526
Annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 1,510,732 mt-km
Airports: 31 (2013)
Rank: 114
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
With unpaved runways total: 28
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 7
With unpaved runways under 914 m: 21
Merchant marine
Total: 77
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 (2010)
Rank: 58
Vanuatu - Transnational issues 2016
top of pageDisputes international: Matthew and Hunter Islands east of New Caledonia claimed by Vanuatu and France
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