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Introduction - Vanuatu
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.
Geography - Vanuatu
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 references:
Oceania
Area:
total: 12,189 sq km
country comparison to the world: 163
land: 12,189 sq km
water: 0 sq km
note: includes more than 80 islands, about 65 of which are inhabited
Area - 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:
Current Weather
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
highest point: Tabwemasana 1,877 m
Natural resources:
manganese, hardwood forests, fish
Land use:
arable land: 1.64%
permanent crops: 6.97%
other: 91.39% (2005)
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
Environment - current issues:
most of the population does not have access to a reliable supply of potable
water; deforestation
Environment - 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
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
a Y-shaped chain of four main islands and 80 smaller islands; several of the
islands have active volcanoes
People - Vanuatu
Population:
221,552 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 184
Age structure:
0-14 years: 30.1% (male 34,103/female 32,683)
15-64 years: 65.7% (male 74,135/female 71,462)
65 years and over: 4.1% (male 4,687/female 4,482) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 24.6 years
male: 24.5 years
female: 24.6 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.359% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 92
Birth rate:
21.08 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 88
Death rate:
7.49 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 119
Net migration rate:
NA
Urbanization:
urban population: 25% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 4.1% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.05 male(s)/female
total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 48.17 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 54
male: 50.65 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 45.56 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 64.33 years
country comparison to the world: 169
male: 62.7 years
female: 66.04 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.43 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 97
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Ni-Vanuatu (singular and plural)
adjective: Ni-Vanuatu
Ethnic groups:
Ni-Vanuatu 98.5%, other 1.5% (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)
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)
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)
Education expenditures:
9.5% of GDP (2003)
country comparison to the world: 6
Government - Vanuatu
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 (on Efate)
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:
30 July 1980
Legal system:
unified system being created from former dual French and British systems; has
not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Iolu Johnson ABBIL (since 3 September 2009)
head of government: Prime Minister Edward NATAPEI (since 22 September 2008);
Deputy Prime Minister Sato KILMAN (since 19 November 2009)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister, responsible to
parliament
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
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 22 September 2008 (next to be held following
general elections in 2012)
election results: Iolu Johnson ABBIL 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 on 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]; Vanua'aku Pati (Our Land Party) or VP
[Edward NATAPEI]; Vanuatu Family First Party or VFFP [Eta RORI]; Vanuatu Labor
Party or VLP [Joshua KALSAKAU]; Vanuatu National Party or VNP [Issac HAMARILIU];
Vanuatu Republican Farmers Party or VPRFP [Jean RAVOU]; Vanuatu Republican Party
or VRP [Maxime Carlot KORMAN]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
ACCT, ACP, ADB, AOSIS, C, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO,
IMF, IMO, IMSO, IOC, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OAS (observer), OIF, OPCW, PIF,
Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNAMID, 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
Diplomatic representation 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, 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
Economy - Vanuatu
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.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$1.041 billion (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 197
$1.002 billion (2008 est.)
$940.4 million (2007 est.)
note: data are in 2009 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$560.5 million (2009 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
3.8% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 44
6.6% (2008 est.)
6.8% (2007 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$4,800 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 143
$4,700 (2008 est.)
$4,400 (2007 est.)
note: data are in 2009 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 26%
industry: 12%
services: 62% (2000 est.)
Labor force:
115,900 (2007)
country comparison to the world: 181
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 65%
industry: 5%
services: 30% (2000 est.)
Unemployment rate:
1.7% (1999)
country comparison to the world: 10
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $78.7 million
expenditures: $72.23 million (2005 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3.9% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 127
Central bank discount rate:
6% (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 76
6% (31 December 2007)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
5.29% (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 112
8.16% (31 December 2007)
Stock of money:
$101.6 million (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 154
$107.1 million (31 December 2007)
Stock of quasi money:
$430 million (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 139
$421.8 million (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:
$274 million (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 127
$229.5 million (31 December 2007)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA
Agriculture - products:
copra, coconuts, cocoa, coffee, taro, yams, fruits, vegetables; beef; fish
Industries:
food and fish freezing, wood processing, meat canning
Electricity - production:
42 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 200
Electricity - consumption:
39.06 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 201
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 123
Oil - consumption:
1,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 192
Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 168
Oil - imports:
654 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 194
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 108
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 114
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 165
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 103
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 117
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 121
Current account balance:
-$60 million (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 70
Exports:
$40 million (2006)
country comparison to the world: 200
Exports - commodities:
copra, beef, cocoa, timber, kava, coffee
Exports - partners:
Thailand 53.15%, Japan 12.22%, Poland 11.78% (2009)
Imports:
$156 million (2006)
country comparison to the world: 203
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, fuels
Imports - partners:
Japan 17.3%, Australia 13.46%, China 12.26%, Singapore 12%, NZ 6.88%, Poland
6.61%, France 5.86%, Fiji 5.52% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$40.54 million (2003)
country comparison to the world: 154
Debt - external:
$81.2 million (2004)
country comparison to the world: 181
Exchange rates:
vatu (VUV) per US dollar - 97.93 (2009), NA (2007), 111.93 (2006), NA (2005),
111.79 (2004), 122.19 (2003)
Communications - Vanuatu
Telephones - main lines in use:
10,400 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 203
Telephones - mobile cellular:
36,000 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 199
Telephone system:
general assessment: NA
domestic: NA
international: country code - 678; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific
Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 2, FM 4, shortwave 1 (2001)
Television broadcast stations:
1 (2004)
Internet country code:
.vu
Internet hosts:
1,023 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 160
Internet users:
17,000 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 193
Transportation - Vanuatu
Airports:
31 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 115
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2009)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 28
914 to 1,523 m: 5
under 914 m: 23 (2009)
Roadways:
total: 1,070 km
country comparison to the world: 183
paved: 256 km
unpaved: 814 km (1999)
Merchant marine:
total: 54
country comparison to the world: 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)
Military - Vanuatu
Military branches:
no regular military forces; Vanuatu Police Force (VPF), Vanuatu Mobile Force (VMF;
includes Police Maritime Wing (PMW)) (2009)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 61,178 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 42,450
females age 16-49: 43,894 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 2,346
female: 2,249 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
NA
Transnational Issues - Vanuatu
Disputes - international:
Matthew and Hunter Islands east of New Caledonia claimed by Vanuatu and France
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