1985 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1985 (Internet Archive)
Geography
Agriculture
export crops of copra, cocoa, coffee, some livestock and fish production; subsistence crops of copra, taro, yams
Aid
Australia (1980-83), $14.4 million
Airfields
30 total, 24 usable; 2 with permanent-surface runways, 2 with runways 1,2202,439 m
Area
About 14,763 km2; about the size of Connecticut; over 80 islands Water
Branch
unicameral legislature (39-member Parliament), elected November 1983
Capital
PortVila
Civil air
no major transport aircraft
Coastline
about 2,528 km People
Electric power
10,000 kW capacity (1984); 20 million kWh produced (1984), 154 kWh per capita
Ethnic divisions
90% indigenous Melanesian; 8% French; remainder Vietnamese, Chinese, and various Pacific Islanders
Exports
$24 million (1980); 24% copra, 59% frozen fish, meat
Government leader
Father Walter Hadye LINI, Prime Minister Political parties and leaders: National Party (Vanuaaku Pati), chairman Walter Lini
Highways
at least 240 km sealed or allweather roads
Imports
$53 million (1980); 18% food
Inland waterways
none
Language
English and French (official); pidgin (known as Bislama or Bichelama)
Legal system
unified system being created from former dual French and British systems
Limits of territorial waters
3 nm (fishing 200 nm)
Literacy
probably 10-20% Government
Member of
ADB, Commonwealth, G-77, IFC, IMF, ITU, South Pacific Forum, UN Economy
Monetary conversion rate
102.034 vantus=US$l; 1.0778 Australian dollars=US$l (February 1984) Communications
Nationality
noun — Vanuatuan(s); adjective—Vanuatuan
Official name
Republic of Vanuatu
Personnel
no military forces maintained; however, a paramilitary force is responsible for internal and external security
Political subdivisions
four administrative districts
Population
134,000 (July 1985), average annual growth rate 2.7%
Ports
2 minor (PortVila, Luganville)
Railroads
none
Religion
most at least nominally Christian
Telecommunications
2 AM broadcast stations; 2,400 telephones (2.4 per 100 popl.); 1 ground satellite station under construction Defense Forces
Type
republic, formerly Anglo-French condominium of New Hebrides, independent 30 July 1980