1982 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1982 (Wikisource)
Geography
Coastline
about 2,528 km
Limits of territorial waters
12 nm (fishing 200 nm; exclusive economic zone 200 nm)
People and Society
Ethnic divisions
90% indigenous Melanesian, 8% French, remainder Vietnamese, Chinese, and various Pacific Islanders
Literacy
probably 10%-20%
Nationality
noun—Vanuatuan(s); adjective—Vanuatuan
Population
123,000 (July 1982), average annual growth rate 2.7%
Religion
most at least nominally Christian
Government
Branches
Parliament of 39 members, elected November 1979
Capital
Port-Vila
Government leader
Prime Minister Father Walter LINI Political parties and leaders: National Party (Vanuaaku Pati), chairman Walter Lini
Legal system
unified system being created from former dual French and British systems
Member of
South Pacific Forum, UN
Official name
Republic of Vanuatu
Political subdivisions
4 administrative districts
Type
republic, formerly Anglo-French condominium of New Hebrides, independent 30 July 1980
Economy
Agriculture
export crops of copra, cocoa, coffee, some livestock and fish production; subsistence crops of copra, taro, yams Electric power: 10,000 kW capacity (1981); 17 million kWh produced (1981), 162 kWh per capita
Aid
Australia (1980-83), $14.4 million
Exports
$32.2 million (1977); 24% copra, 59% frozen fish, meat
Imports
$40.1 million (1977); 18% food
Monetary conversion rate
1 pound=US$5.12 (official currency, 1979), Australian $0.89=US$1, 75 Colonial Franc Pacifique (CFP)=US$1 (1978/79)
Communications
Airfields
31 total, 29 usable; 2 with permanent-surface runways, 2 runways 1,220-2,439 m
Civil air
no major transport aircraft
Highways
at least 240 km sealed or all-weather roads
Inland waterways
none
Ports
2 minor
Railroads
none
Telecommunications
2 AM broadcast stations; 2,400 telephones (2.4 per 100 popl.); 1 ground satellite station under construction
Military and Security
Personnel
no military forces maintained; however, the French and British maintain constabularies of about 100 men each