1992 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1992 (Project Gutenberg)
Geography
Climate
tropical; moderated by southeast trade winds
Coastline
2,528 km
Comparative area
slightly larger than Connecticut
Contiguous zone
24 nm
Continental shelf
edge of continental margin or 200 nm
Disputes
none
Environment
subject to tropical cyclones or typhoons (January to April); volcanism causes minor earthquakes
Exclusive economic zone
200 nm
Land area
14,760 km2; includes more than 80 islands
Land boundaries
0 km
Land use
arable land 1%; permanent crops 5%; meadows and pastures 2%; forest and woodland 1%; other 91%
Maritime claims
(measured from claimed archipelagic baselines)
Natural resources
manganese, hardwood forests, fish
Note
located 5,750 km southwest of Honolulu in the South Pacific Ocean about three-quarters of the way between Hawaii and Australia
Terrain
mostly mountains of volcanic origin; narrow coastal plains
Territorial sea
12 nm
Total area
14,760 km2
People and Society
Birth rate
35 births/1,000 population (1992)
Death rate
5 deaths/1,000 population (1992)
Ethnic divisions
indigenous Melanesian 94%, French 4%, remainder Vietnamese, Chinese, and various Pacific Islanders
Infant mortality rate
30 deaths/1,000 live births (1992)
Labor force
NA
Languages
English and French (official); pidgin (known as Bislama or Bichelama)
Life expectancy at birth
67 years male, 72 years female (1992)
Literacy
53% (male 57%, female 48%) age 15 and over can read and write (1979)
Nationality
noun - Ni-Vanuatu (singular and plural); adjective - Ni-Vanuatu
Net migration rate
0 migrants/1,000 population (1992)
Organized labor
7 registered trade unions - largest include Oil and Gas Workers' Union, Vanuatu Airline Workers' Union
Population
174,574 (July 1992), growth rate 3.0% (1992)
Religions
Presbyterian 36.7%, Anglican 15%, Catholic 15%, indigenous beliefs 7.6%, Seventh-Day Adventist 6.2%, Church of Christ 3.8%, other 15.7%
Total fertility rate
5.1 children born/woman (1992)
Government
Administrative divisions
11 island councils; Ambrym, Aoba/Maewo, Banks/Torres, Efate, Epi, Malakula, Paama, Pentecote, Santo/Malo, Shepherd, Tafea
Capital
Port-Vila
Chief of State
President Frederick TIMAKATA (since 30 January 1989)
Constitution
30 July 1980
Diplomatic representation
Vanuatu does not have a mission in Washington US: the ambassador in Papua New Guinea is accredited to Vanuatu
Executive branch
president, prime minister, deputy prime minister, Council of Ministers (cabinet)
Flag
two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and green (bottom) 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 leaves, all in yellow
Head of Government
Prime Minister Maxime CARLOT (since 16 December 1991); Deputy Prime Minister Sethy REGENVANU (since 17 December 1991)
Independence
30 July 1980 (from France and UK; formerly New Hebrides)
Judicial branch
Supreme Court
Legal system
unified system being created from former dual French and British systems
Legislative branch
unicameral Parliament; note - the National Council of Chiefs advises on matters of custom and land
Long-form name
Republic of Vanuatu
Member of
ACCT, ACP, AsDB, C, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IFC, IMF, IMO, IOC, ITU, NAM, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO
National holiday
Independence Day, 30 July (1980)
Parliament
last held 2 December 1991 (next to be held by November 1995); note - after election, a coalition was formed by the Union of Moderate Parties and the National United Party to form new government on 16 December 1991; seats - (46 total) UMP 19; NUP 10; VP 10; MPP 4; TUP 1; Nagriamel 1; Friend 1
Political parties and leaders
Vanuatu Party (VP), Donald KALPOKAS; Union of Moderate Parties (UMP), Serge VOHOR; Melanesian Progressive Party (MPP), Barak SOPE; National United Party (NUP), Walter LINI; Tan Union Party (TUP), Vincent BOULEKONE; Nagriamel Party, Jimmy STEVENS; Friend Melanesian Party, leader NA
Suffrage
universal at age 18
Type
republic
Economy
Agriculture
accounts for 40% of GDP; export crops - copra, cocoa, coffee, and fish; subsistence crops - copra, taro, yams, coconuts, fruits, and vegetables
Budget
revenues $90.0 million; expenditures $103.0 million, including capital expenditures of $45.0 million (1989 est.)
Currency
vatu (plural - vatu); 1 vatu (VT) = 100 centimes
Economic aid
Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $606 million
Electricity
17,000 kW capacity; 30 million kWh produced, 180 kWh per capita (1990)
Exchange rates
vatu (VT) per US$1 - 112.55 (March 1992), 111.68 (1991), 116.57 (1990), 116.04 (1989), 104.43 (1988), 109.85 (1987)
Exports
$15.6 million (f.o.b., 1990 est.) commodities: copra 59%, cocoa 11%, meat 9%, fish 8%, timber 4% partners: Netherlands, Japan, France, New Caledonia, Belgium
External debt
$30 million (1990 est.)
Fiscal year
calendar year
GDP
exchange rate conversion - $142 million, per capita $900 (1988 est.); real growth rate 6% (1990)
Imports
$60.4 million (f.o.b., 1990 est.) commodities: machines and vehicles 25%, food and beverages 23%, basic manufactures 18%, raw materials and fuels 11%, chemicals 6% partners: Australia 36%, Japan 13%, NZ 10%, France 8%, Fiji 8%
Industrial production
growth rate NA%; accounts for about 10% of GDP
Industries
food and fish freezing, wood processing, meat canning
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
5% (1990)
Overview
The economy is based primarily on subsistence farming which provides a living for about 80% of the population. Fishing and tourism are the 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.
Unemployment rate
NA%
Communications
Airports
33 total, 31 usable; 2 with permanent-surface runways; none with runways over 3,659 m; 1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 2 with runways 1,220-2,439 m
Civil air
no major transport aircraft
Highways
1,027 km total; at least 240 km sealed or all-weather roads
Merchant marine
121 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,093,443 GRT/3,168,822 DWT; includes 26 cargo, 14 refrigerated cargo, 5 container, 11 vehicle carrier, 1 livestock carrier, 5 petroleum tanker, 2 chemical tanker, 3 liquefied gas, 51 bulk, 1 combination bulk, 1 passenger, 1 short-sea passenger; note - a flag of convenience registry
Ports
Port-Vila, Luganville, Palikoulo, Santu
Railroads
none
Telecommunications
broadcast stations - 2 AM, no FM, no TV; 3,000 telephones; satellite ground stations - 1 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT
Military and Security
Branches
no military forces; Vanuatu Police Force (VPF), paramilitary Vanuatu Mobile Force (VMF)
Defense expenditures
$NA, NA% of GDP
Manpower availability
males 15-49, NA; NA fit for military service