1993 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1993 (Project Gutenberg)
Geography
Area
total area: 14,760 km2 land area: 14,760 km2 comparative area: slightly larger than Connecticut note: includes more than 80 islands
Climate
tropical; moderated by southeast trade winds
Coastline
2,528 km
Environment
subject to tropical cyclones or typhoons (January to April); volcanism causes minor earthquakes
International disputes
none
Irrigated land
NA km2
Land boundaries
0 km
Land use
arable land: 1% permanent crops: 5% meadows and pastures: 2% forest and woodland: 1% other: 91%
Location
Oceania, 5,750 km southwest of Honolulu in the South Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way between Hawaii and Australia
Map references
Oceania, Standard Time Zones of the World
Maritime claims
measured from claimed archipelagic baselines contiguous zone: 24 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or the edge of continental margin exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Natural resources
manganese, hardwood forests, fish
Terrain
mostly mountains of volcanic origin; narrow coastal plains
People and Society
Birth rate
33.16 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate
9.57 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Ethnic divisions
indigenous Melanesian 94%, French 4%, Vietnamese, Chinese, Pacific Islanders
Infant mortality rate
69.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Labor force
NA by occupation: NA
Languages
English (official), French (official), pidgin (known as Bislama or Bichelama)
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 58.8 years male: 57.11 years female: 60.58 years (1993 est.)
Literacy
age 15 and over can read and write (1979) total population: 53% male: 57% female: 48%
Nationality
noun: Ni-Vanuatu (singular and plural) adjective: Ni-Vanuatu
Net migration rate
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Population
165,876 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate
2.36% (1993 est.)
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
4.47 children born/woman (1993 est.)
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
Digraph
NH
Diplomatic representation in US
Vanuatu does not have a mission in Washington
Executive branch
president, prime minister, deputy prime minister, Council of Ministers (cabinet)
Flag
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 leaves, all in yellow
Head of Government
Prime Minister Maxime CARLOT KORMAN (since 16 December 1991); Deputy Prime Minister Sethy REGENVANU (since 17 December 1991)
Independence
30 July 1980 (from France and UK)
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
Member of
ACCT, ACP, AsDB, C, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFC, IMF, IMO, IOC, ITU, NAM, SPARTECA, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WMO
Names
conventional long form: Republic of Vanuatu conventional short form: Vanuatu former: New Hebrides
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
18 years of age; universal
Type
republic
US diplomatic representation
the ambassador to Papua New Guinea is accredited to Vanuatu
Economy
Agriculture
accounts for 40% of GDP; export crops - coconuts, cocoa, coffee, fish; subsistence crops - taro, yams, coconuts, fruits, vegetables
Budget
revenues $90 million; expenditures $103 million, including capital expenditures of $45 million (1989 est.)
Currency
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 - 120.77 (January 1993), 113.39 (1992), 111.68 (1991), 116.57 (1990), 116.04 (1989), 104.43 (1988)
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
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)
National product
GDP - exchange rate conversion - $142 million (1988 est.)
National product per capita
$900 (1988 est.)
National product real growth rate
6% (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
total: 31 usable: 31 with permanent-surface runways: 2 with runways over 3,659 m: with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 1 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 2
Highways
1,027 km total; at least 240 km sealed or all-weather roads
Merchant marine
125 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,121,819 GRT/3,193,942 DWT; includes 23 cargo, 16 refrigerated cargo, 6 container, 11 vehicle carrier, 1 livestock carrier, 6 oil tanker, 2 chemical tanker, 3 liquefied gas, 54 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; 1 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT ground station
Military and Security
Branches
Vanuatu Police Force (VPF), paramilitary Vanuatu Mobile Force (VMF) note: no military forces
Defense expenditures
exchange rate conversion - $NA, NA% of GDP
Manpower availability
males age 15-49 NA; fit for military service NA