1994 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1994 (Project Gutenberg)
Introduction
Administrative divisions
11 island councils; Ambrym, Aoba/Maewo, Banks/Torres, Efate, Epi, Malakula, Paama, Pentecote, Santo/Malo, Shepherd, Tafea
Agriculture
accounts for 40% of GDP; export crops - coconuts, cocoa, coffee, fish; subsistence crops - taro, yams, coconuts, fruits, vegetables
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
Area
total area: 14,760 sq km land area: 14,760 sq km comparative area: slightly larger than Connecticut note: includes more than 80 islands
Birth rate
32.21 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Branches
Vanuatu Police Force (VPF), paramilitary Vanuatu Mobile Force (VMF) note: no military forces
Budget
revenues: $90 million expenditures: $103 million, including capital expenditures of $45 million (1989 est.)
Capital
Port-Vila
Climate
tropical; moderated by southeast trade winds
Coastline
2,528 km
Constitution
30 July 1980
Currency
1 vatu (VT) = 100 centimes
Death rate
9.31 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Defense expenditures
$NA, NA% of GDP
Digraph
NH
Diplomatic representation in US
Vanuatu does not have a mission in the US
Economic aid
recipient: Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $606 million
Electricity
capacity: 17,000 kW production: 30 million kWh consumption per capita: 180 kWh (1990)
Environment
current issues: NA natural hazards: subject to tropical cyclones or typhoons (January to April); volcanism causes minor earthquakes international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Marine Dumping, Ship Pollution; signed, but not ratified - Law of the Sea
Ethnic divisions
indigenous Melanesian 94%, French 4%, Vietnamese, Chinese, Pacific Islanders
Exchange rates
vatu (VT) per US$1 - 123.48 (September 1993), 113.39 (1992), 111.68 (1991), 116.57 (1990), 116.04 (1989)
Executive branch
chief of state: President Jean Marie LEYE (since 2 March 1994) head of government: Prime Minister Maxime CARLOT Korman (since 16 December 1991); Deputy Prime Minister Sethy REGENVANU (since 17 December 1991) cabinet: Council of Ministers; appointed by the prime minister, responsible to parliament
Exports
$14.9 million (f.o.b., 1991) commodities: copra, beef, cocoa, timber, coffee partners: Netherlands, Japan, France, New Caledonia, Belgium
External debt
$38 million (1991)
Fiscal year
calendar year
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
Highways
total: 1,027 km paved: 240 km unpaved: 787 km
Imports
$74 million (f.o.b., 1991) commodities: machines and vehicles, food and beverages, basic manufactures, raw materials and fuels, chemicals partners: Australia 36%, Japan 13%, NZ 10%, France 8%, Fiji 8%
Independence
30 July 1980 (from France and UK)
Industrial production
growth rate 8.1% (1990); accounts for about 10% of GDP
Industries
food and fish freezing, wood processing, meat canning
Infant mortality rate
68.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
2.3% (1992 est.)
International disputes
none
Irrigated land
NA sq km
Judicial branch
Supreme Court
Labor force
NA by occupation: NA
Land boundaries
0 km
Land use
arable land: 1% permanent crops: 5% meadows and pastures: 2% forest and woodland: 1% other: 91%
Languages
English (official), French (official), pidgin (known as Bislama or Bichelama)
Legal system
unified system being created from former dual French and British systems
Legislative branch
unicameral
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 59.25 years male: 57.51 years female: 61.09 years (1994 est.)
Literacy
age 15 and over can read and write (1979) total population: 53% male: 57% female: 48%
Location
Oceania, Melanesia, 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
Member of
ACCT, ACP, AsDB, C, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFC, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), IOC, ITU, NAM, SPARTECA, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WMO
Merchant marine
131 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,992,201 GRT/2,909,381 DWT, bulk 57, cargo 23, chemical tanker 2, combination bulk 1, container 5, liquefied gas 3, livestock carrier 1, oil tanker 8, passenger 1, refrigerated cargo 19, vehicle carrier 11 note: a flag of convenience registry
Names
conventional long form: Republic of Vanuatu conventional short form: Vanuatu former: New Hebrides
National holiday
Independence Day, 30 July (1980)
National product
GDP - exchange rate conversion - $142 million (1988 est.)
National product per capita
$1,050 (1990)
National product real growth rate
6% (1991)
Nationality
noun: Ni-Vanuatu (singular and plural) adjective: Ni-Vanuatu
Natural resources
manganese, hardwood forests, fish
Net migration rate
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)
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.
Parliament
elections 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 a new government on 16 December 1991, but political party associations are fluid; seats - (46 total) UMP 19; NUP 10; VP 10; MPP 4; TUP 1; Nagriamel 1; Friend 1 note: the National Council of Chiefs advises on matters of custom and land
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
Population
169,776 (July 1994 est.)
Population growth rate
2.29% (1994 est.)
Ports
Port-Vila, Luganville, Palikoulo
Railroads
none
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%
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Telecommunications
broadcast stations - 2 AM, no FM, no TV; 3,000 telephones; 1 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT ground station
Terrain
mostly mountains of volcanic origin; narrow coastal plains
Total fertility rate
4.31 children born/woman (1994 est.)
Type
republic
Unemployment rate
NA%
US diplomatic representation
the ambassador to Papua New Guinea is accredited to Vanuatu