2015 Edition

Background

Multiple waves of colonizers, each speaking a distinct language, migrated to the New Hebrides in the millennia preceding European exploration in the 18th century. This settlement pattern accounts for the complex linguistic diversity found on the archipelago to this day. The British and French, who settled the New Hebrides in the 19th century, agreed in 1906 to an Anglo-French Condominium, which administered the islands until independence in 1980, when the new name of Vanuatu was adopted.

Area

land

12,189 sq km

note

includes more than 80 islands, about 65 of which are inhabited

total

12,189 sq km

water

0 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly larger than Connecticut

Climate

tropical; moderated by southeast trade winds from May to October; moderate rainfall from November to April; may be affected by cyclones from December to April

Coastline

2,528 km

Elevation extremes

highest point

Tabwemasana 1,877 m

lowest point

Pacific Ocean 0 m

Environment - current issues

most of the population does not have access to a reliable supply of potable water; deforestation

Environment - international agreements

party to

Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 94

signed, but not ratified

none of the selected agreements

Geographic coordinates

16 00 S, 167 00 E

Geography - note

a Y-shaped chain of four main islands and 80 smaller islands; several of the islands have active volcanoes and there are several underwater volcanoes as well

Irrigated land

NA

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land 1.6%; permanent crops 10.3%; permanent pasture 3.4%

agricultural land

15.3%

forest

36.1%

other

48.6% (2011 est.)

Location

Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to Australia

Map references

Oceania

Maritime claims

measured from claimed archipelagic baselines

contiguous zone

24 nm

continental shelf

200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

exclusive economic zone

200 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

Natural hazards

tropical cyclones or typhoons (January to April); volcanic eruption on Aoba (Ambae) island began on 27 November 2005, volcanism also causes minor earthquakes; tsunamis

volcanism

significant volcanic activity with multiple eruptions in recent years; Yasur (elev. 361 m), one of the world's most active volcanoes, has experienced continuous activity in recent centuries; other historically active volcanoes include, Aoba, Ambrym, Epi, Gaua, Kuwae, Lopevi, Suretamatai, and Traitor's Head

Natural resources

manganese, hardwood forests, fish

Terrain

mostly mountainous islands of volcanic origin; narrow coastal plains

Age structure

0-14 years

36.71% (male 51,014/female 48,940)

15-24 years

19.94% (male 26,970/female 27,314)

25-54 years

34.45% (male 45,935/female 47,864)

55-64 years

5.13% (male 7,034/female 6,932)

65 years and over

3.77% (male 5,236/female 5,025) (2015 est.)

Birth rate

25.04 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

11.7% (2007)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

38.4% (2007)

Death rate

4.09 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

7.1%

potential support ratio

14.1% (2015 est.)

total dependency ratio

68.7%

youth dependency ratio

61.6%

Drinking water source

urban: 98.9% of population

rural: 92.9% of population

total: 94.5% of population

urban: 1.1% of population

rural: 7.1% of population

total: 5.5% of population (2015 est.)

Education expenditures

5% of GDP (2009)

Ethnic groups

Ni-Vanuatu 97.6%, part Ni-Vanuatu 1.1%, other 1.3% (2009 est.)

Health expenditures

3.9% of GDP (2013)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Hospital bed density

1.8 beds/1,000 population (2008)

Infant mortality rate

female

14.58 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.)

male

16.77 deaths/1,000 live births

total

15.7 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

local languages (more than 100) 63.2%, Bislama (official; creole) 33.7%, English (official) 2%, French (official) 0.6%, other 0.5% (2009 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

female

74.72 years (2015 est.)

male

71.47 years

total population

73.06 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

83.8% (2015 est.)

male

86.6%

total population

85.2%

Major urban areas - population

PORT-VILA (capital) 53,000 (2014)

Maternal mortality rate

78 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)

Median age

female

21.7 years (2015 est.)

male

21 years

total

21.4 years

Nationality

adjective

Ni-Vanuatu

noun

Ni-Vanuatu (singular and plural)

Net migration rate

-1.47 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

32.9% (2014)

Physicians density

0.12 physicians/1,000 population (2008)

Population

272,264 (July 2015 est.)

Population growth rate

1.95% (2015 est.)

Religions

Protestant 70% (includes Presbyterian 27.9%, Anglican 15.1%, Seventh Day Adventist 12.5%, Assemblies of God 4.7%, Church of Christ 4.5%, Neil Thomas Ministry 3.1%, and Apostolic 2.2%), Roman Catholic 12.4%, customary beliefs 3.7% (including Jon Frum cargo cult), other 12.6%, none 1.1%, unspecified 0.2% (2009 est.)

Sanitation facility access

urban: 65.1% of population

rural: 55.4% of population

total: 57.9% of population

urban: 34.9% of population

rural: 44.6% of population

total: 42.1% of population (2015 est.)

Sex ratio

0-14 years

1.04 male(s)/female

15-24 years

0.99 male(s)/female

25-54 years

0.96 male(s)/female

55-64 years

1.02 male(s)/female

65 years and over

1.04 male(s)/female

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

1 male(s)/female (2015 est.)

Total fertility rate

3.25 children born/woman (2015 est.)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

female

11.2% (2009 est.)

male

10.2%

total

10.6%

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

3.42% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

urban population

26.1% of total population (2015)

Administrative divisions

6 provinces; Malampa, Penama, Sanma, Shefa, Tafea, Torba

Capital

geographic coordinates

17 44 S, 168 19 E

name

Port-Vila (on Efate)

time difference

UTC+11 (16 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Citizenship

citizenship by birth

no

citizenship by descent only

both parents must be citizens of Vanuatu; in the case of only one parent, it must be the father who is a citizen

dual citizenship recognized

no

residency requirement for naturalization

10 years

Constitution

effective 30 July 1980; amended several times, last in 2013 (2015)

Country name

conventional long form

Republic of Vanuatu

conventional short form

Vanuatu

former

New Hebrides

local long form

Ripablik blong Vanuatu

local short form

Vanuatu

Diplomatic representation from the US

the US does not have an embassy in Vanuatu; the US ambassador to Papua New Guinea is accredited to Vanuatu

Diplomatic representation in the US

Vanuatu does not have an embassy in the US; it does, however, have a Permanent Mission to the UN

Executive branch

cabinet

Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister, responsible to parliament

chief of state

President Baldwin LONSDALE (since 22 September 2014)

election results

Baldwin LONSDALE (independent) elected president; Parliament vote - 46 out of 52 on the eighth ballot; Sato KILMAN (PPP) elected prime minister following a no confidence vote against the government of Joe NATUMAN on 11 June 2015

elections/appointments

president indirectly elected by an electoral college consisting of Parliament and presidents of the 6 provinces; Vanuatu president serves a 5-year term; election last held on 17 September 2014 (next to be held in 2019); following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition usually elected prime minister by parliament from among its members; election for prime minister last held on 23 March 2013 (next to be held following general elections in 2016)

head of government

Prime Minister Sato KILMAN (since 11 June 2015)

Flag description

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 fern fronds, all in yellow; red represents the blood of boars and men, as well as unity, green the richness of the islands, and black the ni-Vanuatu people; the yellow Y-shape - which reflects the pattern of the islands in the Pacific Ocean - symbolizes the light of the Gospel spreading through the islands; the boar's tusk is a symbol of prosperity frequently worn as a pendant on the islands; the fern fronds represent peace

note

one of several flags where a prominent component of the design reflects the shape of the country; other such flags are those of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, and Eritrea

Government type

parliamentary republic

Independence

30 July 1980 (from France and the UK)

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International organization participation

ACP, ADB, AOSIS, C, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, IOC, IOM, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OAS (observer), OIF, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Judicial branch

.highest court(s)

Supreme Court (consists of a chief justice and 3 judges); note - appeals from the Supreme Court are considered by the Court of Appeal, constituted by 2 or more judges of the Supreme Court sitting together

judge selection and term of office

Supreme Court chief justice appointed by the president after consultation with the prime minister and the leader of the opposition; other judges are appointed by the president on the advice of the Judicial Service Commission, a 4-member advisory body; judges appointed until age of retirement

subordinate courts

magistrates' courts; island courts

Legal system

mixed legal system of English common law, French law, and customary law

Legislative branch

description

unicameral Parliament (52 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by simple majority vote to serve 4-year terms)

election results

percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - VP 8, PPP 6, UMP 5, GJP 4, NUP 4, IG 3, GC 3, NAG 3, RMC 3, MPP 2, NIPDP 2, PSP 1, VLDP 1, VNP 1, VPDP 1, VRP 1, and independent 4; note - political party associations are fluid

elections

last held on 30 October 2012 (next to be held in 2016)

note

the National Council of Chiefs advises on matters of culture and language

National anthem

lyrics/music

Francois Vincent AYSSAV

name

"Yumi, Yumi, Yumi" (We, We, We)

note

adopted 1980; the anthem is written in Bislama, a Creole language that mixes Pidgin English and French

National holiday

Independence Day, 30 July (1980)

National symbol(s)

boar's tusk with crossed fern fronds; national colors: red, black, green, yellow

Political parties and leaders

Greens Confederation or GC [Moana CARCASSES Kalosil]

Iauko Group or IG [Tony NARI]

Land and Justice Party (Graon mo Jastis Pati) or GJP [Ralph REGENVANU]

Melanesian Progressive Party or MPP [Barak SOPE]

Nagriamel movement or NAG [Frankie STEVENS]

Natatok Indigenous People's Democratic Party or (NATATOK) or NIPDP [Alfred Roland CARLOT]

National United Party or NUP [Ham LINI]

People's Progressive Party or PPP [Sato KILMAN]

People's Service Party or PSP [Don KEN]

Reunification of Movement for Change or RMC [Charlot SALWAI]

Union of Moderate Parties or UMP [Serge VOHOR]

Vanua'aku Pati (Our Land Party) or VP [Edward NATAPEI]

Vanuatu Democratic Party [Maxime Carlot KORMAN]

Vanuatu Liberal Democratic Party or VLDP [Tapangararua WILLIE]

Vanuatu National Party or VNP [Issac HAMARILIU]

Vanuatu Progressive Development Party or VPDP [Robert Bohn SIKOL]

Vanuatu Republican Party or VRP [Marcellino PIPITE]

Political pressure groups and leaders

NA

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

copra, coconuts, cocoa, coffee, taro, yams, fruits, vegetables; beef; fish

Budget

expenditures

$171 million (2014 est.)

revenues

$173.1 million

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

0.3% of GDP (2014 est.)

Central bank discount rate

20% (31 December 2010)

6% (31 December 2009)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

4.8% (31 December 2014 est.)

5% (31 December 2013 est.)

Current account balance

$4 million (2014 est.)

-$11 million (2013 est.)

Debt - external

$369.2 million (31 December 2012 est.)

$307.7 million (31 December 2011 est.)

Economy - overview

This South Pacific island economy is based primarily on small-scale agriculture, which provides a living for about two-thirds of the population. Fishing, offshore financial services, and tourism, with nearly 197,000 visitors in 2008, are 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. Economic development is hindered by dependence on relatively few commodity exports, vulnerability to natural disasters, and long distances from main markets and between constituent islands. In response to foreign concerns, the government has promised to tighten regulation of its offshore financial center. In mid-2002, the government stepped up efforts to boost tourism through improved air connections, resort development, and cruise ship facilities. Agriculture, especially livestock farming, is a second target for growth. Australia and New Zealand are the main suppliers of tourists and foreign aid.

Exchange rates

vatu (VUV) per US dollar -

97.07 (2014 est.)

97.07 (2013 est.)

92.64 (2012 est.)

89.47 (2011 est.)

96.91 (2010 est.)

Exports

$49.1 million (2014 est.)

$44.7 million (2013 est.)

Exports - commodities

copra, beef, cocoa, timber, kava, coffee

Exports - partners

Thailand 36.8%, Japan 25.2%, South Korea 11.1% (2014)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP - composition, by end use

(2014 est.)

exports of goods and services

48%

government consumption

16%

household consumption

62.1%

imports of goods and services

-52.4%

investment in fixed capital

26.3%

investment in inventories

0%

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

28%

industry

8.8%

services

63.2% (2014 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$2,600 (2014 est.)

$2,500 (2013 est.)

$2,500 (2012 est.)

note

data are in 2014 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

2.3% (2014 est.)

2% (2013 est.)

1.8% (2012 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$822 million (2014 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$683 million (2014 est.)

$667.4 million (2013 est.)

$654.6 million (2012 est.)

note

data are in 2014 US dollars

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

NA%

lowest 10%

NA%

Imports

$275.5 million (2014 est.)

$267.5 million (2013 est.)

Imports - commodities

machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, fuels

Imports - partners

China 32%, Singapore 16.5%, Australia 12%, Fiji 6.8%, Japan 6.8%, NZ 5.1% (2014)

Industrial production growth rate

3.1% (2014 est.)

Industries

food and fish freezing, wood processing, meat canning

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

1% (2014 est.)

1.3% (2013 est.)

Labor force

115,900 (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

65%

industry

5%

services

30% (2000 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA

Population below poverty line

NA%

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$213.4 million (31 December 2015 est.)

$184 million (31 December 2014 est.)

Stock of broad money

$544.9 million (31 December 2014 est.)

$552.6 million (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$26.3 million (31 December 2014 est.)

$25.3 million (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$694.1 million (31 December 2014 est.)

$630.1 million (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$501.4 million (31 December 2014 est.)

$535.3 million (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$270.3 million (31 December 2014 est.)

$272.1 million (31 December 2013 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

21.1% of GDP (2014 est.)

Unemployment rate

1.7% (1999 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

166,100 Mt (2012 est.)

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2012 est.)

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2012 est.)

Crude oil - production

0 bbl/day (2014 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2015 est.)

Electricity - consumption

49.29 million kWh (2012 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2013 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels

89.3% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources

10.7% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2013 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity

28,000 kW (2012 est.)

Electricity - production

53 million kWh (2012 est.)

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)

Refined petroleum products - consumption

1,000 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

0 bbl/day (2012 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

1,015 bbl/day (2012 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

0 bbl/day (2012 est.)

Broadcast media

1 state-owned TV station; multi-channel pay TV is available; state-owned Radio Vanuatu operates 2 radio stations; 2 privately owned radio broadcasters; programming from multiple international broadcasters is available (2008)

Internet country code

.vu

Internet users

percent of population

11.5% (2014 est.)

total

30,800

Radio broadcast stations

AM 2, FM 4, shortwave 1 (2001)

Telephone system

international

country code - 678; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

2 (2014 est.)

total subscriptions

5,700

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

58 (2014 est.)

total

156,100

Television broadcast stations

1 (2004)

Airports

31 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways

1,524 to 2,437 m

1

2,438 to 3,047 m

1

914 to 1,523 m

1 (2013)

total

3

Airports - with unpaved runways

21 (2013)

914 to 1,523 m

7

total

28

Merchant marine

by type

bulk carrier 38, cargo 8, chemical tanker 2, container 1, liquefied gas 2, passenger 1, refrigerated cargo 24, vehicle carrier 1

foreign-owned

72 (Belgium 1, Canada 5, China 1, Greece 3, Japan 39, Norway 1, Poland 9, Russia 7, Singapore 2, Taiwan 1, UAE 1, US 2) (2010)

total

77

Ports and terminals

major seaport(s)

Forari Bay, Luganville (Santo, Espiritu Santo), Port-Vila

Roadways

paved

256 km

total

1,070 km

unpaved

814 km (2000)

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49

62,216 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

females age 16-49

44,927 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

43,331

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

female

2,230 (2010 est.)

male

2,323

Military branches

no regular military forces; Vanuatu Police Force (VPF), Vanuatu Mobile Force (VMF; includes Police Maritime Wing (PMW)) (2013)

Disputes - international

Matthew and Hunter Islands east of New Caledonia claimed by Vanuatu and France