2020 Edition

Background

Austronesian speakers from the Solomon Islands first settled Vanuatu around 2000 B.C. By around 1000, localized chieftain systems began to develop on the islands. Around 1600, Melanesian Chief ROI MATA united some of the islands of modern-day Vanuatu under his rule. In 1606, a Portuguese explorer was the first European to see Vanuatu's Banks Islands and Espiritu Santo, setting up a short-lived settlement on the latter. The next European explorers arrived in the 1760s, and the islands -- then known as the New Hebrides -- were frequented by whalers in the 1800s. European interest in harvesting the islands’ sandalwood trees caused conflict with the inhabitants. In the 1860s, European planters in Australia, Fiji, New Caledonia, and Samoa needed labor and kidnapped almost half the adult males on the islands to work as indentured servants. With growing and overlapping interests in the islands, France and the UK agreed that the New Hebrides would be neutral in 1878 and established a joint naval commission in 1887. In 1906, the two countries created the UK-France condominium to jointly administer the islands, with separate laws, police forces, currencies, and education and health systems. The condominium arrangement was dysfunctional, and the UK used France’s initial defeat in World War II to assert greater control over the islands. During the war, the US stationed up to 50,000 soldiers in Vanuatu. In 1945, they withdrew and sold their equipment, leading to the rise of political and religious movements known as "cargo cults," such as the John Frum movement.  The UK-France condominium was reestablished after World War II. The UK was interested in moving the condominium toward independence in the 1960s, but France was hesitant. Political parties agitating for independence began to form, largely divided along linguistic lines. France eventually relented, and elections were held in 1974, with independence granted to the newly named Vanuatu in 1980 under English-speaking Prime Minister Walter LINI. The Nagriamel Movement, with support from French-speaking landowners, then declared the island of Espiritu Santo independent from Vanuatu, but the short-lived state was dissolved 12 weeks later. Linguistic divisions have lessened over time, but highly fractious political parties have led to weak coalition governments that require support from both Anglophone and Francophone parties. Since 2008, prime ministers have been ousted more than a dozen times through no-confidence motions or temporary procedural issues.

Area

land

12,189 sq km

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

highest point

Tabwemasana 1,877 m

lowest point

Pacific Ocean 0 m

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, including several underwater volcanoes

Irrigated land

0 sq km (2022)

Land boundaries

total

0 km

Land use

agricultural land

15.3% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 1.6% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 10.3% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 3.4% (2023 est.)

forest

74.8% (2023 est.)

other

9.8% (2023 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

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 (January to April); volcanic activity; volcanism also causes minor earthquakes; tsunamis volcanism: significant volcanic activity with multiple eruptions in recent years; Yasur (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

Population distribution

three quarters of the population lives in rural areas; the urban populace lives primarily in two cities, Port-Vila and Lugenville; the three largest islands -- Espiritu Santo, Malakula, and Efate -- accommodate over half of the populace

Terrain

mostly mountainous islands of volcanic origin; narrow coastal plains

Age structure

0-14 years

31.1% (male 50,584/female 48,475)

15-64 years

63.8% (male 99,496/female 103,425)

65 years and over

5% (2024 est.) (male 7,852/female 8,175)

Alcohol consumption per capita

beer

0.34 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

other alcohols

0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

spirits

0.87 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

total

1.6 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

wine

0.39 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Birth rate

20.36 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

68.6% (2020 est.)

Death rate

4.02 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

7.9 (2024 est.)

potential support ratio

12.7 (2024 est.)

total dependency ratio

56.7 (2024 est.)

youth dependency ratio

48.8 (2024 est.)

Drinking water source

improved: rural

rural: 88.6% of population (2022 est.)

improved: total

total: 91.3% of population (2022 est.)

improved: urban

urban: 99.2% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: rural

rural: 11.4% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: total

total: 8.7% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 0.8% of population (2022 est.)

Education expenditure

Education expenditure (% GDP)

7.6% of GDP (2023 est.)

Education expenditure (% national budget)

20.1% national budget (2024 est.)

Ethnic groups

Ni-Vanuatu 99%, other 1% (European, Asian, other Melanesian, Polynesian, Micronesian, other) (2020 est.)

Gross reproduction rate

1.2 (2025 est.)

Health expenditure

Health expenditure (as % of GDP)

4.4% of GDP (2021)

Health expenditure (as % of national budget)

3.9% of national budget (2022 est.)

Infant mortality rate

female

12.3 deaths/1,000 live births

male

15 deaths/1,000 live births

total

13.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)

Languages

indigenous languages (more than 100) 82.6%, Bislama (official; creole) 14.5%, English (official) 2.1%, French (official) 0.8% (2020 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

female

77.4 years

male

74 years

total population

75.7 years (2024 est.)

Literacy

female

88.2% (2023 est.)

male

87.7% (2023 est.)

total population

88% (2023 est.)

Major urban areas - population

53,000 PORT-VILA (capital) (2018)

Maternal mortality ratio

100 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Median age

female

25 years

male

24.1 years

total

24.9 years (2025 est.)

Nationality

adjective

Ni-Vanuatu

noun

Ni-Vanuatu (singular and plural)

Net migration rate

-1.24 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

25.2% (2016)

Physician density

0.16 physicians/1,000 population (2019)

Population

female

160,075

male

157,932

total

318,007 (2024 est.)

Population growth rate

1.51% (2025 est.)

Religions

Protestant 39.9% (Presbyterian 27.2%, Seventh Day Adventist 14.8%, Anglican 12%, Churches of Christ 5%, Assemblies of God 4.9%, Neil Thomas Ministry/Inner Life Ministry 3.2%), Roman Catholic 12.1%, Apostolic 2.3%, Church of Jesus Christ 1.8%, customary beliefs (including Jon Frum cargo cult) 3.1%, other 12%, none 1.4%, unspecified 0.1% (2020 est.)

Sanitation facility access

improved: rural

rural: 66.9% of population (2022 est.)

improved: total

total: 73.9% of population (2022 est.)

improved: urban

urban: 94% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: rural

rural: 33.1% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: total

total: 26.1% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 6% of population (2022 est.)

Sex ratio

0-14 years

1.04 male(s)/female

15-64 years

0.96 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.96 male(s)/female

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

0.99 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Tobacco use

female

2.6% (2020 est.)

male

33% (2020 est.)

total

17.8% (2020 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.46 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

2.55% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

26% of total population (2023)

Administrative divisions

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

Capital

etymology

the local name of Vila is sometimes used alone for the the port town; its meaning is unknown

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

amendment process

proposed by the prime minister or by the Parliament membership; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote by Parliament in special session with at least three fourths of the membership; passage of amendments affecting the national and official languages, or the electoral and parliamentary system also requires approval in a referendum

history

draft completed August 1979, finalized by constitution conference 19 September 1979, ratified by French and British Governments 23 October 1979, effective 30 July 1980 at independence

Country name

conventional long form

Republic of Vanuatu

conventional short form

Vanuatu

etymology

the name means "Our land forever" in several of the Austronesian languages spoken on the islands; the former name, New Hebrides, was given by Captain James COOK in 1774 because he thought they looked similar to the Hebrides islands off the coast of Scotland

former

New Hebrides

local long form

Ripablik blong Vanuatu

local short form

Vanuatu

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Ann Marie YASTISHOCK (since 16 April 2024); note - also accredited to the Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands, based in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea

email address and website

https://vt.usembassy.gov/

embassy

Port Vila

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

800 Second Avenue, Suite 400B, New York, NY 10017

chief of mission

Ambassador Odo TEVI (since 8 September 2017) note - also Permanent Representative to the UN

email address and website

vanunmis@aol.com https://www.un.int/vanuatu/

FAX

[1] (212) 422-3427

telephone

[1] (212) 661-4303

Executive branch

cabinet

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

chief of state

President Nikenike VUROBARAVU (since 23 July 2022)

election results

2022: Nikenike VUROBARAVU elected president in eighth round; electoral college vote - Nikenike VUROBARAVU (VP) 48 votes, Solas MOLISA (VP) 4 votes

election/appointment process

president indirectly elected by an electoral college consisting of Parliament and presidents of the 6 provinces; national president serves a 5-year term; following legislative elections, the Parliament usually elects the leader of the majority party or majority coalition (who must also be a member of Parliament) as prime minister

expected date of next election

2027

head of government

Prime Minister Jotham NAPAT (since 11 February 2025)

most recent election date

23 July 2022

Flag

description: two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and green with a black isosceles triangle (based on the left side); a black-edged yellow stripe in the shape of a horizontal "Y" faces the left side and encloses the triangle; a boar's tusk in the triangle circles two crossed namele fern fronds, all in yellow meaning: red stands for unity and the blood of men and boars, green for the richness of the islands, and black for the ni-Vanuatu people; the yellow "Y" reflects the islands' layout in the Pacific Ocean and symbolizes the light of the Gospel; the boar's tusk is a symbol of prosperity; the ferns represent peace

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)

Court of Appeal (consists of 2 or more judges of the Supreme Court designated by the chief justice); Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and 6 puisne judges -- 3 local and 3 expatriate)

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 appointed by the president on the advice of the Judicial Service Commission, a 4-member advisory body; judges serve until the age of retirement

subordinate courts

Magistrates Courts; Island Courts

Legal system

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

Legislative branch

electoral system

proportional representation

expected date of next election

January 2029

legislative structure

unicameral

legislature name

Parliament

most recent election date

1/16/2025

number of seats

52 (all directly elected)

parties elected and seats per party

Leaders Party of Vanuatu (LPV) (9); Vanua'aku Pati (VP) (7); Iauko Group (IG) (6); Union of Moderate Parties (UMP) (6); Rural Development Party (RDP) (6); Graon mo Jastis Pati (Land and Justice Party, GJP) (5); Reunification Movement for Change (RMC) (5); Other (8)

percentage of women in chamber

1.9%

scope of elections

full renewal

term in office

4 years

National anthem(s)

history

adopted 1980; the anthem is written in the native Bislama

lyrics/music

Francois Vincent AYSSAV

title

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

National color(s)

red, black, green, yellow

National heritage

selected World Heritage Site locales

Chief Roi Mata’s Domain

total World Heritage Sites

1 (cultural)

National holiday

Independence Day, 30 July (1980)

National symbol(s)

boar's tusk with crossed fern fronds

Political parties

Iauko Group (Eagle Party) or IG  Land and Justice Party (Graon mo Jastis Pati or GJP)  Leaders Party of Vanuatu or LPV  Rural Development Party or RDP  Reunification of Movement for Change or RMC  Union of Moderate Parties or UMP Vanua'aku Pati (Our Land Party) or VP

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agricultural products

coconuts, oranges, yams, cabbages, taro, bananas, chillies/peppers, chestnuts, sweet potatoes, cassava (2023)

Budget

expenditures

$378.659 million (2023 est.)

revenues

$386.577 million (2023 est.)

Current account balance

Current account balance 2020

-$57.858 million (2020 est.)

Current account balance 2021

-$75.451 million (2021 est.)

Current account balance 2022

-$127.432 million (2022 est.)

Debt - external

Debt - external 2023

$299.746 million (2023 est.)

Economic overview

lower-middle income Pacific island economy; extremely reliant on subsistence agriculture and tourism; environmentally fragile; struggling post-pandemic and Tropical Cyclone Harold rebound; sizeable inflation; road infrastructure aid from Australia

Exchange rates

Currency

vatu (VUV) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2020

115.38 (2020 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

109.452 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates 2022

115.354 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates 2023

119.112 (2023 est.)

Exchange rates 2024

119.167 (2024 est.)

Exports

Exports 2020

$132.943 million (2020 est.)

Exports 2021

$82.08 million (2021 est.)

Exports 2022

$152.087 million (2022 est.)

Exports - commodities

fish, ships, perfume plants, wood, copra (2023)

Exports - partners

Thailand 49%, Japan 19%, Cote d'Ivoire 10%, China 7%, USA 3% (2023)

GDP - composition, by end use

exports of goods and services

9.6% (2022 est.)

government consumption

23.9% (2022 est.)

household consumption

77.2% (2022 est.)

imports of goods and services

-55.5% (2022 est.)

investment in fixed capital

38.8% (2022 est.)

investment in inventories

0.4% (2022 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

24.9% (2022 est.)

industry

7.5% (2022 est.)

services

60.4% (2022 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$1.161 billion (2024 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2019

32.3 (2019 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

24.7% (2019 est.)

lowest 10%

3% (2019 est.)

Imports

Imports 2020

$438.373 million (2020 est.)

Imports 2021

$520.391 million (2021 est.)

Imports 2022

$579.347 million (2022 est.)

Imports - commodities

refined petroleum, ships, plastic products, poultry, trucks (2023)

Imports - partners

China 26%, Australia 15%, Angola 11%, Fiji 9%, NZ 8% (2023)

Industrial production growth rate

-19.7% (2022 est.)

Industries

food and fish freezing, wood processing, meat canning

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021

2.3% (2021 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

6.7% (2022 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023

11.2% (2023 est.)

Labor force

118,100 (2024 est.)

Population below poverty line

15.9% (2019 est.)

Public debt

Public debt 2023

71.7% of GDP (2023 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

$1.009 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

$999.162 million (2023 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024

$1.039 billion (2024 est.)

Real GDP growth rate

Real GDP growth rate 2022

5.2% (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2023

-1% (2023 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2024

4% (2024 est.)

Real GDP per capita

Real GDP per capita 2022

$3,200 (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2023

$3,100 (2023 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2024

$3,200 (2024 est.)

Remittances

Remittances 2021

20.3% of GDP (2021 est.)

Remittances 2022

19.2% of GDP (2022 est.)

Remittances 2023

12.9% of GDP (2023 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022

$638.537 million (2022 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023

$643.768 million (2023 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024

$614.65 million (2024 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

17.4% (of GDP) (2023 est.)

Unemployment rate

Unemployment rate 2022

5.2% (2022 est.)

Unemployment rate 2023

5.1% (2023 est.)

Unemployment rate 2024

5.1% (2024 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

female

14% (2024 est.)

male

9.6% (2024 est.)

total

11.6% (2024 est.)

Electricity

consumption

74.766 million kWh (2023 est.)

installed generating capacity

39,000 kW (2023 est.)

transmission/distribution losses

5.264 million kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity access

electrification - rural areas

60.7%

electrification - total population

70% (2022 est.)

electrification - urban areas

97%

Electricity generation sources

biomass and waste

0.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

fossil fuels

74.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

hydroelectricity

11.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

solar

8.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

wind

5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Energy consumption per capita

Total energy consumption per capita 2023

12.934 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Petroleum

refined petroleum consumption

2,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

1 (2022 est.)

total

4,000 (2022 est.)

Broadcast media

1 state-owned TV station; multi-channel pay TV available; state-owned Radio Vanuatu has 2 radio stations; 2 privately owned radio broadcasters; multiple international broadcasts available (2023)

Internet country code

.vu

Internet users

percent of population

46% (2023 est.)

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

1 (2022 est.)

total subscriptions

3,000 (2022 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

78 (2022 est.)

total subscriptions

256,000 (2022 est.)

Airports

31 (2025)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

YJ

Merchant marine

by type

bulk carrier 11, container ship 3, general cargo 101, other 223

total

338 (2023)

Ports

key ports

Forari Bay, Luganville, Port Vila

large

0

medium

0

ports with oil terminals

2

small

1

total ports

3 (2024)

very small

2

Military - note

the separate British and French police forces were unified in 1980 as the New Hebrides Constabulary, which was commanded by Ni-Vanuatu officers while retaining some British and French officers as advisors; the Constabulary was subsequently renamed the Vanuatu Police Force later in 1980 the Vanuatu Mobile Force has received training and other support from Australia, China, France, New Zealand, and the US Vanuatu has a "shiprider" agreement with the US, which allows local maritime law enforcement officers to embark on US Coast Guard (USCG) and US Navy (USN) vessels, including to board and search vessels suspected of violating laws or regulations within Vanuatu's designated exclusive economic zone (EEZ) or on the high seas; "shiprider" agreements also enable USCG personnel and USN vessels with embarked USCG law enforcement personnel to work with host nations to protect critical regional resources (2025)

Military and security forces

no regular military forces; Vanuatu Police Force (VPF)

Refugees and internally displaced persons

IDPs

2,336 (2024 est.)

Trafficking in persons

tier rating

Tier 2 Watch List — Vanuatu does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking, but the government has devoted sufficient resources to a written plan that, if implemented, would constitute significant efforts to meet the minimum standards; therefore, Vanuatu was granted a waiver per the Trafficking Victims Protection Act from an otherwise required downgrade to Tier 3 and remained on Tier 2 Watch List for the third consecutive year; for more details, go to: https://www.state.gov/reports/2025-trafficking-in-persons-report/vanuatu/

Carbon dioxide emissions

from petroleum and other liquids

292,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

total emissions

292,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Environmental issues

water pollution; limited potable water; inadequate sanitation; deforestation

International environmental agreements

party to

Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified

none of the selected agreements

Particulate matter emissions

9.1 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Total renewable water resources

10 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually

70,200 tons (2024 est.)

percent of municipal solid waste recycled

52.9% (2022 est.)