2007 Edition

Administrative divisions

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

Age structure

0-14 years: 32.6% (male 34,804/female 33,331) 15-64 years: 63.7% (male 67,919/female 65,138) 65 years and over: 3.7% (male 4,027/female 3,650) (2006 est.)

Agriculture - products

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

Airports

31 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways

total

3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

28 914 to 1,523 m: 10

under 914 m

18 (2006)

Area

land

12,200 sq km

note

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

total

12,200 sq km

water

0 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly larger than Connecticut

Background

Multiple waves of colonizers, each speaking a distinct language, migrated to the New Hebrides in the millennia preceeding 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. Geography Vanuatu

Birth rate

22.72 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$72.23 million (2005 est.)

revenues

$78.7 million

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)

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

Constitution

30 July 1980

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

Currency (code)

vatu (VUV)

Currency code

VUV

Current account balance

$-28.35 million (2003)

Death rate

7.82 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Debt - external

$81.2 million (2004)

Diplomatic representation from the US

the US does not have an embassy in Vanuatu; the 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

Disputes - international

Matthew and Hunter Islands east of New Caledonia claimed by Vanuatu and France This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

Economic aid - recipient

$37.8 million (2004)

Economy - overview

This South Pacific island economy is based primarily on small-scale agriculture, which provides a living for 65% of the population. Fishing, offshore financial services, and tourism, with more than 60,000 visitors in 2005, 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. GDP growth rose less than 3% on average in the 1990s. 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.

Electricity - consumption

39.99 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - production

43 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

100%

hydro

0%

nuclear

0%

other

0% (2001)

Elevation extremes

highest point

Tabwemasana 1,877 m

lowest point

Pacific Ocean 0 m

Environment - current issues

a majority 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

Ethnic groups

Ni-Vanuatu 98.5%, other 1.5% (1999 Census)

Exchange rates

vatu per US dollar - NA (2005), 111.79 (2004), 122.19 (2003), 139.2 (2002)

Executive branch

cabinet

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

chief of state

President Kalkot Matas KELEKELE (since 16 August 2004)

election results

Kalkot Matas KELEKELE elected president, with 49 votes out of 56, after several ballots on 16 August 2004

elections

president elected for a five-year term by an electoral college consisting of Parliament and the presidents of the regional councils; election for president last held 16 August 2004 (next to be held in 2009); following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition is usually elected prime minister by Parliament from among its members; election for prime minister last held 29 July 2004 (next to be held following general elections in 2008)

head of government

Prime Minister Ham LINI (since 11 December 2004); Deputy Prime Minister Sato KILMAN (since 11 December 2004)

Exports

$34.11 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities

copra, beef, cocoa, timber, kava, coffee

Exports - partners

Thailand 46.5%, India 14.1%, Poland 7.9%, Turkey 7.7%, Japan 6.9% (2005)

Fiscal year

calendar year Communications Vanuatu

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 leaves, all in yellow Economy Vanuatu

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

26%

industry

12%

services

62% (2000 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$2,900 (2003 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

6.8% (2005 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$341 million (2005)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$276.3 million (2003 est.)

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 People Vanuatu

Government type

parliamentary republic

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

NA%

lowest 10%

NA%

Imports

$117.1 million c.i.f. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities

machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, fuels

Imports - partners

Australia 18.4%, Japan 16.7%, Singapore 14.7%, Poland 8.5%, NZ 7.2%, Fiji 6.3% (2005)

Independence

30 July 1980 (from France and UK)

Industrial production growth rate

1% (1997 est.)

Industries

food and fish freezing, wood processing, meat canning

Infant mortality rate

female

51.13 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

male

56.35 deaths/1,000 live births

total

53.8 deaths/1,000 live births

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

-1.6% (2005 est.)

International organization participation

ACCT, ACP, AsDB, C, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IOC, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOCI, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WTO (observer)

Internet country code

.vu

Internet hosts

413 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

1 (2000)

Internet users

7,500 (2004) Transportation Vanuatu

Irrigated land

NA

Judicial branch

Supreme Court (chief justice is appointed by the president after consultation with the prime minister and the leader of the opposition, three other justices are appointed by the president on the advice of the Judicial Service Commission)

Labor force

76,410 (1999)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

65%

industry

5%

services

30% (2000 est.)

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land

1.64%

other

91.39% (2005)

permanent crops

6.97%

Languages

local languages (more than 100) 72.6%, pidgin (known as Bislama or Bichelama) 23.1%, English 1.9%, French 1.4%, other 0.3%, unspecified 0.7% (1999 Census)

Legal system

unified system being created from former dual French and British systems

Legislative branch

unicameral Parliament (52 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)

election results

percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - NUP 10, UMP 8, VP 8, VRP 4, MPP 3, VGP 3, other and independent 16; note - political party associations are fluid

elections

last held 6 July 2004 (next to be held 2008)

note

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

Life expectancy at birth

female

64.44 years (2006 est.)

male

61.34 years

total population

62.85 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

NA Government Vanuatu

male

NA

total population

74%

Location

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

Manpower available for military service

males age 18-49

50,221 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 18-49

33,837 (2005 est.)

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

Median age

female

23 years (2006 est.)

male

23 years

total

23 years

Merchant marine

by type

bulk carrier 29, cargo 8, container 1, liquefied gas 2, petroleum tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 3, roll on/roll off 2, vehicle carrier 5

foreign-owned

51 (Australia 2, Canada 5, Denmark 6, Estonia 1, Japan 28, Poland 5, Russia 1, Switzerland 2, US 1) (2006)

total

51 ships (1000 GRT or over) 1,340,132 GRT/1,908,687 DWT

Military branches

no regular military forces; security forces comprise the Vanuatu Police Force (VPF) and paramilitary Vanuatu Mobile Force (VMF), which includes Vanuatu's naval force, known as the Police Maritime Wing (PMW); border security in Vanuatu is the joint responsibility of the Customs and Inland Revenue Service, VPF, VMF, and PMW (2003)

Military expenditures - dollar figure

NA

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

NA Transnational Issues Vanuatu

National holiday

Independence Day, 30 July (1980)

Nationality

adjective

Ni-Vanuatu

noun

Ni-Vanuatu (singular and plural)

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural hazards

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

Natural resources

manganese, hardwood forests, fish

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Oil - consumption

620 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports

NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports

NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Political parties and leaders

Jon Frum Movement [Song KEASPAI]; Melanesian Progressive Party or MPP [Barak SOPE]; National United Party or NUP [Hem LINI]; Union of Moderate Parties or UMP [Serge VOHOR]; Vanua'aku Pati (Our Land Party) or VP [Edward NATAPEI]; Vanuatu Greens Party or VGP [Moana CARCASSES]; Vanuatu Republican Party or VRP [Maxime Carlot KORMAN]

Political pressure groups and leaders

NA

Population

208,869 (July 2006 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Population growth rate

1.49% (2006 est.)

Ports and terminals

Forari, Port-Vila, Santo (Espiritu Santo) Military Vanuatu

Radio broadcast stations

AM 2, FM 4, shortwave 1 (2004)

Radios

67,000 (1997)

Religions

Presbyterian 31.4%, Anglican 13.4%, Roman Catholic 13.1%, Seventh-Day Adventist 10.8%, other Christian 13.8%, indigenous beliefs 5.6% (including Jon Frum cargo cult), other 9.6%, none 1%, unspecified 1.3% (1999 Census)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$40.54 million (2003)

Roadways

paved

256 km

total

1,070 km

unpaved

814 km (1999)

Sex ratio

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

1.05 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

under 15 years

1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.1 male(s)/female

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Telephone system

domestic

NA

general assessment

NA

international

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

Telephones - main lines in use

6,800 (2004)

Telephones - mobile cellular

12,700 (2005)

Television broadcast stations

1 (2004)

Televisions

2,300 (1999)

Terrain

mostly mountainous islands of volcanic origin; narrow coastal plains

Total fertility rate

2.7 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Unemployment rate

1.7% (1999)