Page last updated on January 28, 2014
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.
Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to Australia
total: 12,189 sq km
country comparison to the world: 164
land: 12,189 sq km
water: 0 sq km
note: includes more than 80 islands, about 65 of which are inhabited
slightly larger than Connecticut
measured from claimed archipelagic baselines
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
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
mostly mountainous islands of volcanic origin; narrow coastal plains
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Tabwemasana 1,877 m
manganese, hardwood forests, fish
arable land: 1.64%
permanent crops: 10.25%
other: 88.11% (2011)
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
most of the population does not have access to a reliable supply of potable water; deforestation
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
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
noun: Ni-Vanuatu (singular and plural)
adjective: Ni-Vanuatu
Ni-Vanuatu 98.5%, other 1.5% (1999 Census)
local languages (more than 100) 72.6%, pidgin (known as Bislama or Bichelama - official) 23.1%, English (official) 1.9%, French (official) 1.4%, other 0.3%, unspecified 0.7% (1999 Census)
Protestant 55.6% (Presbyterian 31.4%, Anglican 13.4%, Seventh-Day Adventist 10.8%), Roman Catholic 13.1%, other Christian 13.8%, indigenous beliefs 5.6% (including Jon Frum cargo cult), other 9.6%, none 1%, unspecified 1.3% (1999 Census)
261,565 (July 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 184
0-14 years: 37.9% (male 50,548/female 48,477)
15-24 years: 19.7% (male 25,685/female 25,900)
25-54 years: 34% (male 43,552/female 45,273)
55-64 years: 4.9% (male 6,493/female 6,289)
65 years and over: 3.6% (male 4,817/female 4,531) (2013 est.)
total dependency ratio: 69.5 %
youth dependency ratio: 62.8 %
elderly dependency ratio: 6.7 %
potential support ratio: 15 (2013)
total: 20.8 years
male: 20.4 years
female: 21.1 years (2013 est.)
2.06% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 48
26.35 births/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 50
4.2 deaths/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 208
-1.53 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 155
urban population: 26% of total population (2010)
rate of urbanization: 4.2% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.07 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2013 est.)
110 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)
country comparison to the world: 66
total: 17.15 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 101
male: 18.34 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 15.91 deaths/1,000 live births (2013 est.)
total population: 72.38 years
country comparison to the world: 132
male: 70.83 years
female: 74 years (2013 est.)
3.47 children born/woman (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 47
4.1% of GDP (2011)
country comparison to the world: 160
0.12 physicians/1,000 population (2008)
1.7 beds/1,000 population (2008)
27.5% (2008)
country comparison to the world: 39
11.7% (2007)
country comparison to the world: 61
5.2% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 66
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 83.2%
male: NA 84.9%
female: NA 81.6% (2011 est.)
total: 11 years
male: 11 years
female: 10 years (2004)
conventional long form: Republic of Vanuatu
conventional short form: Vanuatu
local long form: Ripablik blong Vanuatu
local short form: Vanuatu
former: New Hebrides
name: Port-Vila (on Efate)
geographic coordinates: 17 44 S, 168 19 E
time difference: UTC+11 (16 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
6 provinces; Malampa, Penama, Sanma, Shefa, Tafea, Torba
30 July 1980 (from France and the UK)
Independence Day, 30 July (1980)
effective 30 July 1980; amended 1981, 1983, 1988 (2006)
mixed legal system of English common law, French law, and customary law
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
18 years of age; universal
chief of state: President Iolu Johnson ABBIL (since 3 September 2009)
head of government: Prime Minister Moana CARCASSES Kalosil (since 23 March 2013)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister, responsible to parliament
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 on 2 September 2009 (next to be held in 2014); 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)
election results: Iolu Johnson ABBIL elected president, with 41 votes out of 58, on the third ballot on 2 September 2009; Moana CARCASSES Kalosil was elected prime minister following the resignation of Sato KILMAN on 21 March 2013
unicameral Parliament (52 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held on 30 October 2012 (next to be held in 2016)
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
note: the National Council of Chiefs advises on matters of culture and language
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
Greens Confederation or GC [Moana CARCASSES Kalosil]
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
Vanuatu does not have an embassy in the US; it does, however, have a Permanent Mission to the UN
the US does not have an embassy in Vanuatu; the US ambassador to Papua New Guinea, currently Ambassador Walter E. North, is accredited to Vanuatu
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, 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
name: "Yumi, Yumi, Yumi" (We, We, We)
lyrics/music: Francois Vincent AYSSAV
note: adopted 1980, the anthem is written in Bislama, a Creole language that mixes Pidgin English and French
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.
$1.213 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 202
note: data are in 2012 US dollars
$776.4 million (2012 est.)
2.3% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 127
$4,800 (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 160
note: data are in 2012 US dollars
household consumption: 58.9%
government consumption: 18.2%
investment in fixed capital: 26.7%
investment in inventories: 0.9%
exports of goods and services: 45.6%
imports of goods and services: -50.3%
agriculture: 22.5%
industry: 9.5%
services: 67.9% (2012 est.)
copra, coconuts, cocoa, coffee, taro, yams, fruits, vegetables; beef; fish
food and fish freezing, wood processing, meat canning
2.1% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 100
115,900 (2007)
country comparison to the world: 182
agriculture: 65%
industry: 5%
services: 30% (2000 est.)
1.7% (1999)
country comparison to the world: 7
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
revenues: $167.9 million
expenditures: $182.8 million (2012 est.)
21.6% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 156
-1.9% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 84
1.4% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 25
20% (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 60
6% (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 151
$264.1 million (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 172
$610.8 million (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 174
$549.4 million (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 163
$-128.6 million (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 75
$57.5 million (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 194
copra, beef, cocoa, timber, kava, coffee
Thailand 41.9%, Cote dIvoire 30.5%, Japan 14.7% (2012)
$322.6 million (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 196
machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, fuels
China 20.2%, Singapore 18.8%, US 15%, Japan 11.6%, Australia 10.4%, Fiji 5.2%, NZ 4.8% (2012)
$187.3 million (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 159
$201.8 million (31 December 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 186
$565.1 million (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 101
$22.3 million (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 95
vatu (VUV) per US dollar -
55 million kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 204
51.15 million kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 204
0 kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 111
0 kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 112
28,000 kW (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 197
89.3% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 75
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 149
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 188
10.7% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 24
0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 199
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 163
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 103
0 bbl (1 January 2013 es)
country comparison to the world: 170
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 116
1,170 bbl/day (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 197
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 202
837.7 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 198
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 174
0 cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 179
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 155
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 105
0 cu m (1 January 2013 es)
country comparison to the world: 177
149,000 Mt (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 200
5,800 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 208
137,000 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 186
international: country code - 678; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
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)
5,655 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 143
17,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 198
31 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 114
total: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2013)
total: 28
914 to 1,523 m: 7
under 914 m:
total: 1,070 km
country comparison to the world: 184
paved: 256 km
unpaved: 814 km (2000)
total: 77
country comparison to the world: 57
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)
major seaport(s): Forari Bay, Luganville (Santo, Espiritu Santo), Port-Vila
no regular military forces; Vanuatu Police Force (VPF), Vanuatu Mobile Force (VMF; includes Police Maritime Wing (PMW)) (2013)
males age 16-49: 62,216 (2010 est.)
males age 16-49: 43,331
females age 16-49: 44,927 (2010 est.)
male: 2,323
female: 2,230 (2010 est.)
