World Facts Index
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
Geography of Vanuatu
|
Location:
|
Oceania, group of islands
in the South Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii
to Australia |
|
Coordinates:
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16 00 S, 167 00 E |
|
Map references:
|
Oceania |
|
Area:
|
total: 12,200 sq km
land: 12,200 sq km
note: includes more than 80 islands
water: 0 sq km |
|
Area comparative:
|
slightly larger than
Connecticut |
|
Land boundaries:
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0 km |
|
Coastline:
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2,528 km |
|
Maritime claims:
|
measured from claimed
archipelagic baselines
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
continental shelf: 200 NM or to the edge of the continental
margin
contiguous zone: 24 NM |
|
Climate:
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tropical; moderated by
southeast trade winds |
|
Terrain:
|
mostly mountains of
volcanic origin; narrow coastal plains |
|
Elevation extremes:
|
lowest point:
Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Tabwemasana 1,877 m |
|
Natural resources:
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manganese, hardwood
forests, fish |
|
Natural hazards:
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tropical cyclones or
typhoons (January to April); volcanism causes minor earthquakes;
tsunamis |
|
Environment current issues:
|
a majority of the
population does not have access to a potable and reliable supply of
water; deforestation |
|
Geography - note:
|
a Y-shaped chain of four
main islands and 80 smaller islands; several of the islands have active
volcanoes
|
Population of Vanuatu
|
Population:
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215,446 (July 2008 est.) |
|
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) |
|
Median age:
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23 years
|
|
Growth rate:
|
1.49% |
|
Infant mortality:
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53.8 deaths/1,000 live births |
|
Life expectancy at birth:
|
total population: 62.85 years
male: 61.34 years
female: 64.44 years |
|
Fertility rate:
|
2.7 children born/woman |
|
Nationality:
|
noun: Ni-Vanuatu (singular and
plural)
adjective: Ni-Vanuatu |
|
Ethnic groups:
|
indigenous Melanesian 98%, French,
Vietnamese, Chinese, other Pacific Islanders |
|
Religions:
|
Presbyterian 36.7%, Anglican 15%, Roman
Catholic 15%, indigenous beliefs 7.6%, Seventh-Day Adventist 6.2%, Church of Christ 3.8%,
other 15.7% (including Jon Frum Cargo cult) |
|
Languages:
|
three official languages: English, French,
pidgin (known as Bislama or Bichelama), plus more than 100 local languages |
|
Literacy:
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definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 74%
|
Government
|
Country name:
|
conventional long form: Republic of
Vanuatu
former: New Hebrides |
|
Government type:
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parliamentary republic |
|
Capital:
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Port-Vila (Efate) |
|
Administrative divisions:
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6 provinces; Malampa, Penama, Sanma, Shefa,
Tafea, Torba |
|
Independence:
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30 July 1980 (from France and UK) |
|
National holiday:
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Independence Day, 30 July (1980) |
|
Constitution:
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30 July 1980 |
|
Legal system:
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unified system being created from former
dual French and British systems |
|
Suffrage:
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18 years of age; universal |
|
Executive branch:
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chief of state: President Kalkot Matas KELEKELE
head of government: Prime Minister Edward NATAPEI; Deputy Prime Minister Ham
LINI
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; following
legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition is usually
elected prime minister by Parliament from among its members |
|
Legislative branch:
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unicameral Parliament (52 seats; members elected by
popular vote to serve four-year terms) |
|
Judicial branch:
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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) |
Economy
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. 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.
|
GDP:
|
$897 million (2007 est.) |
|
GDP growth rate:
|
1.1% |
|
GDP per capita:
|
$2,900 |
|
GDP composition by sector:
|
agriculture: 26%
industry: 12%
services: 62% |
|
Inflation rate:
|
3.1% |
|
Labor force - by occupation:
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agriculture 65%, services 30%, industry 5% |
|
Budget:
|
revenues: $52.6 million
expenditures: $54.3 million |
|
Electricity production by source:
|
fossil fuel: 100% |
|
Industries:
|
food and fish freezing, wood processing,
meat canning |
|
Agriculture:
|
copra, coconuts, cocoa, coffee, taro, yams,
coconuts, fruits, vegetables; fish, beef |
|
Exports:
|
copra, beef, cocoa, timber, kava, coffee |
|
Export partners:
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Thailand 46.1%, Malaysia 19.1%, Poland 8.1%, Japan 7.6% |
|
Imports:
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machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, fuels |
|
Import partners:
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Taiwan 20.2%, Australia 14.7%, Japan 13.5%, Singapore
11.9%, Poland 7.1%, NZ 5.6%, Fiji 5.3% |
|
Currency:
|
vatu (VUV) |
SOURCES: The CIA World Factbook, U.S. Department of State, Area Handbook of the US Library of Congress
Copyright 2004 - 2008 worldfacts.us |