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Communications

Internet country code [time series]

.vu

Internet users (Internet hosts) [time series]

1,010 (2007)

Internet users [time series]

7,500 (2004)

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 2, FM 4, shortwave 1 (2001)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

general assessment: NA domestic: NA international: country code - 678; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones - main lines in use) [time series]

7,000 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

12,700 (2005)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

1 (2004)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: $78.7 million expenditures: $72.23 million (2005)

Exchange rates (Currency (code)) [time series]

vatu (VUV)

Current account balance [time series]

$-28.35 million (2003)

Debt - external [time series]

$81.2 million (2004)

Economic aid (Economic aid - recipient) [time series]

$39.48 million (2005)

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

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 [time series]

38.13 million kWh (2005)

Electricity - exports [time series]

0 kWh (2005 est.)

Electricity - imports [time series]

0 kWh (2005)

Electricity - production [time series]

41 million kWh (2005)

Exchange rates [time series]

vatu per US dollar - 111.93 (2006), NA (2005), 111.79 (2004), 122.19 (2003), 139.2 (2002)

Exports [time series]

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

Exports - commodities [time series]

copra, beef, cocoa, timber, kava, coffee

Exports - partners [time series]

Thailand 59.7%, India 16.7%, Japan 11.4% (2006)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]

$341 million (2005)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP (purchasing power parity)) [time series]

$739 million (2006 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP - composition by sector) [time series]

agriculture: 26% industry: 12% services: 62% (2000 est.)

Real GDP per capita (GDP - per capita (PPP)) [time series]

$2,900 (2003 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (GDP - real growth rate) [time series]

6.8% (2005 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Imports [time series]

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

Imports - commodities [time series]

machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, fuels

Imports - partners [time series]

Australia 20.6%, Japan 19.7%, Singapore 12.1%, NZ 8.8%, Fiji 7.7%, China 7.4%, New Caledonia 4.3% (2006)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

1% (1997 est.)

Industries [time series]

food and fish freezing, wood processing, meat canning

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

-1.6% (2005 est.)

Labor force [time series]

76,410 (1999)

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

agriculture: 65% industry: 5% services: 30% (2000 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares [time series]

$NA

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

0 cu m (2005 est.)

Natural gas - production [time series]

0 cu m (2005 est.)

Oil - consumption [time series]

620 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports [time series]

NA bbl/day

Oil - imports [time series]

NA bbl/day

Oil - production [time series]

0 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - proved reserves [time series]

0 bbl (1 January 2006)

Population below poverty line [time series]

NA%

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold [time series]

$40.54 million (2003)

Unemployment rate [time series]

1.7% (1999)

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 12,200 sq km land: 12,200 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes more than 80 islands, about 65 of which are inhabited

Area - comparative [time series]

slightly larger than Connecticut

Climate [time series]

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 [time series]

2,528 km

Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Tabwemasana 1,877 m

Environment - current issues [time series]

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

International environmental agreements (Environment - international agreements) [time series]

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 [time series]

16 00 S, 167 00 E

Geography - note [time series]

a Y-shaped chain of four main islands and 80 smaller islands; several of the islands have active volcanoes

Irrigated land [time series]

Land boundaries [time series]

0 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 1.64% permanent crops: 6.97% other: 91.39% (2005)

Location [time series]

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

Map references [time series]

Oceania

Maritime claims [time series]

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

Natural hazards [time series]

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 [time series]

manganese, hardwood forests, fish

Terrain [time series]

mostly mountainous islands of volcanic origin; narrow coastal plains

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

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

Capital [time series]

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)

Constitution [time series]

30 July 1980

Country name [time series]

conventional long form: Republic of Vanuatu conventional short form: Vanuatu local long form: Ripablik blong Vanuatu local short form: Vanuatu former: New Hebrides

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

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

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

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

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: President Kalkot Matas KELEKELE (since 16 August 2004) head of government: Prime Minister Ham LINI (since 11 December 2004); Deputy Prime Minister Sato KILMAN (since 11 December 2004) 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 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) election results: Kalkot Matas KELEKELE elected president, with 49 votes out of 56, after several ballots on 16 August 2004

Flag (Flag description) [time series]

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

Government type [time series]

parliamentary republic

Independence [time series]

30 July 1980 (from France and UK)

International organization participation [time series]

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)

Judicial branch [time series]

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)

Legal system [time series]

unified system being created from former dual French and British systems

Legislative branch [time series]

unicameral Parliament (52 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 6 July 2004 (next to be held 2008) 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 note: the National Council of Chiefs advises on matters of culture and language

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 30 July (1980)

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

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 parties (Political pressure groups and leaders) [time series]

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Introduction

Background [time series]

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.

Military

Manpower available for military service [time series]

males age 18-49: 50,221 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service [time series]

males age 18-49: 33,837 (2005 est.)

Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]

no regular military forces; Vanuatu Police Force (VPF), Vanuatu Mobile Force (VMF; includes Police Maritime Wing (PMW)) (2007)

Military expenditures (Military expenditures - percent of GDP) [time series]

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 31.9% (male 34,590/female 33,124) 15-64 years: 64.3% (male 69,496/female 66,745) 65 years and over: 3.8% (male 4,178/female 3,838) (2007 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

22.35 births/1,000 population (2007 est.)

Death rate [time series]

7.75 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 52.45 deaths/1,000 live births male: 54.96 deaths/1,000 live births female: 49.81 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)

Languages [time series]

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)

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 63.22 years male: 61.67 years female: 64.84 years (2007 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 74% male: NA female: NA (1999 census)

Median age [time series]

total: 23.4 years male: 23.4 years female: 23.4 years (2007 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Ni-Vanuatu (singular and plural) adjective: Ni-Vanuatu

Net migration rate [time series]

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.)

Population [time series]

211,971 (July 2007 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

1.46% (2007 est.)

Religions [time series]

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)

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.044 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.041 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.089 male(s)/female total population: 1.044 male(s)/female (2007 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

2.63 children born/woman (2007 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

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

Transportation

Airports [time series]

31 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 28 914 to 1,523 m: 6 under 914 m: 22 (2007)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 51 ships (1000 GRT or over) 1,346,001 GRT/1,901,055 DWT by type: bulk carrier 30, cargo 8, container 1, liquefied gas 2, petroleum tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 3, roll on/roll off 1, vehicle carrier 5 foreign-owned: 51 (Australia 2, Belgium 4, Canada 5, Estonia 1, Japan 28, Poland 7, Russia 1, Switzerland 2, US 1) (2007)

Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]

Forari, Port-Vila, Santo (Espiritu Santo)

Roadways [time series]

total: 1,070 km paved: 256 km unpaved: 814 km (1999)