Vanuatu

republicIndependence 30 July 1980 (from France and UK

Vanuatu as the 1990 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 71 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.

field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe open editionEach field below ends in its editions, 1990 to 2025. Point at a year above to follow it down.

CapitalPort-Vila

Area14,760 km2

Populationas each edition published it

165,006 people July 1990 · 318,007 in 2025

Population growth% a year

Not in this edition 2.36% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 21.9 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

Not in this edition 58.8 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

5.5 children per woman 1990 · 2.46 in 2025

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

36 deaths per 1,000 live births 1990 · 13.4 in 2025

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

Not in this edition $900 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

Not in this edition 6% in 1993

Geography

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Land useshare of 14,760 km2

arable land 1%permanent crops 5%meadows and pastures 2%forest and woodland 1%other 91%

Total area

14,760km2

land area: 14,760 km2; includes more than 80 islandsComparative area: slightly larger than Connecticut

Coastline

2,528km

land boundaries: noneMaritime claims: (measured from claimed archipelagic baselines);

Climate

tropical; moderated by southeast trade winds

Terrain

mostly mountains of volcanic origin; narrow coastal plains

Environment

subject to tropical cyclones or typhoons (January to April); volcanism causes minor earthquakes

Note

located 5,750 km southwest of Honolulu in the South Pacific Ocean about three-quarters of the way between Hawaii and Australia

People

14 fields

Population

165,006

(July 1990), growth rate 3.2% (1990)

Per 1,000 population(1990)

Birth

37Death

5Net migration

Ethnic divisions

indigenous Melanesian 94%French 4%remainder Vietnamese; Chinese; and various Pacific Islanders

Nationality

noun--Vanuatuan(s); adjective--Vanuatuan

Language

English and French (official); pidgin (known as Bislama or Bichelama)

Organized labor

7 registered trade unions--largest include Oil and Gas Workers' Union, Vanuatu Airline Workers' Union

Government

Republic

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Legislature, 46 seatsone dot, one seat

-(46 total) National Party 26Union of Moderate Parties 19independent 1

Administrative divisions

11 island councils; Ambrym, Aoba/Maewo, Banks/Torres, Efate, Epi, Malakula, Paama, Pentecote, Santo/Malo, Shepherd, Tafea

Independence

30 July 1980 (from France and UK; formerly New Hebrides)

Legal system

unified system being created from former dual French and British systems

Executive branch

president, prime minister, Council of Ministers (cabinet)

Legislative branch

unicameral Parliament; note--the National Council of Chiefs advises on matters of custom and land

Judicial branch

Supreme Court Chief of State--President Frederick TIMAKATA (since 30 January 1989);
Head of Government--Prime Minister Father Walter Hadye LINI (since 30 July 1980);
Deputy Prime Minister (vacant)

Political parties and leaders

National Party (Vanua'aku Pati), Walter Lini;
Union of Moderate Parties, Maxine Carlot;
Melanesian Progressive Party, Barak Sope

Suffrage

universal at age 18 Parliament--last held 30 November 1987 (next to be held NA);
byelections were held NA December 1988 to fill vacancies resulting from the expulsion of opposition members for boycotting sessions;
results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(46 total) National Party 26, Union of Moderate Parties 19, independent 1

Member of

ACP, ADB, Commonwealth, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFC, IMF, ITU, NAM, SPF, UN, WHO, WMO

Diplomatic representation

Vanuatu does not have a mission in Washington; US--the ambassador in Papua New Guinea is accredited to Vanuatu

Flag

two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and green (bottom) 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

The economy is based primarily on subsistence farming that provides a living for about 80% of the population.

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GDP, purchasing power parity

$120million

per capita $820; real growth rate 0.7% (1987 est.)

Inflation, consumer prices

8.0%

(1988 est.)

External debt

$57million

(1988)

Exports $16 million (f.o.b., 1988 est.)commodities, where a share is given

copra

37%cocoa

11%meat

9%fish

8%timber

; partners--Netherlands 34%, France 27%, Japan 17%, Belgium 4%, New Caledonia 3%, Singapore 2% (1987)

Imports $58 million (f.o.b., 1988 est.)

machines and vehicles

25%food and beverages

23%basic manufactures

18%raw materials and fuels

11%chemicals

; partners--Australia 36%, Japan 13%, NZ 10%, France 8%, Fiji 5% (1987)

Budget

Revenues

$80.1 millionExpenditures

$86.6 million

expenditures, including capital expenditures of $27.1 million (1988 est.)

The economy is based primarily on subsistence farming that provides a living for about 80% of the population. Fishing and tourism are the 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.

Unemployment rate

NA%

Industrial production

growth rate NA%

Electricity

10,000 kW capacity; 20 million kWh produced, 125 kWh per capita (1989)

Industries

food and fish freezing, forestry processing, meat canning

Agriculture

export crops--copra, cocoa, coffee, and fish; subsistence crops--copra, taro, yams, coconuts, fruits, and vegetables

Aid

Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-87), $541 million

Currency

vatu (plural--vatu); 1 vatu (VT) = 100 centimes

Exchange rates

vatu (VT) per US$1--107.17 (January 1990), 116.04 (1989), 104.43 (1988), 109.85 (1987), 106.08 (1986), 106.03 (1985)

Fiscal year

calendar year

Communications

7 fields

Merchant marine, 65 ships by typeone square, one ship

cargo 26refrigerated cargo 4container 5roll-on/roll-off cargo 2vehicle carrier 1petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker 3liquefied gas 2bulk 21combination bulk; note--a flag of convenience registry 165 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 885,668 GRT/1,473,443 DWT

Airports, 33 total, 28 usable

permanent-surface runways

2runways over 2,439 m

nonerunways 1,220-2,439 m

stations--2 AM, no FM, no TV;
3,000 telephones;
1 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT earth station

Defense Forces

A paramilitary force is responsible for internal and external security; no military forces

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