Vanuatu

republicIndependence 30 July 1980 (from France and UK

Vanuatu as the 1991 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 66 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

170,319 people July 1991 · 165,006 in 1990

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

5.4 children per woman 1991 · 5.5 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

36 deaths per 1,000 live births 1991 · 36 in 1990

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

11 fields

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); Contiguous zone: 24 nm; Continental shelf: edge of continental margin or 200 nm; Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm; Territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate

tropical; moderated by southeast trade winds

Terrain

mostly mountains of volcanic origin; narrow coastal plains

Natural resources

manganese, hardwood forests, fish

Land use

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

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

170,319

(July 1991), growth rate 3.1% (1991)

Per 1,000 population(1991)

Birth

36Death

5Net migration

Religion

Presbyterian 36.7%Anglican 15%Catholic 15%indigenous beliefs 7.6%Seventh-Day Adventist 6.2%Church of Christ 3.8%other 15.7%

Literacy

53%

(male 57%, female 48%) age 15 and over can read and write (1979)

Infant mortality rate

36 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth

67 years male, 72 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate

5.4 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality

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

Ethnic divisions

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

Language

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

Labor force

Organized labor

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

Government

Republic

15 fields

Legislature, 46 seatsone dot, one seat

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

Long-form name

Republic of Vanuatu

Type

republic

Capital

Port-Vila

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)

Constitution

30 July 1980

Legal system

unified system being created from former dual French and British systems

National holiday

Independence Day, 30 July (1980)

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) National Party (Vanua'aku Pati), Donald KALPOKAS;
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 by November 1991);
byelections were held in 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

ACCT, ACP, AsDB, C, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IFC, IMF, IMO, IOC, ITU, NAM, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, 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.

16 fields

GDP, purchasing power parity

$137million

per capita $860; real growth rate 4.3% (1989 est.)

Inflation, consumer prices

7.8%

(1989 est.)

External debt

$30million

(1990 est.)

Exports $14.5 million (f.o.b., 1989 est.)commodities, where a share is given

copra

59%cocoa

11%meat

9%fish

8%timber

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

Imports $58.4 million (f.o.b., 1989 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

$90.0 millionExpenditures

$103.0 million

expenditures, including capital expenditures of $45.0 million (1989 est.)

Overview

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

17,000 kW capacity; 30 million kWh produced, 180 kWh per capita (1990)

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

Economic aid

Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-88), $565 million

Currency

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

Exchange rates

vatu (VT) per US$1--109.62 (January 1991), 116.57 (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, 129 ships by type

cargo 33refrigerated cargo 13container 8vehicle carrier 11livestock carrier 1petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker 5chemical tanker 1liquefied gas 1bulk 55combination bulk; note--a flag of convenience registry; the USSR has 2 ships under the Vanuatu flag 1129 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,242,850 GRT/3,447,671 DWT

Airports, 32 total, 28 usable

permanent-surface runways

2runways over 3,659 m

nonerunways 2,440-3,659 m

1runways 1,220-2,439 m

stations--2 AM, no FM, no TV;
3,000 telephones;
satellite communications ground stations--1 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT

Defense Forces

No military forces; Vanuatu Police Force, paramilitary force

3 fields

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