Vanuatu

republicIndependence 30 July 1980 (from France and UK

Vanuatu as the 1992 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

174,574 people July 1992 · 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

5.1 children per woman 1992 · 5.5 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

30 deaths per 1,000 live births 1992 · 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

13 fields

Total area

14,760km2

Comparative area: slightly larger than Connecticut

Coastline

2,528km

land boundaries: 0 kmMaritime claims: (measured from claimed archipelagic baselines)Contiguous zone: 24 nmContinental shelf: edge of continental margin or 200 nmExclusive economic zone: 200 nmTerritorial sea: 12 nm

Land area

14,760 km2; includes more than 80 islands

Disputes

none

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

174,574

(July 1992), growth rate 3.0% (1992)

Per 1,000 population(1992)

Birth

35Death

5Net migration

Religions

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

30 deaths/1,000 live births (1992)

Life expectancy at birth

67 years male, 72 years female (1992)

Total fertility rate

5.1 children born/woman (1992)

Nationality

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

Ethnic divisions

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

Languages

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

18 fields

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, deputy 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

Leaders

Chief of State:: President Frederick TIMAKATA (since 30 January 1989)
Head of Government:: Prime Minister Maxime CARLOT (since 16 December 1991); Deputy Prime Minister Sethy REGENVANU (since 17 December 1991)

Political parties and leaders

Vanuatu Party (VP), Donald KALPOKAS;
Union of Moderate Parties (UMP), Serge VOHOR;
Melanesian Progressive Party (MPP), Barak SOPE;
National United Party (NUP), Walter LINI;
Tan Union Party (TUP), Vincent BOULEKONE;
Nagriamel Party, Jimmy STEVENS;
Friend Melanesian Party, leader NA

Suffrage

universal at age 18

Elections

Parliament:: last held 2 December 1991 (next to be held by November 1995);
note - after election, a coalition was formed by the Union of Moderate Parties and the National United Party to form new government on 16 December 1991;
seats - (46 total) UMP 19;
NUP 10;
VP 10;
MPP 4;
TUP 1;
Nagriamel 1;
Friend 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 which provides a | living for about 80% of the population.

16 fields

Inflation, consumer prices

(1990)

External debt

$30million

(1990 est.)

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 which 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.

GDP

exchange rate conversion - $142 million, per capita $900 (1988 est.); real growth rate 6% (1990)

Unemployment rate

NA%

Exports

$15.6 million (f.o.b., 1990 est.)

commodities:: copra 59%, cocoa 11%, meat 9%, fish 8%, timber 4%
partners:: Netherlands, Japan, France, New Caledonia, Belgium

Imports

$60.4 million (f.o.b., 1990 est.)

commodities:: machines and vehicles 25%, food and beverages 23%, basic manufactures 18%, raw materials and fuels 11%, chemicals 6%
partners:: Australia 36%, Japan 13%, NZ 10%, France 8%, Fiji 8%

Industrial production

growth rate NA%; accounts for about 10% of GDP

Electricity

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

Industries

food and fish freezing, wood processing, meat canning

Agriculture

accounts for 40% of GDP;
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 (1970-89), $606 million

Currency

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

Exchange rates

vatu (VT) per US$1 - 112.55 (March 1992), 111.68 (1991), 116.57 (1990), 116.04 (1989), 104.43 (1988), 109.85 (1987)

Fiscal year

calendar year

Communications

7 fields

Merchant marine, 121 ships by type

cargo 26refrigerated cargo 14container 5vehicle carrier 11livestock carrier 1petroleum tanker 5chemical tanker 2liquefied gas 3bulk 51combination bulk 1passenger 1short-sea passenger; note - a flag of convenience registry 1121 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,093,443 GRT/3,168,822 DWT

Airports, 33 total, 31 usable

permanent-surface runways

2runways | over 3,659 m

nonerunways 2,440-3,659 m

1runways 1,220-2,439 m

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

Defense Forces

No military forces; Vanuatu Police Force (VPF), paramilitary Vanuatu Mobile | Force (VMF)

3 fields

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