Vanuatu

Republic of Vanuatu

republicIndependence 30 July 1980 (from France and UK)

Vanuatu as the 1993 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 74 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
LocationOceania, 5,750 km southwest of Honolulu in the South Pacific Ocean, about
1993

Every edition of Vanuatu

Populationas each edition published it
165,876 people July 1993 est. · 165,006 in 1990
Population growth% a year
2.36% 1993 est. · 1.51% in 2025
Median ageyears
Not in this edition 21.9 yrs in 2003
Life expectancyyears at birth
58.8 years 1993 est. · 75.7 yrs in 2025
Fertility ratechildren per woman
4.47 children per woman 1993 est. · 5.5 in 1990
Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births
69.9 deaths per 1,000 live births 1993 est. · 36 in 1990
GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars
$900 1988 est. · $3,200 in 2025
GDP real growth% a year
6% 1990 · 4% in 2025

Geography

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

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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%
Area
14,760km2
land area: 14,760 km2comparative area: slightly larger than Connecticutnote: includes more than 80 islands
Coastline
2,528km
land boundaries: 0 kmMaritime claims: measured from claimed archipelagic baselinescontiguous zone: 24 nmcontinental shelf: 200 nm or the edge of continental marginexclusive economic zone: 200 nmterritorial sea: 12 nm

Location

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

Map references

Oceania, Standard Time Zones of the World

Climate

tropical; moderated by southeast trade winds

Terrain

mostly mountains of volcanic origin; narrow coastal plains

Natural resources

manganese, hardwood forests, fish

Environment

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

People

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Population
165,876
(July 1993 est.)growth rate: 2.36% (1993 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1993 est.)

Birth
33.16Death
9.57Net migration
0

Male · female(1993 est.)

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years58.8
57.11 · 60.58
TotalMale · femaleLiteracy53%
57% · 48%
MaleFemaleLiteracy age 15 and over can read and write (1979)

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%

Infant mortality rate

69.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)

Total fertility rate

4.47 children born/woman (1993 est.)

Nationality

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

Ethnic divisions

indigenous Melanesian 94%, French 4%, Vietnamese, Chinese, Pacific Islanders

Languages

English (official), French (official), pidgin (known as Bislama or Bichelama)

Labor force

NA · by occupation: NA

Government

Republic

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Names

conventional long form:
Republic of Vanuatu
conventional short form:
Vanuatu
former:
New Hebrides

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)

Constitution

30 July 1980

National holiday

Independence Day, 30 July (1980)

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

18 years of age; universal

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

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 KORMAN (since 16 December 1991); Deputy Prime Minister Sethy REGENVANU (since 17 December 1991)

Member of

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

Diplomatic representation in US

Vanuatu does not have a mission in Washington

US diplomatic representation

the ambassador to Papua New Guinea is accredited to Vanuatu

Flag

  • 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

Economy

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

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GDP per capita, PPP
$900
(1988 est.)
Real growth rate
6%
(1990)industrial production growth: growth rate NA%; accounts for about 10% of GDP
External debt
$30million
(1990 est.)

Budget

Revenues
$90 millionExpenditures
$103 million
expenditures, including capital expenditures of $45 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.

National product

GDP - exchange rate conversion - $142 million (1988 est.)

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%

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 - coconuts, cocoa, coffee, fish;
  • subsistence crops - taro, yams, coconuts, fruits, vegetables

Economic aid

Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $606 million

Currency

1 vatu (VT) = 100 centimes

Exchange rates

vatu (VT) per US$1 - 120.77 (January 1993), 113.39 (1992), 111.68 (1991), 116.57 (1990), 116.04 (1989), 104.43 (1988)

Fiscal year

calendar year

Communications

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Merchant marine, 125 ships by type

cargo 23refrigerated cargo 16container 6vehicle carrier 11livestock carrier 1oil tanker 6chemical tanker 2liquefied gas 3bulk 54combination bulk 1passenger 1short-sea passenger; note - a flag of convenience registry 1125 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,121,819 GRT/3,193,942 DWT

Highways

1,027 km total; at least 240 km sealed or all-weather roads

Ports

Port-Vila, Luganville, Palikoulo, Santu

Airports

total:
31
usable:
31
with permanent-surface runways:
2
with runways over 3,659 m:
0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
1
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
2

Telecommunications

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

Defense Forces

Vanuatu Police Force (VPF), paramilitary Vanuatu Mobile Force (VMF) | note: | no military forces

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Branches

Vanuatu Police Force (VPF), paramilitary Vanuatu Mobile Force (VMF) note: no military forces

Manpower availability

males age 15-49 NA; fit for military service NA

Defense expenditures

exchange rate conversion - $NA, NA% of GDP

Central Intelligence Agency. “Vanuatu.” The World Factbook 1993. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/vanuatu/1993.

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