Vanuatu

Republic of Vanuatu

republicIndependence 30 July 1980 (from France and UK)

Vanuatu as the 1995 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 75 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 sq km

LocationOceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about

Populationas each edition published it

173,648 people July 1995 est. · 165,006 in 1990

Population growth% a year

2.22% 1995 est. · 2.36% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 21.9 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

59.71 years 1995 est. · 58.8 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

4.14 children per woman 1995 est. · 5.5 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

66.3 deaths per 1,000 live births 1995 est. · 36 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$1,200 1993 est. · $900 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

Not in this edition 6% in 1993

Geography

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

13 fields

Land useshare of 14,760 sq km

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

Area

14,760sq km

land area: 14,760 sq kmcomparative 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 to the edge of the continental marginexclusive economic zone: 200 nmterritorial sea: 12 nm

Location

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

Map references

Oceania

International disputes

none

Climate

tropical; moderated by southeast trade winds

Terrain

mostly mountains of volcanic origin; narrow coastal plains

Natural resources

manganese, hardwood forests, fish

Irrigated land

NA sq km

Environment

current issues:: a majority of the population does not have access to a potable and reliable supply of water
natural hazards:: tropical cyclones or typhoons (January to April); volcanism causes minor earthquakes
international agreements:: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution; signed, but not ratified - Law of the Sea

People

15 fields

Population

173,648

(July 1995 est.)growth rate: 2.22% (1995 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1995 est.)

Birth

31.26Death

9.06Net migration

Male · female(1995 est.)

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years59.71

57.9 · 61.61

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%

Age structure

0-14 years:: 41% (female 34,819; male 36,128)
15-64 years:: 56% (female 47,320; male 50,456)
65 years and over:: 3% (female 2,217; male 2,708) (July 1995 est.)

Infant mortality rate

66.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)

Total fertility rate

4.14 children born/woman (1995 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; President Jean Marie LEYE (since 2 March 1994); Prime Minister Maxime CARLOT Korman (since 16 December 1991)

19 fields

Legislature, 46 seatsone dot, one seat

UMP 19NUP 10VP 10MPP 4TUP 1Friend 1

Names

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

Digraph

Type

republic

Capital

Port-Vila

Administrative divisions

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

Independence

30 July 1980 (from France and UK)

National holiday

Independence Day, 30 July (1980)

Constitution

30 July 1980

Legal system

unified system being created from former dual French and British systems

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch

chief of state:: President Jean Marie LEYE (since 2 March 1994)
head of government:: Prime Minister Maxime CARLOT Korman (since 16 December 1991); Deputy Prime Minister Sethy REGENVANU (since 17 December 1991)
cabinet:: Council of Ministers; appointed by the prime minister, responsible to parliament

Legislative branch

unicameral

Parliament

elections last held 2 December 1991 (next to be held NA November 1995);
note - after election, a coalition was formed by the Union of Moderate Parties and the National United Party to form a new government on 16 December 1991, but political party associations are fluid;
results - percent of vote by party NA;
seats - (46 total) UMP 19, NUP 10, VP 10, MPP 4, TUP 1, Nagriamel 1, Friend 1

note: the National Council of Chiefs advises on matters of custom and land

Judicial branch

Supreme Court

Political parties and leaders

Vanuatu Party (VP), Donald KALPOKAS;
Union of Moderate Parties (UMP), Maxime CARLOT Korman;
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;
People's Democratic Party (PDP), Sethy REGENVANU

note: the VP, MPP, TUP, and Nagriamel Party have formed a coalition called the United Front (UF) heading into the November 1995 elections

Member of

ACCT, ACP, AsDB, C, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS (associate), IMF, IMO, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), IOC, ITU, NAM, SPARTECA, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WMO

Diplomatic representation in US

Vanuatu does not have a mission in the US

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.

18 fields

GDP per capita, PPP

$1,200

(1993 est.)

Inflation, consumer prices

2.3%

(1992 est.)

External debt

$40million

(yearend 1992)

Budget

Revenues

$90 millionExpenditures

$103 million (1989 est.)

expenditures including capital expenditures of $45 million

Installed generating capacity, 17,000 kW

Electricity production

30 millionElectricity consumption per capita

181 (1993)

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, with 43,000 visitors in 1992. 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 - purchasing power parity - $200 million (1993 est.)

National product real growth rate

NA%

Unemployment rate

NA%

Exports

$14.9 million (f.o.b., 1991)

commodities:: copra, beef, cocoa, timber, coffee
partners:: Netherlands, Japan, France, New Caledonia, Belgium

Imports

$74 million (f.o.b., 1991)

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

Industries

food and fish freezing, wood processing, meat canning

Agriculture

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

Economic aid

recipient: 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 - 112.42 (December 1994), 116.41 (1994), 121.58 (1993), 113.39 (1992), 111.68 (1991), 116.57 (1990)

Fiscal year

calendar year

Transportation

5 fields

Airports by runway lengthpaved left, unpaved right · 31 in all

2,438 to 3,047 m

1,524 to 2,437 m

under 914 m

1,524 to 2,438 m

914 to 1,523 m

PavedUnpaved

Networkskm

Highways

1,027Railroads

Highways: paved: 240 km · unpaved: 787 km

Highways

total:: 1,027 km
paved:: 240 km
unpaved:: 787 km

Ports

Forari, Port-Vila, Santo (Espiritu Santo)

Merchant marine

total:: 116 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,874,698 GRT/2,758,783 DWT
ships by type:: bulk 52, cargo 18, chemical tanker 3, combination bulk 1, container 4, liquefied gas tanker 5, livestock carrier 1, oil tanker 5, refrigerated cargo 17, vehicle carrier 10

note: a flag of convenience registry; includes 21 countries among which are ships of the US 117, Japan 39, Netherlands 12, China 11, UAE 6, Greece 6, Canada 6, Hong Kong 4, Russia 2, Australia 2