Vanuatu
Republic of VanuatuRipablik blong Vanuatu
parliamentary republicIndependence 30 July 1980 (from France and the UK)
Vanuatu as the 2009 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 124 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.
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Introduction
1 fieldBackground
Multiple waves of colonizers, each speaking a distinct language, migrated to the New Hebrides in the millennia preceding European exploration in the 18th century. This settlement pattern accounts for the complex linguistic diversity found on the archipelago to this day. The British and French, who settled the New Hebrides in the 19th century, agreed in 1906 to an Anglo-French Condominium, which administered the islands until independence in 1980, when the new name of Vanuatu was adopted.
Geography
Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to Australia
18 fieldsLand useshare of 12,189 sq km
Location
Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to Australia
Climate
- tropical;
- moderated by southeast trade winds from May to October;
- moderate rainfall from November to April;
- may be affected by cyclones from December to April
Natural hazards
- tropical cyclones or typhoons (January to April);
- volcanic eruption on Aoba (Ambae) island began 27 November 2005, volcanism also causes minor earthquakes;
- tsunamis
Environment - current issues
most of the population does not have access to a reliable supply of potable water; deforestation
Environment - international agreements
- party to:
- Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 94
- signed, but not ratified:
- none of the selected agreements
Geography - note
a Y-shaped chain of four main islands and 80 smaller islands; several of the islands have active volcanoes
People
22 fieldsAge structuremale left, female right · (2009 est.)
Per 1,000 population
Male · female
Sex ratio
- at birth:
- 1.05 male(s)/female
- under 15 years:
- 1.04 male(s)/female
- 15-64 years:
- 1.04 male(s)/female
- 65 years and over:
- 1.06 male(s)/female
- total population:
- 1.04 male(s)/female (2009 est.)
Languages
local languages (more than 100) 72.6%, pidgin (known as Bislama or Bichelama) 23.1%, English 1.9%, French 1.4%, other 0.3%, unspecified 0.7% (1999 Census)
Literacy
- definition:
- age 15 and over can read and write
- total population:
- 74%
- male:
- NA
- female:
- NA (1999 census)
Government
Parliamentary republic; President Iolu Johnson ABIL (since 3 September 2009); Prime Minister Edward NATAPEI (since 22 September 2008)
18 fieldsParliament, 50 seats, elected 2 September 2008one dot, one seat
Country name
- conventional long form:
- Republic of Vanuatu
- conventional short form:
- Vanuatu
- local long form:
- Ripablik blong Vanuatu
- local short form:
- Vanuatu
- former:
- New Hebrides
Capital
- name:
- Port-Vila (on Efate)
- geographic coordinates:
- 17 44 S, 168 19 E
- time difference:
- UTC+11 (16 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Legal system
unified system being created from former dual French and British systems; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Executive branch
- chief of state:
- President Iolu Johnson ABIL (since 3 September 2009)
- head of government:
- Prime Minister Edward NATAPEI (since 22 September 2008); Deputy Prime Minister Ham LINI (since 22 September 2008)
- cabinet:
- Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister, responsible to parliament
- elections:
- president elected for a five-year term by an electoral college consisting of parliament and the presidents of the regional councils;
- election for president last held 2 September 2009 (next to be held in 2014);
- following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition is usually elected prime minister by parliament from among its members;
- election for prime minister last held 22 September 2008 (next to be held following general elections in 2012)
- election results:
- Iolu Johnson ABIL elected president, with 41 votes out of 58, on the third ballot on 2 September 2009
Legislative branch
unicameral Parliament (52 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
- elections:
- last held 2 September 2008 (next to be held in 2012)
- election results:
- percent of vote by party - NA;
- seats by party - VP 11, NUP 8, UMP 7, VRP 7, PPP 4, GC 2, MPP 1, NA 1, NAG 1, PAP 1, Shepherds Alliance 1, VFFP 1, VLP 1, VNP 1, VPRFP 1, and independent 4;
- note - political party associations are fluid
note: the National Council of Chiefs advises on matters of culture and language
Judicial branch
Supreme Court (chief justice is appointed by the president after consultation with the prime minister and the leader of the opposition, three other justices are appointed by the president on the advice of the Judicial Service Commission)
Political parties and leaders
- Greens Confederation or GC [Moana CARCASSES];
- Jon Frum Movement or JF [Song KEASPAI];
- Melanesian Progressive Party or MPP [Barak SOPE];
- Nagriamel movement or NAG [Havo MOLI];
- Namangi Aute or NA [Paul TELUKLUK];
- National United Party or NUP [Ham LINI];
- People's Action Party or PAP [Peter VUTA];
- People's Progressive Party or PPP [Sato KILMAN];
- Shepherds Alliance Party [leader NA];
- Union of Moderate Parties or UMP [Serge VOHOR];
- Vanuatu Family First Party or VFFP [Eta RORI];
- Vanuatu Labor Party or VLP [Joshua KALSAKAU];
- Vanuatu National Party or VNP [Issac HAMARILIU];
- Vanua'aku Pati (Our Land Party) or VP [Edward NATAPEI];
- Vanuatu Republican Party or VRP [Maxime Carlot KORMAN];
- Vanuatu Republican Farmers Party or VPRFP [Jean RAVOU]
International organization participation
ACCT, ACP, ADB, C, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IOC, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OAS (observer), OIF, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WMO, WTO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US
Vanuatu does not have an embassy in the US; it does, however, have a Permanent Mission to the UN
Diplomatic representation from the US
the US does not have an embassy in Vanuatu; the ambassador to Papua New Guinea is accredited to Vanuatu
Flag description
- 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
This South Pacific island economy is based primarily on small-scale agriculture, which provides a living for over 70% of the population.
45 fieldsGDP - composition by sector(2000 est.)
Trading partnersexports left, imports right
Electricity
Economy - overview
This South Pacific island economy is based primarily on small-scale agriculture, which provides a living for over 70% of the population. Fishing, offshore financial services, and tourism, with more than 167,000 visitors in 2007 are 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. Economic development is hindered by dependence on relatively few commodity exports, vulnerability to natural disasters, and long distances from main markets and between constituent islands.
In response to foreign concerns, the government has promised to tighten regulation of its offshore financial center. In mid-2002, the government stepped up efforts to boost tourism through improved air connections, resort development, and cruise ship facilities. Agriculture, especially livestock farming, is a second target for growth. Australia and New Zealand are the main suppliers of tourists and foreign aid.
Central bank discount rate
6% (31 December 2008) · 6% (31 December 2007) country comparison to the world: 75
Commercial bank prime lending rate
5.29% (31 December 2008) · 8.16% (31 December 2007) country comparison to the world: 104
Stock of money
$101.6 million (31 December 2008) · $107.1 million (31 December 2007) country comparison to the world: 112
Stock of quasi money
$430 million (31 December 2008) · $421.8 million (31 December 2007) country comparison to the world: 111
Stock of domestic credit
$274 million (31 December 2008) · $229.5 million (31 December 2007) country comparison to the world: 120
Exchange rates
vatu (VUV) per US dollar - NA (2007), 111.93 (2006), NA (2005), 111.79 (2004), 122.19 (2003)
Communications
8 fieldsTelephone system
- general assessment:
- NA
- domestic:
- NA
- international:
- country code - 678; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
Transportation
6 fieldsMerchant marine, 54 ships by typeone square, one ship
Airports by runway lengthunpaved only
Airports - with paved runways
total: 3; 2,438 to 3,047 m:; 1; 1,524 to 2,437 m:; 1; 914 to 1,523 m:; 1 (2009)
Military
No regular military forces; Vanuatu Police Force (VPF), Vanuatu Mobile Force (VMF; includes Police Maritime Wing (PMW)) (2009)
5 fieldsMilitary branches
no regular military forces; Vanuatu Police Force (VPF), Vanuatu Mobile Force (VMF; includes Police Maritime Wing (PMW)) (2009)
Transnational Issues
1 fieldDisputes - international
Matthew and Hunter Islands east of New Caledonia claimed by Vanuatu and France
Cite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Vanuatu.” The World Factbook 2009. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/vanuatu/2009.