Vanuatu

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.

• 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

• tropical cyclones or typhoons (January to April);
• volcanic eruption on Aoba (Ambae) island began on 27 November 2005, volcanism also causes minor earthquakes;
• tsunamis

volcanism:

• Vanuatu experiences significant volcanic activity, with many volcanoes erupting in recent years;
• Yasur (elev. 361 m), one of the world's most active volcanoes, has experienced continuous activity in recent centuries;
• other historically active volcanoes include, Aoba, Ambrym, Epi, Gaua, Kuwae, Lopevi, Suretamatai, and Traitor's Head

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

noun:

Ni-Vanuatu (singular and plural)

adjective:

Ni-Vanuatu

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:

1.05 male(s)/female

total population:

1.04 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

definition:

age 15 and over can read and write

total population:

74%

male:

NA

female:

NA (1999 census)

conventional long form:

Republic of Vanuatu

conventional short form:

Vanuatu

local long form:

Ripablik blong Vanuatu

local short form:

Vanuatu

former:

New Hebrides

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)

chief of state:

President Iolu Johnson ABBIL (since 3 September 2009)

head of government:

Prime Minister Sato KILMAN (since 26 June 2011)

cabinet:

Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister, responsible to parliament; (For more information visit theWorld Leaders website)

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 on 2 September 2009 (next to be held in 2014);
• following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition usually elected prime minister by parliament from among its members;
• election for prime minister last held on 26 June 2011 following a supreme court decision nullifying KILMAN's December 2010 election;
• KILMAN defeated Vohor SERGE 29 to 23 (next to be held following general elections in 2012)

election results:

Iolu Johnson ABBIL elected president, with 41 votes out of 58, on the third ballot on 2 September 2009

• 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];
• Vanua'aku Pati (Our Land Party) or VP [Edward NATAPEI];
• Vanuatu Family First Party or VFFP [Eta RORI];
• Vanuatu Labor Party or VLP [Joshua KALSAKAU];
• Vanuatu National Party or VNP [Issac HAMARILIU];
• Vanuatu Republican Farmers Party or VPRFP [Jean RAVOU];
• Vanuatu Republican Party or VRP [Maxime Carlot KORMAN]

• 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 fern fronds, all in yellow;
• red represents the blood of boars and men, green the richness of the islands, and black the ni-Vanuatu people;
• the yellow Y-shape - which reflects the pattern of the islands in the Pacific Ocean - symbolizes the light of the Gospel spreading through the islands;
• the boar's tusk is a symbol of prosperity frequently worn as a pendant on the islands;
• the fern fronds represent peace

name:

"Yumi, Yumi, Yumi" (We, We, We)

lyrics/music:

Francois Vincent AYSSAV

note: adopted 1980, the anthem is written in Bislama, a Creole language that mixes Pidgin English and French

agriculture:

65%

industry:

5%

services:

30% (2000 est.)

lowest 10%:

NA%

highest 10%:

NA%

• copra, coconuts, cocoa, coffee, taro, yams, fruits, vegetables;
• beef;
• fish

general assessment:

NA

domestic:

NA

international:

country code - 678; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

• 1 state-owned television station;
• multi-channel pay TV is available;
• state-owned Radio Vanuatu operates 2 radio stations;
• 2 privately-owned radio broadcasters;
• programming from multiple international broadcasters is accessible (2008)

total:

1,070 km

country comparison to the world: 183

paved:

256 km

unpaved:

814 km (2000)

males age 16-49:

43,331

females age 16-49:

44,927 (2010 est.)

male:

2,323

female:

2,230 (2010 est.)