Vanuatu

Internet country code

.vu

Internet hosts

512 (2003)

Internet users

7,500 (2003)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 2, FM 2, shortwave 1 (2002)

Telephone system

general assessment: NA domestic: NA international: country code - 678; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

Telephones - main lines in use

6,500 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular

7,800 (2003)

Television broadcast stations

1 (2002)

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

revenues: $94.4 million expenditures: $99.8 million, including capital expenditures of $30.4 million (1996 est.)

Currency

vatu (VUV)

Currency code

VUV

Debt - external

$65.8 million (2001 est.)

Economic aid - recipient

$45.8 million (1995)

Economy - overview

This South Pacific island economy is based primarily on small-scale agriculture, which provides a living for 65% of the population. Fishing, offshore financial services, and tourism, with about 50,000 visitors in 1997, 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. A severe earthquake in November 1999 followed by a tsunami, caused extensive damage to the northern island of Pentecote and left thousands homeless. Another powerful earthquake in January 2002 caused extensive damage in the capital, Port-Vila, and surrounding areas, and also was followed by a tsunami. GDP growth rose less than 3% on average in the 1990s. 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. Agriculture, especially livestock farming, is a second target for growth. Australia and New Zealand are the main suppliers of tourists and foreign aid. Growth expanded moderately in 2003.

Electricity - consumption

40.42 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - production

43.46 million kWh (2001)

Exchange rates

vatu per US dollar - 122.189 (2003), 139.198 (2002), 145.312 (2001), 137.643 (2000), 129.075 (1999)

Exports

$79 million f.o.b. (2002)

Exports - commodities

copra, beef, cocoa, timber, kava, coffee

Exports - partners

India 32.8%, Thailand 25.5%, Indonesia 9.6%, Japan 7.6%, Australia 4%, Poland 4% (2003)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP

purchasing power parity - $563 million (2002 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 26% industry: 12% services: 62% (2000 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $2,900 (2002 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

-0.3% (2002 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: NA highest 10%: NA

Imports

$138 million c.i.f. (2002)

Imports - commodities

machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, fuels

Imports - partners

Australia 15.3%, Japan 10.6%, Singapore 7.4%, New Zealand 6%, Fiji 5.1% (2003)

Industrial production growth rate

1% (1997 est.)

Industries

food and fish freezing, wood processing, meat canning

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

2% (2002 est.)

Labor force

NA

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture 65%, industry 5%, services 30% (2000 est.)

Oil - consumption

600 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports

NA (2001)

Oil - imports

NA (2001)

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA

Unemployment rate

NA

Area

total: 12,200 sq km land: 12,200 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes more than 80 islands, about 65 of which are inhabited

Area - comparative

slightly larger than Connecticut

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

Coastline

2,528 km

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Tabwemasana 1,877 m

Environment - current issues

a majority of the population does not have access to a potable and reliable supply of 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

Geographic coordinates

16 00 S, 167 00 E

Geography - note

a Y-shaped chain of four main islands and 80 smaller islands; several of the islands have active volcanoes

Irrigated land

NA sq km

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land: 2.46% permanent crops: 7.38% other: 90.16% (2001)

Location

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

Map references

Oceania

Maritime claims

measured from claimed archipelagic baselines territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

Natural hazards

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

Natural resources

manganese, hardwood forests, fish

Terrain

mostly mountainous islands of volcanic origin; narrow coastal plains

Administrative divisions

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

Capital

Port-Vila (Efate)

Constitution

30 July 1980

Country name

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

Diplomatic representation from the US

the US does not have an embassy in Vanuatu; the ambassador to Papua New Guinea is accredited to Vanuatu

Diplomatic representation in the US

Vanuatu does not have an embassy in the US; it does, however, have a Permanent Mission to the UN

Executive branch

chief of state: President Kalkot Matas KELEKELE (since 16 August 2004) head of government: Prime Minister Ham LINI (since 11 December 2004); Deputy Prime Minister Sato KILMAN (since 11 December 2004); Prime Minister Serge VOHOR ousted in no-confidence vote on 11 December 2004 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 16 August 2004 (next to be held in 2009); 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 29 July 2004 (next to be held following general elections in 2008) election results: Kalkot Matas KELEKELE elected president, with 49 votes out of 56, after several ballots on 16 August 2004

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

Government type

parliamentary republic

Independence

30 July 1980 (from France and UK)

International organization participation

ACCT, ACP, AsDB, C, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IOC, ITU, MIGA, NAM, PIF, Sparteca, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WTrO (observer)

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)

Legal system

unified system being created from former dual French and British systems

Legislative branch

unicameral Parliament (52 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 6 July 2004 (next to be held 2008) election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - UMP 8, VP 8, NUP 10, VRP 4, MPP 3, VGP 3, other and independent 16; note - political party associations are fluid note: the National Council of Chiefs advises on matters of culture and language

National holiday

Independence Day, 30 July (1980)

Political parties and leaders

Jon Frum Movement [Song KEASPAI]; Melanesian Progressive Party or MPP [Barak SOPE]; National United Party or NUP [NA]; Union of Moderate Parties or UMP [Serge VOHOR]; Vanua'aku Pati (Our Land Party) or VP [Edward NATAPEI]; Vanuatu Republican Party or VRP [Maxime Carlot KORMAN]; Greens (Vanuatu) [Moana CARCASSES]

Political pressure groups and leaders

NA

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Background

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.

Military branches

no regular military forces; Vanuatu Police Force (VPF; including the paramilitary Mobile Force or VMF)

Military expenditures - dollar figure

NA

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

NA

Age structure

0-14 years: 34.1% (male 35,281; female 33,785) 15-64 years: 62.4% (male 64,669; female 61,829) 65 years and over: 3.5% (male 3,740; female 3,305) (2004 est.)

Birth rate

23.67 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Death rate

8.02 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Ethnic groups

indigenous Melanesian 98%, French, Vietnamese, Chinese, other Pacific Islanders

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Infant mortality rate

total: 56.63 deaths/1,000 live births male: 59.25 deaths/1,000 live births female: 53.89 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)

Languages

three official languages: English, French, pidgin (known as Bislama or Bichelama), plus more than 100 local languages

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 62.1 years male: 60.64 years female: 63.63 years (2004 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 53% male: 57% female: 48% (1979 est.)

Median age

total: 22.3 years male: 22.3 years female: 22.2 years (2004 est.)

Nationality

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

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Population

202,609 (July 2004 est.)

Population growth rate

1.57% (2004 est.)

Religions

Presbyterian 36.7%, Anglican 15%, Roman Catholic 15%, indigenous beliefs 7.6%, Seventh-Day Adventist 6.2%, Church of Christ 3.8%, other 15.7% (including Jon Frum Cargo cult)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.13 male(s)/female total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2004 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.87 children born/woman (2004 est.)

Disputes - international

Matthew and Hunter Islands east of New Caledonia claimed by Vanuatu and France

Airports

30 (2003 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

total: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1524 to 2437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 27 914 to 1,523 m: 10 under 914 m: 17 (2004 est.)

Highways

total: 1,070 km paved: 256 km unpaved: 814 km (1999 est.)

Merchant marine

total: 51 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 1,192,474 GRT/1,560,828 DWT by type: bulk 28, cargo 2, combination bulk 3, container 2, liquefied gas 2, multi-functional large load carrier 1, refrigerated cargo 6, roll on/roll off 2, vehicle carrier 5 foreign-owned: Australia 2, Canada 1, Estonia 1, Germany 1, Japan 25, Monaco 4, New Zealand 2, Panama 1, Poland 7, Switzerland 3, United Kingdom 5, United States 2 registered in other countries: 1 (2004 est.)

Ports and harbors

Forari, Port-Vila, Santo (Espiritu Santo)