Vanuatu

Broadcast media

1 state-owned TV 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 available (2008)

Internet country code

.vu

Internet users

total: 61,000 | percent of population: 22.4% (July 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 194

Telephone system

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

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions: 4,797 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 2 (July 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 207

Telephones - mobile cellular

total: 175,000 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 64 (July 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 183

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

revenues: $176.2 million | expenditures: $171.6 million (2015 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

0.6% of GDP (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 27

Central bank discount rate

20% (31 December 2010) | 6% (31 December 2009) | country comparison to the world: 5

Commercial bank prime lending rate

3.63% (31 December 2015 est.) | 4.69% (31 December 2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 156

Current account balance

-$77 million (2015 est.) | $4 million (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 66

Debt - external

$190.9 million (31 December 2015 est.) | $181.7 million (31 December 2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 189

Economy - overview

This South Pacific island economy is based primarily on small-scale agriculture, which provides a living for about two-thirds of the population. Fishing, offshore financial services, and tourism, with nearly 197,000 visitors in 2008, are other mainstays of the economy. Australia and New Zealand are the main source of tourists and foreign aid. A small light industry sector caters to the local market. Tax revenues come mainly from import duties. Mineral deposits are negligible; the country has no known petroleum deposits. | 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. | Since 2002, the government has 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.

Exchange rates

vatu (VUV) per US dollar - | 108.99 (2015 est.) | 97.07 (2014 est.) | 97.07 (2013 est.) | 92.64 (2012 est.) | 89.47 (2011 est.)

Exports

$45.6 million (2015 est.) | $63.4 million (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 203

Exports - commodities

copra, beef, cocoa, timber, kava, coffee

Exports - partners

Japan 35.1%, Turkey 10.5%, Thailand 8.7%, China 8.2%, Venezuela 5.9%, UK 5.6% (2015)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP (official exchange rate)

$765 million (2015 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$685 million (2015 est.) | $690.5 million (2014 est.) | $674.8 million (2013 est.) | note: data are in 2015 US dollars | country comparison to the world: 208

GDP - composition, by end use

household consumption: 68.3% | government consumption: 17% | investment in fixed capital: 26.8% | investment in inventories: -0.1% | exports of goods and services: 41.4% | imports of goods and services: -53.4% (2015 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 26.1% | industry: 9% | services: 64.9% (2015 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$2,500 (2015 est.) | $2,600 (2014 est.) | $2,600 (2013 est.) | note: data are in 2015 US dollars | country comparison to the world: 195

GDP - real growth rate

-0.8% (2015 est.) | 2.3% (2014 est.) | 2% (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 203

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: NA% | highest 10%: NA%

Imports

$323.2 million (2015 est.) | $269.3 million (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 199

Imports - commodities

machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, fuels

Imports - partners

China 16.7%, Australia 14.6%, Japan 13.9%, Singapore 10%, Fiji 9.3%, NZ 8.3%, New Caledonia 5.2% (2015)

Industrial production growth rate

-2% (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 178

Industries

food and fish freezing, wood processing, meat canning

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

2.4% (2015 est.) | 0.8% (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 132

Labor force

115,900 (2007 est.) | country comparison to the world: 180

Labor force - by occupation

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

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA

Population below poverty line

NA%

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$269.2 million (31 December 2015 est.) | $184 million (31 December 2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 156

Stock of broad money

$544.9 million (31 December 2014 est.) | $552.6 million (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 179

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$22.7 million (31 December 2015 est.) | $22.7 million (31 December 2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 102

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$563.1 million (31 December 2015 est.) | $508.1 million (31 December 2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 112

Stock of domestic credit

$477 million (31 December 2015 est.) | $555.3 million (31 December 2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 174

Stock of narrow money

$320.9 million (31 December 2015 est.) | $274.6 million (31 December 2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 174

Taxes and other revenues

23% of GDP (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 139

Unemployment rate

1.7% (1999 est.) | country comparison to the world: 9

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

200,000 Mt (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 199

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 169

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 107

Crude oil - production

0 bbl/day (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 175

Crude oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2016 es) | country comparison to the world: 175

Electricity - consumption

55.8 million kWh (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 205

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 177

Electricity - from fossil fuels

89.3% of total installed capacity (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 80

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 192

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 153

Electricity - from other renewable sources

10.7% of total installed capacity (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 33

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 182

Electricity - installed generating capacity

30,000 kW (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 199

Electricity - production

60 million kWh (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 206

Electricity access

population without electricity: 202,614 | electrification - total population: 27% | electrification - urban areas: 55% | electrification - rural areas: 18% (2012)

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 179

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 155

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 109

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 111

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2014 es) | country comparison to the world: 178

Refined petroleum products - consumption

1,000 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 201

Refined petroleum products - exports

0 bbl/day (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 210

Refined petroleum products - imports

1,008 bbl/day (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 196

Refined petroleum products - production

0 bbl/day (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 118

Area

total: 12,189 sq km | land: 12,189 sq km | water: 0 sq km | note: includes more than 80 islands, about 65 of which are inhabited | country comparison to the world: 164

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

mean elevation: NA | elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m | highest point: Tabwemasana 1,877 m

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

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 and there are several underwater volcanoes as well

Irrigated land

0 sq km (2012)

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

agricultural land: 15.3% | arable land 1.6%; permanent crops 10.3%; permanent pasture 3.4% | forest: 36.1% | other: 48.6% (2011 est.)

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); volcanic eruption on Aoba (Ambae) island began on 27 November 2005, volcanism also causes minor earthquakes; tsunamis | volcanism: significant volcanic activity with multiple eruptions 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

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

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)

Citizenship

citizenship by birth: no | citizenship by descent only: both parents must be citizens of Vanuatu; in the case of only one parent, it must be the father who is a citizen | dual citizenship recognized: no | residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years

Constitution

effective 30 July 1980; amended several times, last in 2013 (2016)

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 | etymology: derived from the words "vanua" (home or land) and "tu" (stand) that occur in several of the Austonesian languages spoken on the islands and which provide the meaning of "independence" or the sense of "our land"

Diplomatic representation from the US

the US does not have an embassy in Vanuatu; the US 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 Baldwin LONSDALE (since 22 September 2014) | head of government: Prime Minister Charlot SALWAI (since 11 February 2016) | cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister, responsible to parliament | elections/appointments: president indirectly elected by an electoral college consisting of Parliament and presidents of the 6 provinces; Vanuatu president serves a 5-year term; election last held on 17 September 2014 (next to be held in 2019); 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 11 February 2016 (next to be held following general elections in 2020) | election results: Baldwin LONSDALE (independent) elected president; Parliament vote - 46 out of 52 on the eighth ballot; Charlot SALWAI elected prime minister on 11 February 2016 with 46 votes

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 fern fronds, all in yellow; red represents the blood of boars and men, as well as unity, 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 | note: one of several flags where a prominent component of the design reflects the shape of the country; other such flags are those of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, and Eritrea

Government type

parliamentary republic

Independence

30 July 1980 (from France and the UK)

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International organization participation

ACP, ADB, AOSIS, C, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, IOC, IOM, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OAS (observer), OIF, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Judicial branch

.highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and 6 justices - 3 local and 4 expatriate); note - appeals beyond the Supreme Court are considered by the Court of Appeal, constituted by 2 or more judges of the Supreme Court sitting together | judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court chief justice appointed by the president after consultation with the prime minister and the leader of the opposition; other judges are appointed by the president on the advice of the Judicial Service Commission, a 4-member advisory body; judges appointed until age of retirement | subordinate courts: Magistrates Courts; Island Courts

Legal system

mixed legal system of English common law, French law, and customary law

Legislative branch

description: unicameral Parliament (52 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by simple majority vote to serve 4-year terms) | note: the National Council of Chiefs advises on matters of culture and language | elections: last held on 22 January 2016 (next to be held in 2020) | election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - VP 8, PPP 6, UMP 5, GJP 4, NUP 4, IG 3, GC 3, NAG 3, RMC 3, MPP 2, NIPDP 2, PSP 1, VLDP 1, VNP 1, VPDP 1, VRP 1, and independent 4; note - political party associations are fluid

National anthem

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

National holiday

Independence Day, 30 July (1980)

National symbol(s)

boar's tusk with crossed fern fronds; national colors: red, black, green, yellow

Political parties and leaders

Greens Confederation or GC [Moana CARCASSES Kalosil] | Iauko Group or IG [Tony NARI] | Land and Justice Party (Graon mo Jastis Pati) or GJP [Ralph REGENVANU] | Melanesian Progressive Party or MPP [Barak SOPE] | Nagriamel movement or NAG [Frankie STEVENS] | Natatok Indigenous People's Democratic Party or (NATATOK) or NIPDP [Alfred Roland CARLOT] | National United Party or NUP [Ham LINI] | People's Progressive Party or PPP [Sato KILMAN] | People's Service Party or PSP [Don KEN] | Reunification of Movement for Change or RMC [Charlot SALWAI] | Union of Moderate Parties or UMP [Serge VOHOR] | Vanua'aku Pati (Our Land Party) or VP [Edward NATAPEI] | Vanuatu Democratic Party [Maxime Carlot KORMAN] | Vanuatu Liberal Democratic Party or VLDP [Tapangararua WILLIE] | Vanuatu National Party or VNP [Issac HAMARILIU] | Vanuatu National Development Party or VNDP [Robert Bohn SIKOL] | Vanuatu Republican Party or VRP [Marcellino PIPITE]

Political pressure groups and leaders

NA

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Background

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.

Military branches

no regular military forces; Vanuatu Police Force (VPF), Vanuatu Mobile Force (VMF; includes Police Maritime Wing (PMW)) (2013)

Age structure

0-14 years: 36.11% (male 51,160/female 49,073) | 15-24 years: 20% (male 27,559/female 27,939) | 25-54 years: 34.74% (male 47,189/female 49,244) | 55-64 years: 5.27% (male 7,327/female 7,297) | 65 years and over: 3.88% (male 5,470/female 5,296) (2016 est.)

Birth rate

24.5 births/1,000 population (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 54

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

10.7% (2013) | country comparison to the world: 62

Contraceptive prevalence rate

38.4% (2007)

Death rate

4.1 deaths/1,000 population (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 208

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 68.7% | youth dependency ratio: 61.6% | elderly dependency ratio: 7.1% | potential support ratio: 14.1% (2015 est.)

Drinking water source

urban: 98.9% of population | rural: 92.9% of population | total: 94.5% of population | urban: 1.1% of population | rural: 7.1% of population | total: 5.5% of population (2015 est.)

Education expenditures

4.9% of GDP (2014) | country comparison to the world: 79

Ethnic groups

Ni-Vanuatu 97.6%, part Ni-Vanuatu 1.1%, other 1.3% (2009 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Health expenditures

5% of GDP (2014) | country comparison to the world: 171

Hospital bed density

1.8 beds/1,000 population (2008)

Infant mortality rate

total: 15.1 deaths/1,000 live births | male: 16.1 deaths/1,000 live births | female: 14 deaths/1,000 live births (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 103

Languages

local languages (more than 100) 63.2%, Bislama (official; creole) 33.7%, English (official) 2%, French (official) 0.6%, other 0.5% (2009 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 73.4 years | male: 71.8 years | female: 75.1 years (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 131

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write | total population: 85.2% | male: 86.6% | female: 83.8% (2015 est.)

Major urban areas - population

PORT-VILA (capital) 53,000 (2014)

Maternal mortality rate

78 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 68

Median age

total: 21.7 years | male: 21.3 years | female: 22.1 years (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 179

Nationality

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

Net migration rate

-1.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 153

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

32.9% (2014) | country comparison to the world: 39

Physicians density

0.12 physicians/1,000 population (2008)

Population

277,554 (July 2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 183

Population growth rate

1.9% (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 53

Religions

Protestant 70% (includes Presbyterian 27.9%, Anglican 15.1%, Seventh Day Adventist 12.5%, Assemblies of God 4.7%, Church of Christ 4.5%, Neil Thomas Ministry 3.1%, and Apostolic 2.2%), Roman Catholic 12.4%, customary beliefs 3.7% (including Jon Frum cargo cult), other 12.6%, none 1.1%, unspecified 0.2% (2009 est.)

Sanitation facility access

urban: 65.1% of population | rural: 55.4% of population | total: 57.9% of population | urban: 34.9% of population | rural: 44.6% of population | total: 42.1% of population (2015 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female | 0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female | 15-24 years: 0.99 male(s)/female | 25-54 years: 0.96 male(s)/female | 55-64 years: 1 male(s)/female | 65 years and over: 1.04 male(s)/female | total population: 1 male(s)/female (2016 est.)

Total fertility rate

3.16 children born/woman (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 52

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

total: 10.6% | male: 10.2% | female: 11.2% (2009 est.)

Urbanization

urban population: 26.1% of total population (2015) | rate of urbanization: 3.42% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Disputes - international

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

Airports

31 (2013) | country comparison to the world: 114

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 (2013)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 28 | 914 to 1,523 m: 7 | under 914 m: 21 (2013)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

YJ (2016)

Merchant marine

total: 77 | by type: bulk carrier 38, cargo 8, chemical tanker 2, container 1, liquefied gas 2, passenger 1, refrigerated cargo 24, vehicle carrier 1 | foreign-owned: 72 (Belgium 1, Canada 5, China 1, Greece 3, Japan 39, Norway 1, Poland 9, Russia 7, Singapore 2, Taiwan 1, UAE 1, US 2) (2010) | country comparison to the world: 58

National air transport system

number of registered air carriers: 1 | inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 6 | annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 287,526 | annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 1,510,732 mt-km (2015)

Ports and terminals

major seaport(s): Forari Bay, Luganville (Santo, Espiritu Santo), Port-Vila

Roadways

total: 1,070 km | paved: 256 km | unpaved: 814 km (2000) | country comparison to the world: 185