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 hosts

5,655 (2012) country comparison to the world: 143

Internet users

17,000 (2009) country comparison to the world: 198

Telephone system

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

Telephones - main lines in use

5,800 (2012) country comparison to the world: 208

Telephones - mobile cellular

137,000 (2012) country comparison to the world: 186

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

revenues: $203.5 million expenditures: $201.3 million (2013 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

0.3% of GDP (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 38

Central bank discount rate

20% (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 58 6% (31 December 2009 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

6.7% (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 133 6% (31 December 2012 est.)

Current account balance

-$118 million (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 77 -$128.6 million (2012 est.)

Debt - external

$307.7 million (31 December 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 182 $258.9 million (31 December 2010 est.)

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. 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.

Exchange rates

vatu (VUV) per US dollar - 92.38 (2013 est.) 92.64 (2012 est.) 96.91 (2010 est.)

Exports

$43.1 million (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 199 $57.5 million (2012 est.)

Exports - commodities

copra, beef, cocoa, timber, kava, coffee

Exports - partners

Thailand 41.9%, Cote dIvoire 30.5%, Japan 14.7% (2012)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP (official exchange rate)

$828 million (2013 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$1.27 billion (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 202 $1.23 billion (2012 est.) $1.203 billion (2011 est.) note: data are in 2013 US dollars

GDP - composition, by end use

household consumption: 60.8% government consumption: 17.8% investment in fixed capital: 27.3% investment in inventories: 0% exports of goods and services: 41.5% imports of goods and services: -47.3% (2013 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 22.4% industry: 9.7% services: 67.9% (2013 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$4,800 (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 162 $4,900 (2012 est.) $4,900 (2011 est.) note: data are in 2013 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

3.3% (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 103 2.3% (2012 est.) 1.4% (2011 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

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

Imports

$319.4 million (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 196 $322.6 million (2012 est.)

Imports - commodities

machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, fuels

Imports - partners

China 20.2%, Singapore 18.8%, US 15%, Japan 11.6%, Australia 10.4%, Fiji 5.2%, NZ 4.8% (2012)

Industrial production growth rate

4.8% (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 59

Industries

food and fish freezing, wood processing, meat canning

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

1.9% (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 64 1.4% (2012 est.)

Labor force

115,900 (2007) country comparison to the world: 182

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

$174.2 million (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 162 $187.3 million (31 December 2012 est.)

Stock of broad money

$644 million (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 175 $643.3 million (31 December 2012 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$21.3 million (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 90 $22.3 million (31 December 2012 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$620.1 million (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 106 $565.1 million (31 December 2012 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$560.8 million (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 165 $549.4 million (31 December 2012 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$270.7 million (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 170 $264.1 million (31 December 2012 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

24.6% of GDP (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 134

Unemployment rate

1.7% (1999) country comparison to the world: 7

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

149,000 Mt (2011 est.)

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 162

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 103

Crude oil - production

0 bbl/day (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 202

Crude oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 171

Electricity - consumption

51.15 million kWh (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 205

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 176

Electricity - from fossil fuels

89.3% of total installed capacity (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 77

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 189

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 150

Electricity - from other renewable sources

10.7% of total installed capacity (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 26

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 178

Electricity - installed generating capacity

28,000 kW (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 199

Electricity - production

55 million kWh (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 205

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 179

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 156

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 104

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 174

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 177

Refined petroleum products - consumption

1,170 bbl/day (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 197

Refined petroleum products - exports

0 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 204

Refined petroleum products - imports

838 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 198

Refined petroleum products - production

0 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 181

Area

total: 12,189 sq km country comparison to the world: 164 land: 12,189 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

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

NA

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land: 1.64% permanent crops: 10.25% other: 88.11% (2011)

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)

Constitution

effective 30 July 1980; amended 1981, 1983, 1988 (2006)

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

Diplomatic representation from the US

the US does not have an embassy in Vanuatu; the US ambassador to Papua New Guinea, currently Ambassador Walter E. North, 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 Iolu Johnson ABBIL (since 3 September 2009) head of government: Prime Minister Joe NATUMAN (since 14 May 2014) 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 23 March 2013 (next to be held following general elections in 2016) election results: Iolu Johnson ABBIL elected president, with 41 votes out of 58, on the third ballot on 2 September 2009; Joe NATUMAN elected prime minister following a no confidence vote against the government of Moana CARCASSES Kalosil on 15 May 2014

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, 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

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 a chief justice and 3 judges); note - appeals from 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

unicameral Parliament (52 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held on 30 October 2012 (next to be held in 2016) 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 note: the National Council of Chiefs advises on matters of culture and language

National anthem

name: "Yumi, Yumi, Yumi" (We, We, We)

National holiday

Independence Day, 30 July (1980)

National symbol(s)

boar's tusk

Political parties and leaders

Greens Confederation or GC [Moana CARCASSES Kalosil] Iauko Group or IG [NA] Land and Justice Party (Graon mo Jastis Pati) or GJP [Ralph REGENVANU] Melanesian Progressive Party or MPP [Barak SOPE] Nagriamel movement or NAG [NA] 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 Progressive Development Party or VPDP [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.

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 62,216 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 43,331 females age 16-49: 44,927 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 2,323 female: 2,230 (2010 est.)

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: 37.3% (male 50,810/female 48,753) 15-24 years: 19.8% (male 26,341/female 26,620) 25-54 years: 34.2% (male 44,732/female 46,545) 55-64 years: 5% (male 6,751/female 6,599) 65 years and over: 3.6% (male 5,020/female 4,766) (2014 est.)

Birth rate

25.69 births/1,000 population (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 50

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

11.7% (2007) country comparison to the world: 62

Contraceptive prevalence rate

38.4% (2007)

Death rate

4.14 deaths/1,000 population (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 208

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 67.9 % youth dependency ratio: 61.3 % elderly dependency ratio: 6.6 % potential support ratio: 15.1 (2014 est.)

Drinking water source

improved: urban: 97.8% of population rural: 88.3% of population total: 90.7% of population unimproved: urban: 2.2% of population rural: 11.7% of population total: 9.3% of population (2012 est.)

Education expenditures

5% of GDP (2009) 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

4.1% of GDP (2011) country comparison to the world: 160

Hospital bed density

1.7 beds/1,000 population (2008)

Infant mortality rate

total: 16.41 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 101 male: 17.53 deaths/1,000 live births female: 15.23 deaths/1,000 live births (2014 est.)

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: 72.72 years country comparison to the world: 131 male: 71.16 years female: 74.36 years (2014 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 83.2% male: NA 84.9% female: NA 81.6% (2011 est.)

Major urban areas - population

PORT-VILA (capital) 47,000 (2011)

Maternal mortality rate

110 deaths/100,000 live births (2010) country comparison to the world: 68

Median age

total: 21.1 years male: 20.7 years female: 21.4 years (2014 est.)

Nationality

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

Net migration rate

-1.5 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 156

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

27.5% (2008) country comparison to the world: 39

Physicians density

0.12 physicians/1,000 population (2008)

Population

266,937 (July 2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 184

Population growth rate

2.01% (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 51

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

improved: urban: 65.1% of population rural: 55.4% of population total: 57.9% of population unimproved: urban: 34.9% of population rural: 44.6% of population total: 42.1% of population (2012 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 11 years male: 11 years female: 10 years (2004)

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: 1.07 male(s)/female total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2014 est.)

Total fertility rate

3.36 children born/woman (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 49

Urbanization

urban population: 24.9% of total population (2011) rate of urbanization: 3.64% 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)

Merchant marine

total: 77 country comparison to the world: 57 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)

Ports and terminals

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

Roadways

total: 1,070 km country comparison to the world: 184 paved: 256 km unpaved: 814 km (2000)