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.

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

16 00 S, 167 00 E

Oceania

slightly larger than Connecticut

0 km

2,528 km

measured from claimed archipelagic baselines

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

mostly mountainous islands of volcanic origin; narrow coastal plains

manganese, hardwood forests, fish

NA

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

most of the population does not have access to a reliable supply of potable water; deforestation

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

Ni-Vanuatu 98.5%, other 1.5% (1999 Census)

local languages (more than 100) 72.6%, pidgin (known as Bislama or Bichelama) 23.1%, English (official) 1.9%, French (official) 1.4%, other 0.3%, unspecified 0.7% (1999 Census)

Protestant 55.6% (Presbyterian 31.4%, Anglican 13.4%, Seventh-Day Adventist 10.8%), Roman Catholic 13.1%, other Christian 13.8%, indigenous beliefs 5.6% (including Jon Frum cargo cult), other 9.6%, none 1%, unspecified 1.3% (1999 Census)

224,564 (July 2011 est.)

1.343% (2011 est.)

20.86 births/1,000 population (2011 est.)

7.43 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.)

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.)

2.39 children born/woman (2011 est.)

4% of GDP (2009)

0.116 physicians/1,000 population (2008)

1.69 beds/1,000 population (2008)

urban: 96% of population

rural: 79% of population

total: 83% of population

urban: 4% of population

rural: 21% of population

total: 17% of population (2008)

urban: 66% of population

rural: 48% of population

total: 52% of population

urban: 34% of population

rural: 52% of population

total: 48% of population (2008)

NA

NA

NA

4.8% of GDP (2009)

parliamentary republic

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

30 July 1980 (from France and the UK)

Independence Day, 30 July (1980)

30 July 1980

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

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

18 years of age; universal

unicameral Parliament (52 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)

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)

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]

NA

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

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

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

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

boar's tusk

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.

$1.137 billion (2010 est.)

$1.113 billion (2009 est.)

$1.075 billion (2008 est.)

$693 million (2010 est.)

2.2% (2010 est.)

3.5% (2009 est.)

6.2% (2008 est.)

$5,100 (2010 est.)

$5,100 (2009 est.)

$5,000 (2008 est.)

115,900 (2007)

1.7% (1999)

NA%

21.9% of GDP (2010 est.)

11.4% of GDP (2005 est.)

0.9% of GDP (2005 est.)

2.8% (2010 est.)

4.2% (2009 est.)

20% (31 December 2010 est.)

6% (31 December 2009 est.)

5.5% (31 December 2010 est.)

5.5% (31 December 2009 est.)

$149.2 million (31 December 2010 est.)

$117.8 million (31 December 2009 est.)

$607.1 million (31 December 2010 est.)

$614.2 million (31 December 2009 est.)

$439.1 million (31 December 2010 est.)

$378.8 million (31 December 2009 est.)

$NA

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

food and fish freezing, wood processing, meat canning

43 million kWh (2008 est.)

39.99 million kWh (2008 est.)

0 kWh (2009 est.)

0 kWh (2009 est.)

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)

1,000 bbl/day (2010 est.)

0 bbl/day (2009 est.)

761 bbl/day (2009 est.)

0 bbl (1 January 2011 est.)

0 cu m (2009 est.)

0 cu m (2009 est.)

0 cu m (2009 est.)

0 cu m (2009 est.)

0 cu m (1 January 2011 est.)

-$60 million (2007 est.)

$40 million (2006)

copra, beef, cocoa, timber, kava, coffee

Thailand 57.4%, Japan 24.8% (2010)

$156 million (2006)

machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, fuels

Australia 18.4%, Singapore 17.6%, Japan 12.9%, NZ 8.6%, Fiji 8.2%, China 6.2%, US 5.2%, New Caledonia 4.6% (2010)

$161.4 million (2003)

$148.6 million (31 December 2009 est.)

$81.2 million (2004)

vatu (VUV) per US dollar -

97.93 (2009)

NA (2007)

111.93 (2006)

NA (2005)

111.79 (2004)

5,000 (2010)

285,300 (2010)

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)

.vu

1,347 (2010)

17,000 (2009)

31 (2010)

Forari Bay, Luganville (Santo, Espiritu Santo), Port-Vila

no regular military forces; Vanuatu Police Force (VPF), Vanuatu Mobile Force (VMF; includes Police Maritime Wing (PMW)) (2009)

NA

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