Vanuatu
Country Guide

Explore Vanuatu

Vanuatu with its capital Port Vila is located in Oceania (Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean). It covers some 12,190 square kilometers (slightly larger than Connecticut) with 282,814 citizens. Bislama, English and French are the common languages used in Vanuatu (consider regional differences). Thiscountry has no land-based border with any other country.

Vanuatu is an archipelago nation consisting of 83 islands in the southwest Pacific Ocean, north of New Zealand and east of Australia. The Vanuatu people are a delight to photograph, friendly, co-operative and photogenic especially the children who are simply gorgeous. Yes, they love to be photographed but please do not offer to pay to photograph local people as this will quickly discourage spontaneity and encourage commercialisation. Always ask before taking photos of local people.

Popular Destinations in Vanuatu

Administrative regions of Vanuatu

• Malampa Province
• Penama Province
• Sanma Province
• Shefa Province
• Tafea Province
• Torba Province

About the country

The topography is mostly mountainous islands of volcanic origin with narrow coastal plains. The average density of population is about 23 per km². The climate in Vanuatu can be described as tropicalmoderated by southeast trade winds from May to October, moderate rainfall from November to April, may be affected by cyclones from December to April. Potential natural disasters are significant volcanic activity with multiple eruptions in recent years; Yasur (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, , tropical cyclones (January to April), tsunamis and volcanic eruption on Aoba (Ambae) island began on 27 November 2005, volcanism also causes minor earthquakes.

To reach someone Vanuatu dial +678 prior to a number. The local cellular networks are operated on 900 MHz, 3G, 4G. Websites typically end with the top level domain ".vu". If you want to bring electric appliances (e.g. battery chaarger), keep in min the local 230 V - 50 Hz (plugs: I). The sign for the locally used currency Vatu is VUV.

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.

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.

Geography

Area
Total (World Rank: 163)	12,189	sq km
Land (World Rank: 160)	12,189	sq km
Forest (World Rank: 174)	3.40	%
Comparative	slightly larger than Connecticut
Note	includes more than 80 islands, about 65 of which are inhabited
Coastline
2528
Elevation
Highest point (World Rank: 130)	1,877	m
Agricultural land
Total (World Rank: 177)	15.30	%
Arable (World Rank: 190)	1.60	%
Permanent crops (World Rank: 29)	10.30	%
Permanent pastures (World Rank: 174)	3.40	%
Map reference
Oceania
Environment
Issues	- deforestation - most of the population does not have access to a reliable supply of potable water
Agreement party	- 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
Hazzards	- significant volcanic activity with multiple eruptions in recent years; Yasur (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, - tropical cyclones (January to April) - tsunamis - volcanic eruption on Aoba (Ambae) island began on 27 November 2005, volcanism also causes minor earthquakes
Location
Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to Australia
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
Terrain
mostly mountainous islands of volcanic origin; narrow coastal plains

---

People

Population
Total (World Rank: 181)	282,814
Deathrate (World Rank: 207)	0.40	%
Birthrate (World Rank: 54)	2.40	%
Growthrate (World Rank: 54)	1.85	%
Migration rate (World Rank: 113)	-0.14	%
Fertility rate (World Rank: 51)	3.07	%
Median age
Male (World Rank: 176)	21.60
Female (World Rank: 176)	22.40
Age structure
0 14 male (World Rank: 173)	51,261
0 14 female (World Rank: 172)	49,157
15 24 male (World Rank: 175)	28,110
15 24 female (World Rank: 176)	28,514
25 54 male (World Rank: 182)	48,476
25 54 female (World Rank: 182)	50,675
55 64 male (World Rank: 184)	7,646
55 64 female (World Rank: 186)	7,677
65 x male (World Rank: 190)	5,713
65 x female (World Rank: 193)	5,585
Health
Infant mortality rate (World Rank: 102)	1.44	%
Life expectancy total (World Rank: 128)	74	years
Life expectancy female (World Rank: 142)	75	years
Life expectancy male (World Rank: 115)	72	years
Physicians per 1000 (World Rank: 149)	0.19
Hospital bed per 1000 (World Rank: 114)	1.80
Sanitation access total (World Rank: 154)	57.90	%
Obesity adult (World Rank: 52)	25.20	%
Drinking water access (World Rank: 116)	94.50	%

---

Energy

Electricity
Production (World Rank: 203)	55,000,000	kWh
Consumption (World Rank: 202)	51,150,000	kWh
Source fossil (World Rank: 85)	81.80	%
Source renew (World Rank: 34)	18.20	%
Refined products
Consumption (World Rank: 205)	1,000	bbl / day
Import (World Rank: 198)	1,008	bbl / day
Natural gas
Consumption (World Rank: 154)	11	m³
Carbon footprint
200000

---

Nation

Budget
Education (World Rank: 74)	5	% of GDP
Health (World Rank: 139)	5	% of GDP
Surplus (World Rank: 33)	1	% of GDP
National symbol
boar's tusk with crossed fern fronds
National colours
yellow
Adjective
Ni-Vanuatu
Noun
Ni-Vanuatu (singular and plural)
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.
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

---

Economy

Gdp
Purchasing power parity (World Rank: 205)	740,000,000	USD
Real growth rate (World Rank: 65)	4.00	%
Per capita purchasing power parity (World Rank: 192)	2,700	USD
Source agriculture (World Rank: 23)	26.90	%
Source industry (World Rank: 207)	9.00	%
Source service (World Rank: 97)	64.20	%
Labourforce
Total (World Rank: 181)	115,900
Products
Industries	- fish freezing - food - meat canning - wood processing
Agriculture	- beef - cocoa - coconuts - coffee - copra - fish - fruits - taro - vegetables - yams
Exports	- beef - cocoa - coffee - copra - kava - timber
Imports	- equipment - foodstuffs - fuels - machinery

---

Communication

Phone
Landline total (World Rank: 203)	4,267
Landline per 100 (World Rank: 180)	2.00
Mobile per 100 (World Rank: 181)	69.00
Assessment	0
Internet
Users (World Rank: 180)	66,613
Population (World Rank: 177)	24.00	%

---

Transport

Air
Airports paved (World Rank: 171)	3.00
Airports unpaved (World Rank: 86)	28.00
Road
Total length (World Rank: 185)	1,070
Paved length (World Rank: 166)	256
Unpaved length (World Rank: 124)	814

---