Vanuatu
Republic of Vanuatu
Population
318.0K
Area
12,189 km²
GDP
$1.16B
GDP Per Capita
$3,200
Pop. Density
26/km²
Background
Austronesian speakers from the Solomon Islands first settled Vanuatu around 2000 B.C. By around 1000, localized chieftain systems began to develop on the islands. Around 1600, Melanesian Chief ROI MATA united some of the islands of modern-day Vanuatu under his rule. In 1606, a Portuguese explorer was the first European to see Vanuatu's Banks Islands and Espiritu Santo, setting up a short-lived settlement on the latter. The next European explorers arrived in the 1760s, and the islands -- then known as the New Hebrides -- were frequented by whalers in the 1800s. European interest in harvesting the islands’ sandalwood trees caused conflict with the inhabitants. In the 1860s, European planters in Australia, Fiji, New Caledonia, and Samoa needed labor and kidnapped almost half the adult males on the islands to work as indentured servants.
With growing and overlapping interests in the islands, France and the UK agreed that the New Hebrides would be neutral in 1878 and established a joint naval commission in 1887. In 1906, the two countries created the UK-France condominium to jointly administer the islands, with separate laws, police forces, currencies, and education and health systems. The condominium arrangement was dysfunctional, and the UK used France’s initial defeat in World War II to assert greater control over the islands. During the war, the US stationed up to 50,000 soldiers in Vanuatu. In 1945, they withdrew and sold their equipment, leading to the rise of political and religious movements known as "cargo cults," such as the John Frum movement.
The UK-France condominium was reestablished after World War II. The UK was interested in moving the condominium toward independence in the 1960s, but France was hesitant. Political parties agitating for independence began to form, largely divided along linguistic lines. France eventually relented, and elections were held in 1974, with independence granted to the newly named Vanuatu in 1980 under English-speaking Prime Minister Walter LINI. The Nagriamel Movement, with support from French-speaking landowners, then declared the island of Espiritu Santo independent from Vanuatu, but the short-lived state was dissolved 12 weeks later. Linguistic divisions have lessened over time, but highly fractious political parties have led to weak coalition governments that require support from both Anglophone and Francophone parties. Since 2008, prime ministers have been ousted more than a dozen times through no-confidence motions or temporary procedural issues.
Geography17
Location
Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to Australia
Geographic coordinates
16 00 S, 167 00 E
Map references
Oceania
Area
land: 12,189 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative
slightly larger than Connecticut
Land boundaries
Coastline
2,528 km
Maritime claims
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
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
Elevation
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
Natural resources
manganese, hardwood forests, fish
Land use
agricultural land
agricultural land: arable land
agricultural land: permanent crops
agricultural land: permanent pasture
forest
other
Irrigated land
0 sq km (2022)
Population distribution
three quarters of the population lives in rural areas; the urban populace lives primarily in two cities, Port-Vila and Lugenville; the three largest islands -- Espiritu Santo, Malakula, and Efate -- accommodate over half of the populace
Natural hazards
volcanism: 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, Kuwae, Lopevi, Suretamatai, and Traitor's Head
Geography - note
a Y-shaped chain of four main islands and 80 smaller islands; several of the islands have active volcanoes, including several underwater volcanoes
People & Society31
Population
male: 157,932
female: 160,075
Nationality
adjective: Ni-Vanuatu
Ethnic groups
Ni-Vanuatu 99%, other 1% (European, Asian, other Melanesian, Polynesian, Micronesian, other) (2020 est.)
Languages
indigenous languages (more than 100) 82.6%, Bislama (official; creole) 14.5%, English (official) 2.1%, French (official) 0.8% (2020 est.)
Religions
Protestant 39.9% (Presbyterian 27.2%, Seventh Day Adventist 14.8%, Anglican 12%, Churches of Christ 5%, Assemblies of God 4.9%, Neil Thomas Ministry/Inner Life Ministry 3.2%), Roman Catholic 12.1%, Apostolic 2.3%, Church of Jesus Christ 1.8%, customary beliefs (including Jon Frum cargo cult) 3.1%, other 12%, none 1.4%, unspecified 0.1% (2020 est.)
Age structure
15-64 years: 63.8% (male 99,496/female 103,425)
65 years and over: 5% (2024 est.) (male 7,852/female 8,175)
Dependency ratios
youth dependency ratio: 48.8 (2024 est.)
elderly dependency ratio: 7.9 (2024 est.)
potential support ratio: 12.7 (2024 est.)
Median age
male: 24.1 years
female: 25 years
Population growth rate
1.51% (2025 est.)
Birth rate
20.36 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate
4.02 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate
-1.24 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution
three quarters of the population lives in rural areas; the urban populace lives primarily in two cities, Port-Vila and Lugenville; the three largest islands -- Espiritu Santo, Malakula, and Efate -- accommodate over half of the populace
Urbanization
rate of urbanization: 2.55% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population
53,000 PORT-VILA (capital) (2018)
Sex ratio
0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.96 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio
100 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate
male: 15 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 12.3 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth
male: 74 years
female: 77.4 years
Total fertility rate
2.46 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate
1.2 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source
improved: urban
improved: rural
improved: total
unimproved: urban
unimproved: rural
unimproved: total
Health expenditure
Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 3.9% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density
0.16 physicians/1,000 population (2019)
Sanitation facility access
improved: urban
improved: rural
improved: total
unimproved: urban
unimproved: rural
unimproved: total
Obesity - adult prevalence rate
25.2% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita
beer: 0.34 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
wine: 0.39 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
spirits: 0.87 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use
male: 33% (2020 est.)
female: 2.6% (2020 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49)
68.6% (2020 est.)
Education expenditure
Education expenditure (% national budget): 20.1% national budget (2024 est.)
Literacy
male: 87.7% (2023 est.)
female: 88.2% (2023 est.)
Government23
Country name
conventional long form
conventional short form
local long form
local short form
former
etymology
Government type
parliamentary republic
Capital
geographic coordinates: 17 44 S, 168 19 E
time difference: UTC+11 (16 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
etymology: the local name of Vila is sometimes used alone for the the port town; its meaning is unknown
Administrative divisions
6 provinces; Malampa, Penama, Sanma, Shefa, Tafea, Torba
Legal system
mixed system of English common law, French law, and customary law
Constitution
amendment process: proposed by the prime minister or by the Parliament membership; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote by Parliament in special session with at least three fourths of the membership; passage of amendments affecting the national and official languages, or the electoral and parliamentary system also requires approval in a referendum
International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship
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
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch
chief of state
head of government
cabinet
election/appointment process
most recent election date
election results
expected date of next election
Legislative branch
legislature name
legislative structure
number of seats
electoral system
scope of elections
term in office
most recent election date
parties elected and seats per party
percentage of women in chamber
expected date of next election
Judicial branch
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 appointed by the president on the advice of the Judicial Service Commission, a 4-member advisory body; judges serve until the age of retirement
subordinate courts: Magistrates Courts; Island Courts
Political parties
Land and Justice Party (Graon mo Jastis Pati or GJP)
Leaders Party of Vanuatu or LPV
Rural Development Party or RDP
Reunification of Movement for Change or RMC
Union of Moderate Parties or UMP
Vanua'aku Pati (Our Land Party) or VP
Diplomatic representation in the US
note - also Permanent Representative to the UN
chancery: 800 Second Avenue, Suite 400B, New York, NY 10017
telephone: [1] (212) 661-4303
FAX: [1] (212) 422-3427
email address and website:
vanunmis@aol.com
https://www.un.int/vanuatu/
Diplomatic representation from the US
embassy: Port Vila
email address and website:
https://vt.usembassy.gov/
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
Independence
30 July 1980 (from France and the UK)
National holiday
Independence Day, 30 July (1980)
Flag
meaning: red stands for unity and the blood of men and boars, green for the richness of the islands, and black for the ni-Vanuatu people; the yellow "Y" reflects the islands' layout in the Pacific Ocean and symbolizes the light of the Gospel; the boar's tusk is a symbol of prosperity; the ferns represent peace
National symbol(s)
boar's tusk with crossed fern fronds
National color(s)
red, black, green, yellow
National anthem(s)
lyrics/music: Francois Vincent AYSSAV
history: adopted 1980; the anthem is written in the native Bislama
National heritage
selected World Heritage Site locales: Chief Roi Mata’s Domain
Economy31
Economic overview
lower-middle income Pacific island economy; extremely reliant on subsistence agriculture and tourism; environmentally fragile; struggling post-pandemic and Tropical Cyclone Harold rebound; sizeable inflation; road infrastructure aid from Australia
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $999.162 million (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $1.009 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate
Real GDP growth rate 2023: -1% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2022: 5.2% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita
Real GDP per capita 2023: $3,100 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2022: $3,200 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate)
$1.161 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 6.7% (2022 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021: 2.3% (2021 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
industry: 7.5% (2022 est.)
services: 60.4% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use
household consumption
government consumption
investment in fixed capital
investment in inventories
exports of goods and services
imports of goods and services
Agricultural products
coconuts, oranges, yams, cabbages, taro, bananas, chillies/peppers, chestnuts, sweet potatoes, cassava (2023)
Industries
food and fish freezing, wood processing, meat canning
Industrial production growth rate
-19.7% (2022 est.)
Labor force
118,100 (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate
Unemployment rate 2023: 5.1% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate 2022: 5.2% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
male: 9.6% (2024 est.)
female: 14% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line
15.9% (2019 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income
Household income or consumption by percentage share
highest 10%: 24.7% (2019 est.)
Remittances
Remittances 2022: 19.2% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances 2021: 20.3% of GDP (2021 est.)
Budget
expenditures: $378.659 million (2023 est.)
Public debt
Taxes and other revenues
17.4% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
Current account balance
Current account balance 2021: -$75.451 million (2021 est.)
Current account balance 2020: -$57.858 million (2020 est.)
Exports
Exports 2021: $82.08 million (2021 est.)
Exports 2020: $132.943 million (2020 est.)
Exports - partners
Thailand 49%, Japan 19%, Cote d'Ivoire 10%, China 7%, USA 3% (2023)
Exports - commodities
fish, ships, perfume plants, wood, copra (2023)
Imports
Imports 2021: $520.391 million (2021 est.)
Imports 2020: $438.373 million (2020 est.)
Imports - partners
China 26%, Australia 15%, Angola 11%, Fiji 9%, NZ 8% (2023)
Imports - commodities
refined petroleum, ships, plastic products, poultry, trucks (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $643.768 million (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $638.537 million (2022 est.)
Debt - external
Exchange rates
Currency
Exchange rates 2024
Exchange rates 2023
Exchange rates 2022
Exchange rates 2021
Exchange rates 2020
Energy5
Electricity access
electrification - urban areas: 97%
electrification - rural areas: 60.7%
Electricity
consumption: 74.766 million kWh (2023 est.)
transmission/distribution losses: 5.264 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources
solar: 8.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
wind: 5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
hydroelectricity: 11.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
biomass and waste: 0.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Petroleum
Energy consumption per capita
Communications6
Telephones - fixed lines
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 1 (2022 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 78 (2022 est.)
Broadcast media
1 state-owned TV station; multi-channel pay TV available; state-owned Radio Vanuatu has 2 radio stations; 2 privately owned radio broadcasters; multiple international broadcasts available (2023)
Internet country code
.vu
Internet users
Broadband - fixed subscriptions
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 1 (2022 est.)
Transportation4
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
YJ
Airports
31 (2025)
Merchant marine
by type: bulk carrier 11, container ship 3, general cargo 101, other 223
Ports
total ports
large
medium
small
very small
ports with oil terminals
key ports
Military & Security2
Military and security forces
no regular military forces; Vanuatu Police Force (VPF)
Military - note
the Vanuatu Mobile Force has received training and other support from Australia, China, France, New Zealand, and the US
Vanuatu has a "shiprider" agreement with the US, which allows local maritime law enforcement officers to embark on US Coast Guard (USCG) and US Navy (USN) vessels, including to board and search vessels suspected of violating laws or regulations within Vanuatu's designated exclusive economic zone (EEZ) or on the high seas; "shiprider" agreements also enable USCG personnel and USN vessels with embarked USCG law enforcement personnel to work with host nations to protect critical regional resources (2025)