:Vanuatu People
Population:
174,574 (July 1992), growth rate 3.0% (1992)
Birth rate:
35 births/1,000 population (1992)
Death rate:
5 deaths/1,000 population (1992)
Net migration rate:
0 migrants/1,000 population (1992)
Infant mortality rate:
30 deaths/1,000 live births (1992)
Life expectancy at birth:
67 years male, 72 years female (1992)
Total fertility rate:
5.1 children born/woman (1992)
Nationality:
noun - Ni-Vanuatu (singular and plural); adjective - Ni-Vanuatu
Ethnic divisions:
indigenous Melanesian 94%, French 4%, remainder Vietnamese, Chinese, and
various Pacific Islanders
Religions:
Presbyterian 36.7%, Anglican 15%, Catholic 15%, indigenous beliefs 7.6%,
Seventh-Day Adventist 6.2%, Church of Christ 3.8%, other 15.7%
Languages:
English and French (official); pidgin (known as Bislama or Bichelama)
Literacy:
53% (male 57%, female 48%) age 15 and over can read and write (1979)
Labor force:
NA
Organized labor:
7 registered trade unions - largest include Oil and Gas Workers' Union,
Vanuatu Airline Workers' Union
:Vanuatu Government
Long-form name:
Republic of Vanuatu
Type:
republic
Capital:
Port-Vila
Administrative divisions:
11 island councils; Ambrym, Aoba/Maewo, Banks/Torres, Efate, Epi, Malakula,
Paama, Pentecote, Santo/Malo, Shepherd, Tafea
Independence:
30 July 1980 (from France and UK; formerly New Hebrides)
Constitution:
30 July 1980
Legal system:
unified system being created from former dual French and British systems
National holiday:
Independence Day, 30 July (1980)
Executive branch:
president, prime minister, deputy prime minister, Council of Ministers
(cabinet)
Legislative branch:
unicameral Parliament; note - the National Council of Chiefs advises on
matters of custom and land
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court
Leaders:
Chief of State:
President Frederick TIMAKATA (since 30 January 1989)
Head of Government:
Prime Minister Maxime CARLOT (since 16 December 1991); Deputy Prime Minister
Sethy REGENVANU (since 17 December 1991)
Political parties and leaders:
Vanuatu Party (VP), Donald KALPOKAS; Union of Moderate Parties (UMP), Serge
VOHOR; Melanesian Progressive Party (MPP), Barak SOPE; National United Party
(NUP), Walter LINI; Tan Union Party (TUP), Vincent BOULEKONE; Nagriamel
Party, Jimmy STEVENS; Friend Melanesian Party, leader NA
Suffrage:
universal at age 18
Elections:
Parliament:
last held 2 December 1991 (next to be held by November 1995); note - after
election, a coalition was formed by the Union of Moderate Parties and the
National United Party to form new government on 16 December 1991; seats -
(46 total) UMP 19; NUP 10; VP 10; MPP 4; TUP 1; Nagriamel 1; Friend 1
Member of:
ACCT, ACP, AsDB, C, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IFC, IMF, IMO,
IOC, ITU, NAM, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO
Diplomatic representation:
Vanuatu does not have a mission in Washington
US:
the ambassador in Papua New Guinea is accredited to Vanuatu
Flag:
two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and green (bottom) 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 leaves, all in yellow
:Vanuatu Economy
Overview:
The economy is based primarily on subsistence farming which provides a
living for about 80% of the population. Fishing and tourism are the 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.
GDP:
exchange rate conversion - $142 million, per capita $900 (1988 est.); real
growth rate 6% (1990)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
5% (1990)
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Budget:
revenues $90.0 million; expenditures $103.0 million, including capital
expenditures of $45.0 million (1989 est.)
Exports:
$15.6 million (f.o.b., 1990 est.)
commodities:
copra 59%, cocoa 11%, meat 9%, fish 8%, timber 4%
partners:
Netherlands, Japan, France, New Caledonia, Belgium
Imports:
$60.4 million (f.o.b., 1990 est.)
commodities:
machines and vehicles 25%, food and beverages 23%, basic manufactures 18%,
raw materials and fuels 11%, chemicals 6%
partners:
Australia 36%, Japan 13%, NZ 10%, France 8%, Fiji 8%
External debt:
$30 million (1990 est.)
Industrial production:
growth rate NA%; accounts for about 10% of GDP
Electricity:
17,000 kW capacity; 30 million kWh produced, 180 kWh per capita (1990)
Industries:
food and fish freezing, wood processing, meat canning
Agriculture:
accounts for 40% of GDP; export crops - copra, cocoa, coffee, and fish;
subsistence crops - copra, taro, yams, coconuts, fruits, and vegetables
Economic aid:
Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89),
$606 million
Currency:
vatu (plural - vatu); 1 vatu (VT) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates:
vatu (VT) per US$1 - 112.55 (March 1992), 111.68 (1991), 116.57 (1990),
116.04 (1989), 104.43 (1988), 109.85 (1987)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
:Vanuatu Communications
Railroads:
none
Highways:
1,027 km total; at least 240 km sealed or all-weather roads
Ports:
Port-Vila, Luganville, Palikoulo, Santu
Merchant marine:
121 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,093,443 GRT/3,168,822 DWT; includes
26 cargo, 14 refrigerated cargo, 5 container, 11 vehicle carrier, 1
livestock carrier, 5 petroleum tanker, 2 chemical tanker, 3 liquefied gas,
51 bulk, 1 combination bulk, 1 passenger, 1 short-sea passenger; note - a
flag of convenience registry
Civil air:
no major transport aircraft
Airports:
33 total, 31 usable; 2 with permanent-surface runways; none with runways
over 3,659 m; 1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 2 with runways 1,220-2,439 m
Telecommunications:
broadcast stations - 2 AM, no FM, no TV; 3,000 telephones; satellite ground
stations - 1 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT
:Vanuatu Defense Forces
Branches:
no military forces; Vanuatu Police Force (VPF), paramilitary Vanuatu Mobile
Force (VMF)
Manpower availability:
males 15-49, NA; NA fit for military service
Defense expenditures:
$NA, NA% of GDP