Communications: Broadband - fixed subscriptions: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
1 (2022 est.)
Communications: Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total
4,000 (2022 est.)
Communications: 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)
Communications: Internet country code
.vu
Communications: Internet users: percent of population
46% (2023 est.)
Communications: Telephones - fixed lines: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
1 (2022 est.)
Communications: Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions
3,000 (2022 est.)
Communications: Telephones - mobile cellular: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
78 (2022 est.)
Communications: Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions
256,000 (2022 est.)
Economy: Agricultural products
coconuts, oranges, yams, cabbages, taro, bananas, chillies/peppers, chestnuts, sweet potatoes, cassava (2023)
Economy: Budget: expenditures
$378.659 million (2023 est.)
Economy: Budget: revenues
$386.577 million (2023 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2013
-$5.2 million (2013 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2014
$4.2 million (2014 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2015
-$114.6 million (2015 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2016
-$70.5 million (2016 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2017
-$70.8 million (2017 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2018
$29.6 million (2018 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2019
$73.3 million (2019 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2020
-$57.858 million (2020 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2021
-$75.451 million (2021 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2022
-$127.432 million (2022 est.)
Economy: Debt - external: Debt - external 2022
$463.4 million (2022 est.)
Economy: Debt - external: Debt - external 2023
$299.746 million (2023 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates
119.165 (2024 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Currency
vatu (VUV) per US dollar -
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2013
94.5425 (2013 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2014
97.0717 (2014 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2015
108.989 (2015 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2016
108.475 (2016 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2017
107.821 (2017 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2018
110.165 (2018 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2019
114.733 (2019 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2020
115.380 (2020 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2021
109.448 (2021 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2022
115.354 (2022 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2023
119.112 (2023 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2024
119.165 (2024 est.)
Economy: Exports - commodities
fish, ships, perfume plants, wood, copra (2023)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2011
$351.2 million (2011 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2014
$397.2 million (2014 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2015
$336.4 million (2015 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2016
$381.6 million (2016 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2017
$419.4 million (2017 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2018
$517.8 million (2018 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2019
$471.5 million (2019 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2020
$132.943 million (2020 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2021
$82.08 million (2021 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2022
$152.087 million (2022 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: exports of goods and services
9.6% (2022 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: government consumption
23.9% (2022 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption
77.2% (2022 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: imports of goods and services
-55.5% (2022 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: investment in fixed capital
38.8% (2022 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: investment in inventories
0.4% (2022 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture
24.9% (2022 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: industry
7.5% (2022 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: services
60.4% (2022 est.)
Economy: GDP - per capita (PPP)
$3,606 (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP (official exchange rate)
$1.161 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP (purchasing power parity) - real
$1.182 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2019
32.3 (2019 est.)
Economy: Household income or consumption by percentage share: highest 10%
24.7% (2019 est.)
Economy: Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%
3% (2019 est.)
Economy: Imports - commodities
refined petroleum, ships, plastic products, poultry, trucks (2023)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2010
$369.6 million (2010 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2015
$489.8 million (2015 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2016
$473.8 million (2016 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2017
$509.2 million (2017 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2018
$494.6 million (2018 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2019
$459.3 million (2019 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2020
$438.373 million (2020 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2021
$520.391 million (2021 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2022
$579.347 million (2022 est.)
Economy: Industrial production growth rate
-19.7% (2022 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2015
2.48% (2015 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2016
0.84% (2016 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2017
3.08% (2017 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2018
2.33% (2018 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2019
2.76% (2019 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2020
5.33% (2020 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021
2.34% (2021 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022
6.68% (2022 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023
11.18% (2023 est.)
Economy: Labor force
118,100 (2024 est.)
Economy: Population below poverty line
15.90% (2019 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2021
87.07% (2021 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2022
79.77% (2022 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2023
72.32% (2023 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2014
$752.1 million (2014 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2015
$789.2 million (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2016
$824.4 million (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2017
$876.2 million (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2019
$967.8 million (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2020
$931.7 million (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021
$959.2 million (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022
$1.009 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023
$999.162 million (2023 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024
$1.039 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2015
3.97% (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2016
3.47% (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2017
4.41% (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2018
2.90% (2018 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2019
3.24% (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2020
-4.99% (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2021
-1.55% (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2022
5.19% (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2023
-1% (2023 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2024
4% (2024 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2014
$2,890 (2014 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2015
$2,966 (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2016
$3,030 (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2017
$3,146 (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2019
$3,315 (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2020
$3,118 (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2021
$3,136 (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2022
$3,453 (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2023
$3,568 (2023 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2013
$23.7 million (2013 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2014
$41.6 million (2014 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2015
$39.7 million (2015 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2020
$127.1 million (2020 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2021
20.3% of GDP (2021 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2022
19.2% of GDP (2022 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2023
12.9% of GDP (2023 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2015
$269.2 million (2015 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2016
$267.3 million (2016 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2017
$395.1 million (2017 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2018
$432.0 million (2018 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2019
$511.5 million (2019 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2020
$613.6 million (2020 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021
$664.8 million (2021 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022
$638.537 million (2022 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023
$643.768 million (2023 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024
$614.65 million (2024 est.)
Economy: Taxes and other revenues
17.4% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2019
5.44% (2019 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2020
4.05% (2020 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2021
4.78% (2021 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2022
5.08% (2022 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2023
5.01% (2023 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2024
4.99% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): female
14% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): male
9.6% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): total
11.6% (2024 est.)
Energy: Electricity access: electrification - rural areas
60.7%
Energy: Electricity access: electrification - total population
70% (2022 est.)
Energy: Electricity access: electrification - urban areas
97%
Energy: Electricity generation sources: biomass and waste
0.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels
74.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: hydroelectricity
11.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: solar
8.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: wind
5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: consumption
74.766 million kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: installed generating capacity
39,000 kW (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: transmission/distribution losses
5.264 million kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Energy consumption per capita: Total energy consumption per capita 2023
12.934 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
Energy: Petroleum: refined petroleum consumption
2,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from petroleum and other liquids
292,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: total emissions
292,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: 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
Environment: Environmental issues
water pollution; limited potable water; inadequate sanitation; deforestation
Environment: International environmental agreements: party to
Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
Environment: International environmental agreements: signed, but not ratified
none of the selected agreements
Environment: Land use: agricultural land
15.3% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 1.6% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 10.3% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 3.4% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: forest
74.8% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: other
9.8% (2023 est.)
Environment: Particulate matter emissions
9.1 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Environment: Total renewable water resources
10 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Urbanization: rate of urbanization
2.55% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Environment: Urbanization: urban population
22.29% (2024 est.)
Environment: Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually
70,200 tons (2024 est.)
Environment: Waste and recycling: percent of municipal solid waste recycled
52.9% (2022 est.)
Geography: Area - comparative
slightly larger than Connecticut
Geography: Area: land
12,189 sq km
Geography: Area: water
0 sq km
Geography: Coastline
2,528 km
Geography: Elevation: highest point
Tabwemasana 1,877 m
Geography: Elevation: lowest point
Pacific Ocean 0 m
Geography: Geographic coordinates
16 00 S, 167 00 E
Geography: 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
Geography: Irrigated land
0 sq km (2022)
Geography: Land boundaries: total
0 km
Geography: Land use: agricultural land
15.3% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 1.6% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 10.3% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 3.4% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: forest
74.8% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: other
9.8% (2023 est.)
Geography: Map references
Oceania
Geography: Maritime claims: contiguous zone
24 nm
Geography: Maritime claims: continental shelf
200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Geography: Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone
200 nm
Geography: Maritime claims: territorial sea
12 nm
Geography: Natural hazards
tropical cyclones (January to April); volcanic activity; volcanism also causes minor earthquakes; tsunamis 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: 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
Geography: Terrain
mostly mountainous islands of volcanic origin; narrow coastal plains
Government: Administrative divisions
6 provinces; Malampa, Penama, Sanma, Shefa, Tafea, Torba
Government: Capital: etymology
the local name of Vila is sometimes used alone for the the port town; its meaning is unknown
Government: Capital: geographic coordinates
17 44 S, 168 19 E
Government: Capital: time difference
UTC+11 (16 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Government: Citizenship: citizenship by birth
no
Government: 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
Government: Citizenship: dual citizenship recognized
no
Government: Citizenship: residency requirement for naturalization
10 years
Government: 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
Government: Constitution: history
draft completed August 1979, finalized by constitution conference 19 September 1979, ratified by French and British Governments 23 October 1979, effective 30 July 1980 at independence
Government: Country name: conventional short form
Vanuatu
Government: Country name: etymology
the name means "Our land forever" in several of the Austronesian languages spoken on the islands; the former name, New Hebrides, was given by Captain James COOK in 1774 because he thought they looked similar to the Hebrides islands off the coast of Scotland
Government: Country name: former
New Hebrides
Government: Country name: local long form
Ripablik blong Vanuatu
Government: Country name: local short form
Vanuatu
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission
Ambassador Ann Marie YASTISHOCK (since 16 April 2024); note - also accredited to the Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands, based in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: email address and website
https://vt.usembassy.gov/
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: embassy
Port Vila
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: chancery
800 Second Avenue, Suite 400B, New York, NY 10017
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission
Ambassador Odo TEVI (since 8 September 2017) note - also Permanent Representative to the UN
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: email address and website
vanunmis@aol.com https://www.un.int/vanuatu/
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: FAX
[1] (212) 422-3427
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: telephone
[1] (212) 661-4303
Government: Executive branch: cabinet
Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister, responsible to Parliament
Government: Executive branch: chief of state
President Nikenike VUROBARAVU (since 23 July 2022)
Government: Executive branch: election results
2022: Nikenike VUROBARAVU elected president in eighth round; electoral college vote - Nikenike VUROBARAVU (VP) 48 votes, Solas MOLISA (VP) 4 votes
Government: Executive branch: election/appointment process
president indirectly elected by an electoral college consisting of Parliament and presidents of the 6 provinces; national president serves a 5-year term; following legislative elections, the Parliament usually elects the leader of the majority party or majority coalition (who must also be a member of Parliament) as prime minister
Government: Executive branch: expected date of next election
2027
Government: Executive branch: head of government
Prime Minister Jotham NAPAT (since 11 February 2025)
Government: Executive branch: most recent election date
23 July 2022
Government: Flag
description: two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and green with a black isosceles triangle (based on the left side); a black-edged yellow stripe in the shape of a horizontal "Y" faces the left side and encloses the triangle; a boar's tusk in the triangle circles two crossed namele fern fronds, all in yellow 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
Government: International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Government: 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
Government: Judicial branch: highest court(s)
Court of Appeal (consists of 2 or more judges of the Supreme Court designated by the chief justice); Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and 6 puisne judges -- 3 local and 3 expatriate)
Government: 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
Government: Judicial branch: subordinate courts
Magistrates Courts; Island Courts
Government: Legal system
mixed system of English common law, French law, and customary law
Government: Legislative branch: electoral system
proportional representation
Government: Legislative branch: expected date of next election
January 2029
Government: Legislative branch: legislative structure
unicameral
Government: Legislative branch: legislature name
Parliament
Government: Legislative branch: most recent election date
1/16/2025
Government: Legislative branch: number of seats
52 (all directly elected)
Government: Legislative branch: parties elected and seats per party
Leaders Party of Vanuatu (LPV) (9); Vanua'aku Pati (VP) (7); Iauko Group (IG) (6); Union of Moderate Parties (UMP) (6); Rural Development Party (RDP) (6); Graon mo Jastis Pati (Land and Justice Party, GJP) (5); Reunification Movement for Change (RMC) (5); Other (8)
Government: Legislative branch: percentage of women in chamber
1.9%
Government: Legislative branch: scope of elections
full renewal
Government: Legislative branch: term in office
4 years
Government: National anthem(s): history
adopted 1980; the anthem is written in the native Bislama
Government: National anthem(s): lyrics/music
Francois Vincent AYSSAV
Government: National color(s)
red, black, green, yellow
Government: National heritage: selected World Heritage Site locales
Chief Roi Mata’s Domain
Government: National heritage: total World Heritage Sites
1 (cultural)
Government: National holiday
Independence Day, 30 July (1980)
Government: National symbol(s)
boar's tusk with crossed fern fronds
Government: Political parties
Iauko Group (Eagle Party) or IG 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
Government: Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Introduction: 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.
Military and Security: Military - note
the separate British and French police forces were unified in 1980 as the New Hebrides Constabulary, which was commanded by Ni-Vanuatu officers while retaining some British and French officers as advisors; the Constabulary was subsequently renamed the Vanuatu Police Force later in 1980 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)
Military and Security: Military and security forces
no regular military forces; Vanuatu Police Force (VPF)
People and Society: Age structure: 0-14 years
31.1% (male 50,584/female 48,475)
People and Society: Age structure: 15-64 years
63.8% (male 99,496/female 103,425)
People and Society: Age structure: 65 years and over
5% (2024 est.) (male 7,852/female 8,175)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: beer
0.34 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: other alcohols
0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: spirits
0.87 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: total
1.6 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: wine
0.39 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Birth rate
20.36 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Current health expenditure
4.12% (2023 est.)
People and Society: Currently married women (ages 15-49)
68.6% (2020 est.)
People and Society: Death rate
4.02 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: elderly dependency ratio
7.9 (2024 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: potential support ratio
12.7 (2024 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio
56.7 (2024 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: youth dependency ratio
48.8 (2024 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: rural
rural: 88.6% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: total
total: 91.3% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: urban
urban: 99.2% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: rural
rural: 11.4% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: total
total: 8.7% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: urban
urban: 0.8% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditure: Education expenditure (% GDP)
7.6% of GDP (2023 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditure: Education expenditure (% national budget)
20.1% national budget (2024 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditures
7.64% (2024 est.)
People and Society: Ethnic groups
Ni-Vanuatu 99%, other 1% (European, Asian, other Melanesian, Polynesian, Micronesian, other) (2020 est.)
People and Society: Gross reproduction rate
1.2 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of GDP)
4.4% of GDP (2021)
People and Society: Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of national budget)
3.9% of national budget (2022 est.)
People and Society: HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
0.10% (2024 est.)
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: female
12.3 deaths/1,000 live births
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: male
15 deaths/1,000 live births
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: total
14.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
People and Society: Life expectancy at birth: female
74.1 years (2024 est.)
People and Society: Life expectancy at birth: male
69.6 years (2024 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: female
88.2% (2023 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: male
87.7% (2023 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: total population
87.96% (2023 est.)
People and Society: Major urban areas - population
53,000 PORT-VILA (capital) (2018)
People and Society: Maternal mortality ratio
100 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
People and Society: Median age: female
25 years
People and Society: Median age: male
24.1 years
People and Society: Nationality: adjective
Ni-Vanuatu
People and Society: Net migration rate
-1.24 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Obesity - adult prevalence rate
25.2% (2016)
People and Society: Physician density
0.16 physicians/1,000 population (2019)
People and Society: Population
327,777 (2024 est.)
People and Society: 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
People and Society: Population growth rate
1.51% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Population: female
160,075
People and Society: Population: male
157,932
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: rural
rural: 66.9% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: total
total: 73.9% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: urban
urban: 94% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: rural
rural: 33.1% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: total
total: 26.1% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: urban
urban: 6% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sex ratio: 0-14 years
1.04 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: 15-64 years
0.96 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: 65 years and over
0.96 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: at birth
1.05 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: total population
0.99 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: female
2.6% (2020 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: male
33% (2020 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: total
17.8% (2020 est.)
People and Society: Total fertility rate
2.46 children born/woman (2025 est.)
People and Society: Urbanization: rate of urbanization
2.55% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
People and Society: Urbanization: urban population
22.29% (2024 est.)
Transnational Issues: Refugees and internally displaced persons: IDPs
2,336 (2024 est.)
Transnational Issues: Trafficking in persons: tier rating
Tier 2 Watch List — Vanuatu does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking, but the government has devoted sufficient resources to a written plan that, if implemented, would constitute significant efforts to meet the minimum standards; therefore, Vanuatu was granted a waiver per the Trafficking Victims Protection Act from an otherwise required downgrade to Tier 3 and remained on Tier 2 Watch List for the third consecutive year; for more details, go to: https://www.state.gov/reports/2025-trafficking-in-persons-report/vanuatu/
Transportation: Airports
31 (2025)
Transportation: Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
YJ
Transportation: Merchant marine: by type
bulk carrier 11, container ship 3, general cargo 101, other 223
Transportation: Merchant marine: total
338 (2023)
Transportation: Ports: key ports
Forari Bay, Luganville, Port Vila
Transportation: Ports: large
0
Transportation: Ports: medium
0
Transportation: Ports: ports with oil terminals
2
Transportation: Ports: small
1
Transportation: Ports: total ports
3 (2024)
Transportation: Ports: very small
2
Warning: Some information might be outdated or incorrect, please check statistics before using(most of the economical stats are correct, its mostly the Population stats that are incorrect). Some dates are listed but some are missed, if you have any issues please report it to the Github at github.com.