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

slightly larger than Connecticut

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

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

218,519 (July 2010 est.)

21.53 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)

7.55 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)

2.43 children born/woman (2010 est.)

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

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

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

parliamentary republic

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

30 July 1980 (from France and the UK)

Independence Day, 30 July (1980)

unified system being created from former dual French and British systems; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

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]

ACCT, 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, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, 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

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.

$1.153 billion (2009 est.)

$1.111 billion (2008 est.)

$1.042 billion (2007 est.)

$635 million (2009 est.)

6% (31 December 2008)

6% (31 December 2007)

5.29% (31 December 2008)

8.16% (31 December 2007)

$101.6 million (31 December 2008)

$107.1 million (31 December 2007)

$430 million (31 December 2008)

$421.8 million (31 December 2007)

$274 million (31 December 2008)

$229.5 million (31 December 2007)

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

food and fish freezing, wood processing, meat canning

42 million kWh (2007 est.)

39.06 million kWh (2007 est.)

0 bbl/day (2009 est.)

1,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)

0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

654 bbl/day (2007 est.)

0 bbl (1 January 2009 est.)

0 cu m (1 January 2009 est.)

-$60 million (2007 est.)

copra, beef, cocoa, timber, kava, coffee

Thailand 53.15%, Japan 12.22%, Poland 11.78% (2009)

machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, fuels

Japan 17.3%, Australia 13.46%, China 12.26%, Singapore 12%, NZ 6.88%, Poland 6.61%, France 5.86%, Fiji 5.52% (2009)

$40.54 million (2003)

$81.2 million (2004)

vatu (VUV) per US dollar - 97.93 (2009), NA (2007), 111.93 (2006), NA (2005), 111.79 (2004), 122.19 (2003)

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)

Forari, Port-Vila, Santo (Espiritu Santo)

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

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