Vanuatu Santo) rising to over 1,800 metres. Fresh has the fastest-growing population, as people water is plentiful. migrate to the capital; growth 2.4 per cent p.a. 1990–2013; birth rate 27 per 1,000 Climate: Oceanic tropical, with south-east people (43 in 1970); life expectancy 72 years trade winds running May–October. The (53 in 1970). period November–April is humid, with moderate rainfall. Cyclones may occur Most of the population is Melanesian, known November–April. as ni-Vanuatu (98.5 per cent in the 1999 census), the rest of mixed Micronesian, Environment: The most significant Polynesian and European descent. environmental issues are that a majority of the population does not have access to a safe Language: The national language is Bislama; and reliable supply of water (although it is English and French are widely spoken and improving), and deforestation. also official languages. There are more than 100 Melanesian languages and dialects. Vegetation: The rocky islands are thickly forested, with narrow coastal plains where Religion: Mainly Christians (Presbyterians 28 cultivation is possible. Forest covers 36 per per cent, Anglicans 15 per cent, Seventh Day cent of the land area and there was no Adventists 13 per cent and Roman Catholics significant loss of forest cover during 12 per cent; 2009 census). 1990–2012. Health: Public spending on health was three Wildlife: Vanuatu is home to 11 species of per cent of GDP in 2012. The major hospitals bat, including white flying-fox. It is also the are in Port Vila and Luganville, with health centres and dispensaries throughout the easternmost habitation of dugongs, also country. Some 91 per cent of the population KEY FACTS known as sea-cows. Espíritu Santo has the uses an improved drinking water source and Joined Commonwealth: 1980 richest bird population, with 55 species 58 per cent have access to adequate including incubator birds which leave their Population: 253,000 (2013) sanitation facilities (2012). Malaria is eggs to incubate in hot volcanic sand from widespread. Infant mortality was 15 per GDP p.c. growth: 0.6% p.a. 1990–2013 which the young birds emerge fully fledged. 1,000 live births in 2013 (141 in 1960). UN HDI 2014: World ranking 131 Seven mammal species and nine bird species Education: Public spending on education Official languages: Bislama, English, French are thought to be endangered (2014). was seven per cent of GDP in 2008. Primary Main towns: Port Vila (capital, pop. 47,500 Time: GMT plus 11 hrs education, in French or English, is provided in 2010) and Mele (2,500) on Efaté; Currency: Vatu (Vt) free of charge (with effect from 2010). Luganville (13,800) and Port Olry (2,900) on Primary school comprises six years and Espíritu Santo; Norsup (2,400) on Malakula; secondary seven, with cycles of four and Geography and Isangel (1,700) on Tanna. three years. Some 71 per cent of pupils Area: 12,190 sq km Transport: There are 1,070 km of roads, 24 complete primary school (2008). The school Coastline: 2,530 km per cent paved, most of which are on Efaté. year starts in February. Capital: Port Vila Ferries link the islands. Additionally, there are Vanuatu is a partner in the regional University shipping services, run by a number of of the South Pacific, which has its main The Republic of Vanuatu’s land area is made operators, to Australia, New Zealand and campus in Suva, Fiji, and a campus, the up of a group of islands in the south-west New Caledonia. The main ports are Port Vila Emalus Campus, in Port Vila, Vanuatu, where Pacific, lying south of Solomon Islands and and Luganville. 700–1,000 students per semester are enrolled east of the state of Queensland in Australia. for certificate, diploma, degree and The chief airports are at Bauerfield, near Port The country comprises six provinces: postgraduate courses, using the university’s Vila, and Pekoa on Espíritu Santo Island; there Malampa, Penama, Sanma, Shefa, Tafea and distance-learning facilities. The university’s are some 30 smaller airfields. Torba. law school and teaching programmes in Topography: Vanuatu is a Y-shaped Pacific languages and early childhood archipelago, some 900-km long. It forms a Society education are based at the Emalus Campus. double chain of about 40 mountainous KEY FACTS 2013 Institutions offering tertiary education include islands and 40 islets and rocks of volcanic Population per sq km: 21 the Institute of Technology, which offers and coral origin; about 65 of these are courses in business and technical education; Life expectancy: 72 years inhabited. Some islands (including Tanna, Institute of Teacher Education; and College of Lopévi and Ambrym) have active volcanoes. Population: 253,000 (2013); concentrated Nursing Education, all of which are located in Many of the rocky islands are steeply near the coast on the four main islands; 26 Port Vila. Literacy among people aged 15–24 mountainous, the highest peaks (on Espíritu per cent of people live in urban areas – Efaté is 94 per cent (2010). The CommonwealTh Yearbook 2015 Vanuatu Media: Vanuatu Weekly is published by the structural reforms, including reducing the Real growth in GDP government in Bislama, French and English. public sector, tighter fiscal control and % Independent newspapers include Vanuatu % 3.5 boosting exports. Daily Post , and the weeklies L’Hebdo du 3.0 The government continued in the 2000s to Vanuatu , Nasara , Ni-Vanuatu , Port Vila Presse 2.5 be committed to encouraging the private and The Vanuatu Independent . sector and foreign investment, improving The Vanuatu Broadcasting and Television 2.0 living standards and reducing economic g Corporation provides public TV and radio 1.5 inequalities. In 2001–02 the economy shrank services, broadcasting in Bislama, French and by more than two per cent p.a. It then 1.0 English, and there are some private recovered and the growth rate strengthened, commercial and faith radio stations. 0.5 averaging more than five per cent p.a. over 2003–08, a recovery that has been attributed Some 37 per cent of households have TV sets 0.0 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 to sound fiscal and monetary management, (2009). There are 14 personal computers per increased private capital inflows and better 1,000 people (2005). Inflation donor relations. From 2009, in the adverse Communications: Country code 678; international economic climate, the economy % 5 internet domain ‘.vu’. There are public grew more slowly, showing growth of one to phones in post offices. Mobile coverage is two per cent p.a. in 2010–13, then picking 4 generally good. Port Vila and Luganville have up in 2014 (estimated 3.5 per cent). several internet cafes, and internet access is 3 provided by some post offices. History For every 1,000 people there are 20 landlines, 2 The islands of Vanuatu have been inhabited 593 mobile phone subscriptions and 113 since 500 BCE, and the region was part of internet users (2013). 1 the Tongan Empire into the 14th century CE. Public holidays: New Year’s Day, Father European sailors visited it briefly and at long 0 Walter Lini Day (21 February), Chief’s Day (5 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 intervals from early in the 17th century. The March), Labour Day (1 May), Children’s Day name ‘New Hebrides’ was given to the (24 July), Independence Day (30 July), islands by Captain James Cook on his visit in GDP by sector (2013) Assumption Day (15 August), Constitution 1774. In 1789 the islands were called at by Day (5 October), Unity Day (29 November), rescuers seeking Captain Bligh and his Christmas Day and Family Day (25 and 26 Agriculture officers, who had been turned loose with December). 24.3% provisions in an open boat after the mutiny Industry on the Bounty . Religious festivals whose dates vary from year 10.5% to year include Good Friday, Easter Monday During the 19th century French and English and Ascension Day. Services Christian missionaries and some traders and 65.2% planters settled on some of the islands which Economy became an Anglo-French condominium by under growing pressure from the OECD’s 1906. The New Hebrides, as it was then KEY FACTS 2013 called, was ruled by separate British and campaign to counter money laundering and GNI: US$794m French administrations, laying the many of the more than 100 banks closed. By foundations for some of the problems that GNI p.c.: US$3,130 2003 only seven banks were able to comply have erupted since independence. GDP growth: 2.0% p.a. 2009–13 with the tighter regulations the government introduced to meet the OECD’s After World War II, a power struggle Inflation: 2.1% p.a. 2009–13 requirements. developed between the dual colonial interests The Vanuatu economy is based on and the indigenous islanders, initially over the A long strike by public-sector workers in agriculture, fishing, tourism and offshore alienation of land by the Europeans. The first financial services. Much of the agriculture is 1993–94 and subsequent dismissal of all major change was agreement, at a meeting subsistence farming. As most exports are those involved plunged the country into crisis, between France and the UK in 1974, to set agricultural – for example, copra, coconut oil, which was only resolved when the Asian up a representative assembly (with a majority kava, beef, timber, cocoa and coffee, Development Bank agreed (in 1997) to elected by universal franchise) to replace the Vanuatu is vulnerable to fluctuations in world financial support to lift the economy, but its colonial advisory council. The first national commodity prices. The country has inherent support was tied to a Comprehensive Reform elections followed in November 1975, but economic difficulties (it is remote and Programme.