General Overview
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.
Demographics
The population of Vanuatu is 94% indigenous Melanesian. About 33,700 live in the capital, Port Vila. Another 10,700 live in Luganville (or Santo Town) on Espiritu Santo. The remainder live in rural areas. Approximately 2,000 ni-Vanuatu live and work in New Caledonia. Although local pidgin, called Bislama, is the national language, English and French also are official languages. Indigenous Melanesians speak 105 local languages.
• Country name: Republic of Vanuatu
• Capital Name: Port-Vila (on Efate)
• Population: 215,446 (July 2008 est.)
• Nationality: Ni-Vanuatu
• Languages: 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)
• Ethnic Groups: Ni-Vanuatu 98.5%, other 1.5% (1999 Census)
Economy
This South Pacific island economy is based primarily on small-scale agriculture, which provides a living for 65% of the population.
Fishing, offshore financial services, and tourism, with more than 60,000 visitors in 2005, 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.
• GDP (purchasing power parity): $897 million (2007 est.)
• GDP - real growth rate: 5% (2007 est.)
• GDP - per capita (PPP): $3,900 (2007 est.)
• Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.9% (2007 est.)
• Exports: $40 million f.o.b. (2006)
• Imports: $156 million c.i.f. (2006)
Government
The constitution created a republican political system headed by a president who has primarily ceremonial powers and is elected by a two-thirds majority in an electoral college consisting of members of Parliament and the presidents of Regional Councils. The president serves a 5-year term. The president may be removed by the electoral college for gross misconduct or incapacity. The prime minister, who is the head of government, is elected by a majority vote of a three-fourths quorum of the Parliament. The prime minister in turn appoints the Council of Ministers, whose number may not exceed one-fourth of the number of parliamentary representatives. The prime minister and the Council of Ministers constitute the executive government.
• Administrative divisions: 6 provinces; Malampa, Penama, Sanma, Shefa, Tafea, Torba
• Legal system: Unified system being created from former dual French and British systems; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
• Constitution: 30 July 1980
• Independence: 30 July 1980 (from France and UK)
References
Government of the Republic of Vanuatu - Official Website
Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) - The World Factbook
Nation Master - World Data Center
Wikipedia - The Free Encyclopedia
Lonely Planet - Travel Guidebook
