Vanuatu
The Republic of Vanuatu is a country located in the South Pacific Ocean. The archipelago is located some 1,750 km east of Australia, 500 km north-east of New Caledonia, west of Fiji and south of the Solomon Islands. Its colonial name, New Hebrides, is no longer used except for historical reference.
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| National motto: Let us stand firm in God | ||||
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| Official languages | Bislama, English, French | |||
| Capital | Port Vila | |||
| Largest City | Port Vila | |||
| President | Kalkot Mataskelekele | |||
| Prime Minister | Ham Lini | |||
| Area - Total - % water |
Ranked 156th 12,200 km² Negligible | |||
| Population - Total (?) - Density |
Ranked ? 199,414 16/km² | |||
| Independence | 30 July 1980 | |||
| Currency | Vatu | |||
| Time zone | UTC + 11 | |||
| National anthem | Yumi, Yumi, Yumi | |||
| Internet TLD | .vu | |||
| Calling Code | +678 | |||
History
Main article: History of Vanuatu
Many of the islands of Vanuatu have been inhabited for thousands of years, the oldest evidence found dating to 2000 BC. In 1606, the Portuguese-Spanish explorer Pedro Fernández de Quiros became the first European to reach the islands. Europeans began settling the islands in the late 18th century, after British explorer James Cook visited the islands on his second voyage.
In 1906, the French and British agreed to an Anglo-French Condominium on the New Hebrides, as the islands were then known. In the 1960s, the ni-Vanuatu people started to press for self-governance and later independence; full sovereignty was finally granted by both European nations on July 30, 1980.
During the 1990s, Vanuatu experienced political instability, which eventually resulted in a more de-centralised government.
Politics
Main article: Politics of Vanuatu
The parliament of Vanuatu is unicameral, and has 52 members; these are elected every four years by popular vote. The leader of the main party in the parliament is usually elected Prime Minister, and heads the government. The chief of state, the President, is chosen every five years by the parliament and the presidents of the six provincial governments.
Provinces
Main article: Provinces of Vanuatu
Vanuatu has six provinces:
Geography
Main article: Geography of Vanuatu
Vanuatu consists of 83 islands, of which two - Matthew and Hunter - are also claimed by the French overseas department of New Caledonia. Most of the islands are mountainous and of volcanic origin, and have a tropical or sub-tropical climate. The nation's largest towns are the capital Port Vila, which is situated on Efate, and Luganville, on Espiritu Santo.
Ecology
Vanuatu is recognized as a distinct terrestrial ecoregion, called the Vanuatu rain forests (see article). Vanuatu is part of the Australasia ecozone, which also includes neighboring New Caledonia and the Solomon Islands, as well as Australia, New Guinea, and New Zealand.
Economy
Main article: Economy of Vanuatu
The economy is based primarily on subsistence or small-scale agriculture, which provides a living for 65% of the population. Fishing, offshore financial services, and tourism (with about 50,000 visitors in 1997), 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. A severe earthquake in November 1999, followed by a tsunami, caused extensive damage to the northern island of Pentecote, leaving thousands homeless. Another powerful earthquake in January 2002 caused extensive damage in the capital, Port-Vila, and surrounding areas, and also was followed by a tsunami.
GDP growth rose less than 3% on average in the 1990s. 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. Australia and New Zealand are the main suppliers of Vanuatu's foreign aid.
Vanuatu is a tax haven that does not release account information to other governments and law enforcement agencies. In Vanuatu, there is no income tax, no withholding tax, no capital gains tax, no death duties, and no exchange controls.
Demographics
Main article: Demographics of Vanuatu
Population: 202,609 (July 2004)
Most of the inhabitants of Vanuatu (95%) are native Melanesian, or Ni-Vanuatu, with the remainder made up of Europeans, Asians and other Pacific islanders. There are three official language: English, French and Bislama (a creole language which evolved from English). In addition, over one hundred local languages are spoken on the islands.
Christianity is the predominant religion in Vanuatu, consisting of several denominations. The Presbyterian Church, adhered to by about one third of the population, is the largest of them.
Culture
Main article: Culture of Vanuatu
In Fiction
A lawsuit brought by the people of Vanuatu against the EPA is the premise of a 2004 novel by Michael Crichton, State of Fear.
List of cities
Below is a partial listing of cities:
Miscellaneous topics
- Communications in Vanuatu
- Transportation in Vanuatu
- Military of Vanuatu
- Foreign relations of Vanuatu
