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Port Vila on Efate Island
Port Vila on Efate Island, view from Montmartre in the outskirts of the capital.
Image: Phillip Capper
 

___ Vanuatu

Vanuatu Flag
Flag of Vanuatu
Location map of Vanuatu. Where in the World is Vanuatu?
Location map of Vanuatu

 
Destination Vanuatu, this page is about the Melanesian archipelago that comprises about 80 islands, formerly known as the New Hebrides.

The Republic of Vanuatu is an island nation in the South Pacific Ocean, northeast of New Caledonia, east of Australia and west of Fiji.

The Y-shaped chain of fourteen main islands between the South Pacific Ocean and the Coral Sea is of volcanic origin and home to several active volcanoes. The colliding Pacific and Indo-Australian continental plates provide for geological activities like earthquakes, tsunamis, cyclones, and volcanic eruptions, hardly tourist attractions. But Mount Yasur on Tanna Island is an easily accessible active volcano, and a major Vanuatu tourist attraction, especially at night.

Highest point is Mount Tabwemasana, at 1,879 m (6,165 ft), located on the island of Espiritu Santo.

The combined land area of the islands is 12,189 km², this is about the size of the Falkland Islands, or slightly larger than Connecticut.

The archipelago has a population of 278,000 (in 2015), capital and largest city is Port Vila.
Spoken languages are Bislama (English-based creole), English, French and various Austronesian languages.


 

Republic of Vanuatu

Country Profile



Background:
British and French settled the islands in the 19th century, they agreed in 1906 to administer the islands jointly, called the British-French Condominium, which last until independence in 1980.

Vanuatu is recognized as one of the most culturally diverse countries in the world. Besides the Ni-Vanuatu and other Pacific Island people, there are small communities of French, British, Australian, New Zealand, Vietnamese, and Chinese origin.

related countries: France, United Kingdom

other Melanesian nations and territories:
Fiji, New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands
 
 

Official Name:
Republic of Vanuatu
short form: Vanuatu
former: New Hebrides

ISO Country Code: vu, vut

Time:
Local Time = UTC +11h
Actual Time: Mon-Mar-18  14:34

Country Calling Code: +678

Capital City: Port Vila (on the island of Efate; pop. 30 000)

Other Cities:
Luganville (on the island of Espiritu Santo, also known as Santo).

Government:
Type: Parliamentary democracy.
Independence: 30 July 1980 (from France and UK) .
Constitution: 30 July 1980.

Geography:
Location: Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, east of Australia and west of Fiji.
Area: 14,760 km² (5,697 sq miles).
Terrain: Mostly mountains of volcanic origin, narrow coastal plains.

Climate: Maritime tropical; moderate rainfall from November to April.

People:
Nationality: Noun and adjective: ni-Vanuatu.
Population: 278,000 (2015, National Statistics).
Ethnic groups: 94% ni-Vanuatu; 4% European; 2% other Pacific Islanders, Asian.
Religion: Predominantly Christian.
Languages: 3 official languages: English, French and Bislama (pidgin English), plus over 120 distinct languages.
Literacy: 53%

Natural resources: Manganese, hardwood forests, fish.

Agriculture products: Copra, coconuts, cocoa, coffee, taro, yams, coconuts, fruits, vegetables; fish, beef.

Exports - commodities: copra, beef, cocoa, timber, kava, coffee

Exports partners: Japan 35.1%, Turkey 10.5%, Thailand 8.7%, China 8.2%, Venezuela 5.9%, UK 5.6% (2015)

Imports - commodities: machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, fuels

Imports partners: China 16.7%, Australia 14.6%, Japan 13.9%, Singapore 10%, Fiji 9.3%, NZ 8.3%, New Caledonia 5.2% (2015)

Currency: Vatu (VUV)

Sources: Vanuatu Statistics Office and others.

Note: External links will open in a new browser window.

Official Sites of Vanuatu

Government of Vanuatu
Official site of the Government of the Republic of Vanuatu.

Intergovernmental organisations
Pacific Islands Forum
Inter-governmental organization for the cooperation between the countries of the Pacific Ocean.
Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC)
Intergovernmental organisation of the Pacific islands.

Statistics
Vanuatu Statistics Office
Vanuatu's official statistical agency.


Weather
Vanuatu Meteorological Service
Vanuatu weather from Port Vila Forecasting Centre.



Maps

Administrative Map of Vanuatu
Shaded relief map of Vanuatu with provinial borders.
Google Earth Google Earth Vanuatu
Searchable map and satellite view of Vanuatu.
Google Earth Google Earth Port Vila
Searchable map and satellite view of Vanuatu.

Map of Melanesia
Map of the Island States of Melanesia.
profile Map of Oceania and the Pacific Islands
Reference Map of Oceania and the Pacific Islands.  


Lava explosions on Mount Yasur on Tanna Island
Mount Yasur on Tanna Island, the lava explosions are a major tourist attraction.
Image: Christopher Hogue Thompson
 
 

News


Loop
Loop Pacific, coverage of news, sports, entertainment, etc.

Vanuatu Daily Post, Port Vila
Vanuatu News in English.

Vanuatu Daily Digest
What the Vanuatu news media are saying, with added spice. 


Bookmark/share this page
Instagram

 

Arts & Culture


Cultural Vanuatu
Vanuatu is rich in cultural festivals not seen anywhere else in the world, ranging from the death defying Pentecost Land Dive (nagol), to the colorful and powerful Tanna Toka Dance which goes on for days, the mystical Rom dance of Ambrym island of magic and fire, and Water Music custom festival performed by the women of Gaua Island. ... read more

Further Arts Vanuatu
Music, Dance and Culture portal of Vanuatu.

Vanuatu arts & entertainment
Cultural & Community tours.
 
Dausake custom dance group
Vanuatu Art
© Further Arts Vanuatu
 

Business & Economy


Vanuatu Investment Promotion Authority
Investing in Vanuatu.

Vanuatu Customs and Inland Revenue Website
Vanuatus custom.

Transportation
Air Vanuatu
Vanuatu's carrier, a wholly owned company of the government of the Republic of Vanuatu.
Vanair
Vanuatu's domestic carrier, in 2004 Vanair merged with Vanuatu's government-owned flag carrier, Air Vanuatu.
 
Efate - Port Vila
Efate - Port Vila Harbour
 
Erakor Island and Peninsula from Panorama Crescent, Port Vila
Erakor Island and Peninsula from Panorama Crescent, Port Vila.
Image: Phillip Capper

Travel and Tour Consumer Information


Destination Vanuatu
Travel and Tour Guides

Discover Vanutu islands: Banks and Torres, Espiritu Santo, Maewo, Pentecost, Malekula, Ambrym, Epi, Efate, Erromango, Tanna, Aneityum.
Find accommodation, hotels, attractions, festivals, events, tourist boards, biking, hiking, cruising, diving, volcanoe tours and much more.

Vanuatu Travel
Official tourism guide to the islands.

Vanuatu Tourism Office
Information on Vanuatu accommodation, tours and travel throughout the islands of Vanuatu.


Vanuatu A-Z Visitors Guide
From Accommodation to Zoos, the (not so) small guide to a tropical paradise.

Port Vila Today
Blog about Port Vila and Vanuatu.

Bokissa
Coral eco island Bokissa south of Aspiritu Santo.

Vanuatu Volcano Travel
Vanuatu Volcano Travel with volcanologist John Seach.

Finding Vanuatu
David Stanley's comprehensiveVanuatu information page.

Jane's Vanuatu Home Page
Jane Resture's Vanuatu page.

South Pacific
South Pacific Tourism Organisation
Inter-governmental body for the tourism sector in the South Pacific Islands, find information on: accommodation, activities, online bookings and news.
 
 
 

Education


University of the South Pacific
Premier institution of tertiary education in the Pacific region, jointly owned by the governments of twelve island countries, USP is an international centre of excellence for teaching, research and consulting on all aspects of Pacific life.

University of the South Pacific Libraries
The Main Library of the University of the South Pacific based at Laucala Campus, Suva, Fiji.
 
 
 

Environment & Nature


Vanuatu Environmental Science Society
VESS’ promotes science in the fields of conservation, environmental protection and sustainable development within Vanuatu.

Vanuatu's Biodiversity
Comprehensive information about Vanuatu's Biodiversity projects.

South Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP)
The Pacific region's major intergovernmental organisation charged with protecting and managing the environment and natural resources.
 
 
 

History


History
Explore Vanuatu’s rich cultural history and its role in World War 2.

Timeline : Vanuatu
A timeline of Vanuatu's history, the country formerly known as the New Hebrides.

History of Vanuatu
Wikipedia article about Vanuatu's history.
 
 
 

Sources and additional Information on Vanuatu


BBC Country Profile: Vanuatu

Open Directory Project: Vanuatu

Amnesty International: Vanuatu

FAO: Vanuatu

GlobalEDGE: Vanuatu

The Heritage Foundation: Vanuatu

Human Rights Watch: Vanuatu

OEC: Vanuatu

Wikipedia: Vanuatu

The World Factbook -- Vanuatu
 
 Support UNICEF

Other island territories and states in the South Pacific:
American Samoa | Fiji| Kiribati| New Caledonia | Papua New Guinea| Samoa
Solomon Islands | Tahiti | Tonga | Tuvalu
 
 
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