Vanuatu – GENERAL INFORMATION – Facts and Figures

Facts and Figures

Full name:  Republic of  Vanuatu

Nationality 

        noun: Ni-Vanuatu (singular and plural)        adjective: Ni-Vanuatu 

Flag:

  
Area
        total: 12,200 sq km        land: 12,200 sq km        water: 0 sq km

note: includes more than 80 islands, about 65 of which are inhabited

Population: 205,754 (July 2005 est.)

Ethnic groups

        indigenous Melanesian 98%        French        Vietnamese        Chinese        other Pacific Islanders 

Capital Port-Vila (Efate), population 40,000

Largest Cities:  Luganville – 10,000 

Official Language
        English

        French        pidgin (known as Bislama or Bichelama), plus more than 100 local languages 

Religion

        Presbyterian 36.7%        Anglican 15%        Roman Catholic 15%        indigenous beliefs 7.6%        Seventh-Day Adventist 6.2%        Church of Christ 3.8%        other 15.7% (including Jon Frum Cargo cult) 

Political system:  parliamentary republic

GDP: purchasing power parity – $580 million (2003 est.)

GDP per head: purchasing power parity – $2,900 (2003 est.)

Annual growth: 1.1% (2003 est.) 

GDP – composition by sector
        agriculture: 26%

        industry: 12%        services: 62% (2000 est.)

Inflation: 3.1% (2003 est.)