Vanuatu

Wealth and National Well-Being

World Factbook: "This South Pacific island economy is based primarily on small-scale agriculture, which provides a living for over 70% of the population. Fishing, offshore financial services, and tourism, with more than 167,000 visitors in 2007 are other mainstays of the economy."

"Australia and New Zealand are the main suppliers of tourists and foreign aid."

Estimated per capita GDP (2010 U.S. dollars)
2011: $5,100

Imports/Exports

Exports are 19 percent of imports.

Exports: copra, beef, cocoa, timber, kava, coffee. Imports: machinery and equipment, food and fuels

Infant mortality (deaths before the age of one year per 1,000 live births)2011: 46.85
2005: 55.16

Average life expectancy at birth
2011: 64.7 years
2005: 62.49

People

Population
July 2011: 224,564
July 2005: 205,754

Living in an urban area
2010: 26%

Birth and death rates
2011: births 20.85, deaths 7.43

Literacy (age 15 and older)
1999 census: 74%

Religion
Protestant 69.3, Roman Catholic 15 percent. Other 15.7 percent

Geography

More than 80 islands, about 65 of which are inhabited. Southeast of the Solomon Islands, north of New Caledonia and west of Fiji, together equivalent to 109.5 by 109.5 kilometers or roughly 68.5 miles. Tropical.

Government

Chief of state: Iolu Abil (president) since 2 September 2009, Presbyterian, Party of Our Land. Head of government: Sato Kilman (prime minister) since 26 June 2011, People's Progress Party.

Chief of state is a presidents elected for a five-year term by an electoral college consisting of parliament and the presidents of the regional councils. A unicameral parliament with 52 members elected by popular vote for to four-year terms.

Capital: Port-Vila.

Recent History

The British and French together administered the islands until independence in 1980.