Vanuatu (English i/ v nu tu / vah-noo-AH-too or /vn w tu / vanWAH-too; Bislama IPA: [vanua tu]), officially the Republic of Vanuatu (French:

Rpublique de Vanuatu, Bislama:

Bislama Ripablik blong Vanuatu),
), is a Pacific island
nation located in the South Pacific Ocean. The archipelago,, which is of volcanic
origin, is some 1,750 kilometres (1,090 mi) east of northern Australia,
Australia 540
kilometres (340 mi) northeast of New Caledonia, east of New Guinea
Guinea, southeast of
the Solomon Islands, andd west of Fiji.
Vanuatu was first inhabited by Melanesian people. The first Europeans to visit the
islands were a Spanish expedition led by Portuguese navigator Fernandes de
Queirs, who arrived on the largest island in 1606. He then claimed the
archipelago for Spain, as part of the colonial Spanish East Indies
Indies, and named it
Austrialia del Espiritu Santo
Santo.
In the 1880s, France and Great Britain claimed parts of the archipelago, and in
1906 they agreed on a framework for jointly managing the archipelago as the New
Hebrides through a British
BritishFrench Condominium.. An independence movement
arose in the 1970s,
970s, and the Republic of Vanuatu was founded in 1980.
Vanuatu is a Y-shaped
shaped archipelago consisting of about 82 relatively small,
geologically newer islands of volcanic origin (65 of them inhabited),
nhabited), with about
1,300 kilometres (810 mi) between the most northern and southern islands
islands.[15] Two
of these islands (Matthew
Matthew and Hunter
Hunter)) are also claimed and controlled by France as
part of the French collectivity of New Caledonia.. The country lies between
latitudes 13 and 21S and longitudes 166 and 171E.
The fourteen of Vanuatu's islands that have surface areas of more than 100 square
kilometres (39 sq mi) are, from largest to smallest: Espiritu Santo
Santo, Malakula, Efate,
Erromango, Ambrym, Tanna,
Tanna Pentecost, Epi, Ambae or Aoba, Gaua
Gaua, Vanua Lava,
Maewo, Malo, and Aneityum or Anatom. The nation's largest towns are the capital
Port Vila, on Efate, and Luganville on Espiritu Santo.[16] The highest point in
Vanuatu is Mount Tabwemasana,
Tabwemasan at 1,879 metres (6,165 ft), on the island of
Espiritu Santo.
Vanuatu's total area is roughly 12,274 square kilometres (4,739 sq mi),[17] of which
its land surface is very limited (roughly
(roughly 4,700 square kilometres (1,800 sq mi)).
Most of the islands are steep, with unstable soils and little permanent fresh
water.[15] One estimate, made in 2005, is that only 9% of land is used for
agriculture (7% with permanent crops, plus 2% considered arable)
arable).[18] The

shoreline is mostly rocky with fringing reefs and no continental shelf, dropping
rapidly into the ocean depths.[15]
There are several active volcanoes in Vanuatu, including Lopevi, Mount Yasur,
and several underwater volcanoes. Volcanic activity is common, with an everpresent danger of a major eruption; a nearby undersea eruption of 6.4 magnitude
occurred in November 2008 with no casualties, and an eruption occurred in
1945.[19] Vanuatu is recognised as a distinct terrestrial ecoregion, known as the
Vanuatu rain forests. It is part of the Australasia ecozone, which includes New
Caledonia, the Solomon Islands, Australia, New Guinea, and New Zealand.
Vanuatu's population (estimated in 2008 as growing 2.4% annually)[20] is placing
increasing pressure on land and resources for agriculture, grazing, hunting, and
fishing.[15] Some 90% of Vanuatu households fish and consume fish, which has
caused intense fishing pressure near villages and the depletion of near-shore fish
species.[15] While well-vegetated, most islands show signs of deforestation.[15] The
islands have been logged, particularly of high-value timber, subjected to widescale slash-and-burn agriculture, and converted to coconut plantations and cattle
ranches, and now show evidence of increased soil erosion and landslides.[15]
Many upland watersheds are being deforested and degraded, and fresh water is
becoming increasingly scarce.[15] Proper waste disposal, as well as water and air
pollution, are becoming troublesome issues around urban areas and large
villages.[15] Additionally, the lack of employment opportunities in industry and
inaccessibility to markets have combined to lock rural families into a subsistence
or self-reliance mode, putting tremendous pressure on local ecosystems.[15]
Flora and fauna
See also: List of birds of Vanuatu
Despite its tropical forests, Vanuatu has a limited number of plant and animal
species. It has an indigenous flying fox, Pteropus anetianus. Flying foxes are
important rainforest and timber regenerators. They pollinate and seed disperse a
wide variety of native trees. Their diet is nectar, pollen and fruit and they are
commonly called "fruit bats". They are in decline across their South Pacific range.
However, governments are increasingly aware of the economic and ecological
value of flying foxes and there are calls to increase their protection. There are no
indigenous large mammals. The nineteen species of native reptiles include the
flowerpot snake, found only on Efate. The Fiji Banded Iguana (Brachylophus

fasciatus) was introduced as a feral animal in the 1960s.[21][22] There are eleven
species of bats (three unique to Vanuatu) and sixty-one species of land and water
birds. While the small Polynesian rat is thought to be indigenous, the large species
arrived with Europeans, as did domesticated hogs, dogs, and cattle. The ant species
of some of the islands of Vanuatu were catalogued by E. O. Wilson.[23]
The region is rich in sea life, with more than 4,000 species of marine molluscs and
a large diversity of marine fishes. Coneshell and stonefish carry poison fatal to
humans. The Giant East African land snail arrived only in the 1970s, but already
has spread from the Port-Vila region to Luganville.
There are three or possibly four adult saltwater crocodiles living in Vanuatu's
mangroves and no current breeding population.[22] It is said the crocodiles reached
the northern part of the islands after cyclones, given the island chain's proximity to
the Solomon Islands and New Guinea where crocodiles are very common.[24]
Climate
The climate is tropical, with about nine months of warm to hot rainy weather and
the possibility of cyclones and three to four months of cooler, drier weather
characterised by winds from the southeast.[15] The water temperature ranges from
22 C (72 F) in winter to 28 C (82 F) in the summer.[15] Cool between April and
September, the days become hotter and more humid starting in October.[15] The
daily temperature ranges from 20 to 32 C (68 to 90 F).[15] South easterly trade
winds occur from May to October.[15]
Vanuatu has a long rainy season, with significant rainfall almost every month.[15]
The wettest and hottest months are December through April, which also constitute
the cyclone season.[15] The driest months are June through November.[15] Rainfall
averages about 2,360 millimetres (93 in) per year but can be as high as 4,000
millimetres (160 in) in the northern islands.[18] In 2015, the United Nations
University gave Vanuatu the highest natural disaster risk of all the countries it
measured.[25]
Tropical cyclones
For more details on this topic, see Cyclone Pam Effects in Vanuatu.
In March 2015, Cyclone Pam devastated much of Vanuatu, caused extensive
damage to all the islands and deaths. As of 17 March 2015 the United Nations said
the official death toll was 11 (six from Efate and five from Tanna), and 30 were

reported injured; these numbers are expected to rise as more remote islands are
reached.[26][27]
Cyclone Pam is possibly the worst natural disaster in Vanuatu's history. Vanuatu
lands minister, Ralph Regenvanu said, "This is the worst disaster to affect Vanuatu
ever as far as we know."[28]
Earthquakes
Main article: List of earthquakes in Vanuatu
Vanuatu has relatively frequent earthquakes. Of the 58 M7 or greater events that
occurred between 1909 and 2001, few were studied.
The four mainstays of the economy are agriculture, tourism, offshore financial
services, and raising cattle. There is substantial fishing activity, although this
industry does not bring in much foreign exchange. Exports include copra, kava,
beef, cocoa, and timber, and imports include machinery and equipment, foodstuffs,
and fuels. In contrast, mining activity is unsubstantial.
While manganese mining halted in 1978, there was an agreement in 2006 to export
manganese already mined but not yet exported. The country has no known
petroleum deposits. A small light-industry sector caters to the local market. Tax
revenues come mainly from import duties and a 12.5% VAT on goods and
services. Economic development is hindered by dependence on relatively few
commodity exports, vulnerability to natural disasters, and long distances between
constituent islands and from main markets.
Agriculture is used for consumption as well as for export. It provides a living for
65% of the population. In particular, production of copra and kava create
substantial revenue. Many farmers have been abandoning cultivation of food crops,
and use earnings from kava cultivation to buy food.[31] Kava has also been used in
ceremonial exchanges between clans and villages.[38] Cocoa is also grown for
foreign exchange.[39]
In 2007, the number of households engaged in fishing was 15,758, mainly for
consumption (99%), and the average number of weekly fishing trips was 3.[40] The
tropical climate enables growing of a wide range of fruits and vegetables and
spices, including banana, garlic, cabbage, peanuts, pineapples, sugarcane, taro,
yams, watermelons, leaf spices, carrots, radishes, eggplants, vanilla (both green
and cured), pepper, cucumber, and many others.[41] In 2007, the value (in terms of

millions of vatu the official currency of Vanuatu), for agricultural products, was
estimated for different products: kava (341 million vatu), copra (195), cattle (135),
crop gardens (93), cocoa (59), forestry (56), fishing (24), coffee (12).[42]
Tourism brings in much-needed foreign exchange. Vanuatu is widely recognised as
one of the premier vacation destinations for scuba divers wishing to explore coral
reefs of the South Pacific region.[43] A further significant attraction to scuba divers
is the wreck of the US luxury cruise liner and converted troop carrier President
Coolidge on Espiritu Santo island. Sunk during World War II, it is one of the
largest shipwrecks in the world that is accessible for recreational diving. Tourism
increased 17% from 2007 to 2008 to reach 196,134 arrivals, according to one
estimate.[44] The 2008 total is a sharp increase from 2000, in which there were only
57,000 visitors (of these, 37,000 were from Australia, 8,000 from New Zealand,
6,000 from New Caledonia, 3,000 from Europe, 1,000 from North America, 1,000
from Japan. (Note: figures rounded to the nearest thousand)).[45] Tourism has been
promoted, in part, by Vanuatu being the site of several reality-TV shows. The ninth
season of the reality TV series Survivor was filmed on Vanuatu, entitled Survivor:
VanuatuIslands of Fire. Two years later, Australia's Celebrity Survivor was
filmed at the same location used by the US version. In mid-2002, the government
stepped up efforts to boost tourism.
Financial services are an important part of the economy. Vanuatu is a tax haven
that until 2008 did not release account information to other governments or lawenforcement agencies. International pressure, mainly from Australia, influenced
the Vanuatu government to begin adhering to international norms to improve
transparency. In Vanuatu, there is no income tax, withholding tax, capital gains
tax, inheritance tax, or exchange control. Many international ship-management
companies choose to flag their ships under the Vanuatu flag, because of the tax
benefits and favourable labour laws (Vanuatu is a full member of the International
Maritime Organization and applies its international conventions). Vanuatu is
recognised as a "flag of convenience" country.[46] Several file-sharing groups, such
as the providers of the KaZaA network of Sharman Networks and the developers
of WinMX, have chosen to incorporate in Vanuatu to avoid regulation and legal
challenges. In response to foreign concerns the government has promised to tighten
regulation of its offshore financial centre. Vanuatu receives foreign aid mainly
from Australia and New Zealand.
Commercial agriculture, North Efate

Raising cattle leads to beef production for export. One estimate in 2007 for the
total value of cattle heads sold was 135 million vatu; cattle were first introduced
into the area from Australia by British planter James Paddon.[47] On average, each
household has 5 pigs and 16 chickens, and while cattle are the "most important
livestock", pigs and chickens are important for subsistence agriculture as well as
playing a significant role in ceremonies and customs (especially pigs).[48] There are
30 commercial farms (sole proprietorships (37%), partnerships (23%), corporations
(17%)), with revenues of 533 million vatu and expenses of 329 million vatu in
2007.[49]
Earthquakes can negatively affect economic activity on the island nation. A severe
earthquake in November 1999, followed by a tsunami, caused extensive damage to
the northern island of Pentecost, leaving thousands homeless. Another powerful
earthquake in January 2002 caused extensive damage in the capital, Port Vila, and
surrounding areas, and was also followed by a tsunami. Another earthquake of 7.2
struck on 2 August 2007.[50]
The Vanuatu National Statistics Office (VNSO) released their 2007 agricultural
census in 2008. According to the study, agricultural exports make up about threequarters (73%) of all exports; 80% of the population lives in rural areas where
"agriculture is the main source of their livelihood"; and of these households, almost
all (99%) engaged in agriculture, fisheries and forestry.[51] Total annual household
income was 1,803 million vatu. Of this income, agriculture grown for their own
household use was valued at 683 million vatu, agriculture for sale at 561, gifts
received at 38, handicrafts at 33, and fisheries (for sale) at 18.[51]
The largest expenditure by households was food (300 million vatu), followed by
household appliances and other necessities (79 million vatu), transportation (59),
education and services (56), housing (50), alcohol and tobacco (39), clothing and
footwear (17).[52] Exports were valued at 3,038 million vatu, and included copra
(485), kava (442), cocoa (221), beef (fresh and chilled) (180), timber (80), and fish
(live fish, aquarium, shell, button) (28).[53] Total imports of 20,472 million vatu
included industrial materials (4,261), food and drink (3,984), machinery (3,087),
consumer goods (2,767), transport equipment (2,125), fuels and lubricants (187)
and other imports (4,060).[54] There are substantial numbers of crop gardens
97,888 in 2007 many on flat land (62%), slightly hilly slope (31%), and even on
steep slopes (7%); there were 33,570 households with at least one crop garden, and
of these, 10,788 households sold some of these crops over a twelve-month
period.[55]

The economy grew about 6% in the early 2000s.[56] This is higher than in the
1990s, when GDP rose less than 3%, on average.
One report from the Manila-based Asian Development Bank about Vanuatu's
economy gave mixed reviews. It noted the economy was "expanding", noting that
the economy grew at an impressive 5.9% rate from 2003 to 2007, and lauded
"positive signals regarding reform initiatives from the government in some areas"
but described certain binding constraints such as "poor infrastructure services".
Since a private monopoly generates power, "electricity costs are among the highest
in the Pacific" among developing countries. The report also cited "weak
governance and intrusive interventions by the State" which reduced
productivity.[56]
Vanuatu was ranked the 173rd safest investment destination in the world in the
March 2011 Euromoney Country Risk rankings.[57] In 2015, Vanuatu was ranked
the 84th most economically free country by The Heritage Foundation and The Wall
Street Journal