Vanuatu

Population: 211,971

Area: 12,200 sq km, includes more than 80 islands, about 65 of which are inhabited

Climate: tropical; moderated by southeast trade winds from May to October; moderate rainfall from November to April; may be affected by cyclones from December to April

Capital: Port-Vila (on Efate) and largest city

Government Type/ Legal System: parliamentary republic, unified system being created from former dual French and British systems

Currency: Vanuatu Vatu (VUV)

Language: Bislama, English, and French

Motto: "Long God yumi stanap" (In God we stand)

Anthem: Yumi, Yumi, Yumi

Religion: local languages (more than 100) 72.6%, pidgin (known as Bislama or Bichelama) 23.1%, English 1.9%, French 1.4%, other 0.3%, unspecified 0.7% (1999 Census)

Location: Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to Australia

Economy:

• South Pacific island economy is based on small-scale agriculture
• Fishing, offshore financial services, and tourism
• Tax revenues come mainly from import duties
• Agriculture, especially livestock farming, is a second target for growth
• $739 million is national GDP
• 1.7% unemployment rate
• $40 million is the export
• $156 million is the imports

Resources: Natural- manganese, hardwood forests, fish

Agricultural- copra, coconuts, cocoa, coffee, taro, yams, fruits, vegetables; beef; fish, timber, kava,

Industrial: food and fish freezing, wood processing, meat canning

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