Vanuatu:

Region: Oceania – Melanesia

Capital: Port Vila

Official Language/s: Bislama, English, French

Population: 212506

Currency: Vatu

Government: Parliamentary Republic

Economy: The basis of Vanuatu’s economy is subsistence or small-scale agriculture providing for 65% of the population. The producing and selling of Copra and Kava produce very good income with some villagers even abandoning the cultivation of crops in favour of the more lucrative kava cultivation. Cattle farming, offshore financial services and tourism are the other main components of the economy. Minerals deposits and fishing are also common, but only produce small amounts of revenue.

Geography: Vanuatu is made up of around 82 relatively small islands of volcanic origin. The land base is very limited and most of the islands are steep, with unstable soils, and little permanent freshwater. Volcanic activity is common with an ever-present danger of a major eruption. Vanuatu’s rapid population growth is estimated to be 3.6% annually and is placing increased pressure on local resources. For example 90% of households hunt and consume fish causing the depletion of some fish species. In addition to this freshwater is fast becoming scarce with many upland watersheds are being deforested and degraded. The required subsistence mode of life is similarly putting enormous pressure on local ecosystems.

Demographics: Vanuatu has a total population of 221,506 with the majority of the population residing in rural areas. 98.5% of Vanuatu’s inhabitants are of Melanesian descent with the other 1.5% being made up of a mix of Europeans, Asians and other pacific islanders. In 2006, Vanuatu was rated the happiest place in the world to live by the New Economics Foundation and the Friends of the Earth environmentalist group.

Health: Vanuatu has 5 hospitals and 25 health centres that provide integrated care. However the health system requires more qualified staff particularly midwives, doctors, and specialists and lack facilities. Around 20% of the population lack access to health services. Improvements in access to clean water supplies and better sanitation in rural areas are aiding in addressing health related problems. High rates of sexually transmitted disease and the increasing prevalence of HIV/AIDS in neighbouring countries make Vanuatu susceptible to a HIV/AIDS epidemic.

Religion: Christianity is the main religion in Vanuatu beign made up of several denominations. The largest being, the Presbyterian Church which receives about a third of the population, with the Roman Catholic Church and the Anglican Church also having approximately 15% each. The Constitution of Vanuatu provides for the freedom of religion, and the government generally respects this right in practice.

Click here to read news from Vanuatu

Downloadable Resources:

Poster