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NAVIGATION
Republic of Vanuatu
former: New Hebrides
INTRODUCTION
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Background:
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The British and French, who settled the New Hebrides in the 19th century, agreed in 1906 to an Anglo-French Condominium, which administered the islands until independence in 1980. |
GEOGRAPHY
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Location:
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Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to Australia |
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Geographic coordinates:
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16 00 S, 167 00 E |
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Map references:
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Oceania |
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Area:
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total: 12,200 sq km
land: 12,200 sq km note: includes more than 80 islands water: 0 sq km |
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Area - comparative:
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slightly larger than Connecticut |
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Land boundaries:
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0 km |
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Coastline:
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2,528 km |
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Maritime claims:
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measured from claimed archipelagic baselines
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM territorial sea: 12 NM continental shelf: 200 NM or to the edge of the continental margin contiguous zone: 24 NM |
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Climate:
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tropical; moderated by southeast trade winds |
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Terrain:
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mostly mountains of volcanic origin; narrow coastal plains |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Tabwemasana 1,877 m |
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Natural resources:
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manganese, hardwood forests, fish |
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Land use:
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arable land: 2.46%
permanent crops: 7.38% other: 90.16% (1998 est.) |
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Irrigated land:
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NA sq km |
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Natural hazards:
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tropical cyclones or typhoons (January to April); volcanism causes minor earthquakes; tsunamis |
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Environment - current issues:
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a majority of the population does not have access to a potable and reliable supply of water; deforestation |
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Environment - international agreements:
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party to: Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 94
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements |
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Geography - note:
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a Y-shaped chain of four main islands and 80 smaller islands; several of the islands have active volcanoes |
PEOPLE
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Population:
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199,414 (July 2003 est.) |
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Age structure:
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0-14 years: 34.8% (male 35,499; female 33,992)
15-64 years: 61.8% (male 63,021; female 60,149) 65 years and over: 3.4% (male 3,605; female 3,148) (2003 est.) |
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Median age:
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total: 21.9 years
male: 22 years female: 21.8 years (2002) |
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Population growth rate:
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1.61% (2003 est.) |
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Birth rate:
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24.26 births/1,000 population (2003 est.) |
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Death rate:
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8.13 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.) |
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Net migration rate:
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0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.) |
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Sex ratio:
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at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.15 male(s)/female total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2003 est.) |
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Infant mortality rate:
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total: 58.11 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 55.32 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.) male: 60.76 deaths/1,000 live births |
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total population: 61.71 years
male: 60.28 years female: 63.21 years (2003 est.) |
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Total fertility rate:
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2.98 children born/woman (2003 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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NA% |
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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NA |
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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NA |
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Nationality:
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noun: Ni-Vanuatu (singular and plural)
adjective: Ni-Vanuatu |
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Ethnic groups:
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indigenous Melanesian 98%, French, Vietnamese, Chinese, other Pacific Islanders |
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Religions:
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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) |
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Languages:
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three official languages: English, French, pidgin (known as Bislama or Bichelama), plus more than 100 local languages |
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Literacy:
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definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 53% male: 57% female: 48% (1979 est.) |