Country information

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Area: 12,336 sq kms
Population: 221,000 (2006 SPC)
Capital City: Port Vila
People: The population of Vanuatu is predominantly Melanesian. The 6% who are non-Melanesian are composed of Australians, New Zealanders, Europeans, Chinese, Vietnamese and other Pacific Islanders. Almost 80% of the population is spread across the 12 main islands in the chain, with most of the remainder living in the two urban centres – Port Vila and Luganville.
Languages: There are over 130 different vernacular languages in use in Vanuatu but Bislama, which has similarities to the pidgin spoken in Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands, is the lingua franca of the archipelago. Bislama, English and French are the official languages, with the latter two as the principal languages of education.
Religions: Most Christian denominations are represented, with the Presbyterian church being the largest followed by the Anglican and Catholic churches. There is a very small Muslim community.
Currency: Vatu
Major Political Parties: There are 11 major political parties: Vanua'aku Pati (VP); Union of Moderate Parties (UMP); Melanesian Progressive Party (MPP); National Community Association (NCA); National United Party (NUP); People's Progressive Party (PPP); Green Party; John Frum Movement (JF); Vanuatu Republican Party (VRP); Labour Party; People’s Action Party (PAP).
Government: Vanuatu is a Republic with a democratically elected government. The Non-Executive State President is elected for a 5-year term by an Electoral College comprised of all the MPs (52) plus the Presidents of the six Provincial Councils. Vanuatu has a unicameral parliament of 52 MPs elected for 4-year terms by universal suffrage with an element of proportional representation. The government elects a Speaker from among its own ranks. Twenty-seven MPs are therefore required to form a government. The Prime Minister is usually, but not always, the leader of the largest parliamentary party.
Head of State: H.E. Kalkot Mataskelekele
Prime Minister: Hon Edward Natapei
Foreign Minister: Hon Bakoa Kaltongga
Membership of international groups/organisations: United Nations (UN), the Commonwealth, the Non-Aligned Movement, the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, Pacific Islands Forum (PIF), the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie and the Melanesian Spearhead Group.

HEALTH

Malaria and dengue fever are common in Vanuatu. There have been only two reported incidences of HIV/AIDS in Vanuatu to date, but the high incidence of other Sexually Transmitted Diseases indicates that the true figure could be much higher.

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