Vanuatu: Quick Facts

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The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

Nov. 13, 2026

News •

New Caledonian politician calls on France to cut ties with Vanuatu • Nov. 10, 2026, 3:00 PM ET (ABC News (Australia))

Vanuatu begins UNCLOS arbitration against France over island classification • Oct. 26, 2026, 4:00 PM ET (ABC News (Australia))

6.9 magnitude earthquake followed by strong aftershocks in North Vanuatu • Oct. 25, 2026, 4:00 PM ET (ABC News (Australia))

A preliminary magnitude 6.9 earthquake hits off the coast of Vanuatu • Oct. 24, 2026, 3:00 AM ET (CTV News)

North Vanuatu local chiefs alarmed at rising "Second Republic Movement" • Oct. 22, 2026, 4:00 PM ET (ABC News (Australia))

Facts

Also Known As	Republic of Vanuatu • New Hebrides
Head Of Government	Prime Minister: Jotham Napat
Capital	Port-Vila
Population	(2026 est.) 350,500
Head Of State	President: Nikenike Vurobaravu
Form Of Government	republic with one legislative house (Parliament [52])
Official Languages	Bislama; French; English
Official Religion	none
Official Name	Ripablik blong Vanuatu (Bislama); République de Vanuatu (French); Republic of Vanuatu (English)
Total Area (Sq Km)	12,281
Total Area (Sq Mi)	4,742
Monetary Unit	vatu (Vt)
Population Rank	(2026) 183
Population Projection 2030	350,000
Density: Persons Per Sq Mi	(2026) 73.9
Density: Persons Per Sq Km	(2026) 28.5
Urban-Rural Population	Urban: (2020) 22.2% • Rural: (2020) 77.8%
Life Expectancy At Birth	Male: (2020) 71.6 years • Female: (2020) 74.2 years
Gni Per Capita (U.S.$)	(2024) 3,890
Gni (Us$ ‘000,000 )	(2024) 1,276

Photos and Videos

Map of Vanuatu showing the boundaries, major islands, and principal cities such as Port-Vila, Luganville, and Lakatoro, set in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. An inset locator map in the top right highlights Vanuatu's position relative to Australia and the Pacific region.

Map of the Pacific Islands region showing political boundaries, major island groups, and countries such as Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Samoa, French Polynesia, and Kiribati. The map uses color shading to indicate elevation and ocean depth, with key islands and capitals labeled throughout the central and southwestern Pacific Ocean.

Map of the southwestern Pacific Ocean highlighting the location of Vanuatu with a labeled box. Surrounding countries and territories include Australia, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, New Caledonia, Fiji, Tuvalu, Nauru, Kiribati, and Wallis and Futuna. Vanuatu's capital, Port-Vila, is marked within the highlighted area.

Map of Vanuatu showing the archipelago's main islands and physical features, including mountain peaks such as Tabuemasana and Marum. The islands are labeled and surrounded by the Pacific Ocean, with a small locator map in the upper right corner indicating Vanuatu's position in the southwest Pacific region.

Santa Maria, Vanuatu

Tanna Island, Vanuatu: volcanic rock

Men in the Rom dance on Ambrym Island, Vanuatu, wear colorful masks and cloaks made from layers of dried banana leaves, standing in a row amid dense tropical vegetation.

Population-density map of Pacific island countries and territories, with darker shading indicating more people per square kilometer. Naoero is the most densely populated, while many larger island groups, including Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, and French Polynesia, have lower densities.

How did Cyclone Pam form and what impact did it have on Vanuatu?

Learn about ecological succession with the help of a sunken ship, S.S. President Coolidge to demonstrate the process in a tropical coral reef

National anthem of Vanuatu

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Topics

Pacific Ocean Melanesian culture nation-state Commonwealth Pacific Islands Forum Oceania Port-Vila member states of the Commonwealth Anatom Cyclone Pam United States India United Kingdom China Canada Russia Germany Australia Japan France

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Oceanic art and architecture: Vanuatu

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Map of the Pacific Ocean region showing three major culture areas highlighted in different colors: Micronesia in purple, Melanesia in green, and Polynesia in yellow. The map includes labeled islands and island groups such as Hawaii, Fiji, Samoa, New Zealand, Guam, and the Marshall Islands, with the culture area boundaries spanning across the central and southern Pacific.

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Political map of Australia and Oceania showing Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, and numerous Pacific island nations and territories. Countries and territories such as Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, and Kiribati are labeled, along with territories administered by the United States, United Kingdom, France, and New Zealand. Surrounding bodies of water, including the Pacific Ocean, Coral Sea, and Tasman Sea, are also marked.

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Map of the southwestern Pacific Ocean highlighting the location of Port-Vila, the national capital of Vanuatu, on the islands east of Australia and near Fiji, Solomon Islands, and New Caledonia. An inset globe in the upper right shows the region's location within the wider Pacific.

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