{
  "Introduction": {
    "Background": {
      "text": "<p>Vanuatu was first settled around 2000 B.C. by Austronesian speakers from Solomon Islands. By around 1000, localized chieftain systems began to develop on the islands. In the mid-1400s, the Kuwae Volcano erupted, causing frequent conflict and internal strife amid declining food availability, especially on Efate Island. Around 1600, Chief ROI MATA united Efate under his rule. In 1606, Portuguese explorer Pedro Fernandes de QUEIROS was the first European to see the Banks Islands and Espiritu Santo, setting up a short-lived settlement on the latter. The next European explorers arrived in the 1760s, and in 1774, British navigator James COOK named the islands the New Hebrides. The islands were frequented by whalers in the 1800s and interest in harvesting the islands’ sandalwood trees caused conflict between Europeans and local Ni-Vanuatu. Catholic and Protestant missionaries arrived in the 1840s but faced difficulties converting the locals. In the 1860s, European planters in Australia, Fiji, New Caledonia, and Samoa needed labor and kidnapped almost half the adult males of the islands and forced them to work as indentured servants.<br><br>With growing and overlapping interests in the islands, France and the UK agreed that the New Hebrides would be neutral in 1878 and established a joint naval commission in 1887. In 1906, the two countries created the British-French Condominium to jointly administer the islands and they established separate laws, police forces, currencies, and education and health systems. The condominium arrangement was dysfunctional and the UK used France’s defeat to Germany in World War II to assert greater control over the islands. As Japan pushed into Melanesia, the US stationed up to 50,000 soldiers in Vanuatu to prevent further advances. In 1945, US troops withdrew and sold their equipment, leading to the rise of political and religious cargo cults, such as the John Frum movement.<br><br>The France-UK condominium was reestablished after World War II. The UK was interested in moving the condominium toward independence in the 1960s, but France was hesitant and political parties agitating independence began to form, largely divided along linguistic lines. France eventually relented and elections were held in 1974 with independence granted in 1980 as Vanuatu under English-speaking Prime Minister Walter LINI. At independence, the Nagriamel Movement, with support from French-speaking landowners, declared Espiritu Santo independent, but the short-lived state was dissolved 12 weeks later. Linguistic divisions have lessened over time but highly fractious political parties have led to weak coalition governments that require support from both Anglophone and Francophone parties. Since 2008, prime ministers have been ousted through no-confidence motions or temporary procedural issues 10 times.<br><br><br><br><br></p>"
    }
  },
  "Geography": {
    "Location": {
      "text": "Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to Australia"
    },
    "Geographic coordinates": {
      "text": "16 00 S, 167 00 E"
    },
    "Map references": {
      "text": "Oceania"
    },
    "Area": {
      "total": {
        "text": "12,189 sq km"
      },
      "land": {
        "text": "12,189 sq km"
      },
      "water": {
        "text": "0 sq km"
      },
      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> includes more than 80 islands, about 65 of which are inhabited"
    },
    "Area - comparative": {
      "text": "slightly larger than Connecticut"
    },
    "Land boundaries": {
      "total": {
        "text": "0 km"
      }
    },
    "Coastline": {
      "text": "2,528 km"
    },
    "Maritime claims": {
      "territorial sea": {
        "text": "12 nm"
      },
      "contiguous zone": {
        "text": "24 nm"
      },
      "exclusive economic zone": {
        "text": "200 nm"
      },
      "continental shelf": {
        "text": "200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin"
      },
      "note": "measured from claimed archipelagic baselines"
    },
    "Climate": {
      "text": "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"
    },
    "Terrain": {
      "text": "mostly mountainous islands of volcanic origin; narrow coastal plains"
    },
    "Elevation": {
      "highest point": {
        "text": "Tabwemasana 1,877 m"
      },
      "lowest point": {
        "text": "Pacific Ocean 0 m"
      }
    },
    "Natural resources": {
      "text": "manganese, hardwood forests, fish"
    },
    "Land use": {
      "agricultural land": {
        "text": "15.3% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural land: arable land": {
        "text": "arable land: 1.6% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural land: permanent crops": {
        "text": "permanent crops: 10.3% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural land: permanent pasture": {
        "text": "permanent pasture: 3.4% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "forest": {
        "text": "36.1% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "other": {
        "text": "48.6% (2018 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Irrigated land": {
      "text": "0 sq km (2022)"
    },
    "Population distribution": {
      "text": "three-quarters of the population lives in rural areas; the urban populace lives primarily in two cities, Port-Vila and Lugenville; three largest islands - Espiritu Santo, Malakula, and Efate - accomodate over half of the populace"
    },
    "Natural hazards": {
      "text": "<p>tropical cyclones (January to April); volcanic eruption on Aoba (Ambae) island began on 27 November 2005, volcanism also causes minor earthquakes; tsunamis</p><p><strong>volcanism:</strong> significant volcanic activity with multiple eruptions in recent years; Yasur (361 m), one of the world's most active volcanoes, has experienced continuous activity in recent centuries; other historically active volcanoes include Aoba, Ambrym, Epi, Gaua, Kuwae, Lopevi, Suretamatai, and Traitor's Head</p>"
    },
    "Geography - note": {
      "text": "a Y-shaped chain of four main islands and 80 smaller islands; several of the islands have active volcanoes and there are several underwater volcanoes as well"
    }
  },
  "People and Society": {
    "Population": {
      "text": "313,046 (2023 est.)"
    },
    "Nationality": {
      "noun": {
        "text": "Ni-Vanuatu (singular and plural)"
      },
      "adjective": {
        "text": "Ni-Vanuatu"
      }
    },
    "Ethnic groups": {
      "text": "Melanesian 99.2%, non-Melanesian 0.8% (2016 est.)"
    },
    "Languages": {
      "text": "local languages (more than 100) 63.2%, Bislama (official; creole) 33.7%, English (official) 2%, French (official) 0.6%, other 0.5% (2009 est.)"
    },
    "Religions": {
      "text": "Protestant 70% (includes Presbyterian 27.9%, Anglican 15.1%, Seventh Day Adventist 12.5%, Assemblies of God 4.7%, Church of Christ 4.5%, Neil Thomas Ministry 3.1%, and Apostolic 2.2%), Roman Catholic 12.4%, customary beliefs 3.7% (including Jon Frum cargo cult), other 12.6%, none 1.1%, unspecified 0.2% (2009 est.)"
    },
    "Age structure": {
      "0-14 years": {
        "text": "31.73% (male 50,721/female 48,607)"
      },
      "15-64 years": {
        "text": "63.41% (male 97,376/female 101,135)"
      },
      "65 years and over": {
        "text": "4.86% (2023 est.) (male 7,486/female 7,721)"
      }
    },
    "Dependency ratios": {
      "total dependency ratio": {
        "text": "76.5"
      },
      "youth dependency ratio": {
        "text": "69.9"
      },
      "elderly dependency ratio": {
        "text": "12.3"
      },
      "potential support ratio": {
        "text": "15.2 (2021 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Median age": {
      "total": {
        "text": "23 years"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "22.6 years"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "23.5 years (2020 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Population growth rate": {
      "text": "1.59% (2023 est.)"
    },
    "Birth rate": {
      "text": "21.19 births/1,000 population (2023 est.)"
    },
    "Death rate": {
      "text": "3.99 deaths/1,000 population (2023 est.)"
    },
    "Net migration rate": {
      "text": "-1.28 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2023 est.)"
    },
    "Population distribution": {
      "text": "three-quarters of the population lives in rural areas; the urban populace lives primarily in two cities, Port-Vila and Lugenville; three largest islands - Espiritu Santo, Malakula, and Efate - accomodate over half of the populace"
    },
    "Urbanization": {
      "urban population": {
        "text": "26% of total population (2023)"
      },
      "rate of urbanization": {
        "text": "2.55% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Major urban areas - population": {
      "text": "53,000 PORT-VILA (capital) (2018)"
    },
    "Sex ratio": {
      "at birth": {
        "text": "1.05 male(s)/female"
      },
      "0-14 years": {
        "text": "1.04 male(s)/female"
      },
      "15-64 years": {
        "text": "0.96 male(s)/female"
      },
      "65 years and over": {
        "text": "0.97 male(s)/female"
      },
      "total population": {
        "text": "0.99 male(s)/female (2023 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Maternal mortality ratio": {
      "text": "94 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)"
    },
    "Infant mortality rate": {
      "total": {
        "text": "14 deaths/1,000 live births"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "15.38 deaths/1,000 live births"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "12.56 deaths/1,000 live births (2023 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Life expectancy at birth": {
      "total population": {
        "text": "75.4 years"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "73.72 years"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "77.17 years (2023 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Total fertility rate": {
      "text": "2.59 children born/woman (2023 est.)"
    },
    "Gross reproduction rate": {
      "text": "1.26 (2023 est.)"
    },
    "Contraceptive prevalence rate": {
      "text": "49% (2013)"
    },
    "Drinking water source": {
      "improved: urban": {
        "text": "urban: 100% of population"
      },
      "improved: rural": {
        "text": "rural: 89.7% of population"
      },
      "improved: total": {
        "text": "total: 92.3% of population"
      },
      "unimproved: urban": {
        "text": "urban: 0% of population"
      },
      "unimproved: rural": {
        "text": "rural: 10.3% of population"
      },
      "unimproved: total": {
        "text": "total: 7.7% of population (2020 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Current health expenditure": {
      "text": "4% of GDP (2020)"
    },
    "Physicians density": {
      "text": "0.17 physicians/1,000 population (2016)"
    },
    "Sanitation facility access": {
      "improved: urban": {
        "text": "urban: 91.1% of population"
      },
      "improved: rural": {
        "text": "rural: 60.4% of population"
      },
      "improved: total": {
        "text": "total: 68.2% of population"
      },
      "unimproved: urban": {
        "text": "urban: 8.9% of population"
      },
      "unimproved: rural": {
        "text": "rural: 39.6% of population"
      },
      "unimproved: total": {
        "text": "total: 31.8% of population (2020 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Obesity - adult prevalence rate": {
      "text": "25.2% (2016)"
    },
    "Alcohol consumption per capita": {
      "total": {
        "text": "1.6 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)"
      },
      "beer": {
        "text": "0.34 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)"
      },
      "wine": {
        "text": "0.39 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)"
      },
      "spirits": {
        "text": "0.87 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)"
      },
      "other alcohols": {
        "text": "0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Tobacco use": {
      "total": {
        "text": "17.8% (2020 est.)"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "33% (2020 est.)"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "2.6% (2020 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Children under the age of 5 years underweight": {
      "text": "11.7% (2013)"
    },
    "Currently married women (ages 15-49)": {
      "text": "69.2% (2023 est.)"
    },
    "Education expenditures": {
      "text": "2.2% of GDP (2020 est.)"
    },
    "Literacy": {
      "definition": {
        "text": "age 15 and over can read and write"
      },
      "total population": {
        "text": "89.1%"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "89.8%"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "88.4% (2021)"
      }
    },
    "Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)": {
      "total": {
        "text": "5.4%"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "5.2%"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "5.6% (2021 est.)"
      }
    }
  },
  "Environment": {
    "Environment - current issues": {
      "text": "population growth; water pollution, most of the population does not have access to a reliable supply of potable water; inadequate sanitation; deforestation"
    },
    "Environment - international agreements": {
      "party to": {
        "text": "Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands"
      },
      "signed, but not ratified": {
        "text": "none of the selected agreements"
      }
    },
    "Climate": {
      "text": "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"
    },
    "Land use": {
      "agricultural land": {
        "text": "15.3% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural land: arable land": {
        "text": "arable land: 1.6% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural land: permanent crops": {
        "text": "permanent crops: 10.3% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural land: permanent pasture": {
        "text": "permanent pasture: 3.4% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "forest": {
        "text": "36.1% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "other": {
        "text": "48.6% (2018 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Urbanization": {
      "urban population": {
        "text": "26% of total population (2023)"
      },
      "rate of urbanization": {
        "text": "2.55% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Revenue from forest resources": {
      "text": "0.54% of GDP (2018 est.)"
    },
    "Revenue from coal": {
      "text": "0% of GDP (2018 est.)"
    },
    "Air pollutants": {
      "particulate matter emissions": {
        "text": "10.31 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.)"
      },
      "carbon dioxide emissions": {
        "text": "0.15 megatons (2016 est.)"
      },
      "methane emissions": {
        "text": "0.5 megatons (2020 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Waste and recycling": {
      "municipal solid waste generated annually": {
        "text": "70,225 tons (2012 est.)"
      },
      "municipal solid waste recycled annually": {
        "text": "25,983 tons (2013 est.)"
      },
      "percent of municipal solid waste recycled": {
        "text": "37% (2013 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Total renewable water resources": {
      "text": "10 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)"
    }
  },
  "Government": {
    "Country name": {
      "conventional long form": {
        "text": "Republic of Vanuatu"
      },
      "conventional short form": {
        "text": "Vanuatu"
      },
      "local long form": {
        "text": "Ripablik blong Vanuatu"
      },
      "local short form": {
        "text": "Vanuatu"
      },
      "former": {
        "text": "New Hebrides"
      },
      "etymology": {
        "text": "derived from the words \"vanua\" (home or land) and \"tu\" (stand) that occur in several of the Austonesian languages spoken on the islands and which provide a meaning of \"the land remains\" but which also convey a sense of \"independence\" or \"our land\""
      }
    },
    "Government type": {
      "text": "parliamentary republic"
    },
    "Capital": {
      "name": {
        "text": "Port-Vila (on Efate)"
      },
      "geographic coordinates": {
        "text": "17 44 S, 168 19 E"
      },
      "time difference": {
        "text": "UTC+11 (16 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)"
      },
      "etymology": {
        "text": "there are two possibilities for the origin of the name: early European settlers were Portuguese and \"vila\" means \"village or town\" in Portuguese, hence \"Port-Vila\" would mean \"Port Town\"; alternatively, the site of the capital is referred to as \"Efil\" or \"Ifira\" in native languages, \"Vila\" is a likely corruption of these names"
      }
    },
    "Administrative divisions": {
      "text": "6 provinces; Malampa, Penama, Sanma, Shefa, Tafea, Torba"
    },
    "Independence": {
      "text": "30 July 1980 (from France and the UK)"
    },
    "National holiday": {
      "text": "Independence Day, 30 July (1980)"
    },
    "Constitution": {
      "history": {
        "text": "draft completed August 1979, finalized by constitution conference 19 September 1979, ratified by French and British Governments 23 October 1979, effective 30 July 1980 at independence"
      },
      "amendments": {
        "text": "proposed by the prime minister or by the Parliament membership; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote by Parliament in special session with at least three fourths of the membership; passage of amendments affecting the national and official languages, or the electoral and parliamentary system also requires approval in a referendum; amended several times, last in 2013"
      }
    },
    "Legal system": {
      "text": "mixed legal system of English common law, French law, and customary law"
    },
    "International law organization participation": {
      "text": "has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction"
    },
    "Citizenship": {
      "citizenship by birth": {
        "text": "no"
      },
      "citizenship by descent only": {
        "text": "both parents must be citizens of Vanuatu; in the case of only one parent, it must be the father who is a citizen"
      },
      "dual citizenship recognized": {
        "text": "no"
      },
      "residency requirement for naturalization": {
        "text": "10 years"
      }
    },
    "Suffrage": {
      "text": "18 years of age; universal"
    },
    "Executive branch": {
      "chief of state": {
        "text": "President Nikenike VUROBARAVU (since 23 July 2022)"
      },
      "head of government": {
        "text": "Prime Minister Ishmael KALSAKAU (since 4 November 2022)"
      },
      "cabinet": {
        "text": "Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister, responsible to Parliament"
      },
      "elections/appointments": {
        "text": "president indirectly elected by an electoral college consisting of Parliament and presidents of the 6 provinces; Vanuatu president serves a 5-year term; election last held on 23 July 2022 (next to be held in 2027); following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition usually elected prime minister by Parliament from among its members; election for prime minister last held on 20 April 2020 (next to be held following general elections in 2024)"
      },
      "election results": {
        "text": "Nikenike VUROBARAVU elected president in the eighth round on 23 July 2022 with 48 votes;<br>Ishmael KALSAKAU (UMP) elected prime minister on 4 November 2022 with 50 votes"
      }
    },
    "Legislative branch": {
      "description": {
        "text": "unicameral Parliament (52 seats; members directly elected in 8 single-seat and 9 multi-seat constituencies by single non-transferable vote to serve 4-year terms (candidates in multi-seat constituencies can be elected with only 4% of the vote)"
      },
      "elections": {
        "text": "last held on 13 October 2022 (next to be held in 2026)"
      },
      "election results": {
        "text": "percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - UMP 7, VP 7, LPV 5, RMC 5, GJP 4, NUP 4, RDP 4, IG 3, PPP 2, VNDP 2, NAG 1, VLM 1, other 6, independent 1; composition - men 51, women 1; percent of women 2%; note - political party associations are fluid"
      },
      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> the National Council of Chiefs advises on matters of culture and language"
    },
    "Judicial branch": {
      "highest court(s)": {
        "text": "Court of Appeal (consists of 2 or more judges of the Supreme Court designated by the chief justice); Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and 6 puisne judges - 3 local and 3 expatriate)"
      },
      "judge selection and term of office": {
        "text": "Supreme Court chief justice appointed by the president after consultation with the prime minister and the leader of the opposition; other judges appointed by the president on the advice of the Judicial Service Commission, a 4-member advisory body; judges serve until the age of retirement"
      },
      "subordinate courts": {
        "text": "Magistrates Courts; Island Courts"
      }
    },
    "Political parties and leaders": {
      "text": "Green Confederation or GC [Moana CARCASSES Kalosil]<br>Iauko Group or IG [Tony NARI]<br>Land and Justice Party (Graon mo Jastis Pati) or GJP [Ralph REGENVANU]<br>Melanesian Progressive Party or MPP [Barak SOPE]<br>Nagriamel Movement or NAG [Frankie STEVENS]<br>Natatok Indigenous People's Democratic Party or NATATOK or NIPDP [Alfred Roland CARLOT]<br>National United Party or NUP [Ham LINI]<br>People's Progressive Party or PPP [Sato KILMAN]<br>People's Service Party or PSP [Don KEN]<br>Reunification of Movement for Change or RMC [Charlot SALWAI]<br>Rural Development Party or RDP [Jay NGWELE, spokesman]<br>Union of Moderate Parties or UMP [Alatoi Ishmael KALSAKAU]<br>Vanua'aku Pati (Our Land Party) or VP [Bob LOUGHMAN]<br>Vanuatu Democratic Party [Maxime Carlot KORMAN]<br>Vanuatu First or Vanuatu [Russel NARI]<br>Vanuatu Liberal Democratic Party or VLDP [Tapangararua WILLIE]<br>Vanuatu Liberal Movement or VLM [Gaetan PIKIOUNE]<br>Vanuatu National Development Party or VNDP [Robert Bohn SIKOL]<br>Vanuatu National Party or VNP [Issac HAMARILIU]<br>Vanuatu Republican Party or VRP [Marcellino PIPITE]"
    },
    "International organization participation": {
      "text": "ACP, ADB, AOSIS, C, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, IOC, IOM, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OAS (observer), OIF, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO"
    },
    "Diplomatic representation in the US": {
      "chief of mission": {
        "text": "Ambassador Odo TEVI (since 8 September 2017)<br>note - also Permanent Representative to the UN"
      },
      "chancery": {
        "text": "800 Second Avenue, Suite 400B, New York, NY 10017"
      },
      "telephone": {
        "text": "[1] (212) 661-4323"
      },
      "FAX": {
        "text": "[1] (212) 422-3427"
      },
      "email address and website": {
        "text": "<br>vanunmis@aol.com<br><br>https://www.un.int/vanuatu/"
      },
      "note": "note - the Vanuatu Permanent Mission to the UN serves as the embassy"
    },
    "Diplomatic representation from the US": {
      "embassy": {
        "text": "the US does not have an embassy in Vanuatu; the US Ambassador to Papua New Guinea is accredited to Vanuatu"
      }
    },
    "Flag description": {
      "text": "two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and green with a black isosceles triangle (based on the hoist side) all separated by a black-edged yellow stripe in the shape of a horizontal Y (the two points of the Y face the hoist side and enclose the triangle); centered in the triangle is a boar's tusk encircling two crossed namele fern fronds, all in yellow; red represents the blood of boars and men, as well as unity, green the richness of the islands, and black the ni-Vanuatu people; the yellow Y-shape - which reflects the pattern of the islands in the Pacific Ocean - symbolizes the light of the Gospel spreading through the islands; the boar's tusk is a symbol of prosperity frequently worn as a pendant on the islands; the fern fronds represent peace",
      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> one of several flags where a prominent component of the design reflects the shape of the country; other such flags are those of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, and Eritrea"
    },
    "National symbol(s)": {
      "text": "boar's tusk with crossed fern fronds; national colors: red, black, green, yellow"
    },
    "National anthem": {
      "name": {
        "text": "\"Yumi, Yumi, Yumi\" (We, We, We)"
      },
      "lyrics/music": {
        "text": "Francois Vincent AYSSAV"
      },
      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> adopted 1980; the anthem is written in Bislama, a Creole language that mixes Pidgin English and French"
    },
    "National heritage": {
      "total World Heritage Sites": {
        "text": "1 (cultural)"
      },
      "selected World Heritage Site locales": {
        "text": "Chief Roi Mata&rsquo;s Domain"
      }
    }
  },
  "Economy": {
    "Economic overview": {
      "text": "Pacific island agriculture- and tourism-based economy; environmentally vulnerable to cyclones; poor property rights administration; corruption-prone; subsidizing loss-prone state enterprises in agriculture, banking, and airports"
    },
    "Real GDP (purchasing power parity)": {
      "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021": {
        "text": "$888.165 million (2021 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2020": {
        "text": "$884.192 million (2020 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2019": {
        "text": "$934.627 million (2019 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> data are in 2017 dollars"
    },
    "Real GDP growth rate": {
      "Real GDP growth rate 2021": {
        "text": "0.45% (2021 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP growth rate 2020": {
        "text": "-5.4% (2020 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP growth rate 2019": {
        "text": "3.24% (2019 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Real GDP per capita": {
      "Real GDP per capita 2021": {
        "text": "$2,800 (2021 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP per capita 2020": {
        "text": "$2,800 (2020 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP per capita 2019": {
        "text": "$3,100 (2019 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> data are in 2017 dollars"
    },
    "GDP (official exchange rate)": {
      "text": "$870 million (2017 est.)"
    },
    "Inflation rate (consumer prices)": {
      "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021": {
        "text": "2.34% (2021 est.)"
      },
      "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2020": {
        "text": "5.33% (2020 est.)"
      },
      "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2019": {
        "text": "2.76% (2019 est.)"
      }
    },
    "GDP - composition, by sector of origin": {
      "agriculture": {
        "text": "27.3% (2017 est.)"
      },
      "industry": {
        "text": "11.8% (2017 est.)"
      },
      "services": {
        "text": "60.8% (2017 est.)"
      }
    },
    "GDP - composition, by end use": {
      "household consumption": {
        "text": "59.9% (2017 est.)"
      },
      "government consumption": {
        "text": "17.4% (2017 est.)"
      },
      "investment in fixed capital": {
        "text": "28.7% (2017 est.)"
      },
      "investment in inventories": {
        "text": "0% (2017 est.)"
      },
      "exports of goods and services": {
        "text": "42.5% (2017 est.)"
      },
      "imports of goods and services": {
        "text": "-48.5% (2017 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Agricultural products": {
      "text": "coconuts, roots/tubers nes, bananas, vegetables, pork, fruit, milk, beef, groundnuts, cocoa"
    },
    "Industries": {
      "text": "food and fish freezing, wood processing, meat canning"
    },
    "Industrial production growth rate": {
      "text": "4.92% (2018 est.)"
    },
    "Labor force": {
      "text": "132,700 (2021 est.)"
    },
    "Labor force - by occupation": {
      "agriculture": {
        "text": "65%"
      },
      "industry": {
        "text": "5%"
      },
      "services": {
        "text": "30% (2000 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Unemployment rate": {
      "Unemployment rate 2021": {
        "text": "2.18% (2021 est.)"
      },
      "Unemployment rate 2020": {
        "text": "2.12% (2020 est.)"
      },
      "Unemployment rate 2019": {
        "text": "1.8% (2019 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)": {
      "total": {
        "text": "5.4%"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "5.2%"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "5.6% (2021 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Population below poverty line": {
      "text": "NA"
    },
    "Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income": {
      "Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2019": {
        "text": "32.3 (2019 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Household income or consumption by percentage share": {
      "lowest 10%": {
        "text": "NA"
      },
      "highest 10%": {
        "text": "NA"
      }
    },
    "Budget": {
      "revenues": {
        "text": "$398 million (2019 est.)"
      },
      "expenditures": {
        "text": "$355 million (2019 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)": {
      "text": "-0.9% (of GDP) (2017 est.)"
    },
    "Public debt": {
      "Public debt 2017": {
        "text": "48.4% of GDP (2017 est.)"
      },
      "Public debt 2016": {
        "text": "46.1% of GDP (2016 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Taxes and other revenues": {
      "text": "14.24% (of GDP) (2020 est.)"
    },
    "Fiscal year": {
      "text": "calendar year"
    },
    "Current account balance": {
      "Current account balance 2021": {
        "text": "$1.893 million (2021 est.)"
      },
      "Current account balance 2020": {
        "text": "$60.619 million (2020 est.)"
      },
      "Current account balance 2019": {
        "text": "$215.521 million (2019 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Exports": {
      "Exports 2021": {
        "text": "$88.805 million (2021 est.) note: data are in current year dollars"
      },
      "Exports 2020": {
        "text": "$141.534 million (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars"
      },
      "Exports 2019": {
        "text": "$372.711 million (2019 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Exports - partners": {
      "text": "Japan 33%, Thailand 13%, Mauritania 13%, South Korea 11%, China 9%, Fiji 7% (2019)"
    },
    "Exports - commodities": {
      "text": "fish and fish products, tug boats, perfume plants, mollusks, cocoa beans (2019)"
    },
    "Imports": {
      "Imports 2021": {
        "text": "$495.858 million (2021 est.) note: data are in current year dollars"
      },
      "Imports 2020": {
        "text": "$429.601 million (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars"
      },
      "Imports 2019": {
        "text": "$488.795 million (2019 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Imports - partners": {
      "text": "China 29%, Australia 18%, New Zealand 11%, Fiji 11%, Taiwan 5%, Thailand 5% (2019)"
    },
    "Imports - commodities": {
      "text": "refined petroleum, fishing ships, delivery trucks, poultry meats, broadcasting equipment (2019)"
    },
    "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold": {
      "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 31 December 2021": {
        "text": "$664.751 million (31 December 2021 est.)"
      },
      "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 31 December 2020": {
        "text": "$613.637 million (31 December 2020 est.)"
      },
      "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 31 December 2019": {
        "text": "$511.546 million (31 December 2019 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Debt - external": {
      "Debt - external 31 December 2017": {
        "text": "$200.5 million (31 December 2017 est.)"
      },
      "Debt - external 31 December 2016": {
        "text": "$182.5 million (31 December 2016 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Exchange rates": {
      "Currency": {
        "text": "vatu (VUV) per US dollar -"
      },
      "Exchange rates 2021": {
        "text": "109.453 (2021 est.)"
      },
      "Exchange rates 2020": {
        "text": "115.38 (2020 est.)"
      },
      "Exchange rates 2019": {
        "text": "114.733 (2019 est.)"
      },
      "Exchange rates 2018": {
        "text": "110.165 (2018 est.)"
      },
      "Exchange rates 2017": {
        "text": "107.821 (2017 est.)"
      }
    }
  },
  "Energy": {
    "Electricity access": {
      "electrification - total population": {
        "text": "70% (2021)"
      },
      "electrification - urban areas": {
        "text": "97% (2021)"
      },
      "electrification - rural areas": {
        "text": "60.7% (2021)"
      }
    },
    "Electricity": {
      "installed generating capacity": {
        "text": "35,000 kW (2020 est.)"
      },
      "consumption": {
        "text": "62.926 million kWh (2019 est.)"
      },
      "exports": {
        "text": "0 kWh (2020 est.)"
      },
      "imports": {
        "text": "0 kWh (2020 est.)"
      },
      "transmission/distribution losses": {
        "text": "5 million kWh (2019 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Electricity generation sources": {
      "fossil fuels": {
        "text": "84.5% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)"
      },
      "nuclear": {
        "text": "0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)"
      },
      "solar": {
        "text": "8.2% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)"
      },
      "wind": {
        "text": "7.4% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)"
      },
      "hydroelectricity": {
        "text": "0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)"
      },
      "tide and wave": {
        "text": "0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)"
      },
      "geothermal": {
        "text": "0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)"
      },
      "biomass and waste": {
        "text": "0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Coal": {
      "production": {
        "text": "0 metric tons (2020 est.)"
      },
      "consumption": {
        "text": "0 metric tons (2020 est.)"
      },
      "exports": {
        "text": "0 metric tons (2020 est.)"
      },
      "imports": {
        "text": "0 metric tons (2020 est.)"
      },
      "proven reserves": {
        "text": "0 metric tons (2019 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Petroleum": {
      "total petroleum production": {
        "text": "0 bbl/day (2021 est.)"
      },
      "refined petroleum consumption": {
        "text": "1,500 bbl/day (2019 est.)"
      },
      "crude oil and lease condensate exports": {
        "text": "0 bbl/day (2018 est.)"
      },
      "crude oil and lease condensate imports": {
        "text": "0 bbl/day (2018 est.)"
      },
      "crude oil estimated reserves": {
        "text": "0 barrels (2021 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Refined petroleum products - production": {
      "text": "0 bbl/day (2015 est.)"
    },
    "Refined petroleum products - exports": {
      "text": "0 bbl/day (2015 est.)"
    },
    "Refined petroleum products - imports": {
      "text": "1,073 bbl/day (2015 est.)"
    },
    "Natural gas": {
      "production": {
        "text": "0 cubic meters (2021 est.)"
      },
      "consumption": {
        "text": "0 cubic meters (2021 est.)"
      },
      "exports": {
        "text": "0 cubic meters (2021 est.)"
      },
      "imports": {
        "text": "0 cubic meters (2021 est.)"
      },
      "proven reserves": {
        "text": "0 cubic meters (2021 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Carbon dioxide emissions": {
      "total emissions": {
        "text": "225,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)"
      },
      "from coal and metallurgical coke": {
        "text": "0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)"
      },
      "from petroleum and other liquids": {
        "text": "225,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)"
      },
      "from consumed natural gas": {
        "text": "0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Energy consumption per capita": {
      "Total energy consumption per capita 2019": {
        "text": "10.878 million Btu/person (2019 est.)"
      }
    }
  },
  "Communications": {
    "Telephones - fixed lines": {
      "total subscriptions": {
        "text": "3,600 (2021 est.)"
      },
      "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": {
        "text": "1 (2021 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Telephones - mobile cellular": {
      "total subscriptions": {
        "text": "250,000 (2021 est.)"
      },
      "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": {
        "text": "78 (2021 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Telecommunication systems": {
      "general assessment": {
        "text": "for many years, 2G Global System for Mobile Communications was the primary mobile technology for Vanuatu&rsquo;s 300,000 people; recent infrastructure projects have improved access technologies, with a transition to 3G and, to a limited degree, to LTE; Vanuatu has also benefited from the ICN1 submarine cable and the launch of the Kacific-1 satellite, both of which have considerably improved access to telecom services in recent years; Vanuatu&rsquo;s telecom sector is liberalized, with the two prominent mobile operators; while fixed broadband penetration remains low, the incumbent operator is slowly exchanging copper fixed-lines for fiber; a number of ongoing submarine cable developments will also assist in increasing data rates and reduce internet pricing in coming years (2021)"
      },
      "domestic": {
        "text": "fixed-line teledensity is 1 per 100 and mobile-cellular 78 per 100 (2021)"
      },
      "international": {
        "text": "country code - 678; landing points for the ICN1 &amp; ICN2 submarine cables providing connectivity to the Solomon Islands and Fiji; cables helped end-users with Internet bandwidth; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) (2020)"
      }
    },
    "Broadcast media": {
      "text": "1 state-owned TV station; multi-channel pay TV is available; state-owned Radio Vanuatu operates 2 radio stations; 2 privately owned radio broadcasters; programming from multiple international broadcasters is available"
    },
    "Internet country code": {
      "text": ".vu"
    },
    "Internet users": {
      "total": {
        "text": "211,200 (2021 est.)"
      },
      "percent of population": {
        "text": "66% (2021 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Broadband - fixed subscriptions": {
      "total": {
        "text": "2,785 (2020 est.)"
      },
      "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": {
        "text": "1 (2020 est.)"
      }
    }
  },
  "Transportation": {
    "National air transport system": {
      "number of registered air carriers": {
        "text": "1 (2020)"
      },
      "inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers": {
        "text": "8"
      },
      "annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers": {
        "text": "374,603 (2018)"
      },
      "annual freight traffic on registered air carriers": {
        "text": "1.66 million (2018) mt-km"
      }
    },
    "Civil aircraft registration country code prefix": {
      "text": "YJ"
    },
    "Airports": {
      "text": "31 (2021)"
    },
    "Airports - with paved runways": {
      "text": "3",
      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> paved runways have a concrete or asphalt surface but not all have facilities for refueling, maintenance, or air traffic control; the length of a runway required for aircraft to safely operate depends on a number of factors including the type of aircraft, the takeoff weight (including passengers, cargo, and fuel), engine types, flap settings, landing speed, elevation of the airport, and average maximum daily air temperature; paved runways can reach a length of 5,000 m (16,000 ft.), but the “typical” length of a commercial airline runway is between 2,500-4,000 m (8,000-13,000 ft.)"
    },
    "Airports - with unpaved runways": {
      "text": "28",
      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> unpaved runways have a surface composition such as grass or packed earth and are most suited to the operation of light aircraft; unpaved runways are usually short, often less than 1,000 m (3,280 ft.) in length; airports with unpaved runways often lack facilities for refueling, maintenance, or air traffic control"
    },
    "Roadways": {
      "total": {
        "text": "1,070 km (2000)"
      },
      "paved": {
        "text": "256 km (2000)"
      },
      "unpaved": {
        "text": "814 km (2000)"
      }
    },
    "Merchant marine": {
      "total": {
        "text": "331"
      },
      "by type": {
        "text": "bulk carrier 16, container ship 4, general cargo 87, oil tanker 2, other 222 (2022)"
      }
    },
    "Ports and terminals": {
      "major seaport(s)": {
        "text": "Forari Bay, Luganville (Santo, Espiritu Santo), Port-Vila"
      }
    }
  },
  "Military and Security": {
    "Military and security forces": {
      "text": "no regular military forces; Ministry of Internal Affairs: Vanuatu Police Force (VPF) (2023)",
      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> the VPF includes the Vanuatu Mobile Force (VMF) and Police Maritime Wing (VPMW); the paramilitary VMF also has external security responsibilities"
    },
    "Military - note": {
      "text": "the separate British and French police forces were unified in 1980 under Ni-Vanuatu officers as the New Hebrides Constabulary; the force retained some British and French officers as advisors; the Constabulary was subsequently renamed the Vanuatu Police Force later in 1980<br><br>the Vanuatu Mobile Force has received training and other support from Australia, China, France, New Zealand, and the US<br><br>Vanuatu has a \"shiprider\" agreement with the US, which allows local maritime law enforcement officers to embark on US Coast Guard (USCG) and US Navy (USN) vessels, including to board and search vessels suspected of violating laws or regulations within Vanuatu's designated exclusive economic zone (EEZ) or on the high seas; \"shiprider\" agreements also enable USCG personnel and USN vessels with embarked USCG law enforcement personnel to work with host nations to protect critical regional resources (2023)"
    }
  },
  "Transnational Issues": {
    "Disputes - international": {
      "text": "<p><em>Vanuatu-France</em>: Matthew and Hunter Islands, two uninhabited islands east of New Caledonia, claimed by Vanuatu and France; in January 2019, a French naval mission landed officers on the islands to reinforce France’s sovereignty; in November 2021, French vessels fishing near the islands raised tensions</p>"
    }
  }
}