Geography

Physical geography

Vanuatu is a Y-shaped archipelago comprising 4 main islands and 80 smaller islands with a total land area of 12,200 square kilometres. It is 2.5 hours flying time north-east of Brisbane, Australia. Many of the islands are mountainous, rising straight out of the ocean, with little flat coastal land. The highest point is Mount Tabwemasana, which is 1,877 metres, on the island Espiritu Santo. Because it is located on the Pacific Ring of Fire, there are active volcanoes and the country experiences frequent Earth tremors and occasional tsunamis.

Climate

Vanuatu has a tropical climate with high temperatures. In the capital, Port Vila, January temperatures average 27°C and and July temperatures average 22°C. During the wet season, from November to April, rainfall totals vary from 2,250 millimetres in the south to 3,875 millimetres (nearly 4 metres) in the north. Cyclones may occur during the wet season.

Environment

Forests in Vanuatu are richly varied and include giant banyan trees, kauri pines and some remnant stands of sandalwood. Over 150 plant species are endemic to Vanuatu. The steep terrain has protected Vanuatu’s forests from logging. Vanuatu is home to 11 species of bat, including the white flying fox. It is also the easternmost habitation of the dugong, or sea-cow. The island of Espiritu Santo has the richest bird population, with 55 species including the incubator bird, which leaves its eggs to incubate in hot volcanic sand from which the young birds emerge fully fledged.

Population

Most people live in small villages across all the islands. About a quarter of the population live quite westernised lifestyles, in urban areas. The largest cities are Port Vila, the capital, on the island of Efate, (44,040 people); Luganville on Espiritu Santo (13,900 people); Norsup (3,000 people) on Malakula; and Isangel (1,500 people) on Tanna.

People

Culture and identity

The ni-Vanuatu, as the people are known, are predominantly Melanesian. Other groups include French, Chinese, Pacific Islanders and Vietnamese. The isolation of the islands and the mountainous terrain has led to the development of over 100 different indigenous languages and cultures. Bislama (Vanuatu pidgin) is the main language spoken across the various groups but English and French are also spoken.

There is a strong loyalty to kastom, which represents what ni-Vanuatu see as most valuable in society. Associated with birth, initiation, marriage and death is a regular cycle of celebrations and feasting. These events include hundreds of extended family members as relationships are traced back many generations.

Storytelling, songs and dances have long been important in Vanuatu because traditionally there was no written language. Art, in many forms, from body decorations and tattoos, to elaborate masks, hats and carvings, are also a vital part of ritual celebrations. Traditional musical instruments include pan pipes, conch shells and the tam-tam or slit-drum, an intricately carved log with a slice hollowed out from the centre in which the sound reverberates.

The World Heritage site Chief Roi Mata’s Domain recognises the important social reforms and methods of conflict resolution the chief made during his 17th century reign.

Health

Government spending on health and health education has improved the use of mosquito nets to prevent malaria, and increased the rate of immunisation against disease. The infant mortality rate is 16 per 1,000 live births and life expectancy is 72 years (men: 71 and women: 74). About 90% of the population has access to safe water and 57% has access to safe sanitation. Food shortages may occur after cyclones or other natural disasters. Imported processed foods are taking the place of traditional cuisine, causing health issues related to obesity and nutrient deficiencies for many townspeople.

Religion and beliefs

Traditional beliefs in spirits and demons are often held alongside Christian beliefs. Some places, names, knowledge, objects or practices may be considered taboo or sacred. Natural events are often considered the result of actions by individuals who may have offended certain spirits.

Food and shelter

The traditional diet consists of the root vegetables yams, manioc and taro. Taro, wild spinach and grated coconut are ground together to make the national dish, laplap. Pork, beef, fish, poultry, seafood or bush meat like flying fox may be added, and the mixture is wrapped in banana leaves and baked in an underground oven. Seasonal fruits such as breadfruit are also important and kava, made from the fermented root of a tuber plant, is the national drink. Increasing urbanisation is leading to changes in diet to include imported foods such as tinned fish and rice.

Villagers live in a variety of styles of traditional housing made from bamboo, grass and thatch, consisting of one or two rooms for sleeping. Cooking is done on outdoor fireplaces or in separate huts. Traditionally, men and initiated boys lived in nakamal, men’s house. Today families live together. Townspeople tend to live in western-style housing or informal self-built housing made of corrugated iron, wood, thatch, bamboo and plastic.

Economy

Wealth and poverty

Vanuatu’s economy relies heavily on tourism and agriculture. Its productive land means rural people enjoy healthy lifestyles and social rituals based on gifts of pigs and other food. Limited economic opportunities and a wish for a modern lifestyle lead many young people to move to the towns, but many are unable to find jobs.

Education and work

The adult literacy rate in Vanuatu is 83%. Over two-thirds of school-aged children are enrolled in school, with 83% completing primary school. Education is delivered in both English and French to meet the demands of business and give the country a competitive edge over other Pacific Island nations. About 5% of the relevant age group is enrolled in tertiary education. Vanuatu is a partner in the regional University of the South Pacific, which has its main campus in Suva, Fiji Islands, and a branch in Vanuatu. Malapoa Teachers’ Training College and Tagabe Agricultural School also provide tertiary education, and there is a school of nursing in Port Vila.

Industries and products

Vanuatu’s economic growth is heavily reliant on tourism, which employs 10,000 people and provides 40% of the country’s GDP. Subsistence farmers produce mainly taro, yams, coconuts, fruits and vegetables. The principal cash and export crops are copra, cocoa and coffee. Light industries, which cater for local needs, are based on food and natural resources – fish freezing, meat canning and wood processing.

Trade

In 2013 Vanuatu exported copra, beef, cocoa, timber, kava and coffee worth $US43 million to Thailand (41%), Cote dIvoire (30.5%) and Japan (15%). It imported machinery and equipment, foodstuffs and fuels worth $319 million from China (20%), Singapore (18%), USA (15%), Japan (11%) and Australia (10%).

Government

Vanuatu gained its independence from Britain and France on 30 July 1980. The President of the Parliamentary Republic is elected for a five-year term via a secret ballot by parliament and the presidents of Vanuatu’s six provincial governments. The parliament is elected for a four-year term by citizens aged over 18. President Lolu Johnson Abbil was elected in September 2009 and the Prime Minister, Sato Kilman of the People’s Progressive Party, was elected in December 2010.

Vanuatu has enjoyed relative political stability since 2004 but continues to struggle with weak government systems and policies. There are few people with the skills for key positions and the traditional relationships of reciprocity between leaders and their communities puts politicians under constant pressure to provide direct, material benefits to their constituents.

Achievements and challenges

The main constraints to development in Vanuatu include more than 100 different vernacular languages and the dual French and English language and education systems. Vanuatu’s fiscal position has improved through financial reforms, more transparent and accountable budget processes, and improved public sector practices. Economic growth is limited by dependence on relatively few commodity exports and the long distances from main markets and between the islands.

The cash economy is becoming increasingly necessary to maintain a basic standard of living. Rural households need cash to pay school fees, for necessities such as salt, sugar, soap, clothing and kerosene as well as for imported foodstuffs. This is changing social relationships as people become more individualistic and less willing and able to devote time and resources to their communities. These changes are challenging the authority and status of chiefs. The status of women is also changing as it was traditionally based on how active they were in their community roles, including church and women’s groups, and the care of the elderly and vulnerable.

A number of community groups are active throughout the islands. The Vanuatu Women’s Centre has assisted women to address issues of violence in the home and financial difficulties. A non-government organisation, Wan Smolbag Theatre, brings powerful messages about care of the environment, health, and social and human rights to villages throughout the country and operates all over the South Pacific.

With the help of the international community, Vanuatu is making progress towards the Millennium Development Goals but is only likely to meet the goals of reducing child mortality (MDG 4) and combatting HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases (MDG6) by 2015.

Links with Australia

Early contact with Australia occurred when thousands of ni-Vanuatu were ‘recruited’ to work on the sugar and cotton plantations of Queensland in the late 1800s in a practice known as blackbirding. Many workers were never able to return home but had few rights in Australia.

Australia now enjoys a friendly, broad-based relationship with Vanuatu. Australia is a major source of imports, investment and aid. Areas of Australian investment include agriculture, tourism, finance and construction. There is also a significant resident population of Australians.

Australia’s overseas aid program focuses on education, health, infrastructure, economic governance and services in law and justice.