Vanuatu

Background: 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.
Location: Location: Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to Australia. Area: Total: 12,200 sq km, land: 12,200 sq km, note: includes more than 80 islands. Area - comparative: Slightly larger than Connecticut. Coastline: 2,528 km.
Climate and Terrain: Climate: Tropical; moderated by southeast trade winds. Terrain: Mostly mountains of volcanic origin; narrow coastal plains. Natural resources: Manganese, hardwood forests, fish. Environment - current issues: A majority of the population does not have access to a potable and reliable supply of water; deforestation. Geography - note: A Y-shaped chain of four main islands and 80 smaller islands; several of the islands have active volcanoes.
People: Population: 199,414. Ethnic groups: Indigenous Melanesian 98%, French, Vietnamese, Chinese, other Pacific Islanders. Religions: 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). Languages: Three official languages: English, French, pidgin (known as Bislama or Bichelama), plus more than 100 local languages.
Government: Government type: Parliamentary republic. Capital: Port-Vila. Independence: 30 July 1980 (from France and UK).
Economy overview: The economy is based primarily on subsistence or small-scale agriculture, which provides a living for 65% of the population. Fishing, offshore financial services, and tourism, with about 50,000 visitors in 1997, are other mainstays of the economy. Mineral deposits are negligible; the country has no known petroleum deposits. A small light industry sector caters to the local market. Tax revenues come mainly from import duties. Economic development is hindered by dependence on relatively few commodity exports, vulnerability to natural disasters, and long distances from main markets and between constituent islands. A severe earthquake in November 1999 followed by a tsunami, caused extensive damage to the northern island of Pentecote and left thousands homeless.
Statistics: Telephones - main lines in use: 5,500. Telephones - mobile cellular: 310. Radio broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 2, shortwave 1. Radios: 67,000. Television broadcast stations: 1. Televisions: 2,300. Internet users: 3,000. Railways: 0 km. Highways: Total: 1,070 km, paved: 256 km, unpaved: 814 km. Airports - with paved runways: 3, with unpaved runways: 27.