Multiple waves of colonizers, each speaking a distinct language, migrated to the New Hebrides in the millennia preceding European exploration in the 18th century.

This settlement pattern accounts for the complex linguistic diversity found on the archipelago to this day.

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, when the new name of Vanuatu was adopted.

Source: CIA World Fact Book

Population: 211,971 (July 2007 est.)

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Age structure: 0-14 years: 31.9% (male 34,590/female 33,124) 15-64 years: 64.3% (male 69,496/female 66,745) 65 years and over: 3.8% (male 4,178/female 3,838) (2007 est.)

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Median age: total: 23.4 years male: 23.4 years female: 23.4 years (2007 est.)

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Population growth rate: 1.46% (2007 est.)

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Birth rate: 22.35 births/1,000 population (2007 est.)

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Death rate: 7.75 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.)

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Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.)

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Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.044 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.041 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.089 male(s)/female total population: 1.044 male(s)/female (2007 est.)

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Infant mortality rate: total: 52.45 deaths/1,000 live births male: 54.96 deaths/1,000 live births female: 49.81 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)

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Life expectancy at birth: total population: 63.22 years male: 61.67 years female: 64.84 years (2007 est.)

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Total fertility rate: 2.63 children born/woman (2007 est.)

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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: NA

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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: NA

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HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA

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Nationality: noun: Ni-Vanuatu (singular and plural) adjective: Ni-Vanuatu

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Ethnic groups: Ni-Vanuatu 98.5%, other 1.5% (1999 Census)

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Religions: Presbyterian 31.4%, Anglican 13.4%, Roman Catholic 13.1%, Seventh-Day Adventist 10.8%, other Christian 13.8%, indigenous beliefs 5.6% (including Jon Frum cargo cult), other 9.6%, none 1%, unspecified 1.3% (1999 Census)

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Languages: local languages (more than 100) 72.6%, pidgin (known as Bislama or Bichelama) 23.1%, English 1.9%, French 1.4%, other 0.3%, unspecified 0.7% (1999 Census)

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Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 74% male: NA female: NA (1999 census)

This South Pacific island economy is based primarily on small-scale agriculture, which provides a living for 65% of the population. Fishing, offshore financial services, and tourism, with more than 60,000 visitors in 2005, 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. GDP growth rose less than 3% on average in the 1990s. In response to foreign concerns, the government has promised to tighten regulation of its offshore financial center. In mid-2002 the government stepped up efforts to boost tourism through improved air connections, resort development, and cruise ship facilities. Agriculture, especially livestock farming, is a second target for growth. Australia and New Zealand are the main suppliers of tourists and foreign aid.

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GDP (purchasing power parity): $739 million (2006 est.)

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GDP (official exchange rate): $341 million (2005)

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GDP - real growth rate: 6.8% (2005 est.)

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GDP - per capita (PPP): $2,900 (2003 est.)

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GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 26% industry: 12% services: 62% (2000 est.)

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Labor force: 76,410 (1999)

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Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 65% industry: 5% services: 30% (2000 est.)

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Unemployment rate: 1.7% (1999)

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Population below poverty line: NA%

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Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

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Inflation rate (consumer prices): -1.6% (2005 est.)

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Budget: revenues: $78.7 million expenditures: $72.23 million (2005 est.)

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Agriculture - products: copra, coconuts, cocoa, coffee, taro, yams, fruits, vegetables; beef; fish

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Industries: food and fish freezing, wood processing, meat canning

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Industrial production growth rate: 1% (1997 est.)

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Electricity - production: 43 million kWh (2004)

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Electricity - consumption: 39.99 million kWh (2004)

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Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (2004 est.)

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Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (2004)

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Oil - production: 0 bbl/day (2004 est.)

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Oil - consumption: 620 bbl/day (2004 est.)

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Oil - exports: NA bbl/day

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Oil - imports: NA bbl/day

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Oil - proved reserves: 0 bbl

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Natural gas - production: 0 cu m (2004 est.)

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Natural gas - consumption: 0 cu m (2004 est.)

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Current account balance: -$28.35 million (2003)

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Exports: $34.11 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

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Exports - commodities: copra, beef, cocoa, timber, kava, coffee

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Exports - partners: Thailand 58.7%, India 16.4%, Japan 11.2% (2006)

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Imports: $117.1 million c.i.f. (2004 est.)

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Imports - commodities: machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, fuels

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Imports - partners: Australia 20.4%, Japan 19.6%, Singapore 12%, NZ 8.8%, Fiji 7.6%, China 7.4%, New Caledonia 4.2% (2006)

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Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $40.54 million (2003)

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Debt - external: $81.2 million (2004)

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Economic aid - recipient: $37.8 million (2004)

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Currency (code): vatu (VUV)

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Exchange rates: vatu per US dollar - 111.93 (2006), NA (2005), 111.79 (2004), 122.19 (2003), 139.2 (2002)

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Fiscal year: calendar year