Map of Vanuatu

Vanuatu is an archipelago in the South Pacific, nearly 1,750 kilometers (1,090 miles) from the Australian coast, near New Caledonia, Fiji, the Solomon Islands, and New Guinea. The archipelago is made up of about 82 volcanic islands, of which 65 have permanent settlements. These islands together cover an area of 12,190 square kilometers (4,710 square miles). The capital of Vanuatu, and its largest city, is Port Vila.

The islands of Vanuatu were formed by several volcanoes in the region, including active volcano Lopevi. The largest islands of the country are Espiritu Santo, Malakula, Efate, Erromango, Ambrym, and Tanna. The country has six provinces, each with multiple islands. The province of Malampa includes the islands Malakula and Ambrym. Other provinces are Penama, Sanma, Shefa, which includes a group of islands called the Shepherds, Tafea, and Torba. The provinces of Vanuatu are fairly autonomous, with their own governments and a headquarters.

Vanuatu has a total population of about 224,564, of which over 98 percent are ethnic Melanesian, or Ni-Vanuatu. The rest of the population is made up of Europeans, Asians, and other Pacific Islanders. Port Vila and Luganville are the largest cities, but much of the population lives in rural areas. The predominant religion in Vanuatu is Christianity. The official languages of Vanuatu are Bislama, a creole language based on English and French, along with English, and French.

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Last Updated On : March 05, 2013