The Republic of Vanuatu

Vanuatu

Eighty-three islands scattered across the South Pacific volcanic, Melanesian, and unlike anywhere else on earth.

Capital
Port Vila, Efate
Land area
12,189 km²
Population
~330,000
Dialing code
+678

The islands

Geography

Vanuatu is a Y-shaped chain of 83 islands stretching roughly 1,300 kilometres through the South Pacific, most of them mountainous and volcanic in origin. Fourteen are large enough to farm and settle at scale; the rest are the smaller, wilder edges of the country.

Efate holds the capital, Port Vila. Espiritu Santo, the largest island, holds the second city, Luganville, and the country's highest peak. Two uninhabited outcrops in the far south, Matthew and Hunter, remain contested with New Caledonia.

1,879m
Mt Tabwemasana, Espiritu Santo
83
islands, 14 of them major
6
provinces
Coastline and mountains of a Vanuatu island

Fire, water & wildlife

Ecology
A turquoise blue hole in Vanuatu

Several of Vanuatu's volcanoes are still active, none more famous than Mt Yasur on Tanna, one of the few volcanoes on earth you can walk to the rim of and watch erupt at night.

The land itself is sparse — no native large mammals, no poisonous snakes or spiders — but the surrounding water is anything but: over 4,000 species of marine mollusc, freshwater blue holes in improbable shades of turquoise, and reef life that draws divers from across the Pacific.

A living culture

Kastom & language
A traditional kastom ceremony in Vanuatu

Kastom

The traditional beliefs and practices still governing daily life on many islands, older than any church or constitution.

 Bislama language signage in Vanuatu

Bislama

The Melanesian-English creole that unites over 100 local languages into one.

 Kava root and drink in Vanuatu

Kava

The earthy, sedating root drink shared each evening in nakamals across the islands.

 Handwoven handicrafts and carvings from Vanuatu

Music, arts & handicrafts

Woven mats, carved tam-tam drums and string bands, passed down village to village.

People & provinces

Demographics

Around 99% of Ni-Vanuatu trace their ancestry to Melanesian settlers, with the remainder made up of European, Asian and other Pacific Islander communities. A small number of southern islands, including Futuna and Aniwa, are Polynesian outliers with their own distinct language and customs.

Most people live rurally and close to the land — the 2020 national census counted just under a quarter of the population in Port Vila and Luganville combined, with the rest spread across the outer islands.

  • Shefa Efate, Port Vila — largest province
  • Sanma Espiritu Santo, Luganville
  • Tafea Tanna, Erromango, Aniwa, Futuna
  • Malampa Malekula, Ambrym, Paama
  • Penama Pentecost, Ambae, Maewo
  • Torba Torres & Banks Islands — smallest, remotest

Government

An independent parliamentary democracy since 1980, with a 52-seat unicameral parliament elected every four years and a President chosen every five.

Economy

Built on agriculture, fishing and tourism, with a 15% VAT funding much of the public purse and no petroleum or significant mineral reserves.

Full name

Republic of Vanuatu — known locally as Ripablik blong Vanuatu, independent since 30 July 1980.

Frequently Asked Questions

Vanuatu is a Y-shaped chain of about 83 islands stretching roughly 1,300 kilometres, with six provinces and more than 100 indigenous languages. Kastom still shapes daily life on many islands, and active volcanoes, blue holes and WWII sites sit close to village bungalows. It is Melanesian at heart, with a few Polynesian outlier islands in the south, and a capital, Port Vila, that is small enough to feel personal.
The islands were settled in waves over thousands of years, and communities remained relatively isolated by sea, mountains and strong local identity. Each island, and often each valley, kept its own language. Bislama later grew as a shared creole so people from different islands could talk to one another, while English and French remain official languages from the colonial period.
The country stretches about 1,300 kilometres from the Torres and Banks islands in the north to Tafea in the far south. Only about 14 islands are large enough to farm and settle at scale; the rest are smaller and more remote. Travel between provinces usually means a domestic flight or a boat, and weather can add extra days on the outer islands.
Ni-Vanuatu identity is rooted in kastom, land held by families, and a strong sense of community, alongside the shared language of Bislama. The country became an independent republic on 30 July 1980 after the Anglo-French Condominium. Today that mix of Melanesian tradition, churches and a bilingual colonial past still shapes how people greet visitors, farm, and gather in the evening over kava.
Vanuatu's currency is the Vatu, often written as VT. It is used for everyday purchases in markets, shops, nakamals and most visitor services. Cards are more widely accepted in Port Vila and Luganville than on outer islands, so it is sensible to carry some cash when you leave the main towns.