République de Vanuatu (French)

Ripablik blong Vanuatu (Bislama)

Political Status: Formerly the New Hebrides; became the Anglo-French Condominium of the New Hebrides in 1906; present name adopted upon becoming an independent member of the Commonwealth on July 30, 1980.

Area: 4,647 sq. mi. (12,035 sq. km.).

Population: 252,792 (2012E—UN); 227,574 (2012E—U.S. Census).

Major Urban Center (2005E): VILA (Port Vila, 36,600).

Official Languages: English, French, Bislama. The last, a pidgin dialect, is recognized constitutionally as the “national language,” and efforts are currently under way to accord it equal status with English and French as a medium of instruction.

Monetary Unit: Vatu (official rate October 3, 2011: 97.00 vatu = $1US).

President: Iolu Johnson ABIL (Party of Our Land); elected by the electoral college on September 2, 2009, and inaugurated the same day ...