Vanuatu

The Republic of Vanuatu is an archipelago of islands located in the South Pacific. Language patterns today reflect the mixed Anglo-French heritage of the islands. Upon achieving independence in 1980, the nation's name was changed from the New Hebrides to Vanuatu. Three-fourths of the population resides in rural areas, and 70 percent live off of small-scale agriculture. The per capita income of $4,800 is subsidized by substantial foreign aid from Australia and New Zealand. Vanuatu ranks 126th on the United Nations Development Program's list of countries with very high human development.

More than 98 percent of the population is ethnically Ni-Vanuatu. The islands are more diverse in religion, but the majority of citizens are either Protestant or Roman Catholic. There are more than 100 local languages spoken in Vanuatu. Although the constitution grants women equal rights with men, cultural restrictions prevent women from taking an active role in either economics or politics. Local customs also discourage female ownership of land. The first female was elected to the country's parliament in 1987, but by 2008, only two women sat in parliament, and none were in the cabinet. The ombudsman, a constitutionally created position designed to handle perceived injustices, is female.

With an infant mortality rate of 49.45 deaths per 1,000 live births, Vanuatu ranks 52nd in the world in this category. Female life expectancy is 65.66 years as compared to 62.37 years for males. The median age for females is 24.1 years. Females have a fertility rate of 2.5 children per woman. Approximately three-fourths of Vanuatu citizens are literate, and the nation ranks sixth in the world in educational expenditures. Females, however, generally obtain only 10 years of schooling compared to 11 years for males.