Part 799

Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 5,672,621 males fit for military service: 4,623,960 males reach military age (18) annually: 231,293 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: 164 million soms, 3.7% of GDP (1993); note - conversion of defense expenditures into US dollars using the current exchange rate could produce misleading results

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@Vanuatu -------

Map ---

Location: 16 00 S, 167 00 E -- Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to Australia

Flag ----

Description: two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and green with a black isosceles triangle (based on the hoist side) all separated by a black-edged yellow stripe in the shape of a horizontal Y (the two points of the Y face the hoist side and enclose the triangle); centered in the triangle is a boar's tusk encircling two crossed namele leaves, all in yellow

Geography ---------

Location: Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to Australia

Geographic coordinates: 16 00 S, 167 00 E

Map references: Oceania

Area: total area: 14,760 sq km land area: 14,760 sq km comparative area: slightly larger than Connecticut note: includes more than 80 islands

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 2,528 km

Maritime claims: measured from claimed archipelagic baselines contiguous zone: 24 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

International disputes: claims Matthew and Hunter Islands east of New Caledonia

Climate: tropical; moderated by southeast trade winds

Terrain: mostly mountains of volcanic origin; narrow coastal plains lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Tabwemasana 1,877 m

Natural resources: manganese, hardwood forests, fish

Land use: arable land: 1% permanent crops: 5% meadows and pastures: 2% forest and woodland: 1% other: 91%

Irrigated land: NA sq km

Environment: current issues: a majority of the population does not have access to a potable and reliable supply of water natural hazards: tropical cyclones or typhoons (January to April); volcanism causes minor earthquakes international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution; signed, but not ratified - Desertification, Law of the Sea

People ------

Population: 177,504 (July 1996 est.)

Age structure: 0-14 years: 40% (male 36,409; female 35,105) 15-64 years: 57% (male 51,969; female 48,901) 65 years and over: 3% (male 2,802; female 2,318) (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate: 2.17% (1996 est.)

Birth rate: 30.57 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)