Part 801

US diplomatic representation: the US does not have an embassy in Vanuatu; the ambassador to Papua New Guinea is accredited to Vanuatu

Flag: 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

Economy -------

Economic overview: The economy is based primarily on subsistence farming which provides a living for the bulk of the population. Fishing and tourism are the other mainstays of the economy, with 43,000 visitors in 1992. Mineral deposits are negligible; the country has no known petroleum deposits. A small light industry sector caters to the local market. Tax revenues come mainly from import duties.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $210 million (1994 est.)

GDP real growth rate: 2% (1994 est.)

GDP per capita: $1,220 (1994 est.)

GDP composition by sector: agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 7% (1995 est.)

Labor force: 66,597 (1989 est.) by occupation: agriculture 65%, services 32%, industry 3% (1995 est.)

Unemployment rate: NA%

Budget: revenues: $74.8 million expenditures: $76.1 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1994 est.)

Industries: food and fish freezing, wood processing, meat canning

Industrial production growth rate: 3.4% (1993 est.)

Electricity: capacity: 17,000 kW production: 30 million kWh consumption per capita: 181 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: coconuts, cocoa, coffee, taro, yams, coconuts, fruits, vegetables; fish

Exports: $24.6 million (f.o.b., 1994 est.) commodities: copra, beef, cocoa, timber, coffee partners: EU 32%, Japan 29%, Australia 11%, New Caledonia 7% (1993)

Imports: $78.6 million (f.o.b., 1994 est.) commodities: machines and vehicles, food and beverages, basic manufactures, raw materials and fuels, chemicals partners: Australia 41%, France 15%, NZ 11%, Japan 9%, Fiji 6% (1992)

External debt: $38.2 million (yearend 1993)

Economic aid: recipient: ODA, $NA

Currency: 1 vatu (VT) = 100 centimes

Exchange rates: vatu (VT) per US$1 - 114.40 (January 1996), 112.11 (1995), 116.41 (1994), 121.58 (1993), 113.39 (1992), 111.68 (1991)

Fiscal year: calendar year

Transportation --------------

Railways: 0 km

Highways: total: 1,021 km paved: 238 km unpaved: 783 km (1987 est.)

Ports: Forari, Port-Vila, Santo (Espiritu Santo)

Merchant marine: total: 112 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,587,286 GRT/2,173,970 DWT ships by type: bulk 38, cargo 29, chemical tanker 3, combination bulk 1, container 3, liquefied gas tanker 5, livestock carrier 1, oil tanker 6, refrigerated cargo 16, vehicle carrier 10 note: a flag of convenience registry; includes ships from 20 countries among which are Japan 37, US 19, Netherlands 10, Greece 6, Hong Kong 6, China 4, Canada 4, UAE 3, Russia 2, and Australia 2 (1995 est.)