rea - comparative: slightly larger than Connecticut

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 2,528 km

Maritime claims: measured from claimed archipelagic baselines exclusive
economic zone: of the continental margin contiguous zone: 24 NM

Climate: tropical; moderated by southeast trade winds

Terrain: mostly mountains of volcanic origin; narrow coastal plains

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point:
Tabwemasana 1,877 m

Natural resources: manganese, hardwood forests, fish

Land use: arable land: 3% permanent crops: 7% other: 90% (1998 est.)

Irrigated land: NA sq km

Natural hazards: tropical cyclones or typhoons (January to April);
volcanism causes minor earthquakes; tsunamis

Environment - current issues: a majority of the population does not
have access to a potable and reliable supply of water; deforestation

Environment - international agreements: party to: Antarctic-Marine Living
Resources, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol,
Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping,
Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 94 signed,
but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note: a Y-shaped chain of four main islands and 80 smaller
islands; several of the islands have active volcanoes

People Vanuatu

Population: 196,178 (July 2002 est.)

Age structure: 0-14 years: 35.6% (male 35,681; female 34,164) 15-64
years: 61.1% (male 61,384; female 58,473) 65 years and over: 3.3%
(male 3,473; female 3,003) (2002 est.)

Population growth rate: 1.66% (2002 est.)

Birth rate: 24.83 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Death rate: 8.25 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04
male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 65 years and over:
1.16 male(s)/female total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2002 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 59.58 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: 62.8 years (2002 est.) male: Total fertility
rate: 3.08 children born/woman (2002 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: NA%

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA

Nationality: noun: Ni-Vanuatu (singular and plural) adjective: Ni-Vanuatu

Ethnic groups: indigenous Melanesian 98%, French, Vietnamese, Chinese,
other Pacific