Vanuatu Military, Economy and Transportation

Economy

Economy overview: The economy is based mainly on subsistence or small-scale agriculture, which supports 65% of the population. Other economic sectors are fishing, offshore financial services and tourism (about 50,000 visitors in 1997). Mineral deposits are insignificant; There are no proven oil reserves. A small sector of light industry works for the local market. Tax revenues are provided mainly by import duties. Economic development is hampered by dependence on relatively small exports of consumer goods, exposure to natural disasters, and long distances to major markets, as well as distances between islands. The last major natural disaster, a major earthquake in November 1999, resulted in a tsunami which caused significant destruction in the northern part of Pentecost Island and left thousands of people homeless. GDP growth in the 1990s averaged less than 3% per year. Yielding to international pressure, the government is tightening control over its offshore financial center. See topb2bwebsites.com to know more about Vanuatu in 2004.
GDP: Purchasing Power Parity $245 million (1999 est.)
Real GDP growth rate: -2.5% (1999 est.).
GDP per capita: PPP $1,300 (1999 est.)
The composition of GDP by sectors of the economy: agriculture: 20%; industry: 9%; services: 71% (1999 est.).
Proportion of the population below the poverty line: no data available.
Percentage distribution of household income or consumption: for the poorest 10% of households: n/a; by top 10% of households: no data.
Inflation rate at consumer prices: 2.5% (1999 est.).
Labor force: no data.
Employment structure: agriculture 65%, services 32%, industry 3% (1995 est.).
Unemployment rate: no data.
Budget: revenues: $94.4 million; expenses: $99.8 million, including capital expenditures of $30.4 million (1996 est.).
Spheres of economy: food industry and production of frozen fish products, timber industry, production of canned meat.
Growth in industrial production: 1% (1997 est.).
Electricity generation: 35 million kWh (1999).
Sources of electricity generation: fossil fuels: 100%; hydropower: 0%; nuclear fuel: 0%; others: 0% (1999).
Electricity consumption: 32.6 million kWh (1999).
Electricity export: 0 kWh (1999).
Electricity import: 0 kWh (1999).
Agricultural products: copra, coconuts, cocoa, coffee, taro, yams, fruits, vegetables; fish, meat.
Export: $25.3 million (free on board, 1999)
Exports: copra, kava, beef, cocoa, timber, coffee.
Export partners: Japan 32%, Germany 14%, Spain 8%, New Caledonia 7%, Australia 2% (1997 est.).
Imports: $77.2 million (free on board, 1999)
Import articles: machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, fuel.
Import partners: Japan 52%, Australia 20%, New Caledonia, Singapore, New Zealand, France, Fiji (1997 est.).
External debt: $48 million (1997 est.). Economic aid recipient: $45.8 million (1995)
Economic aid donor:
Currency: vatu.
Currency code: VUV.
Exchange rate: VUV / USD – 143.95 (December 2000), 137.82 (1999), 129.08 (1999), 127.52 (1998), 115.87 (1997), 111.72 (1996).
Fiscal year: calendar year.

Telecommunications

Telecommunications Telephone lines: 4,000 (1996).
Mobile Cell Phones: 154 (1996).
Telephone system: internal: no data; international: satellite earth stations – 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean).
Broadcast stations: AM – 2, FM – 2, shortwave – 1 (1998).
Radio receivers: 62,000 (1997).
Television broadcast stations: 1 (1997).
Televisions: 2,000 (1997).
Internet country code: vu
Internet service providers: 1 (2000).
Number of users: 3,000 (2000).

Transport

Transport Railways: 0 km.
Roads: total length: 1,070 km; coated: 256 km; unpaved: 814 km (1996 est.).
Ports and harbours: Port Vila, Santo (Espiritu Santo), Forari.
Merchant navy: total: 54 vessels (of 1,000 tons displacement and over) with a total displacement of 1,067,384 gross register tons / 1,330,543 long tons; ships of various types: bulk carriers – 23, cargo ships – 7, chemical tankers – 3, combination carriers – 2, container ships – 1, liquefied gas tankers – 3, oil tankers – 2, refrigerated ships – 7, cargo ships for transportation of vehicles – 6; note: including foreign ships registered here for FOC reasons: Japan 22, USA 4.0 km. Australia 2, Greece 1, Hong Kong 1, Canada 1, China 1, Netherlands 1, Norway 1, France 1 Switzerland 1 (2000 points).
Airports: 32 (2000 est.).
Airports with paved runways: total: 2; 2438 to 3047 m:1; 914 to 1523 m: 1 (2000 est.).
Airports with unpaved runways: total: 30; from 1524 to 2437 m:2; from 914 to 1523: 11; less than 914 m: 17 (2000 est.).

Armed Forces

Branches of the armed forces: no permanent armed forces; Vanuatu Police Force (including Vanuatu Paramilitary Mobile Forces).
Conscription age:
Total military manpower:
Eligible for military service:
Number of persons reaching draft age each year:
Military spending in dollar terms: not available.
Military spending as part of GDP: no data available.