Countries

Vanuatu

Map

Vanuatu
This map is an approximation of actual country borders.

The 2009 National Census of Population and Housing reported the population of Vanuatu to be 234 023, with a growth rate of 2.3% per annum. Life expectancy at birth is 69 for males and 72 for females, and 3.5% of the population is over 65 years of age.

The 2011 estimated crude birth rate was 31.1 per 1000 population and the estimated crude death rate was 5.3. The infant mortality rate was 27 per 1000 live births in 2008.

According to the last national census, the urban population accounted for 25.6% of the total population in 2010. Urban migration is increasing at an alarming rate, particularly from rural islands to Port Vila and Luganville, as people seek employment or education. Most of the population are employed in subsistence agriculture, the rest being in government departments, private companies and other employment sectors.

In May 1953, Vanuatu (formerly New Hebrides), was assigned to the Western Pacific Region at the Sixth World Health Assembly ''without prejudice to any questions regarding its sovereignty'' as an area. On 30 July 1980, New Hebrides won its independence from Britain and France and was renamed Vanuatu. It joined WHO on 7 March 1983 as a Member State.

Vanuatu is covered by the WHO Representative Office in the South Pacific, and a WHO Country Liaison Officer was designated in March 1981.

Acting WHO Country Liaison Officer in Vanuatu : Kool, Dr Jacob

WHO Country Office

Office address:

WHO CLO Vanuatu MOH Iatika Complex P.O Box 177 Port Vila Vanuatu

Postal address:

World Health Organization P.O. Box 177 Port Vila, Vanuatu, South Pacific

Telephone number:

(678) 27 683 (direct line)
(678) 22 512 ext 221 (CLO)
(678) 22 512 ext 222 (Sec)

Fax number:

(678) 22 691

Office hours:

07.30 - 12.00 13.30 - 17.00 (Monday to Friday)

Email:

who.van@wpro.who.int

Website:

http://www.wpro.who.int/southpacific

Ministry of Health

Address:

Iatika Complex Private Mail Bag 009, Port Vila, Vanuatu

Telephone number:
(678) 22512

Fax number:

(678) 26 204

Email:

mabel@vanuatu.gov.vu

Sources

Additional information

 

Statistics

Estimated Population ('000s) ( 2009 ) 234.02
Percentage of Population 5-14 years old ( 2009 ) 24.61
Life expectancy at birth (years) ( 2009 ) 71
Under-five mortality rate (per 1000 livebirths) ( 2008 ) 31
Total health expenditure as % of GDP ( 2009 ) 3.9
General gov't expenditure on health as % of total general gov't expenditure ( 2009 ) 13.6
Human development index ( 2007 ) 0.69
Per capita GDP (US$) at current market prices ( 2009 ) 2685.1
Population below national poverty line not available
Adult literacy rate (%) ( 2010 ) 84.8
Maternal mortality ratio (per 100 000 livebirths) ( 2007 ) 86
Proportion of population with sustainable access to improved water source ( 2009 ) 85.2
Proportion of population with access to improved sanitation ( 2008 ) 52