|RConstitution:|N Republic. Formerly known as New Hebrides. The constitution is parliamentary and complemented by a National Council of Chiefs, that decide on matters of tradition and customary law.
|RNational holiday:|N July 30.
|RNature and climate:|N About 80 islands in the Pacific Ocean about 800 km west of Fiji and 2800 km east of Australia.
The islands are mountainous and of volcanic origin. There are three still active volcanoes and there are frequent earthquakes and there are several geysers.
Highest peak, Tabwenasana on Espiritu Santo, reaches1682 m.a.s.l.
Most islands are heavily forested.
The sea west of Vanuatu have deeps of 7660 metres.
The archipelago is surrounded by coral reefs.
Average temperature between 21 and 27°C throughout the year.
Percipitation between 2200 and 3000 mm.
|RPeople:|N 94% Melanesians, the remainder Chinese and European.
|REconomy:|N The economy is based on subsistence agriculture, stockraising and fishing. Most important crops are copra, cacao, coffee, taro, yams, fruits and vegetables.
Fishing is extensive but tuna fishing rights are principally sold to fishers from other countries giving important incomes of foreign exchange.
Manganese is extracted for export.
Tourism has been rapidly developed since world war II.
|RHistory:|N The first European visitor was the Portuguese Pedro de Quiros in 1606 and in the 1770:s the islands were explored by James Cook.
From 1887 under an ANglo-French naval commission and from 1906 a condominion, a joint Anglo-French colony.
Japan did not occupy the islands in World War II, instead they became an important base for the Allies.
The independent country Vanuatu was proclaimed 1980. Shortly before independence French settlers and plantationowners on the largest island Espirito Santo under an uprising proclaimed an independent country. British and French troops reestablished order.
