Countries of the World (Oceania) - Vanuatu
My first country from Oceania in my new geography series (and the first of many for 2026). As I mentioned before, this series for Oceania countries will not appear as often (since there aren't as many) - they will show up every second cycle (so probably once every 6 weeks or so). I will also mix in some international organizations and groups (UNESCO, World Bank, International Monetary Fund, etc..) to make the timing work better. For this series tentatively I will go in reserve alphabetical order, so starting in this case with "V" and working backwards.
Jay LeBlanc
1/21/20264 min read
Section I - Basic Info on Vanuatu
Official Name: Republic of Vanuatu
Population: 322,915 (174th largest in the world, 6th largest in Oceania)
Area/Size: 4,706 square miles (twice the size of Delaware)
Capital: Port Vila (53,000 - sister city of Yinchuan, China)
Spoken Languages: Bislama, French, English (all official); 100+ indigenous languages
Religions: Protestant (61%), Catholic (18%), other Christian (15%), ethnic (4%)
Life Expectancy: 76.0 years Internet Access Rate: 45.7%
Per Capita Income: $3,600 Unemployment: 5.1%
What do they Export?: Fish, ships, perfume plants, wood, manganese
Export Partners: Thailand (49%), Japan (19%), Cote d'Ivoire (10%), China (7%)
Import Partners: China (26%), Australia (15%), Angola (11%), Fiji (9%)
Government Type: Parliamentary republic (competitive, free elections)
Section II - Images of Vanuatu
6 Key Dates in Vanuatu's History
Most of the "key dates" in this case focus on colonial history, since Vanuatu has only been an independent nation for less than 50 years.
c. 1100 - 700 B.C. - Archaeological evidence gathered since the 1980s supports the theory that the Vanuatuan islands were first settled about 3,000 years ago by people of the Lapita culture moving southward from the Solomon Islands. Lapita ruins on the islands of Efate, Lelepa and Artok are the only UNESCO World Heritage sites in Vanuatu.
Apr 1606 - Portuguese explorer Pedro Fernandes de Queirós was the first European to arrive in Vanuatu, in 1606. He named Espiritu Santo, the largest island in Vanuatu, and attempted to found a settlement. However, the settlement was abandoned within a month, and no further European contact takes place for approximately 160 years.
1768 - 1774 - European explorers return to the region in the persons of Louis Antoine de Bougainville (for France) and Captain James Cook (for England) - their claims on the region will eventually become the basis for a joint administration of the "New Hebrides Islands" through the 19th and most of the 20th century.
1942 - 1945 - the collapse of France in World War II and the aggressive moves by Japan in late 1941 north of Vanuatu (primarily in the Solomon Islands) led to American occupation of this region during most of the war. It also led to the building of airstrips, roads, military bases and an array of other supporting infrastructure on the islands, most of which was left behind at the end of the war. Once the war ended, the British and French attempted to reinstall colonial government but with less success (or support).
Jul 30, 1980 - after a short period of rebellion and the arrival of British/French troops to attempt to curb violence, the independence of the newly-renamed Vanuatu was declared in July 1980. Most political battles within the government today still trace back to the split between French-aligned and British-aligned historical connections, although Chinese and Australian influences impact day-to-day affairs much more.
Mar 2015 and Dec 2024 - Major natural disasters (Cyclone Pam in 2015 and a magnitude 7.3 earthquake in late 2024) both had major impacts on the people and housing within Vanuatu, as well as the looming threat of global warming impacts on this entire region.
Other Non-Political Issues
Section III - Issues of Vanuatu
General Information on Vanuatu:
"Answer the Call of Vanuatu" (national tourism site), 2025, https://www.vanuatu.travel/en/
“Vanuatu", Lonely Planet, Sep 2024, https://www.lonelyplanet.com/destinations/vanuatu
“Vanuatu”, Nations Online, 2025, https://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/vanuatu.htm
“Vanuatu", Wikipedia, Jan 2026, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vanuatu or https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vanuatu
“The World Factbook - Vanuatu", Central Intelligence Agency, Jan 2026, https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/vanuatu/
Current Events Stories on Vanuatu:
"Australian PM says Vanuatu security, climate agreement delayed", Al-Jazeera, Sep 2025, https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/9/9/australian-pm-says-vanuatu-security-climate-agreement-delayed
“Exploring Vanuatu’s Vibrant Seascape in Support of Ocean Protection”, National Geographic Society News, Sep 2025, https://news.nationalgeographic.org/exploring-vanuatu-s-vibrant-seascape-in-support-of-ocean-protection/
"Fears death toll could rise from Vanuatu's magnitude-7.3 earthquake near Port Vila", Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), Dec 2024, https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-12-17/vanuatu-port-vila-earthquake-death-toll-could-rise/104736282
“The tiny Pacific nation of Vanuatu turns to the world court as climate disasters mount", NBC News, Jul 2025, https://www.nbcnews.com/science/climate-change/tiny-pacific-nation-vanuatu-turns-world-court-climate-disasters-mount-rcna220215
“Vanuatu's mass evictions are tearing communities apart — and the country is looking for answers", Australian Broadcasting Company (ABC), Sep 2024, https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-09-15/vanuatu-mass-evictions-land-agreements-korman-stadium/104218616 (story) OR https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YI_Xwwgi2M8 (video)
Other Interesting Links Related To Vanuatu:
"Police arrest suspects after armed heist at airport believed to be Vanuatu's first organised robbery", Australian Broadcasting Company (ABC), Jan 2026, https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-01-08/vanuatu-robbery-port-vila-airport/106206412
“Vanuatu Explained in 15 Minutes (History, Geography, & Culture)” (video), Opentiera, Sep 2025, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p05QEXsYQfk
“Vanuatu Has Got To Be The Most Underrated Island Paradise On Earth", Huffington Post, Oct 2016, https://www.huffpost.com/entry/vanuatu-travel_n_57fc1bdbe4b0b6a4303503dd
“Vanuatu to review citizenship after Andrew Tate reportedly bought 'golden passport'", Australian Broadcasting Company (ABC), Jun 2025, https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-06-03/andrew-tate-granted-vanuatu-citizenship-report/105370460
"Who is John Frum? Inside the ‘cargo cult’ that worships American GIs", Military Times, Sep 2025, https://www.militarytimes.com/veterans/military-history/2025/09/23/who-is-john-frum-inside-the-cargo-cult-that-worships-american-gis/