Compare British Virgin Islands (2003) - Vanuatu (2002)

Compare British Virgin Islands (2003) z Vanuatu (2002)

	British Virgin Islands (2003)	Vanuatu (2002)

Administrative divisions	none (overseas territory of the UK)	6 provinces; Malampa, Penama, Sanma, Shefa, Tafea, Torba
Age structure	0-14 years: 21.9% (male 2,401; female 2,358) 15-64 years: 73.1% (male 8,181; female 7,709) 65 years and over: 5% (male 578; female 503) (2003 est.)	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.)
Agriculture - products	fruits, vegetables; livestock, poultry; fish	copra, coconuts, cocoa, coffee, taro, yams, coconuts, fruits, vegetables; fish, beef
Airports	3 (2002)	31 (2001)
Airports - with paved runways	total: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2002)	total: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways	total: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2002)	total: 27 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 10 under 914 m: 17 (2002)
Area	total: 153 sq km land: 153 sq km water: 0 sq km note: comprised of 16 inhabited and more than 20 uninhabited islands; includes the island of Anegada	total: 12,200 sq km land: 12,200 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes more than 80 islands
Area - comparative	about 0.9 times the size of Washington, DC	slightly larger than Connecticut
Background	First settled by the Dutch in 1648, the islands were annexed in 1672 by the English. The economy is closely tied to the larger and more populous US Virgin Islands to the west; the US dollar is the legal currency.	The British and French who settled the New Hebrides in the 19th century, agreed in 1906 to an Anglo-French Condominium, which administered the islands until independence in 1980.
Birth rate	15 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)	24.83 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Budget	revenues: $121.5 million expenditures: $115.5 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1997)	revenues: $94.4 million expenditures: $99.8 million, including capital expenditures of $30.4 million
Capital	Road Town	Port-Vila
Climate	subtropical; humid; temperatures moderated by trade winds	tropical; moderated by southeast trade winds
Coastline	80 km	2,528 km
Constitution	1 June 1977	30 July 1980
Country name	conventional long form: none conventional short form: British Virgin Islands abbreviation: BVI	conventional long form: Republic of Vanuatu conventional short form: Vanuatu former: New Hebrides
Currency	US dollar (USD)	vatu (VUV)
Death rate	4.46 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)	8.25 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Debt - external	$36.1 million (1997)	$64.6 million (1999 est.)
Dependency status	overseas territory of the UK; internal self-governing	-
Diplomatic representation from the US	none (overseas territory of the UK)	the US does not have an embassy in Vanuatu; the ambassador to Papua New Guinea is accredited to Vanuatu
Diplomatic representation in the US	none (overseas territory of the UK)	Vanuatu does not have an embassy in the US, it does, however, have a Permanent Mission to the UN
Disputes - international	none	Matthew and Hunter Islands east of New Caledonia claimed by Vanuatu and France
Economic aid - recipient	NA%	$45.8 million (1995)
Economy - overview	The economy, one of the most stable and prosperous in the Caribbean, is highly dependent on tourism, generating an estimated 45% of the national income. An estimated 350,000 tourists, mainly from the US, visited the islands in 1998. Tourism suffered in 2002 because of the lackluster US economy. In the mid-1980s, the government began offering offshore registration to companies wishing to incorporate in the islands, and incorporation fees now generate substantial revenues. Roughly 400,000 companies were on the offshore registry by yearend 2000. The adoption of a comprehensive insurance law in late 1994, which provides a blanket of confidentiality with regulated statutory gateways for investigation of criminal offenses, is expected to make the British Virgin Islands even more attractive to international business. Livestock raising is the most important agricultural activity; poor soils limit the islands' ability to meet domestic food requirements. Because of traditionally close links with the US Virgin Islands, the British Virgin Islands has used the dollar as its currency since 1959.	The economy is based primarily on subsistence or small-scale agriculture which provides a living for 65% of the population. Fishing, offshore financial services, and tourism, with about 50,000 visitors in 1997, are other mainstays of the economy. Mineral deposits are negligible; the country has no known petroleum deposits. A small light industry sector caters to the local market. Tax revenues come mainly from import duties. Economic development is hindered by dependence on relatively few commodity exports, vulnerability to natural disasters, and long distances from main markets and between constituent islands. A severe earthquake in November 1999 followed by a tsunami, caused extensive damage to the northern island of Pentecote and left thousands homeless. Another powerful earthquake in January 2002 caused extensive damage in the capital, Port-Vila, and surrounding areas, and also was followed by a tsunami. GDP growth has risen less than 3% on average in the 1990s. In response to foreign concerns, the government has promised to tighten regulation of its offshore financial center.
Electricity - consumption	35.43 million kWh (2001)	36.27 million kWh (2000)
Electricity - exports	0 kWh (2001)	0 kWh (2000)
Electricity - imports	0 kWh (2001)	0 kWh (2000)
Electricity - production	38.1 million kWh (2001)	39 million kWh (2000)
Electricity - production by source	fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)	fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2000)
Elevation extremes	lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Mount Sage 521 m	lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Tabwemasana 1,877 m
Environment - current issues	limited natural fresh water resources (except for a few seasonal streams and springs on Tortola, most of the islands' water supply comes from wells and rainwater catchments)	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
Ethnic groups	black 83%, white, Indian, Asian and mixed	indigenous Melanesian 98%, French, Vietnamese, Chinese, other Pacific Islanders
Exchange rates	the US dollar is used	vatu per US dollar - 146.02 (December 2001), 145.31 (2001), 137.64 (2000), 129.08 (1999), 127.52 (1998), 115.87 (1997)
Executive branch	chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor Tom MACAN (since 14 October 2002) head of government: Chief Minister Orlando SMITH (since 17 June 2003) cabinet: Executive Council appointed by the governor from members of the Legislative Council elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually appointed chief minister by the governor	chief of state: President Father John BANI (since 25 March 1999) head of government: Prime Minister Edward NATAPEI (since 16 April 2001); Deputy Prime Minister Serge VOHOR (since 16 April 2001) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister, responsible to Parliament elections: president elected for a four-year term by an electoral college consisting of Parliament and the presidents of the regional councils for a five-year term; election for president last held 25 March 1999 (next to be held NA 2004); following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition is usually elected prime minister by Parliament from among its members; election for prime minister last held 2 May 2002 (next to be held NA 2003) election results: Father John BANI elected president; percent of electoral college vote - NA%; Edward NATAPEI reelected prime minister by Parliament note: the government of Prime Minister Barak SOPE was ousted in a no confidence vote on 14 April 2001 and Edward NATAPEI was elected the new prime minister by Parliament
Exports	NA (2001)	$22.8 million f.o.b. (2000)
Exports - commodities	rum, fresh fish, fruits, animals; gravel, sand	copra, kava, beef, cocoa, timber, coffee
Exports - partners	Virgin Islands (US), Puerto Rico, US	Japan 32%, Belgium 17%, US 17%, Germany 8% (2000)
Fiscal year	1 April - 31 March	calendar year
Flag description	blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Virgin Islander coat of arms centered in the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms depicts a woman flanked on either side by a vertical column of six oil lamps above a scroll bearing the Latin word VIGILATE (Be Watchful)	two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and green with a black isosceles triangle (based on the hoist side) all separated by a black-edged yellow stripe in the shape of a horizontal Y (the two points of the Y face the hoist side and enclose the triangle); centered in the triangle is a boar's tusk encircling two crossed namele leaves, all in yellow
GDP	purchasing power parity - $320 million (2002 est.)	purchasing power parity - $257 million (2000 est.)
GDP - composition by sector	agriculture: 1.8% industry: 6.2% services: 92% (1996 est.)	agriculture: 26% industry: 12% services: 62% (2000 est.)
GDP - per capita	purchasing power parity - $16,000 (2002 est.)	purchasing power parity - $1,300 (2000 est.)
GDP - real growth rate	1% (2002 est.)	2.7% (2000 est.)
Geographic coordinates	18 30 N, 64 30 W	16 00 S, 167 00 E
Geography - note	strong ties to nearby US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico	a Y-shaped chain of four main islands and 80 smaller islands; several of the islands have active volcanoes
Highways	total: 177 km paved: 177 km unpaved: 0 km (2000)	total: 1,070 km paved: 256 km unpaved: 814 km (1996)
Household income or consumption by percentage share	lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%	lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Illicit drugs	transshipment point for South American narcotics destined for the US and Europe; large offshore financial center	-
Imports	NA (2001)	$87.5 million f.o.b. (2000)
Imports - commodities	building materials, automobiles, foodstuffs, machinery	machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, fuels
Imports - partners	Virgin Islands (US), Puerto Rico, US	Australia 28%, Singapore 14%, New Zealand 8%, Japan 4%, US 1% (2000)
Independence	none (overseas territory of the UK)	30 July 1980 (from France and UK)
Industrial production growth rate	NA	1% (1997 est.)
Industries	tourism, light industry, construction, rum, concrete block, offshore financial center	food and fish freezing, wood processing, meat canning
Infant mortality rate	total: 18.8 deaths/1,000 live births male: 21.86 deaths/1,000 live births female: 15.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)	59.58 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)	2.5% (2002)	2.5% (2000 est.)
International organization participation	Caricom (associate), CDB, ECLAC (associate), Interpol (subbureau), IOC, OECS (associate), UNESCO (associate)	ACCT, ACP, AsDB, C, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IMF, IMO, IOC, ITU, NAM, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIBH, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WTrO (observer)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs)	16 (2000)	1 (2000)
Irrigated land	NA sq km	NA sq km
Judicial branch	Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, consisting of the High Court of Justice and the Court of Appeal (one judge of the Supreme Court is a resident of the islands and presides over the High Court); Magistrate's Court; Juvenile Court; Court of Summary Jurisdiction	Supreme Court (chief justice is appointed by the president after consultation with the prime minister and the leader of the opposition, three other justices are appointed by the president on the advice of the Judicial Service Commission)
Labor force	4,911 (1980)	NA
Labor force - by occupation	agriculture NA%, industry NA%, services NA%	agriculture 65%, services 30%, industry 5% (2000 est.)
Land boundaries	0 km	0 km
Land use	arable land: 20% permanent crops: 6.67% other: 73.33% (1998 est.)	arable land: 2.46% permanent crops: 7.38% other: 90.16% (1998 est.)
Languages	English (official)	three official languages: English, French, pidgin (known as Bislama or Bichelama), plus more than 100 local languages
Legal system	English law	unified system being created from former dual French and British systems
Legislative branch	unicameral Legislative Council (13 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote, one member from each of 9 electoral districts, four at-large members; members serve four-year terms) elections: last held 16 May 2003 (next to be held NA 2007) election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - NDP 8, VIP 5	unicameral Parliament (52 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 2 May 2002 (next to be held NA 2006) election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - UMP 15, VP 14, VRP 3, MPP 2, other and independent 18; note - political party associations are fluid note: the National Council of Chiefs advises on matters of custom and land
Life expectancy at birth	total population: 76.06 years male: 75.07 years female: 77.1 years (2003 est.)	total population: 61.33 years male: 59.93 years female: 62.8 years (2002 est.)
Literacy	definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 97.8% (1991 est.) male: NA% female: NA%	definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 53% male: 57% female: 48% (1979 est.)
Location	Caribbean, between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of Puerto Rico	Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to Australia
Map references	Central America and the Caribbean	Oceania
Maritime claims	exclusive fishing zone: 200 NM territorial sea: 3 NM	measured from claimed archipelagic baselines contiguous zone: 24 NM continental shelf: 200 NM or to the edge of the continental margin exclusive economic zone: 200 NM territorial sea: 12 NM
Merchant marine	total: 1 ship (1,000 GRT or over) 19,203 GRT/28,864 DWT ships by type: cargo 1 (2002 est.)	total: 54 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,092,838 GRT/1,329,576 DWT ships by type: bulk 22, cargo 9, chemical tanker 1, combination bulk 3, container 2, liquefied gas 3, petroleum tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 7, vehicle carrier 6 note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: Australia 3, Canada 2, China 1, Japan 25, Monaco 4, Netherlands 1, New Zealand 5, Panama 1, Poland 1, Switzerland 2, United Kingdom 4, US 2, Vietnam 1 (2002 est.)
Military - note	defense is the responsibility of the UK	-
Military branches	-	no regular military forces; Vanuatu Police Force (VPF; including the paramilitary Mobile Force or VMF)
Military expenditures - dollar figure	-	$NA
Military expenditures - percent of GDP	-	NA%
National holiday	Territory Day, 1 July	Independence Day, 30 July (1980)
Nationality	noun: British Virgin Islander(s) adjective: British Virgin Islander	noun: Ni-Vanuatu (singular and plural) adjective: Ni-Vanuatu
Natural hazards	hurricanes and tropical storms (July to October)	tropical cyclones or typhoons (January to April); volcanism causes minor earthquakes; tsunamis
Natural resources	NEGL	manganese, hardwood forests, fish
Net migration rate	10.45 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)	0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Political parties and leaders	Concerned Citizens Movement or CCM [Ethlyn SMITH]; National Democratic Party or NDP [Orlando SMITH]; United Party or UP [Gregory MADURO]; Virgin Islands Party or VIP [Ralph T. O'NEAL]	Jon Frum Movement [Song KEASPAI]; Melanesian Progressive Party or MPP [Barak SOPE]; National United Party or NUP [Dinh Van THAN]; Union of Moderate Parties or UMP [Serge VOHOR]; Vanuaaku Party (Our Land Party) or VP [Edward NATAPEI]; Vanuatu Republican Party [Maxime Carlot KORMAN]
Political pressure groups and leaders	NA	NA
Population	21,730 (July 2003 est.)	196,178 (July 2002 est.)
Population below poverty line	NA%	NA%
Population growth rate	2.1% (2003 est.)	1.66% (2002 est.)
Ports and harbors	Road Town	Forari, Port-Vila, Santo (Espiritu Santo)
Radio broadcast stations	AM 1, FM 4, shortwave 0 (1998)	AM 2, FM 2, shortwave 1 (2002)
Radios	-	67,000 (1997)
Railways	0 km	0 km
Religions	Protestant 86% (Methodist 33%, Anglican 17%, Church of God 9%, Seventh-Day Adventist 6%, Baptist 4%, Jehovah's Witnesses 2%, other 15%), Roman Catholic 10%, none 2%, other 2% (1991)	Presbyterian 36.7%, Anglican 15%, Roman Catholic 15%, indigenous beliefs 7.6%, Seventh-Day Adventist 6.2%, Church of Christ 3.8%, other 15.7% (including Jon Frum Cargo cult)
Sex ratio	at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.15 male(s)/female total population: 1.06 male(s)/female (2003 est.)	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.)
Suffrage	18 years of age; universal	18 years of age; universal
Telephone system	general assessment: worldwide telephone service domestic: NA international: submarine cable to Bermuda	general assessment: NA domestic: NA international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
Telephones - main lines in use	10,000 (1996)	5,500 (1998)
Telephones - mobile cellular	NA	310 (2000)
Television broadcast stations	1 (plus one cable company) (1997)	1 (2002)
Terrain	coral islands relatively flat; volcanic islands steep, hilly	mostly mountains of volcanic origin; narrow coastal plains
Total fertility rate	1.72 children born/woman (2003 est.)	3.08 children born/woman (2002 est.)
Unemployment rate	3% (1995)	NA%
Waterways	none	none

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